MiG-23/MiG-27

[Pibwl]

Few general notes on these aircraft, basing mostly on a Russian book on MiG-27:

- both MiG-23 fighter and attack (B, BN) variants use the same picture 11143 of a flat-nosed attack variant (the same as MiG-27 - 11156). I suggest to change picture of fighter variants to correct 29352 and keep 11143 for attack variants only (alternative is to change picture of all attack variants to 11156 and then replace picture 11143 with a correct fighter picture, which I have).

- MiG-23B/BN and MiG-27 have armoured cockpit sides - possibly it should be added in the game? (it was no extensive cover, though)

- MiG-23B/BN and MiG-27 were equipped with a laser rangefinder - possibly it should be added? Has it any effect in aircraft?

- Maybe there should be more distinction in fire control: on a Russian example, MiG-27M (#159) should have better FC, than basic MiG-27 and MiG-23BN, which in turn should be better against ground targets, than fighter MiG-23 (greater field of view, automatic anti-ground sight). Now all of them, apart from earliest MiG-23 fighters, have FC=15. MiG-27K Kayra (#158 in Soviet oob) should be still better, than MiG-27M (now FC=20).

I don't want to overthrow all the system of assigning speed to aircraft, but now it seems, that fighter MiG-23MF with speed 25 is better, than specialized attack MiG-23BN and MiG-27 (speed 18)... It's especially visible comparing units 143 and 144 in Russsian oob. In fact MiG-27's speed over the ground was 1350 km/h (1700 on an altitude), and I don't expect MiG-23MF to attack ground targets with higher speed. But that's just a couple of thoughts...

- They generally need increase of number of rockets carried, since a standard launcher for these planes was for 32 rockets 57 mm. For example, as for #143 unit in Soviet oob MiG-23BN, in addition to 2 missiles, a standard configuration was 2x32 rockets, so both weapons 4x57mm should be given 8 shots each, or we should change them to 8x57mm with 4 shots. In a rocket-only configuration, they carried 128 rockets (4x32), so it would be three 8x57mm with 6, 5 and 5 shots or twice as big number of 4x57mm (it applies to fighters MiG-23 as well). I'll check specific units while reviewing particular OOBs, if you agree with these rules.

By the way, a question: what is a weapon #203 PB-250 HD Bomb in Russian oob? A retarded bomb?

Regards
Michal Derela