New Delhi, Oct. 31 -- My introduction to the MiG-21 was a strange story full of twists and turns that needs to be told as this venerable fighter that formed the bedrock of Indian defence of its skies takes its last bow with the Indian Air Force and bids adieu to it on 26 September 2025 after over 63 years of yeoman service. The lessons the aircraft taught me are still ingrained in my memory and I thought this would be an appropriate occasion to share these. The aircraft entered service with our Air Force just after the humiliating defeat against China in the Himalayas on 1 April 1963 with 28 Squadron, "The First Supersonics", at Chandigarh under the command of then Wing Commander Dilbagh Singh who went on to become the Chief of Air Staff in...