MiG-29 Fulcrum

Originally a part of the aircraft selection in LOMAC, the MiG-29A, S and G (German variant) were ported over to DCS through the FC3 package.

Just like the other FC3 planes, the MiG-29 is more designed to be controlled through a standardised set of keyboard shortcuts than through any kind of advanced set of peripherals, nor does it feature an interactive “clicky” cockpit. Even among the FC3 planes, however, the MiG-29 sets itself apart by being the last aircraft in all of DCS to still use the scripting-driven Standard Flight Model (SFM).

Features

Comes with the built-in campaign MiG-29 - Over the Hump.

Flying the MiG-29

The MiG-29 is famous for being fast and nimble, and its DCS representation is all that… briefly. The most important instrument in the MiG-29 is the fuel indicator, because this is not a long-range interceptor — it's a tactical fighter (and optionally bomber) that flies to where it needs to be, does its thing, and immediately comes back.

The three variants are largely the same, except that the -S model carries more fuel, better radar and ECM, and can carry the R-77 active-homing missile. The export -G variant is much the same as the -A, except that it (for the most part) uses feet and kts rather than meters and km/h.

Getting into the air

The process of getting the MiG-29 into the air is the same as with all FC3 aircraft:

• Make sure you have loaded the correct weapons.
  (This can only be done with the canopy open and engines off, press LAlt-' to open the outfitting menu.)
• RShift-L to turn the power on.
• LCtrl-C to open or close the canopy, as needed.
• RShift-Home to start both engine at the same time.
  (RShift-End stops both engines; RAlt/RCtrl-Home/End starts and stops the left and right engines individually.)
• Wait for the engines to spool up and stabilise.
• Num+/- controls the throttle; increase it carefully to get going and do not go too fast.
  (W controls wheel brakes; be particularly careful when turning since doing it at high speed will make you tip over, scrape your wings, catch fire, explode and — worst of all — become the subject of innumerable screen shots.)
• Use Z and X to control nosewheel steering (and also rudder) to make your way to the runway and line up.
• LShift-F lowers the flaps — they should be in the middle position for takeoff.
• Throttle up to max and try to stay in a straight line as you barrel down the runway.
• Pull back gently to take off.
• Raise landing gears with LCtrl-G; raise flaps with LCtrl-F.

Shooting something

The fun part of flying the MiG-29, and the thing that made it feared and famous, is to sneak around without the radar on and use IRST to lob heat-seeking AA missiles at the enemy.

More information

• Mikoyan MiG-29 on wikpedia.
• MiG-29 FULCRUM on globalsecurity.org