Mig-21 crash: No replacement for the ‘Flying coffin’ in near future

[Zarvan]

A Mig-21 Bison aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in the fields of Soibugh, Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir this morning, with no loss of life reported in the accident. The pilot was able to eject from the aircraft and was rescued by an army helicopter.

The Defence Ministry spokesperson said the fighter aircraft had taken off from Srinagar airfield on a routine training sortie; a court of inquiry has been ordered into the cause of the accident. Historically, Mig-21 fighters have had a poor track record when it comes to flight safety. Due to its poor safety record, the Russian-origin fighter aircraft has been given the tag, “Flying Coffin” in popular discourse. As per official records, more than 170 IAF pilots have been killed in MIG-21 accidents since 1970. Data collected by an aviation expert shows that at least six Mig-21 Bisons have been lost to accidents in the last five years.

AF is the foremost user of MiG-21 today since its initial employment of the fighter aircraft in the 1965 Indo-Pak war. Mig-21 Bison is an upgraded version of the Mig-21 fighter which has helped the IAF prolong the life of its MiG-21 fleet. As of now, the IAF has six squadrons of the Bison. The Mig-21s were to be replaced by the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) being developed by the HAL since the late 1990s. With the delay in development of the LCA, the IAF would have had to do away with the MiG-21s altogether if not for the Bison.

The IAF still plans to phase out all the variants of the Mig-21, now by 2022. The plan has been to replace the Mig-21 with the LCA and the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). With the continued delay in development of the LCA and the cancellation of the 126 Rafale MMRCA fighter deal—now the purchase of only 36 aircraft is on the cards — it is unlikely that this timeline can be adhered to.

Mig-21 crash: No replacement for the ‘Flying coffin’ in near future | idrw.org

 

[Stephen Cohen]

We have to use the Mig 21 Bison till 2020
It is getting old ; but still its a very good fighter

 

[volatile]

Probably you dont have to phase them out like our mirages crashes will do them automatically.

 

[RazorMC]

We have to use the Mig 21 Bison till 2020
It is getting old ; but still its a very good fighter

The airframe has taken its toll, regardless of how good or bad the aircraft was.
IAF should be looking to replace them asap.

Why not procure a mix of new and used aircraft on urgent basis?

 

[NKVD]

We have to use the Mig 21 Bison till 2020
It is getting old ; but still its a very good fighter

Problem is that Our Holy IAF still Demean LCA when they Still Flying these 60 era rust

 

[#hydra#]

We have to use the Mig 21 Bison till 2020
It is getting old ; but still its a very good fighter

Please don't fool yourself. Mig21 outlived its time,and its high time to give a decent farewell to this majestic war machine or else future generation will call it as a rust bucket/ flying coffins etc...

 

[Maarkhoor]

@Zarvan
Sorry for the loss good to know pilot life saved...
Indian equipment are quite suicidal their ships / subs explode their own even IAF not spared Sukhoi, mirages and Mig 21 crashes quite often, yesterday a helicopter crashed. I think Inida needs to terrain their ground staff for better maintenance because many other nations still using Migs with for better safety records its not Migs its their maintenance which make them coffins. by the way me the same who ask you some thing in Indian defense forum. remember keep the secret.

 

[halupridol]

Problem is that Our Holy IAF still Demean LCA when they Still Flying these 60 era rust

u mean,,IAF prefers 60's era flying coffins over gen.4++ tejas mk1.

 

[Maarkhoor]

nevertheless fact remains,,IAF prefers 60's era flying coffins over gen.4++ tejas mk1.

Not 4++ but 5th generation LCA Tejas
Would Directly deploy to museums after MK200 without induction.
Last Chance Aircraft (LCA Tejas) 4++

 

[NKVD]

u mean,,IAF prefers 60's era flying coffins over gen.4++ tejas mk1.

Not 4++ but At-least capable substitute with Multi-role Capabilities.IAF Fetish over foreign Maal will never allow this to happen

 

[Irfan Baloch]

We have to use the Mig 21 Bison till 2020
It is getting old ; but still its a very good fighter

pilot survived and this is great news.
a human is irreplaceable.


whereas in Pakistan the PAF crashes involve certain deaths of the pilots and PAF gives away a ready made statement that the pilot had the chance to bail out but he chose to keep flying the aircraft away from populated area until it was too late to bail out and died with thee plane.
@MastanKhan might know about this press release which I always find hard to believe, ok maybe it will be true 2 out of 10 times but not always. I am not suggesting that every PAF crash that involves the death of the pilots is suspicious but given the almost next to no record of successful bailing out one is forced to dismiss the PAF erady made statement that has been used for decades

so wtf am I getting at? maybe some or all of the following

some cover up of events leading to crash
lax, insufficient checks re maintenance
obnoxious leadership that refuses to accept the issue with old platforms
pilot error, lack of training or over confidence by putting the (mostly older) jets in a manoeuvres that cant be pulled off safely.

 

[Max Pain]

I just fail to understand why cant HAL produce spares for MIG 21,
in 90's HAL build the whole MIG 21's in their facility but now they are not providing necessary spares for the aging fleet that should be there until LCA arrives.

Looks like instead of retiring they'd want the MIG's to just keep on crashing until none is left.

 

[Maarkhoor]

Irfan Bhai i think PAF story is correct Pakistan does't enjoy big land area without population and our pilots are more dedicated they try to save aircraft till the last moment and loast the chance to bail out, as i mentioned below many time they are flying over populated area where the can't afford to bail out and lets civilian die they prefer shahdat over bailing out safely.

pilot survived and this is great news.
a human is irreplaceable.


whereas in Pakistan the PAF crashes involve certain deaths of the pilots and PAF gives away a ready made statement that the pilot had the chance to bail out but he chose to keep flying the aircraft away from populated area until it was too late to bail out and died with thee plane.
@MastanKhan might know about this press release which I always find hard to believe, ok maybe it will be true 2 out of 10 times but not always. I am not suggesting that every PAF crash that involves the death of the pilots is suspicious but given the almost next to no record of successful bailing out one is forced to dismiss the PAF erady made statement that has been used for decades

so wtf am I getting at? maybe some or all of the following

some cover up of events leading to crash
lax, insufficient checks re maintenance
obnoxious leadership that refuses to accept the issue with old platforms
pilot error, lack of training or over confidence by putting the (mostly older) jets in a manoeuvres that cant be pulled off safely.

pilot survived and this is great news.
a human is irreplaceable.

whereas in Pakistan the PAF crashes involve certain deaths of the pilots and PAF gives away a ready made statement that the pilot had the chance to bail out but he chose to keep flying the aircraft away from populated area until it was too late to bail out and died with thee plane.
@MastanKhan might know about this press release which I always find hard to believe, ok maybe it will be true 2 out of 10 times but not always. I am not suggesting that every PAF crash that involves the death of the pilots is suspicious but given the almost next to no record of successful bailing out one is forced to dismiss the PAF erady made statement that has been used for decades

so wtf am I getting at? maybe some or all of the following

some cover up of events leading to crash
lax, insufficient checks re maintenance
obnoxious leadership that refuses to accept the issue with old platforms
pilot error, lack of training or over confidence by putting the (mostly older) jets in a manoeuvres that cant be pulled off safely.

 

[Abingdonboy]

A Mig-21 Bison aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in the fields of Soibugh, Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir this morning, with no loss of life reported in the accident. The pilot was able to eject from the aircraft and was rescued by an army helicopter.

The Defence Ministry spokesperson said the fighter aircraft had taken off from Srinagar airfield on a routine training sortie; a court of inquiry has been ordered into the cause of the accident. Historically, Mig-21 fighters have had a poor track record when it comes to flight safety. Due to its poor safety record, the Russian-origin fighter aircraft has been given the tag, “Flying Coffin” in popular discourse. As per official records, more than 170 IAF pilots have been killed in MIG-21 accidents since 1970. Data collected by an aviation expert shows that at least six Mig-21 Bisons have been lost to accidents in the last five years.

AF is the foremost user of MiG-21 today since its initial employment of the fighter aircraft in the 1965 Indo-Pak war. Mig-21 Bison is an upgraded version of the Mig-21 fighter which has helped the IAF prolong the life of its MiG-21 fleet. As of now, the IAF has six squadrons of the Bison. The Mig-21s were to be replaced by the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) being developed by the HAL since the late 1990s. With the delay in development of the LCA, the IAF would have had to do away with the MiG-21s altogether if not for the Bison.

The IAF still plans to phase out all the variants of the Mig-21, now by 2022. The plan has been to replace the Mig-21 with the LCA and the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). With the continued delay in development of the LCA and the cancellation of the 126 Rafale MMRCA fighter deal—now the purchase of only 36 aircraft is on the cards — it is unlikely that this timeline can be adhered to.

Mig-21 crash: No replacement for the ‘Flying coffin’ in near future | idrw.org

This is beyond ret@rded and lazy journalism making use of tired cliches and empty statements.


"No replacement on the cards"? Well would it surprise this dumbo to know that the IAF is ALREADY standing down many of its MiG-21 SQNs who are being replaced by the Su-30MKIs? And the recent news is the Rafale deal will likely be secured imminently- that is a further 2 SQNs worth from 2017. And then it doesn't surprise me that this genius has missed the RFP for 90 Rafales to be built in India and on top of that the LCA is in the home stretch of attaining its FOC with the final parts (radome and IFR probe) now having been delivered.

 

[M.SAAD]

Needs to replace this piece of crap ..