Is this a bug?

Does anyone know if the MiG-29 gear door landing lights are supposed to be aimed to one side like in this image? I would think they would be straight ahead.

Latest Open Beta

i see it many times Mig-29 and Su-25A and T before. bot not sure when it will happen.

sure it is a bug. i see it many times Mig-29 and Su-25A and T before. bot not sure when it will happen.

Are you sure that you are sure? Here's a copy & paste from another thread:

I just checked the flight manuals I have (MiG-21, -23, -29) and for all they say the pilot before landing flare should look left and down to visually estimate the height. The MiG-21 and -29 also have landing lights pointing slightly to the left (demonstrable fact). On MiG-31 landing lights are also pointing to the left.

^^

As bbrz said - it's not a bug, that's how they're set up IRL because as you flare the nose is in your view & if the landing lights pointed there you wouldn't see the near section of runway you're about to land on, so you look out and down to the left & that's where the lights illuminate.

Most/all soviet planes seem to be that way. Helps a lot if you land coming out of a left turn. Enjoy!

Nice to know! I do have a MiG-29 manual on the way. Thanks for the information on the lights

Are you sure that you are sure? Here's a copy & paste from another thread:

 

I just checked the flight manuals I have (MiG-21, -23, -29) and for all they say the pilot before landing flare should look left and down to visually estimate the height. The MiG-21 and -29 also have landing lights pointing slightly to the left (demonstrable fact). On MiG-31 landing lights are also pointing to the left.

i didn't know that before. so it is not a bug. but this should be good for real life landing. i didn't find this helpful in DCS from F1 view yet.

Wait until you fight a cross wind coming from starboard

Wait until you fight a cross wind coming from starboard

R U sure? With the xwnd from the right you have to crab to the right as well.

So your leftward leaning lights point straight down the runway

So your leftward leaning lights point straight down the runway

Exactly. Isn't that what you want?

Yes, sorry if I wasn’t super clear. I was trying to inform Alireza that such a circumstance is a reason to thank the off centered lights “in the F1 view” as they said. I probably should’ve quoted the post

i didn't know that before. so it is not a bug. but this should be good for real life landing. i didn't find this helpful in DCS from F1 view yet.

It's especially helpful if you're in an aircraft whose nose blocks your view forward after the roundout just prior to landing. This isn't as much of a problem for the MiG-29 but in others--MiG-21, for instance--you can't see forward once you're in the final stages. The instruction is to look left and forward (works out to be about 20° or so to the left) to pick up the runway margin so you can stay aligned and to judge your height above the runway. So, that's the direction the lights point. They light that margin very well.

The MiG-29 manual (or the one I usually refer to, anyway) carries the same instruction. In the sim, I find it easier to judge my height above the runway, if I look left. Otherwise I have to rely on the HUD readout which is a bad crutch. Sooner or later you might to have to land that bird with a broken HUD.

i understood about benefits of this lights direction. but i was pointing the poor light illumination in dark night in DCS, which i hope to see improvements in future. i was not sure that these lights direction is fixed to left or pilot can change it to right side or straight? if it is fixed, what would happen in real life night landing and heavy wind from left side?

But imagine how reassuring it would be with a heavy wind from the right side.

...i was not sure that these lights direction is fixed to left or pilot can change it to right side or straight? if it is fixed, what would happen in real life night landing and heavy wind from left side?

They're fixed. And does the wind's direction really matter? Left or right, until you square up and point your nose down the runway, you're not landing anyway.

They're fixed. And does the wind's direction really matter? Left or right, until you square up and point your nose down the runway, you're not landing anyway.

Don't know about the MiG-29, but many jet fighters have to be landed with the full crab angle and can't/shouldn't point the nose down the runway like e.g. the T-38, F-5 and the F-15.

If you have to land the MiG-29 at night and with a crosswind from the left, then things are bit more difficult, but you still have the runway edge lights for guidance.

Btw, since you have to land airliners (almost) wings level, you sometimes need to land with the full crab angle as well which has been demonstrated nicely by e.g. Boeing test pilots:

My only real life experience with crosswind landings (where I was paying attention, anyway) were from the passenger seat of light aircraft. In all cases the aircraft was de-crabbed (???) after crossing the threshold. My only real life observation of military aircraft performing crosswind landings was a single instance of an F-16 (I think--it was awhile ago) which also squared up and landed with the nose facing down the centerline.

I also remember reading something from Boeing about crosswind landings that highly recommended not landing crabbed...don't remember the aircraft in question. So I guess I've assumed it was possible for most/all aircraft. Unfortunately I'm old enough to know better than to assume.

I'll have to do a bit more translating to see if I can find anything difinitive for the Russian aircraft.

My only real life observation of military aircraft performing crosswind landings was a single instance of an F-16 (I think--it was awhile ago) which also squared up and landed with the nose facing down the centerline.

 

I also remember reading something from Boeing about crosswind landings that highly recommended not landing crabbed...don't remember the aircraft in question.

That's weird because especially the F-16 should be landed with full crab since: the ARI switches off at touchdown and undesirable yaw transients may occur if roll control is being applied during this time.

Concerning airliners. Of course you are always shooting for an aligned touchdown in a crosswind. The problems start with higher crosswind components.

Since you should land in a wings level attitude, you start to drift to the downwind side of the runway as soon as you are pushing off the crab angle.

Usually you start the decrabing just before or even during the flare, but due to the swept wings you have to counteract the upgoing 'wrong' wing and a touchdown on the downwind side landing gear is the last thing you want.

Hence, with a high crosswind component you simply have to land fully or at least partially crabbed. Especially on a wet runway.

Landing in windy conditions can be a real challenge in fighters ;) https://youtu.be/5BJP7H52_YM?t=13

That's weird because especially the F-16 should be landed with full crab since: the ARI switches off at touchdown and undesirable yaw transients may occur if roll control is being applied during this time. ...

I thought I was watching an F-16 because ANG F-16s base out of Burlington. It's very possible I am wrong. It was "modern" whatever it was. It was interesting for me to realize awhile back that I can identify the Russian birds much more accurately than the US.

Haven't found it in the MiG manuals I have but I did discover in the Su-27 manual that you land crabbed in that bird and adjust after the main wheels are in contact with the runway:

"4.3.7 When attempting to land in a cross wind, fight the tendency to drift by adjusting your course right up until touchdown. Once the main landing gear are on the runway and before touching down with the front gear, smoothly depress the rudder pedal to establish the aircraft along the runway’s axis and keep it from veering by moving the control stick against the wind. The displacement of rudder pedals and control stick motion after touchdown is 1/3 and ½ respectively.

Once the nose wheel is on the ground, adjust the rudder pedal position close to neutral and begin braking. If necessary, the drogue chute is released after the nose wheel is on the ground. During the landing roll with the nose wheel down, counter the tendency to turn opposite the wind by steering with the nose wheel and applying the main brakes, if necessary.

After the landing roll or upon the controller’s command, drop the drogue chute and release your shoulder straps."

I tried with a light crosswind (3-4 m/s crosswind component) and it works as advertised. I still need to try it with something stronger.