Phantom II wrote:

I believe you hit the nail right on the head. Let’s not forget that the centerline tank of the MiG-29 also has to be dropped before the gun is fired – otherwise the spent casings can’t be ejected.

That`s not entirely true. This is a known design flaw solved with the 351.batch produced in 1990. All earlier built fulcrums might be modified or revised in accordance to that upgrade bulletin.

M

I think this has to do with difference in maximum allowed and practical loadout configurations used by various air foces. For instance, a typical configuration of Slovak AF MiG-29s is just one R-27R plus two R-73s. Plus none of the official practically used loadout schemes includes R-60s and R-73s at the same time, even if producer allows such configuration.

There is a “practical” weapon loadout scheme given by the manufacturer which applies to any airforce. Realize that any change in loadout scheme (e.g. asymmetrical loads) affects the c.g. position during a flight and have to be approved at first. Then there exist loadouts for advertising to show variety of weapons carried. This includes for example the known A2A missile combo of R-27,R-73,R-60 for the Mig-29 which would never work in combat or the R-27T carried on underfuselage pylons of the Su-27 and surely it applies to the Mig-23BN demonstrator with those RED dummy bombs. Why are you still doubting it?
Anyway, how long haven`t you been at Sliac? Show me a photo of this typical configuration of Slovak AF Mig-29. thanks

I think I can safely send the claim about no fuselage pylons being occupied while centreline tank is fitted to history now. Here is a list of what you can hand on fuselage pylons together with PTB-800 tank fitted on centreline (counts for MiG-23MF/ML, so we can safely assume that MiG-23BN is very similar here)

2x R-3S (R-13M)
4x R-60 on dual adapters
2x S-24B 240mm rockets
2x UB-16/57UMP 57mm rocket pods with 16 launchers
2x UB-32A/57 57mm rocket pods (the bulkier ones containing 32 launchers)
1x DELTA NM guidance pod for Kh-23 missile
2x AB-100 100kg bombs

I have these three pics of the MiG-23BN prototype No 321 carrying red-painted AB-250s together with PTB-800 but please, reckon that 250kg bombs together with PTB-800 on centreline are NOT listed among official loadout schemes, at least for MF/ML. Maybe it has proven as impractical during operational life, who knows?

Please do not be stubborn about this one and believe me. Flex, your Mig-23MF/ML stores list is incorrect in relation to the S-24B, UB-32 and the AB-100 bombs. Here you can convince yourself, I translated the Mig-23MF external stores variants diagram(source:a/c documentation) to english for other readers.
I say it again but last time, no bombs were allowed on fuselage pylons when centerline fuel tank attached to the Mig-23BN. Only the 2xUB-16 blocks were allowed, not the UB-32 and S-24 rockets. AFAIK the R-3S missiles have not been used with Mig-23BN at all, nor the R-60. Some airforces might upgrade to the R-60 lately, but doubt that. At last a Warsaw pact Mig-23BN doesn`t need to carry the DELTA NM guidance pod to launch the Ch-23M.
Martinez

Thanks for clarification on the MER’s……but what about single stores while carrying a centerline fuel tank.

Nothing!!!

Obviously Aphid missiles can be carried with a centerline tank…..and those pictures show a MiB-23B (or BN) carrying bombs of at least 250-kg on the fuselage stations while carrying a centerline tank…..how do you explain that picture?

Hmm, Aphid on the Mig-23BN??? This guided missile not included in the BN weapon inventory, unless an upgrade. Anyway, show me!!!

…and those pictures show a MiB-23B (or BN) carrying bombs of at least 250-kg on the fuselage stations while carrying a centerline tank…..how do you explain that picture?

advertisement photos showing weapon loads, show me again.

Hi Sainz, I`m interested in high-res detailed cockpit pictures of Bulgarian Migs-21MF,R and others. I can provide you with the same but from Czechoslovak airforce. I need them for a research(in detail comparisons, panel changes introduced in 70,80-ies). thanks for any help.

M

MiG-21MFR

It was a unic version, served only in Bulgaria.

After the retirement of the old MiG-21Rs, Bulgaria modified some MiG-21MFs.
They removed the gun, and installed the recce equipment to the MF.
It called MiG-21MFR.

-15, -17, -19, -21, -23, -25, -27, 29, -31…. Why are they all odd??? Anyone, Anyone?

Geez the only even one is the vaunted “MiG-28”! :dev2:

Beer makes me think hard about critically important topics such as this…

You should be ashamed of your beer thoughts submiting them here without searching the internet first. 😉 This came out easily when searching the web, please do not bother me with translation.

Приказом НКО № 0365 от 26.12.1940 г. введено новое наименование боевых самолетов (по сокращенным фамилиям главных конструкторов с нечетными порядковыми номерами для истребителей, четными — для бомбардировщиков ). Истребители Яковлева — Як-1, -3, -5; Микояна и Гуревича — МиГ-1, -3; Лавочкина, Горбунова и Гудкова — ЛаГГ-1, -3; бомбардировщики Петлякова — Пе-2; Ермолаева — Ер-2; Яковлева — Як-2, -4; Сухого — Су-2; Архангельского — Ар-2; Ильюшина — Ил-2.

Some further explanations on this web site
link
Во время гражданской войны в России, большинство самолетов были пестрой коллекцией иностранных типов без какой-либо российской системы обозначений. В 1923 г. Советское правительство издало распоряжение, упорядочивающее обозначение самолетов в соответствии с выполняемыми ими функциями (Р – разведчик, И – истребитель, Б – бомбардировщик, У – учебный ), в то время как гражданские самолеты обозначались по инициалам конструктора или организации, для которой они предназначались. Эта схема работала до 1940 г., когда был введен новый порядок обозначений самолетов по имени Главного конструктора конструкторского бюро, в котором создавался самолет. Для самолетов, передаваемых в серийное производство ВВС и ГВФ устанавливают дополнительные служебные обозначения, например для истребителей используются только нечетные номера. Некоторые обозначения дублировались, то есть одни и те же обозначения давались разным аппаратам, в основном экспериментальным.

regards
M

Well, those diagrams do not have enough resolution for us to read the numbers and letters, so no, those diagrams really do not help!

Ohhh, is this not enough resolution??? What are the numbers and letters which cause you the headache?

I why can the MiG-27M not carry the KAB-500L?

The Mig-27K has been equiped with the LTVPS KAIRA system which was very maintenance demanding device, but very unique during that time(the 70s). The Kaira included the laser range finder and the laser designator slaved with the TV(vidikon type) target recognizing system. Note, the KAIRA was able to track the target in the back hemispere what enabled to drop laser guided bombs. The simplified and more maintenance friendly FON system was then developed, fitted into Mig-27M,D and exported abroad. The FON (later KLEN-PS) laser range finder was only able to look forward, therefore limited to use with laser guided missiles. IIRC ,the Mig-27K with KAIRA should have never been exported, so the capability to perform precision strikes on ground targets remained for the Soviet VVS only.

M