Pylon designations on MIG-21Bis

[LeCuvier]

I'm struggling a bit here: in the Mission Editor, I see position numbers 7...1 starting from left. Only 5...1 can carry weapons. By trying AA missiles I found that the cross-reference between ME positions and pylon numbers in the weapon selector (for AA missiles only)is:

 

ME position 5 1 2 4

Pylons: 3 1 2 4

 

Now what if I have R-60M x 2 in one position? How do I sub-select one of the two missiles on a pylon? Or does it automatically fire one missile at a time sequentially? Or two at a time?

 

Unfortunately the current manual seems to give very little information about weapons.

[grunf]

IIRC you can't fire two missiles at once from the same pylon. If you want to fire two missiles simultaneously, select appropriate pylons. In this case 3-4.

Also, if you have multiple missiles on a pylon I don't think you can chose which one to fire.

[Hadwell]

You can only fire 1 missile at a time, if you select 3-4 it will alternate between the left and right pylons, one missile per trigger press, keeps it symmetrical.

if you just select just 3 or just 4, you can fire both from one...

Edited September 4, 2015 by Hadwell

[kingfish]

Dont think of the 2x R-60 as two missiles, think of it as a single missile that you can shoot twice. Select pylon 3 (for example) and shoot just like you had a single R-60 on there. except now if you select pylon 3 again, you can fire again. or you can select 3-4 and ripple R-60's, which is fun, if not entirely practical.

 

As a related issue, the fact that the aircraft refers to pylons 1 2 3 and 4 but the ME and the Refuel & Rearm menu refer to them with slightly different numbers has always bothered me and might be worth a fix. (or maybe just a mod? shouldn't be too hard to change those numbers around on the R&R menu).

[Demon_]

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-uSpZROuEd3d0NuYzJfbWFnblU&authuser=0 Page 54

"4) Select appropriate missile pylon (example: R-60M IR missile on outer left pylon, select pylon 3).

NOTE: 1-2 and 3-4 fire 2 missiles in quick succession."

 

DCS World/Mods/aircraft/MIG-21bis/Doc/DCS MiG-21bis EN/page 129

"You can choose either to launch missiles in pairs (positions 1-2, 3-4) or from individual launchers."

[Demon_]

Dont think of the 2x R-60 as two missiles, think of it as a single missile that you can shoot twice.

 

2 missiles in one pylon. Page 53: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-uSpZROuEd3d0NuYzJfbWFnblU&authuser=0

[PiedDroit]

2 missiles in one pylon. Page 53: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-uSpZROuEd3d0NuYzJfbWFnblU&authuser=0

True... but kingfish is right, the weapon system sees this as a single missile that is shot twice.

[Demon_]

As long as the total weight is good. 129 lbs per missile, 11 lbs for the extra rack.

[Chrinik]

Left hand is odd numbers starting from smallest (1, then 3 outboard), right hand is even number starting from smallest (2, then 4 outboard)

 

If you select pylons 1-2 and 3-4 and DON´T fire both missles, there is a high chance the second missle will jam and not respond to launch commands.

 

You can launch two missles simultaneously by using the tactical launch button. This will force launch everything attached to the selected pylons. Including IR missles with or without a lock.

 

But the missles tend to slam together if they don´t go for different targets.

 

And always remember, R-60 has less smoketrail then R-60M, use for stealthy attacks.

[BeachAV8R]

This might help..a graphic I made for an upcoming PC Pilot article..(this excludes the Kh-66, nuclear weapons, and gunpods):

 

 

BeachAV8R

[kmstewart64]

Very nice BeachAV8R!

[Aginor]

Yep, I might even print that and put it in my kneeboard. :D

[QuiGon]

If I forget which pylon is where I just take a quick look at the stores status board (or what ever it's called. The one behind the stick with the green messages), because there it shows the pylon designations by name. ;)

[Hadwell]

I use my hat switch on my stick...

 

left is outside left, up is inside left, down is inside right, right is outside right.... that way the inner two buttons are inner pylons 1-2, outer two buttons are outer pylons 3-4.

Edited September 7, 2015 by Hadwell

[GregP]

As no one specifically mentioned it, I just wanted to point out that there is a logic to the numbering of the pylons (in the cockpit), even if it's a poor one. :) The numbering is hierarchical, progressing from inner to outer while alternating sides:

 

Thus, start on inner left = 1

Inner right = 2

Outer left = 3

Outer right = 4

 

It is indeed frustrating how the R&R and ME armament screens use a different logic. I tend to just ignore those numbers, as the only ones you'll actually need when flying are the in-cockpit ones.