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#4000345 - 08/24/14 06:38 PM MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy]  
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,674
EinsteinEP Offline
Just a Noob
EinsteinEP  Offline
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Senior Member

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Tucson, AZ
DISCLAIMER: This AAR was generated from a pre-release product and may not reflect the final release.

Scramble! An unknown aircraft has entered our airspace and me and an AI pilot have been rushed to our waiting MiG-21bis's to intercept. The ROE is weapons hold until further orders.



Even though this mission starts me out hot in the cockpit on the runway, ready to roll, I take a moment to orient myself with the gauges and cockpit settings. The RSBN is set to the wrong channel so I look up Nalchik (08) and quickly tune the dial. This way if there's an emergency after takeoff I'll have my bearings.



Flaps are set, engine is purring nicely, there's plenty of fuel (almost 4,000 liters with the external tank on centerline), and two sets of semi-active radar missiles on the wings. The weapons are hot, not a practice I recommend while on the ground, but the config switches are set for IR, not semi-active radar. I leave them for now, expecting I will have at least a few minutes before I need to use them.



My AI wingman starts to roll with me as I apply throttle...



...and quickly rockets past me in his eagerness to get airborne. <sigh> Silly AI.



Once I'm up with some knots and feet, I lift the gear and, while raising the flaps, call into AWACS to get the latest info on the intruder.



256° at 110 KM gives me plenty of intercept time, so I opt for the MIL burn climb and begin my left turn to an intercept course. I'm not sure what the best climb parameters are for the MiG-21bis, so I shoot for 500 knots.



Even at MIL power this baby can climb. I fence in and keep an eye on the systems as I make a routine climb.



With plenty of time to go, there's no excuse for being unprepared so I make several rounds around the cockpit, ensuring the pylon power switches are on, the weapons config is correct, and I even test the RWR to ensure it's operational and the volume is set accordingly.



Another call to AWACS puts me at 70 km from the target and he's drifting to my left so I check left another 10 degrees. 70 km is getting close, so I check the weapons settings yet again - master arm is hot, pylons 1-2 and 3-4 are on, the missile mode is set to semi-active radar, pylons 1 and 2 are active (double-shot to ensure the intruder goes down), and the ASP is in rockets/missile mode, shooting calculations enabled, and automatic ranging. The reticule input is slaved to the missile (as opposed to internal gyros), and the brightnessess are all set to appropriate levels.



Shoot to Kill.
Play to Have Fun.
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#4000346 - 08/24/14 06:39 PM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,674
EinsteinEP Offline
Just a Noob
EinsteinEP  Offline
Just a Noob
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,674
Tucson, AZ
Fenced in and weapons ready, I look out the window and catch the enemy plane's contrail. Being able to actually see the enemy's position enables me to visually adjust for an intercept course, but I still can't estimate range very well (the feat is possible, I'm just not very good at it!), so I still make regular calls to AWACS for range while maintaining my climb.



Even at 45km out the target (which is an unarmed and unescorted single F-5E apparently performing some recon) appears oblivious to our approaching flight. I credit the fact that we've been radar silent the entire flight and the enemy doesn't appear to have AWACS or the ability to detect or track our position from our radio communications. Not the most brilliant strategy on the part of our enemy but in war you take whatever advantage you can.



The call comes in, the target has been confirmed hostile and our flight has been cleared to engage. I check weapon settings and engine parameters yet again.



With still over 3,000 liters of fuel and being close enough to the prey that I can almost smell him, I punch in the afterburner to race towards acquisition range of my Sapfir radar.



Thirty kilometers out, racing at Mach 1.0 (750 km/hr indicated) and the target is still tracking a straight line. 30 km is still beyond the detection capability of the Sapfir, however, so the radar stays in standby mode.



I had planned to leave the radar off until 18 km range, but when AWACS informs me the bogey is 22 km out I get impatient and flick the radar on. It only takes a moment but the enemy plane is acquired and painted on the radar screen right almost where I expected him. I slew the radar cursor as far up as I can in range but the target is just out of tracking range - my impatience has alerted my target to our presence before I reached engagement parameters. My stomach sinks and I wonder just how much this mistake will cost me.



The target, now aware of our presence, breaks and dives, trying to flee back to friendly territory. Here I hope my superior speed advantage will still allow me to make the kill.



I bank with the target, starting to lead his turn and close the distance but I'm realize I'm just within tracking range. So, instead, I fall back to a pure pursuit geometry to keep my nose (thus radar) pointed directly at him as the distance closes.



Lock! The Sapfir reaches across the distance and grabs firm hold of the fleeing aircraft with its electronic grapple and the radar display switches to a C-scope style display showing a nose-eye view of the target. I keep the "bird" (the upside T shape that represents the target location) centered on the display to maximize the radar's ability to maintain track. I don't know if this is actual an effective practice or not, but it appears to work for me.



As we close on the target, my MiG-21bis continues to accelerate, approaching Mach 1.2, and the range lines on the radar scope begin to spread out, approaching the vertical launch zone marker ticks - it takes great willpower and self-discipline to keep my thumb from hovering over the weapon release button.


Last edited by EinsteinEP; 08/24/14 11:06 PM. Reason: C-scope, not B-scope

Shoot to Kill.
Play to Have Fun.
#4000348 - 08/24/14 06:40 PM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,674
EinsteinEP Offline
Just a Noob
EinsteinEP  Offline
Just a Noob
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,674
Tucson, AZ
I frequently look up from the scope to ensure the target isn't jinking or otherwise maneuvering.



Once the range has closed adequately, both the launch and the missile ready lamps light up, telling me I'm within parameters.


"I have you now!"

I press and hold the pickle button...and, at the perfect time, the radar lock is broken and the missile launch sequence is aborted.



It's a quick matter the bring the radar cursor down and relock the target.



And then it's launch time! I press and hold the pickle button. A second later missile one streaks off of its pylon...



...followed shortly after by missile number two.



Both missiles track true...



...and impact the target in short sequence. There is no chute.



There are no other targets in the area so I ease the throttle back to MIL power and set the Sapfir back to standby. The mission commander informs me I should expect an enemy response to our action. With still no clear threats nearby I continue my turn for home but keep watching my RWR for any indication of an enemy search radar.



As I line up on the RSBN bearing to Nalchik, I check my fuel status - the center external tank is empty, but there's still more than 2,000 liters in the internal tanks - plenty to get home.


Last edited by EinsteinEP; 08/24/14 06:54 PM. Reason: more spelings

Shoot to Kill.
Play to Have Fun.
#4000349 - 08/24/14 06:41 PM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,674
EinsteinEP Offline
Just a Noob
EinsteinEP  Offline
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Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,674
Tucson, AZ
For an efficient descent, I enable the "cloud penetration" mode of the RSBN which will give me vertical descent cues as well as heading.



Suddenly my wingman calls out a spike to our 8 o'clock. How he can get that kind of precision on the 4-direction RWR of the MiG-2bis I'll never know, but I put a call into our AWACS to see where the incoming bogies are at. My RWR remains silent.



The enemy aircraft are 80 km away to our left rear quarter. With our tail aspect and rapidly penetrating friendly air-defenses, I'm not terribly concerned.



Even with enemy aircraft inbound with my blood on their minds, I can't help but enjoy the scenery out the cockpit.





I've reached the recommended descent slope from the RSBN navigation equipment, so I push the nose over to match the commanded descent rate. I'm aiming for geometry that will put me on an intersection of the tower midfield perpendicular to the active runway where I can either enter a right base for runway 24 or left base for runway 06.



Not having heard anything from my wingman or AWACS for a few minutes, I call for another picture and am relieved to hear that the enemy aircraft have turned cold. The uncertain part of the mission is over, now I just need to land the aircraft and go fill out reports.



I use the RSBN to navigate to about 1000m field altitude and angle my course to overfly the airfield perpendicular to my desired runway. I will use the RSBN "box" feature to control my traffic pattern from there on. I set my radio to Nalchik ATC (channel 14) and get clearance into the pattern. The QFE they read me is in different units than my altimeter, so I decide to leave it as it and rely on visual confirmation. [edit: 28.44inHg is about 722 torr and my altimeter was set for a little over 760!]


Last edited by EinsteinEP; 08/24/14 06:55 PM. Reason: spellign

Shoot to Kill.
Play to Have Fun.
#4000350 - 08/24/14 06:41 PM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,674
EinsteinEP Offline
Just a Noob
EinsteinEP  Offline
Just a Noob
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,674
Tucson, AZ
I overfly the airfield nearly midfield and perpendicular to the active runway. The pattern is clear.



At 4 km past the runway centerline I make the turn to downwind and drop the gear and flaps.



When the tail of the station bearing needle on the NPP gets to the "3" marker on the inner dial, I make my base turn.



Similarly, I turn to final when the needle hits the "4" shortly after. This is all covered really well in the Navigation tutorials. During the turn, I perform a quick check of status: gear is green, flaps are down, airspeed is good, fuel is good...



At the outer marker I drop the final set of flaps, adjust pitch to maintain my approach airspeed, and fine-tune my descent rate with the throttle. At this point in the game, small and subtle changes are key to a smooth approach.



Touchdown is a bit harder than I've come to expect in Western aircraft, but MiG sticks to the ground.



The high landing speed and relatively short field at Nalchik requires the use of both the drag chute and the wheelbrakes.



The unevetful landing is followed by an uneventful taxi back to parking with the sun and a satellite communication dish recreating a famous desert scene with twin setting suns.



After a quick shutdown I decide that maybe those reports can wait until I've had a chance to take a quick shower. And maybe hit the O club for a few "relaxants".



<sigh> What a job!

Last edited by EinsteinEP; 08/24/14 06:56 PM. Reason: i kannot spelle welle todya

Shoot to Kill.
Play to Have Fun.
#4000382 - 08/24/14 07:42 PM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,365
Stratos Offline
Hotshot
Stratos  Offline
Hotshot

Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,365
Amposta, Spain
Excellent AAR!! Thanks a lot!!


-Sir in case of retreat, were we have to retreat??
-To the Graveyard!!

sandbagger.uk.com/stratos.html
#4000425 - 08/24/14 09:44 PM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,743
HeinKill Offline
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HeinKill  Offline
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Cloud based
Great report! Pity the prey had no teeth!


[Linked Image]
#4000470 - 08/24/14 11:35 PM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 220
Cobra847 Offline
Member
Cobra847  Offline
Member

Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 220
This, this here makes it all worth it. smile

Excellent AAR!


Director | Art Director

Heatblur Simulations
#4000554 - 08/25/14 06:20 AM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,710
Legend Offline
Legsie is such a
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Legsie is such a
Hotshot

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Posts: 9,710
Zutphen, NL / ShangHai, China
Great AAR!

...and very happy to read all will be explained in the tutorials.


There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the universe is for it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more inexplicable.
There is another theory which states that this has already happened.
#4000571 - 08/25/14 09:34 AM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 96
Duke911 Offline
Schlappeseppel
Duke911  Offline
Schlappeseppel
Junior Member

Joined: Jul 2010
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Hessen/ Germany
Great AAR thanks.

Last edited by Duke911; 08/27/14 04:11 PM.
#4000614 - 08/25/14 12:57 PM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,204
DrZebra Offline
crash-professional
DrZebra  Offline
crash-professional
Member

Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,204
steppe
nice detailed AAR, the 21 really looks good in DCS

#4000696 - 08/25/14 03:30 PM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,429
enigma6584 Offline
Senior Member
enigma6584  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,429
Wisconsin, USA
Fantastic AAR! Sure looks to be a beautiful module. The radar system looks like it is going to take some study to learn.

#4000821 - 08/25/14 09:22 PM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 243
weeksy Offline
Member
weeksy  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 243
Maidstone, Kent
Great AAR - I'd lost interest in DCS, but this looks like a module to get me back in. Thanks for taking the time to produce it.

#4001561 - 08/27/14 02:04 PM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 24,314
BeachAV8R Offline
Lifer
BeachAV8R  Offline
Lifer

Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 24,314
KCLT
Nice job on the AAR. It really is a fun airplane to explore.

BeachAV8R



#4001695 - 08/27/14 09:29 PM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 8,771
Para_Bellum Offline
Oberkriegkaboomführer
Para_Bellum  Offline
Oberkriegkaboomführer
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Posts: 8,771
Germany
Excellent AAR and screeshots, thanks!


"...late afternoon the Air Tasking Order came in [and] we found the A-10 part and we said, "We are going where!? We are doing what!?"

Capt. Todd Sheehy, Hog pilot, on receiving orders during Operation Desert Storm

#4001711 - 08/27/14 10:06 PM Re: MiG-21bis Instant Action: Intercept! [screenshot heavy] [Re: EinsteinEP]  
Joined: Apr 2013
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Derby Offline
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Derby  Offline
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That was a good read, thanks wink


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