MiG-21M [C1609] was given to St Joseph School in Allahabad. The MiG flew over 3000 hours, and 4900 sorties during a career spanning 32 years.
St. Joseph's College, founded in the nineteenth century (1884) by the Capuchin Friars of the province of Ancona & Bologna, Italy, is actually a secondary education school under the management of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allahabad.
The school has the distinction of being the school where former chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne studied at for five years – 1961 to 1966. Recently in April 2012, when the chief visited Allahabad, he took the opportunity to present a MiG-21 to his former school.
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MiG-21M [C1609] erected on a platform at St Joseph's College. The aircraft is in a slight banking attitude. |
The aircraft that was delivered and installed at the school is a MiG-21M (Type 96) serialled C1609. This aircraft, built around 1976-77 entered squadron service on 15th September 1977. Its service spanned 32 years, and it ended up doing its last flight with No.35 Squadron at Bakshi Ka Talab on 30th March 2010. During this time, the aircraft flew 3160.55 air frame hours, which translated into 4950 sorties.
The MiG was dedicated to the school by ACM Browne on 4th April 2012.
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