http://www.tejas.gov.in/first_flights.html
We don't talk about this much but I am sure it counts for something..The Tejas is a pilot’s aeroplane and nowhere is this more evident than in her handling qualities and performance characteristics. She rockets off the runway and into the air in a mere 500 meters, and her control harmony and carefree handling characteristics are clearly demonstrated in the almost poetic ballet in the air that is the aerobatic display routine. Frugal fuel consumption and inbuilt air refuelling capability leave the Tejas with combat legs that will be the envy of many a contemporary platform. A fighter pilot with minimal experience will be able to handle the Tejas in the air with ease, and her small size and exceptional manoeuvrability makes the Tejas an opponent that not many will choose to tangle with.
In contrast here is what Mally Wollen wrote about the MiG 21
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/aircr ... uresh.html
On the same page - WgCo Suresh wrote:The BIS variant entered the IAF in 1977; license production (220 aircraft) by HAL ended in 1988. Aside from performance improvement, safety features were introduced e.g. ‘blown-flaps’ enabling a slower landing-approach, better view of the runway and slower touch-down; recovery to level flight (roll and pitch channel auto pilot) in the event of disorientation at night/in cloud; ground level ejection. Regrettably, the cockpit layout and external view remained a ‘nightmare’.
In the words of ACM Tipnis, “MiG-21 is a high demand aircraft”. It certainly is a quantum jump for an inexperienced pilot who has just finished his training on sub-sonic jet trainers like Kiran or Iskra.
The air force had little choice when they inducted the MiG 21 and they made the best of it. But if there is a choice to induct an aircraft that is capable and yet safer to fly, then it would seem logical to go that route. I hate to say this but there appears to me to be a kind of evil pride in an ability to "conquer a beast"/taming the bucking bronco among frontline pilots who flew the MiG 21 as compared to those who flew "tame" aircraft and now - more than a decade after the passing of my cousin who wrote that article I can, right or wrong, sense an element of that in his words where he tends to downplay the faults of the MiG 21 that caused (in his words) 40% of accidents while delving into great detail about the technical and maintenance issues.MiG-21, although a high demand aircraft, is docile and has no aerodynamic vices. It has excellent handling characteristics and has served to provide very valuable flying experience to a large number of IAF pilots. Some like the previous and the present CAS swear by the aircraft. It is the docility of the aircraft that not only generates a good bit of confidence but also encourages forays into exceeding the limits of the stipulated flight envelope. In air combat maneuvers, many inexperienced pilots have got into trouble without realizing it. At high angles of attack, the induced drag increases sharply and unless the angle of attack is quickly reduced, the aircraft develops a high rate of descent, which cannot be arrested with the power available (even with reheat). Added to this, there is no protest from the aircraft like severe shudder, wing rocking. etc, prevalent in other types of aircraft. This gives a feeling of well-being and a number of pilots did not recognize the danger in time to take recovery action or eject.
