Jalal Zandi
Encyclopedia
Brig. General Jalil Zandi was an ace
fighter pilot
in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
, serving for the full duration of the Iran-Iraq War
. His record qualifies him as an ace and the most successful pilot of that conflict.
Described as "brazen," he began in the IIAF and stayed on to serve in the IRIAF
when it was somewhat dangerous for pilots to continue their military service. While a Major, he often clashed with his superior Col. Abbas Baba’ie, the officer responsible for keeping Iran's Air Force in the skies. He spent at least two periods in prison, one under a threatened death penalty that was decreed by revolutionary Mullah
s.
His fame came as a F-14 Tomcat pilot. He has been reliably credited with shooting down 9 Iraqi aircraft. He is additionally credited with 3 probable kills, bringing his total to 12 air victories. These include 2 MiG-23s, 2 Su-22s, 1 MiG 21 and 3 Mirage F1s. This makes him the most successful F-14 Tomcat pilot ever. Finally, he was shot down once, in February, 1988, when his Tomcat was hit by several R550 Magic
and a single Super 530
d missiles fired from Iraqi Mirage F-1EQ. He tried to return to base but his remaining engine failed.
His last official post, before his death, was 'Deputy for Planning and Organization' of the Iranian Air Force.
Little is known about his personal life. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General and died in 2001 in a car accident near Tehran.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force ' is the aviation branch of the Iranian armed forces. The present Air Force came into being in the early 1980s when the former Imperial Iranian Air Force was renamed....
, serving for the full duration of the Iran-Iraq War
Iran-Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between the armed forces of Iraq and Iran, lasting from September 1980 to August 1988, making it the longest conventional war of the twentieth century...
. His record qualifies him as an ace and the most successful pilot of that conflict.
Described as "brazen," he began in the IIAF and stayed on to serve in the IRIAF
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force ' is the aviation branch of the Iranian armed forces. The present Air Force came into being in the early 1980s when the former Imperial Iranian Air Force was renamed....
when it was somewhat dangerous for pilots to continue their military service. While a Major, he often clashed with his superior Col. Abbas Baba’ie, the officer responsible for keeping Iran's Air Force in the skies. He spent at least two periods in prison, one under a threatened death penalty that was decreed by revolutionary Mullah
Mullah
Mullah is generally used to refer to a Muslim man, educated in Islamic theology and sacred law. The title, given to some Islamic clergy, is derived from the Arabic word مَوْلَى mawlā , meaning "vicar", "master" and "guardian"...
s.
His fame came as a F-14 Tomcat pilot. He has been reliably credited with shooting down 9 Iraqi aircraft. He is additionally credited with 3 probable kills, bringing his total to 12 air victories. These include 2 MiG-23s, 2 Su-22s, 1 MiG 21 and 3 Mirage F1s. This makes him the most successful F-14 Tomcat pilot ever. Finally, he was shot down once, in February, 1988, when his Tomcat was hit by several R550 Magic
R550 Magic
The R.550 Magic is a short-range missile designed in 1968 by French company Matra to compete with the American AIM-9 Sidewinder. On 11 January 1972, a Gloster Meteor of the centre for in-flight trials fired the R550 Magic and shot down a Nord CT20 target drone .Mass-produced from 1976, the Magic...
and a single Super 530
Super 530
The Matra Super 530 is a French short to medium-range air-to-air missile. The Super 530 series is an improved type of the Matra R530 missile.*Super 530F is carried on the Dassault Mirage F1. It was introduced in 1979....
d missiles fired from Iraqi Mirage F-1EQ. He tried to return to base but his remaining engine failed.
His last official post, before his death, was 'Deputy for Planning and Organization' of the Iranian Air Force.
Little is known about his personal life. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General and died in 2001 in a car accident near Tehran.