MiG-23PFM Fishtail-D

MiG-23PFM Fishtail-D Beta

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I. History

This is a "What if" plane. It was not real, but could have been it if the E-8 development line would not have been canceled in 1962.

Imagine: A lot of MiG ingenieurs did not agree with Mikoyans decision to stop the E-8 program. They made a proposal to use proven elements of the E-8 and the MiG-21PF to start a new project called E-9. Mikoyan agreed and intended to use the E-9 as gap filler till his favored project E-11, the later swing wing MiG-23 Flogger, was ready. In autumn 1963 the E-9 was ready for flight tests. It was a combination of MiG-21PF engine, wings and avionics with a new fuselage, tail and canards. The E-9 was accepted by the soviet air force in spring 1964 and entered the production line in summer 1964 as MiG-23F.

In 1966 the Soviet Air Force demanded to equip the new fighter with state of the art avionics and to increase the range. So the MiG-23 Fishtail got a bigger fuselageback fueltank, a modified vertical tail, a mirror on the canopy. Other modifications are the more powerfull R-13 engine and the Saphir-21 Radar, but in the version RP-23. It is not widely known, that the Saphir 21 was originaly developed for the E-8. Only with a smaller antenna it could be fitted in the MiG-21 as RP-22. The smaller antenna reduced the detection range of this radar by 10 km. An other welcome addition of the PF is the ability to carry one gunpod under the left wing root.

In 1970 the last and most advanced version of the Fishtail was accepted by the Soviet Air Force. New features were the R-25 engine and the big backfueltank. The combat abilities were incresed by a now internal GSha-23 gun, double short range IR missile rails and chaff flare dispensers.

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II.

Known issues. It is still a beta. I know that the flight gear movement is not perfect. I know, that the skin is only a test shot, quick and dirty. etc.

I will try to make it better as fast as possible.

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III.

CREDITS: I want to say thank you to a lot of guys who helped me with files, ideas and hints. First of all i want to say thank you to Ricardo Batalha whos MiG-21 gmax file was the basic for this bird. Thanks to EricGen, Amokfloo, Blackbird, Wrench ... for their hints and ideas. A big thanks to Paladrian for the Cockpit.

And again a big thank you to TK for the MiG-21 flight modell that i modded to make this bird.

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IV.

INSTALLATION:

-Unzip all files into your objects/aircraft folder.

Thats it

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V.

The MiG-23PFM Fishtail-D is FREEWARE. COMMERCIAL USE IS NOT ALLOWED.

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VI.

For remarks, comments, bugs, etc please use CombatAce forum or send me a PM.

Hope you enjoy it.

Michael (Gepard)

Made in Germany

March 2009