Original subtitles

Downloaded From 1VegaMovies.tw

He was Arjun's arrow,

a flying sword.

Fierce like the sun…

the wind's own warrior.

The zeal of the Army…

wild and intoxicated.

Across the frontier,

he used to travel like an arrow.

Having struck down the enemy,

he used to return a hero.

"Gosh, this makes so much noise!"

…wondering what would happen in the sortie, and all that.

Our instructors used to tell us that

God has created humans only to walk and run, not to swim and fly.

But humans have taken on that challenge.

So to keep yourself alive by that logic …you have to be good.

When the Russians built this aircraft in the 1950s and '60s,

In those days, there was an American aircraft, the U-2.

So the MiG-21 was built to intercept them.

Because now their pilots couldn't take off,

that means, what kind of warrior are you if there's no enemy to fight?

When the Kargil War broke out, I was posted in Chabua.

It falls in the eastern sector, extreme east.

We received a message asking us to commence movement.

With operations like this, when war breaks out,

we shift to wherever the action is unfolding.

Very little time is given for this.

Within 24 to 36 hours, we have to get our entire contingent ready,

get all the aircraft ready, and move.

So we got there, and the operation was carried out.

Our families get trained from the very beginning.

Or you could say, we end up training them.

During Kargil, when I was in Chabua, my family wasn't with me.

Back then, there were no phones. So my wife would send me letters,

encouraging me to remain steadfast and not back down from national service.

They're also passionate.

…they'd stop hearing the sound of flying.

"The sound of flying has stopped. What happened?"

"Sir, you daughter will be very happy

I'm telling you …he goes in the morning before sunrise.

Breakfast, lunch, all in the squadron.

By evening, he'll be so tired.

So your daughter will be very happy.

If at all they end up fighting, it will only be on weekends,

and not before that."

…Arjun's arrow had been released from his bow.

It lands at such a fast speed,

sometimes you wonder, "Will it stop or not?"

But these are our pilots, our machines. Aircraft comes back to us safe and sound.

So what generally our parents say is …"Fly low and fly slow."

If one were to frame it in terms of challenges, then…

we all have families.

There are people of all ages in a family.

And obviously, one must take special care of the elderly.

…knee pain, hip pain, someone may have a slight heart issue.

In taking care of those issues, challenges arise and sometimes,

things worsen, and you may have to go to the hospital suddenly at night.

Sometimes the hospital might tell you that something is beyond their expertise.

So you bring in super-specialist doctors, which in our case is, experts from HAL.

A pilot takes the aircraft into the air. After that,

we stick very close and keep an eye out the entire time,

constantly checking when our aircraft will re-enter the circuit.

It is like when a mother sends her child out to play,

she is constantly worried about her child's whereabouts,

where he might be, what he might be doing.

When my pilot engages the reheat, turns on the afterburner,

you hear a much louder boom.

The Su-30 pilot says that he has two engines.

Then I say that even with two engines, you can't match my single engine.

There used to be a lot of banter like this.

And whenever we'd be losing, we'd pull out the MiG-21's trump card,

"My take off speed is the highest, my landing speed is the highest."

No matter how old he is, he always turns up to prove himself.

Trust me, even if something were to happen today,

he will go prove himself and come back.

I'd like to mention a special trade,

our weapon fitters, weapon tradesmen…

When an armament is being fitted before a sortie, be it a bomb,

or a rocket, or a missile,

that is completely handled by these tradesmen.

Which is why the badge that weapon fitters wear,

even that is red in colour,

because they are always engaged in dangerous work.

I just want to ask them that when a car crashes on the highway,

even there, unfortunately people die.

But how many times do our TV channels criticise the car company?

So, this should not be said.

…that you meet daily, fly daily, see daily.

We warmly welcome our chief guest, India's Defence Minister,

Shri Rajnath Singh, on this historic occasion.

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

Here at Air Force Station Chandigarh,

a warm welcome to all the distinguished guests and their families

gathered here on this historic occasion.

Today, our MiG-21 fighter aircraft will be given a valorous farewell.

Displaying their unmatched skill in synchronisation, precise footwork

and weapon handling,

is the Indian Air Force's Air Warrior Drill Team.

Ladies and gentlemen, turn your attention to the skies.

May your applause be so thunderous

that it reaches those who are about to descend from the sky to meet you.

Right in front of your eyes, seven daredevil skydivers

of the Paratrooper Training School have jumped from 8,000 feet.

Squadron Leader Rajendra Singh Randhawa

has descended at a speed of 150 miles per hour!

Please enjoy the approaching roar of our lion.

Badal and Panther formations now taking off in front of your eyes.

Leading this formation, moving at a cheetah's speed,

is Group Captain Mohit Gupta.

On his right and left are Air Commodore Amit Kumar Budhwar,

Here is that thrilling sight, straight from the cockpit

of the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team.

With the traditional water cannon salute,

we bid farewell to the MiG-21.

It is now time to formally hand over

to the Chief of the Air Staff, that document of the MiG-21

which has been filled in and signed by countless Indian Air Force warriors,

its very pages inscribed with the saga of their courage and valour.

With the handing over of this document, known as the Form 700,

the MiG-21 now passes out of active service

and joins the ranks of the Heritage Flight.

And with this, a glorious chapter of six decades comes to a close.

Our chief guest today and India's Defence Minister,

the honourable Shri Rajnath Singh, will now address the gathering.

Friends, we have all gathered today

for the MiG-21's final operational sortie.

Friends, on every historic mission,

the MiG-21 has always elevated the honour of the tricolour

Therefore, this is also a farewell to our collective memories,

to our national pride, and to this journey,

in which a story of courage, sacrifice and excellence has been written.

In closing, to all the pilots, technicians, ground staff,

and to all the engineers and other staff at HAL,

I extend my heartfelt salute.

Their hard work, dedication and courage

have made the MiG-21 a part of the Indian Air Force's very soul.

And here, the stroke of a historic signature.

A special postage stamp will be presented to India's Defence Minister,

Shri Rajnath Singh.

I can handle the most difficult situations.

That's what I learnt from this plane.

If it was a human, I would hug him and say,

Downloaded from 1VegaMovies.tw