Mig 23 Yaw Vane

[Brian Abraham]

There is a vexing question on the flight testing forum as to the purpose of this item. No informative answers thus far. Any help here? Thanks Gents & Ladies.

http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages/Flogger/Images/MiG-23BN_20+55_24957.jpg

[NutLoose]

Googled

Equipped with a static sensor and yaw vane for on-course monitoring


MiG-23 Flogger « Mig Alley | Technical Data (http://toad-design.com/migalley/index.php/jet-aircraft/mig23/)

interesting read

MiG-23MS - Performance Characteristics? - Y2B Publishing Crew Room (http://www.y2bpublishing.com/IPBoard/index.php/topic/74-mig-23ms-performance-characteristics/)

[LowObservable]

It was connected to a counter-timer device. If it completed more than six complete revolutions in 15 seconds it fired the ejection seat.

[engineer(retard)]

There were times on the line that I wish our aircraft had a similar capability:E

[Geehovah]

No idea but the one on the left is a yaw vane. They look too clean to me. Why pot the centre vane in a dielectric panel but the others on a fixed panel? Engineers pitch in!!

[Kitbag]

Stuff on the right is surely Odd Rod IFF

[sturb199]

As a heavy I would not even try to guess the exact purpose of the bit on the right, but would with out doubt suggest they are some form of antenna. :E

[Worf]

That is the yaw sensor for the auto stabilization system for the BN. Without auto stabilization, it was flyable but barely.

In Steve Davies "Red Eagles" all the USAF pilots hated the Mig-23BN and thought it was trying to kill them. That may be the result of the auto stabilization not working to spec!

Even with the stabilization on, at high IAS it would tend to dutch roll, but could go to a very high speed at low level (I remember 800 - 1000 kts being bandied about) while banging your helmet on the canopy from side to side. It could also sustain 7G in a turn all day long!

The Mig-23BN was a bastard child of the Mig-23MS and the Mig-27 - and those didn't have the same issues (just different ones).

[Geehovah]

Good answer Worf:ok:

I chatted to Jack Manclarke many times about flying the Mig 23. Jack features in Red Eagles as he was sqn cdr for a few years. He tells some horror stories about the handling characteristics. And to think, we were all paranoid about the aircraft in the Cold War days. If only we'd known.

Looks like it has a cover fitted on this D model at Newark Air Museum

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/DeeGee/Aircraft/IMG_1605.jpg

[AndyBuckley]

Same again on the base of a Mi-24 boom

Aviation Images - Mi-24D Hind-D Walkaround (http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages/Hind/4669.html)

Rgds

[Pontius Navigator]

The other interesting feature on the Newark one, note the plate with the number on it. The aircrew were told it was an armoured plate; it wasn't. Apparently it was simple ballast with no ballistic properties whatever.

[dagenham]

good book the red eagles - well worth a read one of my favourites

Given the mission of the 23/27 was to get to somewhere very quickly it did so well at a frighteningly fast rate. From the book at limiting mach it even limited it's own speed through throttle managment. Even preventing the throttle being closed abruptly to avoid destroying the engine itself as it decelerated.

Obviously not a dog fighter in true sense of the word

I think i would be wary if there was an automatic, magical, wind up seat deployer.....

[Worf]

Geehovah,

As flown by the Indian AF it was a very effective attack aircraft. It was a pretty honest airplane if flown for the role - which was low level interdiction and attack. It was untouchable by the air defense aircraft in the region because of its speed and sustained turn capability. It also had a pretty good range and could carry a lot of weaponry.
Some really good for real missions were flown with it, including a low level recce of Gilgit on the other side of the ceasefire line in Kashmir. During the Kargil war, it was the most effective bomber with dumb bombs because it could fly at low TAS at the height with wings swept forward and could make those tight turns in the Himalayas without hitting rock or falling out of the sky. The other dedicated attack aircraft (Jaguar) of the IAF suffered in comparison to it. They kept it in service way past they intended to in the IAF because there wasn't anything to replace it for the high level attack role (high level meant drop at 25000-30000 ft and hit targets between 15-20000 ft!).
Even with the dutch roll I mentioned in the post above, it was still very maneuverable and went where you pointed it (still banging your head against the canopy). The IAF ones had the "get me level" switch which brought it to straight and level flight from any attitude - and saved a bunch of guys who got disorientated while flying in night/bad visibility. Despite having almost no avionics the fleet took pride in regularly beating DARIN equipped Jaguars and Mirage 2000s in gunnery/bombing competitions and exercises.

[Ewan Whosearmy]

LO - do you have any more info on that, or were you having a little joke?

good book the red eagles - well worth a read one of my favourites


You can get signed copies of Red Eagles on the cheap here (http://www.y2bpublishing.com/IPBoard/index.php/store/).

[LowObservable]

Sorry, the infamous LO sense of humor at work...