MiG-31 has an unused pylon on each wing

[Sérvalpilot]

On either wing of the MiG-31 there's a pylon that can't have anything mounted on it.

These pylons don't show up in the editor/mission planner.
Before the .lua files were locked, modders were able to make these pylons usable, but guess what? Now we can't do that!

[silverdevil]

Going out on a limb. I think that pylon is not functional IRL plane. Some sort of stabilization piece? I looked through lots of real photos and never anything mounted except for a little pod in later versions.

[some1]

These are the pylons for droptanks, which do not exist in the game. AFAIK these were not used to carry any weapons.

The later 'M' models are a different matter.

[Sérvalpilot]

I checked the model viewer and, sure enough, they show up as connectors.

 

On 11/4/2021 at 9:22 PM, silverdevil said:

Going out on a limb. I think that pylon is not functional IRL plane. Some sort of stabilization piece?

That would be an interesting design choice...

[evanf117]

its used for R-73's and maybe R-77's as far as im aware, also drop tanks
 
 
alot of the time it is removed tho

Edited November 8, 2021 by evanf117

[some1]

1 hour ago, evanf117 said:

its used for R-73's and maybe R-77's as far as im awar

In the M models, which are a different thing. 

[Sérvalpilot]

Interesting...

So what's the model or variant of the MiG-31 we see in DCS?

[Northstar98]

On 11/11/2021 at 5:10 PM, Sérvalpilot said:

Interesting...

So what's the model or variant of the MiG-31 we see in DCS?

I'm fairly sure it's a baseline MiG-31 (iz. 01DZ - DZ denoting capable of aerial refuelling) as used by the Russian VVS, circa 1992, the armament certainly fits (just missing the drop tanks, which I think are 2250 L) and it has a refuelling probe.

Historical mode tells us nothing (it's available before its first flight, let alone its introduction date), it's also available for the USSR, which isn't strictly accurate to my knowledge (Soviet VVS and V-PVO MiG-31 (iz. 01) didn't have a refuelling probe, but are otherwise identical).

One thing is for sure, it's definitely not a MiG-31M:

• It has a 3-piece front canopy section, whereas the M has a 1 piece.
• Refuelling probe is on the left, on the M it's on the right.
• It has a GSh-23-6 present, the M doesn't have an internal gun AFAIK.
• Armament is missing (R-37, R-77).

I swear I've seen BM mentioned in a .lua file somewhere, but owing to the armamant, I'm inclined me more towards a baseline MiG-31 (iz. 01DZ) as operated by the Russian VVS.

Edited November 21, 2021 by Northstar98