Alfa

Well you got better eyes than me - I cannot make out anything from that image. But yes it might well be "запрос". In the Luftwaffe manual, there is a reference to that button, where it says "запрос(сброс)" with the following description in German: "Luft-luft-abfrage(nicht genutzt) und lösen", which I would translate to something like: "Air-to-air query(not used) and reset". So it might have been intended for an alternative IFF function, but as the description says, its not being used. But there are plenty of photos of the MiG-29 stick, where(as in my image) it only says "сброс".

No I cannot see anything on that image - check this:

Ok :)

As Zmot mentioned, there are limitations in regards to engine operation(lubrication) - paragraph attached. But I could find no information regarding limitation of fuel supply during inverted flight - on the contrary the description of the fuel system seems to indicate that this is ensured. Only limitation has to do with external tanks - i.e. that when zero- or negative Gs occurs, transfer is interrupted momentarily to prevent pressurized air from these entering the internal fuel system. IIRC a pause of some 30 seconds is imposed after which, the transfer will resume(if return to "normal" flight regime has occurred ).

Could also be mentioned that a "Lot" is the production within one fiscal year, which in turn is subdivided into blocks(often three). The reason why the lot is significant, is because new features/updates usually are applied per lot. In the case of Lot 20, it means that the aircraft was produced in FY 98. However, the DCS version has post-production features that were applied later(around 2004-2005).

Who knows :) - it could simply be that, unlike the F/A-18, the F-16 wasn't meant to be an actual "strike-fighter" from the outset, but only slowly evolved into that over time. IIRC it was initially meant to be a low cost "counter-air" fighter to supplement the bigger and more expensive F-15(Hi-Low mix), but before it became operational the USAF changed the requirement somewhat wanting it to have a secondary A/G capability(sort of like with the MiG-29). This capability only evolved slowly - first with the airframe modifications introduced with the Block 15 and then further with the F-16C(from Block 25). But I guess they could have changed the designation to F/A-16 at some point along the way to denote the changing role. Edit: sniped by Revelation.

IIRC it was a requirement from the outset that the "F-18" and "A-18" had to use the same airframe with little or no modification. For this reason it was determined that the advantage of having two separate versions was lost(since compromises between A/G vs. A/A capabilities had to be made anyway), while the versatility of having both capabilities in one aircraft was an obvious advantage - especially onboard an aircraft carrier. The challenge was to integrate onboard systems and make the same aircraft sufficiently capable of both tasks. So I don't think you could say that they "got lucky"......they had to work hard for it and continued to do so throughout its service life :)

;)

Probably just a little bug in the cockpit :)

Back when they ran the state acceptance trials for the Su-33 and original MiG-29K(9.31), there was an incident in which the pilot of the first MiG-29K prototype(no. 311) for some reason accidently raised the landing gear while on the carrier - causing the aircraft to collapse onto the deck.

Yes that too of course :)

The R-27 seeker does not work with CW - needs PD illumination. Also the missile seeker does not acquire anything while its on the rail - its LOAL.

в килограммах.

Head-on yes :) - but in rear aspect, you can get much longer acquisition range for the IR seeker and... ...thats the point of the R-27T/TE - bigger motor/burn time to chase down a fleeing target, where the R-73 would run out of juice :)

INS/datalink is used to allow the missile to be launched at greater range - without it, the range would be limited to the acquisition range of the SARH seeker. The R-77 does not need a "hard lock"(going into STT mode) for launch - its an ARH weapon and can be launched from TWS. The question is the degree to which the WCS of the MiG-29S was modified for the purpose - as far as I can gather from(what little) information available, it should be possible to engage two separate targets directly from SNP-2 mode with R-77s.

It would be if that was some sort of definitive rule, but it obviously isn't :) Radar guided missiles aren't necessarily always launched at max range and it isn't uncommon for them to be used within visual range if you cannot get a good "tone" for your heatseeker. In such a scenario, where radar- and IR homing missiles are used in combination for increased PK, it makes sense to launch the IR version first.

Thats what I said mate :)

There is no really reliable information on the N019M performance(domestic or export) - only vague claims that its a bit better than the original N019 and has improved ECCM - supposedly in connection with the application of a more powerful data processor. But this is down to nitty-gritty stuff like improved signal to noise resolution - the basics of the radar(antenna type, -size and emitter output) remains the same. So its understandable if ED doesn't rush out and change the radar performance of the MiG-29S based on what someone says on the interweb :) . The N019 is called "Rubin" - the "Sapfir" name was assigned to the N003 radar(for the MiG-23). Poland does not have any MiG-29Bs - the MiG-29s they operate are a mix of aircraft they bought directly from the Soviet Union(initial ones), some they got later from the Czech Republic(in a swap deal involving Polish-built helicopters) and finally the MiG-29Gs they got from Germany....all of the Warsaw Pact 9.12A export variant(thus have the same radar). The Zhuk radars are irrelevant to the topic - they are of a completely different(more advanced) design.

^^ Yes the trailing edge flaps have a "blow back" feature - i.e. there are no locks for the down(extended) position, so at higher speed(don't know when), the flaps will be pushed up by the airstream. But I think this a protective measure - i.e. to prevent damage to the flaps. The speed brake has a similar feature. LEFs are locked both in the up and down position though.

Very nice professional presentation :) A couple of corrections if I may: 1). The instrumentations is largely identical on the "A" and "S", but there are two differences; a). the ECM panel below the AOA/G meter isn't there on the "A"(no ECM installed) b). the fuel gauge is different. However, in both cases these differences aren't currently replicated in DCS(all MiG-29 variants using the same cockpit). Hopefully this will change, so IMHO worth to mention. 2). The fuel gauge description; The empty lamps are indicating(from the top down): - External centerline tank - External wing drop tanks - Internal wing tanks - Internal tank no. 3 - Internal tank no. 1 ...which corresponds to the order in which the tanks are being depleted. There is a lot more to the functionality of the fuel gauge, but I realise that your presentation isn't meant to be "exhaustive" at this point.

Yes and in the Su-27 and Su-33 there only two buttons - push one down and the other pops up.

Well the floodlight is on - that would be like driving your car at night with the cabin light on :)

Yes and it actually has 6 different control knobs for interior lighting. Well maybe they are just in the process of implementing a new system - give them time :)

Hmm why do you think the N019 has less processing power? :) . Both radars use a combination of an analogue signal processor and a digital data processor and at least the latter is the same(Ts100) on both. The range differences you mention seem rather consistent with the difference in overall radar "power" - i.e. same output power, but with ~ 50% larger antenna area on the N001.

Ok thanks :) . I didn't find the info about the wide/narrow search mode, so I assumed that it wasn't there since the symbology looks different in the Su-27.