How in hades do you take off in a MiG-3?!

[schurem]

Hi guys,

 

I am a returning addict. Used to fly a LOT of il2 1946 back in the day. I am not an expert, so i never flew full real. Nor am i doing that now. No advanced engine management for me, thank you sir! 

 

Anyway. I do like the realism in aerodynamics and gunnery. I really enjoy the challenge these crates pose just simply taking off, flying and landing, let alone fighting and surviving.

 

There's one that stumps me though. The MiG-3. It keeps wildly spinning out 4 out of 5 attemps as I gently open up the throttle while gingerly caressing the rudder to keep the nose centered. What the <expletive> am I doing wrong? Why does the <expletive, expletive > plane insist on digging its left wing into the ground?!

 

I read about the tail wheel lock, and how it disengages if you put in a lot of rudder. I also tried using the ailerons to keep the plane centered. the cyka blyat MiG still flips me the bird and digs in its wing

 

Please help me obi wan keforum, you are my only hope!

Edited May 16, 2017 by schurem

[JimTM]

Try reading these essays by a real-life tail-dragger instructor carefully; they are full of excellent tips.

 

Essay, PART 1: Why taildraggers are tricky and how to overcome it!

 

Essay, PART 2: Getting the tail up

 

Essay, PART 3: Landing and stopping

 

They helped me master take-off and landing in the DCS Spitfire IX (which has no tailwheel lock and can be miserable for the novice) and then helped me become much more comfortable handling the Mig-3. Pay particular attention to the concept of "dancing on the pedals" (introduced in the 8th paragraph of essay 1). Also, try opening the throttle a little faster, which causes better airflow over the rudder, leading to better rudder responsiveness.

 

Good luck!

Edited May 16, 2017 by JimTM

[US63_SpadLivesMatter]

Use the needle indicator.

[Chief_Mouser]

Lots of answers and theories in here: https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/25774-mig-3-tailwheel-and-takeoff-2004/?hl=+mig#82083

Also, remember that whatever you experience, we've probably had it too. I STILL have problems with the MiG if I'm not fully concentrating. A difficult plane, but fun.

Cheers.

Edited May 16, 2017 by 216th_Cat

[manitouguy]

After ALOT of trial and error and crashing I now find consistent success on take off w approx 75 % mixture and 85% pitch... hold brakes to 75% throttle then release and increase and Careful minimum rudder

 

Not sure if it's proper but works for me

 

Then fly full throttle using mixture to control speed - typ just under 82% mint for normal cruise ... w raised prop pitch if I recall

 

I'm sure others do it better / different

 

Good luck! Comrade

[DD_Arthur]

Please help me obi wan keforum, you are my only hope!

 

Hi schurem.  Luckily Han, the IL2 Project Manager is here to help us.  Go into your game and select Missions.  Find the folder 'Practice_Mig3'.   Click on it and you will find a number of practice missions designed to introduce you to the Mig take off procedure in a variety of wind conditions.  

 

Select 'Take off Wind Calm' and in the mission briefing Han gives detailed instructions on take off settings and procedures.  Follow these exactly.

 

He made a video too

 

[schurem]

thanks a lot for those. great essays indeed. so. practice practice and ore practice. sounds like fun!

 

out of 8ish attempts i managed one succesful takeoff! yay me. i think the gyroscopic precession is what bites me in the hind quarters every time.

 

i need to alter my MiGs skin to say cyka blyat instead of za pobeda

[Warpig]

Personally, I just practice using as little rudder as possible each takeoff. I don't do anything tricky. No flaps, and I increase throttle fairly quickly.

 

Yesterday I actually had a perfectly straight takeoff in the Mig! Then the next one wasn't so perfect. lol

Edited May 16, 2017 by Warpig

[Hoss]

Hi guys,

 

I am a returning addict. Used to fly a LOT of il2 1946 back in the day. I am not an expert, so i never flew full real. Nor am i doing that now. No advanced engine management for me, thank you sir! 

 

Anyway. I do like the realism in aerodynamics and gunnery. I really enjoy the challenge these crates pose just simply taking off, flying and landing, let alone fighting and surviving.

 

There's one that stumps me though. The MiG-3. It keeps wildly spinning out 4 out of 5 attemps as I gently open up the throttle while gingerly caressing the rudder to keep the nose centered. What the <expletive> am I doing wrong? Why does the <expletive, expletive > plane insist on digging its left wing into the ground?!

 

I read about the tail wheel lock, and how it disengages if you put in a lot of rudder. I also tried using the ailerons to keep the plane centered. the cyka blyat MiG still flips me the bird and digs in its wing

 

Please help me obi wan keforum, you are my only hope!

 

I feel your pain, but I figured it out from remembering the P-51 in DCS.................  Kick in left rudder, lock tail wheel by holding back on stick, hold the brakes and advance the throttle to about 45%, and then let go of the brakes start advancing the throttle to about 90%, keep the stick back until 130kph, keep control of yaw with rudder and tapping the brakes... when you let the stick up it will want to veer to the right just a tad... but by then you should be rotating and flying off to the wild blue yonder.... I don't really mess up with it anymore, except when I day dream on landings........... remember to pull the stick back to get positive control of yaw or you'll ground loop on landings too.......

 

Cheers

 

Hoss

[[DBS]Prody]

i just go full throttle  , FW190 style, and i have no issues controlling it  , i tried more "gentle" approaches but i have a really hard time keeping it on the runaway .

[Mad_Mikhael]

Use the needle indicator.

This. Watch a needle, and counter it with rudder.

[schurem]

Ok, I haven't mastered it, but today I made 5 out of 6 attempts. I even managed to land the crate a couple times in a serviceable state!

 

Here's what helped me besides some choice curses in several different languages:

 

1) the essays linked by JimTM on the DCS forums that explain why taildraggers are female dogs, what planes and bicycles have in common and why that matters and that it takes Fingerspitzengefuhl (ZehenGefuhl?) to get it right and that the only way to gain that is practice, perseverance and letting go of the flyboy ego.

 

2) the thread linked by Cat #216 (who numbers their kittens? shouldn't you be fluffy or mittens?) where the entire il2 community of forumites is stumped by the cyka blyat MiG and slowly learn how to not prang it every time. The one thing I took away from that was that I was not alone in this and, no two things I took away from that, to pull the stick on the first bit of the run in order to keep the tail on the ground for a bit. This makes the gyroscopic effect of raising the tail far easier to handle.

 

3) This thread. You guys are great. much <3. No right rudder. Not too much rudder. Quick and smooth on the throttle. Learn on Stalingrad mud strips and find Moskva concrete easy.

 

I still wallow into the sky like my MiG is fueled by pure vodka and it is one helluva fright to experience in VR but what a ride! I feel much accomplishment and I wish to thank you all for supporting me in this.

[JimTM]

Well done schurem!  

[Chief_Mouser]

Cat #216 (who numbers their kittens? shouldn't you be fluffy or mittens?)

Hehe. I've been called a lot of names but never 'Fluffy'. Might be time for a change...

Edited May 17, 2017 by 216th_Cat

[KookyBlimp]

its all about rudder pedals. I upgraded to "slav-made stalinium pedals by BRD" and i  go all-cowboy with mig3 take offs now.  Forsage  on, pedal to the metal and OFF WE GO. 

I had a real trouble with saiteks.

[Mmaruda]

Thread is a bit old, but I've become pretty good in flying the Mig, so a few things:

1. Mixture at 50%, radiators at 30%, prop pitch 100%

2. Push and hold the flaps retract button until the flap limiter is around 30%, only then release the flaps (keep in mind you will have to hold the release button before landing to take the limiter down and be able to reach full flaps)

3. Trim the nose up a bit

4. I don't think it really matters how you start rolling, just don't go balls to the wall right from the get go

5. The rudder - this is very important, but actually not that hard, it can be done easily with Saitek pedals, or CH, if you follow the rules:

 

a) don't worry about the wheel locking mechanism, it's fine to unlock the wheel for a short period of time, if that helps you keep the plane straight, just forget that there even is such a thing and you will be fine

b) only push left rudder - this is very important, even if you feel like you pushed the left pedal too much, whatever you do, don't correct it with the right pedal, just let the rudder go, and the nose will recenter itself and the wheel will lock again

c) hold the stick aft for a while to keep as much traction on the tailwheel for as long as possible.

Edited May 31, 2017 by Mmaruda