MiG-3 Take-off Help

[rlk281]

Still can't get this bird in the air from a standing start...

 

Here's what I do...

 

1. Full-mixture

2. Max prop-pitch (RPM)

3. Stick back, and centered

4. Increase throttle to max smoothly over, say after 5-seconds of 

5. Apply heavy left rudder to point down runway

6. As the tail-wheel lifts, a sudden yaw to the left leaves me unable to compensate smoothly enough to keep the nose straight

7. My blood-pressure rises to unsafe levels.

 

Any and all help appreciated!

[andyw248]

Help is near

 

Use only about half mixture, along with full throttle and prop at high RPM. There is a mark next to the mixture lever, indicating where half mixture is. Use half mixture for all phases of flight, except when you need boost - for boost push the mixture lever all the way forward. Return to half mixture as soon as don't need boost anymore.

[rlk281]

Thanks, that helped quite a bit, but I still get a rather violent left yaw (when tail-wheel lifts) that is hard to bring back...but it's not as violent now!

 

Help is near

Use only about half mixture, along with full throttle and prop at high RPM. There is a mark next to the mixture lever, indicating where half mixture is. Use half mixture for all phases of flight, except when you need boost - for boost push the mixture lever all the way forward. Return to half mixture as soon as don't need boost anymore.

Edited February 27, 2016 by rlk281

[KpaxBos]

Hello,

 

I use this. I cannot find the original post (Obelix on french forum).

To take off :

• full mixture (you can try with half )
• max rpm
• open radiators (oil and water).
• trim ptich -15% (not so important)
• trim yaw left : -40%
• no flaps
• left foot to yaw (at the beginning you can use brake to center you path).

 

Gradually apply power, smooth correction of path with left foot.

Pay attention when tailwheel lifts, reduce foot correction, push stick a litle forward and right.

Around 200 km/h pay attention left wing will go down,anticipate this. Once airborne and safe, reset trims, raise carriage.

Adjust things to your flight.

 

Have fun.

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

I'd not advise to use full mixture as this enables forsatz (boost injection) and causes a great heat buildup. It has enough power to get up without it.

 

What you definetly need to use is:

 

- 100% RPM

- full throttle

- left rudder trim (~ 40%)

- tialheavy pitch trim

 

Other things are up to you. Using 50% mixture setting (continous power setting) you'l have to counter a lot less torque and gyroscopic forces and your TO will be easier, although TO distance will be longer. If a short takeoff is required or a heavy loadout chosen (the bombs have great impact on flight behaviour) I personally use 84% mixture (still labled "contious power" ingame). That improves acceleration and shortens the TO distance significantly although it's way more beasty.

 

Flaps can also be helpfull, especially if chosing a heavy loadout. Depending on the situation I use 20-30% flaps for TO.

 

Right after liftoff I retract my gear, than flaps, than focus on trimming the aircraft for climb speed.

[6./ZG26_Emil]

It's easy once you know how....thank Klaus_Mann for the tips.

 

All you need to do is apply some back pressure to keep the tail on the ground don't worry about mixture etc.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHfnba60He8&feature=youtu.be

[rlk281]

Curious how much rudder trim you had dialed in before takeoff...I see that you dialed it to -10 from -15 during your final approach; was it -15?

 

Thanks for the reply (and vid)!

 

It's easy once you know how....thank Klaus_Mann for the tips.

 

All you need to do is apply some back pressure to keep the tail on the ground don't worry about mixture etc.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHfnba60He8&feature=youtu.be

[6./ZG26_Emil]

I did nothing after spawning, no trim or mixture or anything. You can probably experiment (I might give it another go) but the main thing is to apply some back pressure (maybe 20-30% back) to keep the tail down, use the rudder peddles (tail wheel) to keep it straight until you build speed up and then shove the nose forward to get the tail up in the air. That was my 2nd attempt using Klaus's method and it works brilliantly. 

 

If you look at my stick position you should get an idea how much I was using, I pulled the stick all the way back in the beginning and then moved it forward to a mid point between neutral and full back. Also you don't need 100% throttle, I think 80% is enough.

 

Cheers

 

Emil

[rlk281]

Am very happy to report that (while I did retard the mixture to 50% still), trying to hold the tail wheel down as long as possible gives me a much more solid track down the runway...thanks again for the sweet tips!

 

I did nothing after spawning, no trim or mixture or anything. You can probably experiment (I might give it another go) but the main thing is to apply some back pressure (maybe 20-30% back) to keep the tail down, use the rudder peddles (tail wheel) to keep it straight until you build speed up and then shove the nose forward to get the tail up in the air. That was my 2nd attempt using Klaus's method and it works brilliantly. 

 

If you look at my stick position you should get an idea how much I was using, I pulled the stick all the way back in the beginning and then moved it forward to a mid point between neutral and full back. Also you don't need 100% throttle, I think 80% is enough.

 

Cheers

 

Emil

[sniperton]

the main thing is to apply some back pressure (maybe 20-30% back) to keep the tail down, use the rudder peddles (tail wheel) to keep it straight until you build speed up and then shove the nose forward to get the tail up in the air. ... I pulled the stick all the way back in the beginning and then moved it forward to a mid point between neutral and full back. Also you don't need 100% throttle, I think 80% is enough.

 

This. Throttle depends on mixture setting, so 100% throttle and 70% mixture, or vice versa is sufficient even for a heavy plane. The main thing is that you start with light back stick and hard left rudder, give 70-80% throttle, and as you gain speed and the rudder becomes more effective, you gently ease on the rudder to keep your run straight. Then ease also on the stick, and when the tail lifts, you're usually (and hopefully) airborne. Very much depends on rudder quality and sensitivity curves, gentle rudder changes make the difference between a good takeoff and the usual ground-looping.

Edited June 25, 2017 by sniperton

[US63_SpadLivesMatter]

Pay attention to the needle. It will begin to drift before the plane does.

[KaC_Richard_Rogers]

It's easy once you know how....thank Klaus_Mann for the tips.

 

All you need to do is apply some back pressure to keep the tail on the ground don't worry about mixture etc.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHfnba60He8&feature=youtu.be

 

In the end it is as simple as pulling back on the stick 100% and then gunning it (fuel at 84% i.e. not boosted) until you have enough speed to slowly release the stick back towards centre lifting the tail and shortly after the plane. I went from getting off the ground 10% of the time to 99%.

 

I tried every trick in the book at the start, reduced fuel, slow throttle and so on. Nothing worked always fishtailing and spinning out. Made 10 fold worse by having Seitek pedals.

 

 

There is one map that has the nastiest cross wind and I recommend going 'dirty' take off one this one.

[Flitgun]

I find the pulling back on the stick doesn't work for me. She's still all over the show and it seems extremely clumsy and wasteful. If that works for others - all well.

 

However, here is my version, and I find it very very simple:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUI40r69tSU

 

The main point is:

 

1: Mix/RPM = 100%

2: Pitch trim neutral, flaps up.

3: WHEEL BRAKES ON.

4. Increase throttle slowly but steadily.

5: Release wheel brakes at about 60 - 70% throttle.

6: Continue increasing throttle to 100%.

7: Only minor rudder corrections required.

[Soarfeat]

If anyone is continuing having problems with the Mig I recommend watching Requiems tutorial on the Mig ( is posted at the very top of this section " Air Combat Tutorial----"

cheers-sf-

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

I find the pulling back on the stick doesn't work for me. She's still all over the show and it seems extremely clumsy and wasteful. If that works for others - all well.

 

However, here is my version, and I find it very very simple:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUI40r69tSU

 

The main point is:

 

1: Mix/RPM = 100%

2: Pitch trim neutral, flaps up.

3: WHEEL BRAKES ON.

4. Increase throttle slowly but steadily.

5: Release wheel brakes at about 60 - 70% throttle.

6: Continue increasing throttle to 100%.

7: Only minor rudder corrections required.

Good video, btw 50 % mixture it means automatic mixture adjustment.

For me stick back works always and i just rise tail (joystick neutral)  when speed is enough.

 

BTW did you try take off  from aerdome not just from concrete airstrips?

[Flitgun]

Good video, btw 50 % mixture it means automatic mixture adjustment.

For me stick back works always and i just rise tail (joystick neutral)  when speed is enough.

 

BTW did you try take off  from aerdome not just from concrete airstrips?

Yes, the runway surface does not appear to affect.

 

***!! One has to take care of a crosswind though. Actually, a crosswind may well have been present when I was trying the stick back method and that may have been why I had no success with it. 

 

This whole issue with the Mig3 takeoff is rather alarming - the way the tail wheel activates with large rudder input. Is this the way it really was? I notice the 'lock tail wheel' function does not work. How did they contend with this issue back in the day? That is if it was an issue. I watched a Mig3 taking off on youtube and could not see any evidence of the pilot pulling back on the stick. I'm guessing this Mig 3 issue is just a quirk of the game, right?

[Zirashi]

From the developers themselves, including step-by-step text instructions in the description which I have copy-pasted below:

Start at parking area, full fuel and ammo load. Winds calm, weather is clear.
Part 1: Start and Taxi to the runway
- Set altimeter pressure equal to airfield pressure
- set Throttle to Idle, execute engine start procedure
- Engine started: set engine revolutions to 100%, mixture to 50%, radiators to 50%
- Set flaps limiter to 20%, extend landing flaps
- Look around for taxi clearance, set throttle to 50%, start to roll
- Rolling started: hold wheel brakes to check them, release brakes to continue taxiing
- Set throttle to 35...40% to continue taxiing
- Use wheel brakes for sharp turns and to stop
- Do not exceed speed 20 km/h and brake down to 5 km/h before sharp turns
- Taxi with opened canopy, move your head left and right to look forward beyond the nose
- Look around for obstacles and other planes, especially when taxiing to runway

Part 2: Takeoff
- Set Throttle to Idle
- Look around for takeoff clearance, close canopy, move view point to the left side of cockpit to have better visibility forward
- Hold Wheel Brakes, push Left Rudder pedal to 2/3 (rotate joystick twist to left to 2/3)
- Hold Rudder at 2/3 to left, hold Stick in center, set Throttle to 80%
- Release brakes, set Throttle to 100%
- Keep take off direction by Rudder adjustments - a little bit more and less than 2/3 to the left
- To keep the takeoff direction: keep your eye on an object far ahead (a tree, a building, a cloud and so on), check runway left/right borders only sometimes
- Continue to speed up with stick in center, keep direction by rudder pedals, plane’s tail will rise by itself
- When speed is more than 180 km/h: smoothly pull the airplane nose up, plane will take off, keep the nose slightly above the horizon, altitude and speed should continue to increase
- To bank use the control stick, smoothly the return rudder pedals neutral position
- When altitude is 20 m: raise the landing gear, keep the nose pointed a few degrees above the horizon
- When speed is 200 km/h: retract the flaps, keep the nose pointed a few degrees above the horizon
- When altitude is 100m: start 90° left turn to course 228°, bank angle should be 30°
- When altitude is 400m: push the nose down to just a little bit above the horizon, keep vertical speed =0 m/s and altitude =400 m
- When speed is 300 km/h: set throttle to 55% and maintain it
- Start second 90° left turn to course 138°, bank angle is 30°

Part 3: Circular flight
- When left turn to course 138° is completed: continue in a straight-line maintaining 400 m altitude and speed 300 km/h
- Maintain required speed by keeping the throttle near 55%, speed corrections should be performed by slight throttle deviations from 55%
- Maintain required altitude by controlling plane nose position over the horizon. Keep the nose a bit higher than the horizon, remember it's position which is providing zero vertical speed
- When flying straight constantly check the airspace around you, control landmarks to start 3rd turn in the right place
- To control oil temperature (from 40°С to 80°С) and water temperature (from 80°С to 110°С), adjust the radiator shutters angle if it is necessary
- When range to the airfield is 4...5 kilometers: start a 180° turn to the left for course 318° which will line you up for landing, bank angle is 30°
- During the turn control the airplane’s nose position over the horizon, vertical speed =0 m/s, altitude =400m, speed =300 km/h, landing course =318° approaching

Part 4: Final approach and landing
- When 3rd turn is finished: set Throttle to 0%
- When speed is less than 300 km/h: extend landing gear
- Pay attention to vertical speed =0 m/s, altitude =400 m
- When speed is less than 250 km/h: extend flaps to maximum
- When speed is 220 km/h: push the throttle to 80% to maintain this speed
- When runway distance is 2.5 km: set Throttle to Idle, push nose down a little lower than the runway threshold
- Descend to the runway beginning at 210...200 km/h, in best case the throttle should be at idle during descent
- When altitude is 30...50m: start to slightly pull up the nose to reduce speed while the plane slowly sinks towards the runway
- Move your view point to the left, keep your eye on the ground to the left of the nose, feel the altitude slowly decrease
- When altitude is almost zero: keep flying while losing speed and pulling the nose up, but don't allow the plane to climb
- Touchdown: keep rolling straight forward, keep your eye on a point or object far ahead (a tree, a building, a cloud and so on)
- When speed is 100 km/h: pull the stick fully backward, hold your brakes, keep rolling straight forward
- When the plane has stopped: retract the flaps, open the canopy, taxi to taxiway at 20...40 km/h
- Move out from the runway by the closest taxiway, perform taxi to parking area at 20 km/h, turn off the engine

Edited July 2, 2017 by Zirashi

[blitze]

Can't seem to set trim in the Mig 3, can't seem to set flaps and the wonderful thing I get running down the run way to point of tail up whereby it proceeds to yaw left opposite to engine torque and I spin in a circle.

 

Yak no problem, La no problem.  Maybe it is to do with the controls I don't know but using saitek X45 with G25 peddles for rudder input.  Not the best but still.  I think at this point in time I will leave the Mig to others.  Too frustrating to take off and God help me with landing.

 

This in Full Realism btw.

[sniperton]

Don't let the tail lift too early, and when you finally do so, do it smoothly. Begin with a back stick and only release it slowly when your speed exceeds 100 kph. This way you won't have to face large torque changes while on the ground, but expect a strong yaw left after rotating. There you'll have to counteract will aileron, but that's a milk run once you got airborne 

[blitze]

Don't let the tail lift too early, and when you finally do so, do it smoothly. Begin with a back stick and only release it slowly when your speed exceeds 100 kph. This way you won't have to face large torque changes while on the ground, but expect a strong yaw left after rotating. There you'll have to counteract will aileron, but that's a milk run once you got airborne 

 

Thank's for the tips, back to practicing. ))

[blitze]

Ok, had a little update come down the wire via Steam.  Maybe it helped but today, taking the Mig 3 up I was able to get her off the ground although, yes she does seem to rotate when the tail comes up.  Have to watch for that.

 

Did some loops, rolls and bad landings.  Got to get that sorted now, just a matter of getting right speed and alt at the right point on the runway, touching down before half way over it.  I think the handling update helped though and in general the update visual wise is good too.  Working well once I do initial pan around to get textures loaded ))