Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force

An early MiG-21FL taking off.- possibly C580

Early MiG-21FLs carried the fuselage roundel aft of the wing - painted on the rear fuselage. Towards the late 60s, early 70s it was decided to move the Roundel to the front fuselage just below the cockpit. This photograph shows the position of the rear fu

Type-77 Landing (C590)

This MiG-21FL [C590] is landing back after a sortie. No forward fuselage roundel can be seen on the aircraft. This particular aircraft is a survivor - being used as an instructional airframe at AFTC Jalahalli

C601 at Hasimara

MiG-21FL (Type-77) equipped with a GP9 Gunpack at Hasimara

MiG-21 Type-77 C706 at a forward airfield

MiG-21FL (Type-77) S.No C706 is seen here - possibly on strength of No.47 Squadron. Aircraft features dual roundels on the fuselage

C711

A tail side view of MiG-21FL C711. The aircraft features a roundel on the rear fuselage indicating that this photograph was from the late 60s.

C746, C731 and C1111 after the 1971 war

Three entirely different aircraft finishes are sported by three MiG-21FLs (C-1111, C-731 and C-746) of No.4 and No.28 Squadrons. Camouflage was applied at unit level and differed appreciably in style from aircraft to aircraft, with no standard pattern bei

A MiG-21FL (C-989), from the No.8 Squadron

A MiG-21FL (C-989), from the No.8 Squadron, takes off for another routine sortie. The squadron insignia, consisting of a Star and the Condor bird, can be seen at the left of the roundel. This aircraft is also equipped with a GP-9 gun pack.

A veteran of the Governors House attack of the 71 War

A MiG-21FL (C-779), from the No.8 Squadron, at Kalaikunda AFS. C-779 is the same legendary fighter aircraft, which was flown during the air strike on the Governors house in Dacca in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Wg. Cdr. B.K. Bishnoi, CO of the No.28 Squadron,

MiG-21FL (C1128), from No.1 Tigers Squadron

A MiG-21FL (C1128), from No.1 Tigers Squadron, awaits clearance for take-off. The squadron has since converted to the Mirage 2000H/TH.

Getting ready for flight

Getting ready for flight: An IAF pilot makes checks before preparing to take off in a MiG-21FL. The unique hinged canopy not only protected the pilot from air blast, in case of an ejection, but was also simultaneously jettisoned so that it formed a shield

MiG-21FL of No.28 Squadron during the 1971 War operations.

Several types of camouflage were applied to MiG-21FL fighters during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Aircraft sporting olive green and dark earth finishes such as the one in this image were deployed at a number of airfields in the southern sector for air defence a

Combat Markings on C1111 of No.4 Squadron

The combat markings on the nose of C-1111 signifies the ordnance delivered and the targets attacked. C-1111, which was part of the No.4 Squadron during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, flew 28 sorties in the eastern theatre of operations between 04 and 15 Dec 1971

Close-up of the GP9 Gunpack on a MiG-21FL

The GP-9 gun pack, seen here below the fuselage, is of Soviet design and was installed on MiG-21FL fighters at Indian Base Repair Depots (BRDs). It houses a twin-barrelled 23mm GSh-23 cannon which offered a weight of fire equivalent to that of three 30mm

MiG-21FL (C-996), from the No.8 Squadron

This particular MiG-21FL (C-996), from the No.8 Squadron, is fitted with a GP-9 gun-pack. The FL has been operating with the No.8 Squadron since 17 February 1969.

Rhinos Do It Best: A pair of MiG-21FLs, from the No.30 Squadron

Rhinos Do It Best: A pair of MiG-21FLs, from the No.30 Squadron at Bagdogra AFS, displaying their destructive firepower. Notice the R-60MK (AA-8 Aphid) short-range, air-to-air missile.

MiG-21FL C529 (8 Squadron)

A pilot from 8 Squadron carries out checks prior to a sortie in a MiG-21FL (C-529).

A line up of MiG-21FLs, from No.30 Squadron Charging Rhinos

A line up of MiG-21FLs, from No.30 Charging Rhinos Squadron, at Bagdogra AFS in the 1980s. This Squadron is now among the last three fighter squadrons operating the variant.

MiG-21FL (C743), from the No.8 Squadron

A MiG-21FL (C743), from the No.8 Squadron, on the tarmac at Bagdogra AFS. Some of the pilots who fly these ageing workhorses are younger than the aircraft themselves!

GP9 Gunpack on a MiG-21FL

The GP-9 gun pack, seen here below the fuselage, is of Soviet design and was installed on MiG-21FL fighters at Indian Base Repair Depots (BRDs). It houses a twin-barrelled 23mm GSh-23 cannon which offered a weight of fire equivalent to that of three 30mm

A MiG-21FL from No.8 Squadron Pursoots

A MiG-21FL (C-510) of No.8 Eight Pursoots Squadron in the early 90s. A number of FL airframes were sent into storage in the mid-70s as the new M variant was introduced into service. These aircraft were pulled out from storage again in the late-80s and r

1968-MiG21

An early color(ed?) air-to-air photo of a MiG-21FL in natural metal scheme. The aircraft features rear fuselage roundels which were replaced with roundels on the nose.

C1105

MiG-21 C1105 is known to have served with the Operational Conversion Unit.

30 Squadron aircraft and Pilot Officer T K Singha

Pilot Officer Tarun Kumar Singha 17857F(P) with a MiG-21FL (Type 77) sometime in the late 80s. In addition to the "Rhinos" badge on the nose, the retrofitted "Angle of Attack" vane on the port side of the forward fuselage is of interes

C498

C-498 seen fresh out of the HAL Factory with a test pilot. Note that the roundels have not yet been painted on the aircraft!