Tips on Landing Mig 21

[DaveRindner]

Took me some time also. Here is what works for me.

-Fuel below 1K. 700 if bringing back stores.

-Align with runway at 10km from threshhold, at 500 meters above ground, at 400kph IAS. Thats a Go-NoGo decision point. If you pass through an imaginary point 10km away from runway, 500 meters AGL , and at 400kph IAS, you are good to go. If not, correct, or go around.

-Cockpit picture of runway threshhold just above nose.

-Gradually slow aircraft down from 400 to 300kph , while keeping to the above cockpit picture. Carefully watch descent rate on variometer.

-Speed at runway threshhold of 300kph.

-Gently touch down at 290kph, with 1m/s descent rate.

-Pop the drag chute, and apply wheel breaks.

-Turn off front gear break (handle down) , release chute,and taxi aircraft to parking.

 

Approach IAS speeds of less then 290kph require higher angle of attack , which blocks runway visibility.

[Nerd1000]

With 10m/s headwind and carrier att full speed. Hopefully, someone will get offended ;)

 

Airspeed for touchdown looked like 300 km/h? That's not unreasonable if you've got low fuel and no weapons.

 

The brakes, and takeoff at 250 km/h on the other hand... that can't be right.

[SFC Tako]

Airspeed for touchdown looked like 300 km/h? That's not unreasonable if you've got low fuel and no weapons.

 

The brakes, and takeoff at 250 km/h on the other hand... that can't be right.

 

Don't forget about the headwind, 10 m/s is a LOT and from a flank speed carrier. And I didn't refuel or rearm. Brakes? I had them at max before I even set the wheels down. That chute helps too.

[Nerd1000]

Don't forget about the headwind, 10 m/s is a LOT and from a flank speed carrier. And I didn't refuel or rearm. Brakes? I had them at max before I even set the wheels down. That chute helps too.

 

I was looking at the ASI- it was at around 100 km/h when you were stationary on the deck (which is what you'd expect on a ship steaming at 30 knots into a 10 m/s headwind) and looked to be around 250 when you went over the end of the ship. On that topic, did you takeoff with full flaps engaged?

 

I'm dubious about the brakes because I reckon you'd blow out the tires by hitting the deck with them fully engaged.

[StalkerM]

The principle of landing the MIG-21 is the same as the others plane...it is only more senistive to "hard landings" so keeping a costant eye on the vertical speed indicator is crucial. The big problem with this kind of planes is the low slope of the Cl(AoA) function so you have usually a big elevetion angle that prevents you from seeing the runway...(just think about the droppable Concorde's nose). I just stand up from my chair (i have the trackIR) and i keep "overspeeding" the plane in order to keep my elevation angle low. Once i reach the runway (with a low altitude) i cut the speed ("floating the runway") and i adjust my vertical speed no a negative value to touch the runway :p :p :P

[SFC Tako]

I was looking at the ASI- it was at around 100 km/h when you were stationary on the deck (which is what you'd expect on a ship steaming at 30 knots into a 10 m/s headwind) and looked to be around 250 when you went over the end of the ship. On that topic, did you takeoff with full flaps engaged?

 

I'm dubious about the brakes because I reckon you'd blow out the tires by hitting the deck with them fully engaged.

 

Yup, full flaps on takeoff. And the brakes? Well, my tires didn't burst. BUT it could be on the account of the relatively slow landing. That chute probably saved my tires ;) But who knows really? Anyways, doing a carrier landing with the Mig-21 isn't impossible but the main thing to watch out for is the touchdown, it just HAS to be smooth or you'll damage the aircraft. The nosewheel is usually the first thing to break. Or rather, it doesn't really break but when you takeoff again you can't retract it.

 

Here's another landing where I was smart enough to have the speed showing in external mode (latter half of the clip)

[Flamin_Squirrel]

The principle of landing the MIG-21 is the same as the others plane...it is only more senistive to "hard landings" so keeping a costant eye on the vertical speed indicator is crucial. The big problem with this kind of planes is the low slope of the Cl(AoA) function so you have usually a big elevetion angle that prevents you from seeing the runway...(just think about the droppable Concorde's nose). I just stand up from my chair (i have the trackIR) and i keep "overspeeding" the plane in order to keep my elevation angle low. Once i reach the runway (with a low altitude) i cut the speed ("floating the runway") and i adjust my vertical speed no a negative value to touch the runway :p :p :P

 

Don't overspeed. It's important to keep your speed at 340-350km/h. If your speed exceeds 360km/h then the blown flaps deactivate and you lose a load of lift, resulting in reduced visability over the nose.

[Nerd1000]

Yup, full flaps on takeoff. And the brakes? Well, my tires didn't burst. BUT it could be on the account of the relatively slow landing. That chute probably saved my tires ;) But who knows really? Anyways, doing a carrier landing with the Mig-21 isn't impossible but the main thing to watch out for is the touchdown, it just HAS to be smooth or you'll damage the aircraft. The nosewheel is usually the first thing to break. Or rather, it doesn't really break but when you takeoff again you can't retract it.

 

Here's another landing where I was smart enough to have the speed showing in external mode (latter half of the clip)

 

I'm not sure that damage to the tires is properly implemented in the 21. Based on a little reading I've done since, landing with brakes engaged would definitely destroy the tires on a real aircraft.

 

On a different topic, it looks like you're running DCS 1.2. The MiG's flight model got an update in 1.5, so this might not be possible in the newer version.

[StalkerM]

Don't overspeed. It's important to keep your speed at 340-350km/h. If your speed exceeds 360km/h then the blown flaps deactivate and you lose a load of lift, resulting in reduced visability over the nose.

yes, i said "overspeeding" not overspeeding, i just keep the speed on the upper limit available :pilotfly:

[SFC Tako]

On a different topic, it looks like you're running DCS 1.2. The MiG's flight model got an update in 1.5, so this might not be possible in the newer version.

 

Yeah, old 1.2 - not flying DCS at all for the moment, waiting for the new release. But it's not like a landing on an aircraft carrier is all dependant on the brakes. If you just get the wheels down in a somewhat smooth fashion, you can deploy the chute immediatley and THEN brake.

Piece of cake.

[Nerd1000]

Yeah, old 1.2 - not flying DCS at all for the moment, waiting for the new release. But it's not like a landing on an aircraft carrier is all dependant on the brakes. If you just get the wheels down in a somewhat smooth fashion, you can deploy the chute immediatley and THEN brake.

Piece of cake.

Its more that the plane handles differently at high angle of attack in 1.5. Stalling is much more of a problem, so the low speed pullup after leaving the deck on takeoff might not be possible anymore.

[SFC Tako]

Its more that the plane handles differently at high angle of attack in 1.5. Stalling is much more of a problem, so the low speed pullup after leaving the deck on takeoff might not be possible anymore.

 

Aha, good info :thumbup:

Let's see how cocky I am after they release the final version. I hope they get things together before summer at least. Until then I fly "Rise of Flight" and "Cliffs of Dover". They're good fun but not as good as DCS.

The waiting...

[grunf]

Anyone tried to land on carrier in DCS 1.5?

 

I managed to stop on a ramp, but once I started to move backwards, I couldn't stop anymore, and fell overboard.

 

BTW, I'd never thought my first DCS carrier landing would be in MiG-21... :D

[j.sabo12]

My tips for a nice landing in the -21.

1. Get yourself on a relatively long final at about 500km/h in clean configuration.

2. Gear down, first notch of flaps, let the plane slow down to 400km/h, but not less.

3. Maintain this until short final. Full flaps. Try and maintain 400, but speed can drop down to about 380. Don't drop below this speed.

4. Passing the threshold at around 360-370 km/h.

5. This is when it becomes different from other planes. The MiG-21 has 'fans' which blow fast air over the top of the wings to make more lift. Do NOT idle the engine, but only decrease power. I decrease the power to about halfway between idle and the power setting I had on final maintaining speed.

6. Touchdown.

7. Only now, idle the engine and deploy the parachute.

8. Repeat, repeat, repeat. :D

[Grogshop]

Having set up my Xmas present - X55 Rhino - very understanding girlfriend! I took to the skies, and managed not to break the gear, or ground loop, or bust the tyres, or stall and land short in a fireball, land too long and overshoot....

 

What a sense of accomplishment, this is one difficult plane to land, but having read through some of these tips, I can now do it semi-regularly.

 

Now to land an Mi-8 without crashing and burning due to VRS....

[Flamin_Squirrel]

4. Passing the threshold at around 360-370 km/h.

 

WRONG.

 

Altitude 100m, IAS 360-340 km/h, on threshold <340 km/h.

 

5. This is when it becomes different from other planes. The MiG-21 has 'fans' which blow fast air over the top of the wings to make more lift. Do NOT idle the engine, but only decrease power. I decrease the power to about halfway between idle and the power setting I had on final maintaining speed.

 

Yes, and and the blown flaps are disabled above 360km/h; what's why you must never exceed this speed on short final.

 

Please read the manual before advising others.

[Frederf]

Borrowing from the R/W flight manual:

 

1. Respect the operating limitations outlined. They are surprisingly strict about weight, fuel, and stores for landing. The normal maximum landing weight is 6800kg which translates to 700L without weapons or 500L with up to 2 weapons and empty external tanks. SPS/BLC not functioning this is reduced to 6500kg. Provision is made for < 3% of landings to be made at up to 7300kg.

 

2. The standard approach is 2°40' glide path.

 

3. The flareout commences at not less than 330 km/h.

 

4. At 2-30m shift sight to the forward and left to observe the ground.

 

5. At 8-10m height pull stick back to discontinue descent while reducing throttle to BLC/SPS gate (it is a black fixture on the throttle quadrant that the cutoff lever sits against at ~10% throttle) until touchdown at 260-280 km/h.

 

6. Maintain the landing attitude with nearly full aft stick until rolling steadily and reduce throttle to idle and raise flaps. Lower the nose and apply braking. Use drag chute as necessary.

[SlapJudy]

Such a cool dude

Im still learning the plane its endless.