Gepard

I made some remarks to show which recon pod belongs to East Germans and which to the Polish. It could be, that the polish pods based on UB-32 pod, while the east german pods were modified UB-16.

The small fin sensors on the pitot tube are AoA sensors of the aiming device for the gun. Since the MiG-21RF had had no gun, so they were useless, thatswhy the "clean" pitot tube. The small wing pods, you mention, are a good argument. But the wings are interchangable between MiG-21 versions. In the LSK (East German Air Force) we had exactly one MiG-21UM with the wings of the MiG-21MF (2 hardpoints each wing), while all other Sparkas had 1 hardpoint per wing. What me makes thinking, that teh egyptian MiG-21RF are modified MiG-21MF is the engine. They had R-13F-300 engines. The guy, who made the upper photo said, that he was able, during his visit in the ukrainian repar facility in Odessa, to have a look in the engine tube and he realized, that it was a R-13, not an R-11. IIRC, i have heared, that it was nearly impossible to fit a R-13 in the fuselage of a MiG-21 of the first and second generation, because parts of the engine were located at other positions. And the MiG-21R was a plane of the second MiG-21 generation. On the other hand the egyptians were tricky guys. Perhaps they have found a way to make the impossible possible. It's confusing.

I'm not sure wheter the egyptian RF were modified R. It could be, that it are modified MF. The camera pack is installed at the place, which originally was used by the GSha-23 gun and the ammo storage of the gun. EDIT: I have searched a german forum about the MiG-21RF. There i found, that only 12 planes were built. The camera pack was not installed at the place of the GScha-23 gun, but at the place of the akku (battery) package. The akkus were relocated to somewhere in cockpit area. The engine was definitly the R-13F-300. Here a photo of an RF, which i found in the net, at an ukrainian aircraft factory in 1990th (i think it was in that timeframe). It was there for overhaul and repair.

For me it seems to be, that the print is a description how the GSh-23 gun is fitted under the belly of a MiG-21M or later fighter version. Maybe i'm wrong, but if i'm right, then could part 1 be the steel plate, that protects the fuselage from muzzle flash.

Only short. The blade antenna on the aft spine is not a sure distinctive object. There are some older MiG-21 trainers, which were refitted with this antenna. Here a MiG-21U with this antenna: A sure distinctive object of the MiG-21UM is a AoA sensor on the left side of the nose.

Hunters over Guernsey

I have started to place TOD objects (trees, houses) on Guernsey tiles. Two tiles are done, many others have to be done. On the right side, the TOD's are already set, on the left side you see the "empty" tiles.

Pictures of the MG pod of MiG-21 trainers were easier to find, than expected: It's difficult to see. It is the small "bubble" under the belly. Here a close shot: And here from an other angle:

The gun of the trainers was an 12,7 mm machingun. I think it was an Afanasiew A12,7. It was used very seldom. It was placed in a streamlined container. I will have a look into my archive. Everywhere in the depth there is a photo of this container. The protection plates came with the MiG-21MF. IIRC 1972 or so. The MF was the modified version, with some changes made after war experiences. Like mirror, R-13 engine, protection plates etc. BTW the mirror was not a simple mirror, like in a car. It was a periscope, the light had to go a zig-zag path through this device. Back to the protection plates. In service it showed, that this plates also protected against FOD. Thatswhy they were refitted also to gunless MiG-21 versions. The MiG-21RF came before the MiG-21MF. It was the first version with the long back tank. IIRC it based on the MiG-21PFM. Thatswhy it had, when delivered no protection plates.

No. If the suction of the engine becomes too great, the doors of auxilary air intakes open. This photo shows the position of gun muzzle and auxillary air intake at the MiG-21F-13: There is a fair chance, that gun smoke can get into an opend door.

This statement is wrong and true at the same time. Of course this plates were helpfull to avoid FOD. Thatswhy they were refitted also on gunless MiG-21 versions. But the origin of this plates were war experiences. When the MiG was in a close dogfight at low speeds and low altitudes, the plane was flown with a good angle of attack and full afterburner. In such situation the engines needed much more air, than the air intake could deliver. The doors of auxilary air intakes were opend automatically. If in such a situation the gun was fired, the gun smoke had a good chance to were sucked into the auxillary air intakes, which caused compressor stalls and a flame out. The engine died and the pilot had only one choice: to use the ejection seat. During Vietnam war, but also during arab-israeli clashes, some MiG-21 pilots shot down themself by firing the gun during low speed, low level dogfights. The cure of the problem was to add the protection plates, which, as a side effect, were helpfull to avoid FOD. So i have learned the story of the protection plates from east german fighter pilots.

Hunter over Alderney island.

You could add the steel plate below the gun muzzle, which protects the structure of the fuselage from gun fire. You can see this plate at this photo which i had taken at Luftwaffenmuseum Gatow, some years ago.

Vulcans at parking positions, while Lightnings performing a squadron take off.

Guernsey, a small island in the English Channel. In background Sark and Hern island. (WIP)

Sitrep: coastline tiles are now blended with sea tiles. Still they are jpg, thatswhy no waves, what cause the difference in the blue between coast tiles and sea tiles. It will change after converting to tga tiles.

Sitrep: I'm still on debugging of Guernsey tiles.

Argentinian Carrier ops

F-103E, brazilian designation for the Mirage IIIE

Argentinian carrier ops

Hunter over Guernsey (BoB2 1960th terrain WIP)

Sit rep. I'm still working on BoB2 1960th terrain. But progress is slow. This has to do with the fitting of the tiles for Guernsey island. It's a fiddling work. I'm looking for mismatches. As example this screenshot. On the bottom you see at the reservoir that the tiles are not 100% fitting together. This mistakes i'm looking for and try to correct them.

Looks good!

I'm not sure, but i think jimbib made this static planes by himself. It's not just an ini edited already existing plane.

MiG-23 recon run.