Mig-23M Fighter Cockpit (First Mass Production Version) with working Mig-23M HUD V1.5

This is the SFP1 series cockpit (version 1.3) for the first mass produced Mig-23 version, the Mig-23M of the Mirage factory. Download the Mig-23 package here:

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=5211

 

Mig-23M cockpit additions made by Richard "Pitts2A" Ordway, Starfighter2, lindr2. Thanks to Armour Dave and Sal for the cockpit

 

For SFP1 series. For Mirage Factory Mig-23ML. You need the latest patch updates from Thirdwire. Tested on Windows XP and not Vista. However it might work on Vista too.

 

This is the Mig-23M cockpit in a very dark Russian green color (from photos)and modded to the Mig-23M standard from Armourdave and Sal's Mig-23 powder blue-colored cockpit.

 

I repainted it and added some details, placards, new switches and instruments from color photos.

 

Starfighter, with massive help from Lindr2, made the brilliant,indespensible Mig-23 M-specific HUD while I had hit a brick wall trying to make an accurate Mig-23 HUD work. They also made the new avionics.ini.

 

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_184.shtml

 

The Mig-23M first flew on June 1972 around the time of the Viet Nam War.

 

It was produced from 1972-1978 and reportedly had a total of more than 1,300 planes built.

 

Its avionics suite was improved over the preproduction Mig-23S (Flogger A) and was probably the first VVS fighter to have limited look-down/shoot-down capabilities and be effective in the BVR (beyond visual range)environment.

 

It's radar, when working, was reportedly generally equal to the F-4J's.

In actual air-air combat against a well trained enemy, the Mig-23 proved it was historically capable of killing other maneuvering and aware fighters.

 

However, it had such maneuvering restictions that dogfighting was almost suicide.

 

IN SFP1, I find, that if you stay fast at treetop level, you can pop up and dispatch even an occasional F-16 and be away before you get killed.

 

Thanks to Armour Dave and Sal for the cockpit.

Thanks to Starfighter2, lindr2 for the Mig-23ML HUD which has stymied modelers until now that I know of.

Thanks to the Mirage factory for the Mig-23ML downloadable as a pack from combatace in the pack called Mirage Factory MiG-23 "Flogger" Series.

 

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=5211

 

If I forgot anyone, I appologize and please tell me.

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The Mig-23 had incredible strengths and incredible weaknesses.

 

WEAKNESSES: For weaknesses, most Mig-23s never could turn or roll very well compared to its enemies and had very heavy controls. Its roll was hurt by its control system (spoilers and a diferential tail and the disconnection of spoilers at any but 16 degrees).

 

In close in combat it was a deathtrap because unless the pilot stayed within certain tight maneuvering limits, it would often lose control and simply crash. Its cockpit visiblility was one of the worst of any fighter. Visibility is life in a dogfight.

 

It had slushy controls in many areas of its flight regime and its nose would often hunt back and forth. Its unpredictable accelerated stall was often taking ones life into ones hands if attempted. It also had the typical Soviet disadvantage of a very short range. There are reports of its radar not working much of the time and it often not being mission ready.

 

It is hard to use an aircraft if it is not working.

 

Red Eagles, Steve Davies "Flying the Mig-23"

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=6yJ8gfVAm...lt&resnum=4

 

It is true that later versions had much improved handling/systems. However, I understand that maneuvering limits still existed.

 

http://dewarbirdracing.com/Airplanes/MiG23...87/Default.aspx

 

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/vie...20-%200508.html

 

STRENGTHS: For advantages, it had one of the best accelerations of any frontline fighter with its swing-wing swept back (even by today's standards).

It was incredibly fast at tree top level and could sustain that high speed at low level whereas most other fighters had such a rough low-level ride as to be unsustainable.

 

Another advantage was its incredible climb rate (for its time) of around 45,000 feet/min ("Fighters", Mike Spick). In other words, it was well suited as an interceptor.

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Directions:

 

1) Back up your Mig-23M folder .

 

2) Now secondly download this other additional Mig-23 package from the Mirage Factory and install it (the Mig-23M will not work without it):

http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?autoc...p;showfile=5211

 

2) Just put this whole filefolder Mig-23M contents into the Mig-23M aircraft folder .

 

3) When asked to overwrite say yes.

 

Enjoy!

 

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Version 1.1- I added some warning lights on the main dash and subtracted the threat panel. I subtracted the warning light panel on the side panel and put in a warning panel as per photos. Finally, I added a round threat panel on the far right. The change is quite remarkable for accuracy.

 

Version 1.2- I made the directions more clear thanks to user feedback. I added one more panel according to photos.

 

Version 1.3- I added an .ini so that it would be easier to install with the .70 avionics already included. I upgraded the radar to the later Sapfir-23D-III radar (the Mig-23 apparently had three versions of differing strength).

 

Version 1.4 -I added knobs under the warning light panels after refining techniques from the Mig-27 series cockpits.

 

Version 1.5- I redid the avionics.ini because some people were having problems with the HUD appearing.