Chinese J-7 (MiG-21) 'Fishbed' on the top of the world in Tibet


	Chinese J-7II (MiG-21) 'Fishbed' on the top of the world in Tibet

In 1987 there was a military conflict between the Chinese People's Liberation Army Ground Force and the Indian Army that occurred at the Sumdorong Chu Valley. Then in 1987–1989 was a series of pro-independence protests that took place in the Tibetan areas. Therefore China deploys fighter jets to Tibet. For example the 31st Air Division from the Jinan Military Region in 1987 and later the 3rd Air Division from the Nanjing Military Region between November 1978 and May 1988.

The 3rd Air Division/9th Air Regiment sent eight pilots and eight Chengdu J-7II (MiG-21) ‘Fishbed’ fighters to Tibetan Gonggar airport on November 18, 1987.

The Gonggar was the biggest airport in occupied Tibet in the eighties. Gonggar airport is at an elevation of 3,400 meters (!) (11,620 ft.) above sea level, 55.1 km south-west of Lhasa city.

Until May 1988, the fighter unit had organized a total of 14 combat take-offs and 162 flight training.

Chinese J-7II (MiG-21) 'Fishbed' was the most modern Chinese fighter aircraft in 1987/88. At this time, however, the Indian Air Force already used Soviet-made MiG-23MF ‘Flogger-B’ and newer MiG-29 9.12B ‘Fulcrum-A’ fighter aircraft types too!