For Wing Commander Yogesh Joshi, it was an end of an era. He is the man who flew the world’s last MiG 23 BN into its sunset. The MiG squadron 221 that has been housed at this air base for over two decades was bid adios at a phasing out ceremony presided over by Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major.

Talking about some of his last moment in the magnificent aircraft, one of the best in the world, Wg Com Joshi, who has about 1,000 flying hours under his belt remarked, “I was feeling sad. Since 1992, I have been flying this machine every working day and now suddenly from tomorrow morning I will not be flying it. I am very nostalgic about the plane. Not flying is very difficult for me.” While Joshi’s squadron has been transferred into other different squadrons, he himself would be joining the Air Force headquarters.

“In a squadron, we live together as a family. Each morning we all have flown together and we become attached to our planes. I know better and more modern planes will now come in to replace these MiG but then flying these Valiants is an experience in itself.”

Wg Com Joshi was the man of the day for he taxied the plane for the last time on to the air strip bringing it right in front of his chief and then switching off the roaring engine. Wg Com Joshi also displayed the plane’s ability to fly at a speed of 900 km per hour at a height as low as 150 ft above ground level that left the entire audience awe-struck. The gathered audience of airmen and their families also held a silence for one minute for all those air men who lost their lives in training or combat.