The MiG-21 is great, but...

[Fred00]

There's no denying that Leatherneck have done an outstanding job on this module. I love everything from how it feels to fly to the amazing cockpit (which is the best in DCS at the moment in my mind).

 

However, I find this to be an extremely difficult plane to put to use. The systems are not the hard part. They're easier than the A-10C. No, the hard part is to use the plane effectively in the following areas:

 

Navigation: I have problems following a route during a mission. Of course you can prepare carefully before a mission which headings to fly and for how long, and how far from RSBN stations you should switch heading etc. I feel there must be a better way though. If I encounter action along the route I'm easily thrown off and my pre-mission notes are no longer useful.

 

Locating targets: Finding ground targets with labels turned off seems almost impossible. In the A-10C you have the TGP and can scout the terrain at a comfortable height, but how do you do it in the MiG? Sniffing the tree tops feels quite dangerous in many cases...

 

Do you have any tips to give to a novice? :)

[kingfish]

Well, unfortunately a both of these problems are a result of the fact that the MiG-21 is from a different era than modern fighters, before fancy nav computers and targeting pods. But here's my best advice:

 

Navigation: The first option is just cheating. I forget the command, but there's a button that marks your current position on the kneeboard map. Cheaty-cheaty for sure, but at least you won't get lost.

 

The way that it was done in real life was with dead reckoning and using angles and ranges to RSBN beacons. This is tough to get the hang of, but kinda cool once you do (or at least I think it is). If you can plan your missions so that you're moving along RSBN radials, that is super helpful, cause then you can input the heading on your HSI and select the right beacon, and the indicators on your artificial horizon will tell you what to do to get back on track. I'm sure others have better advice than I do.

 

Locating Targets: Yeah, its tough. especially when they're tiny or similar colors to the ground or they're hiding somewhere. If you can, study the target area for landmarks so that once you're in the combat area you can orient yourself via noticeable things on the ground. Fly around (out of range, if possible), bind something to zoom in/out, and try to get an idea of where things are and where they are going in the area before starting any attack runs. I don't know if you can chat with JTAC in a MiG-21, but if they're there, use that. The MiG-21 was designed with heavy GCI in mind for air combat, and it wouldnt surprise me if it was similar for ground attack.

 

Though given the nature of the MiG-21, I suspect it's ground attack role was less intended for CAS and more intended for a high-speed strike. Like, a building or a ship or a factory where you can study the map and get a good idea of where the target is and the best approach vectors, zip in at high speed, pop up, blast away until you run out of ammo, then duck back down and zip out.

 

 

Anyways, I'm realizing after typing this that I don't know if anything here will really be that helpful. But rest assured, that stuff is kinda tricky in a MiG-21 because most of the technology we solve that problem with today just didn't exist. Practice, Practice.

[Justin Case]

The best way is often to fly visually using the F10 map, looking out and comparing the DCS World to the map.

[HugePanic]

Navigation:

Locating targets:

 

Do you have any tips to give to a novice? :)

 

This is the real reason I fly the MIG more than any other planes!

 

 

Just take your time, do the preparation, write the notes. Make some sketches...

 

In the end, when you come back home with a (nearly) empty tank and a successfull mission, it feels much better then waypoint clicking in the A-10.

 

After some missions you won't get lost, since you check your heading and position all the time.

[King_Hrothgar]

It's an old plane that uses old fashioned navigation. You can navigate to airports and a few other locations via radio navigation, but everything else is best done with a simple map, compass and Mk.I eyeball.

[TJTAS]

Well also DCS represents a very empty world. In the real aircraft you would be mostly controlled from the ground. GCI, ATC etc, While there are some scripts to simulate parts of this it is not a dynamic living environment.

[Fred00]

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess it's just a matter of going out there and put some hours into training. It will take a lot of time to be good at this but that's the beauty of it anyway. :)

[Justin Case]

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess it's just a matter of going out there and put some hours into training. It will take a lot of time to be good at this but that's the beauty of it anyway. :)

 

Yes but it's rewarding and those skills carries over to every module for DCS!

[marluk]

I'm also learning MiG-21 now. Indeed those tasks are the most challenging parts of flying this plane.

As I've found at this point, MiG-21 is made for GCI tactic in mind. So, both navigation and target finding are directed from the ground.

Of course, you can follow RSBN beacons but what if they don't exists in mission area? Between briefing and the time you arrive on battlefield, situation is probably different than you expect.

Anyhow, due aircraft limitations, and lack of simulated specialized ground units that would coordinate MiG-21 missions, I think it is justified to use cheat (F10) :)