Mikoyan MiG-29

2020-06-05T09:28:36Z

Openflight: Initial Review

Dassault Mirage 2000

2020-06-02T03:32:53Z

Openflight:

{{aero-stub}}
{{Distinguish|Dassault Mirage 2000-5}}
{{:{{PAGENAME}}/info}}

==== Special Note: ====
This is an older model, being updated by Openflight. For the newer more detailed Mirage 2000 see Dassault Mirage 2000-5

==== Update Review (June 2020) ====
Since my last review last year I had a chance again to test out the Dassault Mirage 2000 early version with the 2D cockpit.

First I changed the engine: The original used the F-16 engine with its higher thrust. Changing the settings was easy, only the milthrust and maxthrust parameters needed to be changed.

''Powerplant: 1 × SNECMA M53-P2 afterburning turbofan engine, 64.3 kN (14,500 lbf) thrust dry, 95.1 kN (21,400 lbf) with afterburner - Wikipedia''

<milthrust> 17800.0 </milthrust>
<maxthrust> 29000.0 </maxthrust>

Changed to:

<milthrust> 14500.0 </milthrust>
<maxthrust> 21400.0 </maxthrust>

==== Performance and Handling ====
Overall a very pleasant aircraft, controllable down to 170 knots at low level, controllable upto 80-100 knots but it was not possible to maintain altitude at less than 170 kt on approach, in tight turns.

In one minute it had climbed to over 25,000 ft, and could reach 50,000 ft within 90 seconds. These are not optimal climbs, I might add, as I tried to maintain 400 knots throughout. It was difficult to control precisely in pitch ( I am using a mouse after all - joystick needs to be calibrated for sufficient control) but this is not a problem. Compared to the earlier Mirage 5 handling is easy.

Roll rate seems slower than it is, I managed 7 rolls in 7 seconds giving a roll rate of 360 degrees a second. Turn rates at low level were good enough, taking less than 30 seconds to perform an 360 degree turn at 400 at 300 knots approximately. This works out to a sustained turn rate of 12 degrees a second, which is acceptable.

High alpha manoeuvres are possible, sinking with the nose up at an indicated ad a speed of 80 knots or so. The approach speed is around 140 kt [https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/defense/customer-support/operational-aircraft/mirage-2000/ according to the manufacturer] and the flight model is faithful to re-create carefree handling at low speeds, shallow turns at around 100 knots are completely possible, but I was not able to maintain height. It was not possible to hold the nose up after landing.

Overall a pleasant aircraft to fly, but needs graphical improvement and a 3D cockpit although the HUD in the 2D panel is first class.

==== Landing ====
Approach at 170 knots, lower if you are descending steadily, 140 kt should be ok but do not get too low and slow as the engine may take too long to spool up and then it will be too late. Touchdown at 135 or 150 should be fine. There is no braking parachute fitted.

==== Graphics ====

The 2D panel requires that the F-16 model is installed in FG since some of the instruments are borrowed or referenced from this Mirage 2000 configuration files. I have uploaded some screenshots running in Flight Gear 1.0

==== Improvements Needed: ====

* 3D cockpit ( it has been so far impossible to enable the 3d cockpit view but attempts continue)
* Improved canopy shape (too far forward)
* Improved wheel shapes
* Improved pilot shape (the one in the Mirage 5 is a good replacement)
* 3D instruments
* Flight model (JBsim via Aeromatic or Yasim ) Uses the exact FDM as the F-16! Needs to be changed
* More inertial in roll and pitch movements ?
* Rolling wheels of correct shape

{{hatnote|Review by {{usr|Openflight}} May 2019.}}

==== Earlier review: ====

The model described here is the Dassault Mirage 2000 early version with the 2D cockpit and dark, somewhat inaccurate graphics. While passable as a Mirage 2000, some strange shading effects persist, such as darkness on one side of the aircraft at high noon, and grey coloured tires. (Shading defects are completely gone with my current PC setup)

The 2D cockpit is nicely detailed as shown in the images, but disappears once the view is moved around using the mouse view key. You can always get the view back by going to the menu and enabling cockpits settings.

Although I wrote:

"The autopilot works fine in roll and wing leveling mode and the aircraft is easy to fly and land, but not allowing the nose up attitude that delta winged aircraft display on landing, in other words no high alpha behaviour, though further testing is needed."

This is has not turned out to be true, wing levelling works but not pitch in autopilot.

File Reviewed: mirage2000.zip
1.0 MB (1,039,903 bytes)

<gallery>
Mirage20002DPanel.png|Mirage 2000 (2007 early version) 2D panel view
M2000JustLanded.png|Mirage 2000 just landing at dusk with its wheels sunk in the pavement
Mirage2000HighAoA.png|The Mirage 2000 in high alpha
Mirage2000Approach.png|Approach at 170
M2KLandingSequence.png|Landing Sequence
</gallery>
{{Dassault}}

Dassault Mirage 2000

2020-06-02T03:11:44Z

Openflight:

{{aero-stub}}
{{Distinguish|Dassault Mirage 2000-5}}
{{:{{PAGENAME}}/info}}

==== Special Note: ====
This is an older model, being updated by Openflight. For the newer more detailed Mirage 2000 see Dassault Mirage 2000-5

==== Update Review (June 2020) ====
Since my last review last year I had a chance again to test out the Dassault Mirage 2000 early version with the 2D cockpit.

First I changed the engine: The original used the F-16 engine with its higher thrust. Changing the settings was easy, only the milthrust and maxthrust parameters needed to be changed.

''Powerplant: 1 × SNECMA M53-P2 afterburning turbofan engine, 64.3 kN (14,500 lbf) thrust dry, 95.1 kN (21,400 lbf) with afterburner - Wikipedia''

<milthrust> 17800.0 </milthrust>
<maxthrust> 29000.0 </maxthrust>

Changed to:

<milthrust> 14500.0 </milthrust>
<maxthrust> 21400.0 </maxthrust>

==== Performance and Handling ====
Overall a very pleasant aircraft, controllable down to 170 knots at low level, controllable upto 80-100 knots but it was not possible to maintain altitude at less than 170 kt on approach, in tight turns.

In one minute it had climbed to over 25,000 ft, and could reach 50,000 ft within 90 seconds. These are not optimal climbs, I might add, as I tried to maintain 400 knots throughout. It was difficult to control precisely in pitch ( I am using a mouse after all - joystick needs to be calibrated for sufficient control) but this is not a problem. Compared to the earlier Mirage 5 handling is easy.

Roll rate seems slower than it is, I managed 7 rolls in 7 seconds giving a roll rate of 360 degrees a second. Turn rates at low level were good enough, taking less than 30 seconds to perform an 360 degree turn at 400 at 300 knots approximately. This works out to a sustained turn rate of 12 degrees a second, which is acceptable.

High alpha manoeuvres are possible, sinking with the nose up at an indicated ad a speed of 80 knots or so. The approach speed is around 140 kt [https://www.dassault-aviation.com/en/defense/customer-support/operational-aircraft/mirage-2000/ according to the manufacturer] and the flight model is faithful to re-create carefree handling at low speeds, shallow turns at around 100 knots are completely possible, but I was not able to maintain height. It was not possible to hold the nose up after landing.

Overall a pleasant aircraft to fly, but needs graphical improvement and a 3D cockpit although the HUD in the 2D panel is first class.

==== Landing ====
Approach at 170 knots, lower if you are descending steadily, 140 kt should be ok but do not get too low and slow as the engine may take too long to spool up and then it will be too late. Touchdown at 135 or 150 should be fine. There is no braking parachute fitted.

==== Graphics ====

The 2D panel requires that the F-16 model is installed in FG since some of the instruments are borrowed or referenced from this Mirage 2000 configuration files. I have uploaded some screenshots running in Flight Gear 1.0

==== Improvements Needed: ====

* 3D cockpit ( it has been so far impossible to enable the 3d cockpit view but attempts continue)
* Improved canopy shape (too far forward)
* Improved wheel shapes
* Improved pilot shape (the one in the Mirage 5 is a good replacement)
* 3D instruments
* Flight model (JBsim via Aeromatic or Yasim )
* More inertial in roll and pitch movements ?
* Rolling wheels of correct shape

{{hatnote|Review by {{usr|Openflight}} May 2019.}}

==== Earlier review: ====

The model described here is the Dassault Mirage 2000 early version with the 2D cockpit and dark, somewhat inaccurate graphics. While passable as a Mirage 2000, some strange shading effects persist, such as darkness on one side of the aircraft at high noon, and grey coloured tires. (Shading defects are completely gone with my current PC setup)

The 2D cockpit is nicely detailed as shown in the images, but disappears once the view is moved around using the mouse view key. You can always get the view back by going to the menu and enabling cockpits settings.

Although I wrote:

"The autopilot works fine in roll and wing leveling mode and the aircraft is easy to fly and land, but not allowing the nose up attitude that delta winged aircraft display on landing, in other words no high alpha behaviour, though further testing is needed."

This is has not turned out to be true, wing levelling works but not pitch in autopilot.

File Reviewed: mirage2000.zip
1.0 MB (1,039,903 bytes)

<gallery>
Mirage20002DPanel.png|Mirage 2000 (2007 early version) 2D panel view
M2000JustLanded.png|Mirage 2000 just landing at dusk with its wheels sunk in the pavement
Mirage2000HighAoA.png|The Mirage 2000 in high alpha
Mirage2000Approach.png|Approach at 170
M2KLandingSequence.png|Landing Sequence
</gallery>
{{Dassault}}

Dassault Mirage 2000

2020-06-02T03:04:11Z

2020-06-01T10:21:48Z

Openflight:

File:Mirage20002DPanel.png

2020-06-01T10:19:07Z

Openflight: User created page with UploadWizard

=={{int:filedesc}}==
{{Information
|description={{en|1=Mirage 2000 (2007 early version) 2D panel view}}
|date=2020-06-01
|source={{own}}
|author=[[User:Openflight|Openflight]]
|permission=
|other versions=
}}

=={{int:license-header}}==
{{self|cc-by-sa-4.0}}

[[Category:Cockpit screenshots by model]]

Openflight: User created page with UploadWizard

=={{int:filedesc}}==
{{Information
|description={{en|1=Mirage 5 just after take off and gears-up}}
|date=2019-05-18
|source={{own}}
|author=[[User:Openflight|Openflight]]
|permission=
|other versions=
}}

=={{int:license-header}}==
{{self|cc-by-sa-4.0}}

[[Category:Fighter aircraft]]

Dassault Mirage III

2019-05-18T04:52:56Z

Openflight: /* To do - Improvements */

== Introduction ==

The Dassault Mirage III is a fighter aircraft first developed in the late 1950s by Dassault Aviation of France. Initially developed from a smaller, less powerful prototype, it was then given a bigger wing, more power, and a stretched fuselage and put into production.

The Dassault Mirage III listed in the download section actually gives you two Mirage models, one is the Dassault Mirage V, the daytime interceptor model, and the Mirage IIING, which features a canard and ideally different handling characteristics, but in this file it seems to simply add the canard to the model and little else.

There is an alternative camouflage livery which is more like the Mirage we know so well, available under Liveries.

== Flying The Mirage ==
=== Approach Speed set too low ===
Firstly it should be said that the stalling speed of the Mirage was set too low, as the 'approach speed' of the YASIM configuration file was set to 140 knots. The approach speed given in the Dassault company homepage is listed as 170 knots, and this is more realistic.
=== Take-off and landing ===
Take off is straight forward, and the aircraft lifts off well and climbs at a shallow angle. Speed builds up quickly, but turning tightly at low level is hazardous as the aircraft will hesitate in a turn and then drop a wing in the opposite direction, without enough altitude in may be difficult to recover from the incident. Otherwise flying is easy and stable, but as in the real thing, speed bleeds off with idle power and gear down so approaches have to be fast and flat. The landing is performed with the nose not high, I attempted to change the approach angle to 20 degrees instead of 6 degrees and this caused all sorts of errors on loading.
=== Instrumentation ===
Instrumentation is sparse, and oddly placed on a grey background that looks like it came from nowhere, I am in the process of changing this and improving the panel. The air speed indicator is a cryptically marked affair and the altimeter is dangerous to use. Using the head up display, especially one of the options using SHIFT+I will help fly the aircraft more accurately.
=== Autopilot ===
Setting the Autopilot to heading bug mode and setting the heading bug on the indicator worked well, but wings level mode rolled the aircraft uncontrollably. Setting vertical speed hold resulted in rapidly diverging oscillations.
=== Landing ===
Approach speed was at 200 knots, but if speed gets too low and power is increased, the aircraft will pick up so much speed that it will land at 200 knots which will probably burst the tires and run off the runway as well. One benefit of the Mirage is that there are no flaps to fail, so landing speed is always constant, depending on weight of course. The Mirage is loaded with fuel as default, reducing this to .40 fuel fraction ( meaning fraction of full capacity, not the fuel fraction in the engineering sense) helps lighten the aircraft but reducing below this fuel fraction results in the aircraft sitting on its tail.

==Gallery==
{{Gallery
|MirageLand2.png|The Mirage 5 landing after a bounce or two
|Mirage5Cockpit.png|Sparsely populated, inaccurate panel shape
|Mirage5CockpitInterior8.png|Another view of the cockpit
}}

== To do - Improvements ==
For myself or anyone improving this aircraft, here is a short to-do list

# Change interior panel to black
# Instrument panel should be more accurate in shape
# Add engine instruments - there are none
# Move instruments to positions that are more like actual panels
# Increase elevator movement (joystick settings)
# Add more instruments as panel is very sparse
# Add an optional panel with digital displays
# Improve pilot (!)
# Change angle of attack settings for a higher angle of attack when landing
# Adjust cockpit glazing (too reflective)
# Fix autopilot altitude modes

== Reviewed Version: ==
MirageIII.zip
11.1 MB (11,101,929 bytes)
http://mirrors.ibiblio.org/flightgear/ftp/Aircraft/