Nele VII wrote:
Fast AND agile. Syrian 23M and ML models were better to fo fight or chase
with F-16 at the deck. Medium sweep gave good 16 degrees/sec sustained (ML
excellent 18 degrees, MLD has a lower medium sweep and can go to 19 with
less buffeting) turn rate with missiles onboard- remember R-23/24 are HUGE
missiles, and R-60 M(?) are carried in quartet on ML! If it turned against
them, they would sweep back the wings, increase wing loading and went to a
low-level smooth high-speed ride, while Israeli pilots (F-16A, F-15A) were
banging their helmets on canopies due to gusts of Golan. MiG-23 has no
ailerons, it uses wing spoilers and stabilators for roll that is quite
snappy-just like one of Tornado.

There were drawbacks to the Flogger, though. Or at least so we
were briefed. I personally never turned 'n burned against one, but
the guys who did said it was so. The wing sweep mechanism on
the MiG-23 was limited to only 2.5G, at which piit it locked up.
If you put the press on a Flogger, you could drive him out of his
optimum wing angle very quickly. If he was never able to unload
to 2.5G or less, he could not change his wing angle and you had
your kill.

Also, you mention HUGE missiles... let's just imagine the bleed
rate if you start an angles fight carrying all that drag.

Due credit to Ed, a lot of guys would not bother to slow down for
the angles fight anyway.


Jeff