Tips for MiG 21 SPS-K

[Maxim M1910/30 enjoyer]

If the MiG 21 was a WW2 prop, which one would it be ? I need to know its strengths and weaknesses and any notable enemies it will face. All advice is appreciated.

[Futuristic Hexagon]

I would say in many ways it is like the XP-55 in terms of speed and play style, in that you'd avoid turngithing an focusing on hit and runs. Some other American types can also be compared too here.

It has been seeing a lot of hard uptiers lately, meaning F-5E, F-4E and F and early MiG-23s (MiG-23M and MF). Here this type will seriously struggle to maintain as both the types it faces and the tech it sees largely can run circles around it.

Up until this month it was comfortably seeing 9.3 to 10.3 matches and doing alright. When it was there, the opponents it would commonly face were AV-8A, A-10A, and F-5C which needed careful work on when to use an R-60 on as they all had their fingers readily on the flares usually. The A-10 sorta forced me to start using the SPS-141 pod because they were so plentiful and the large amount in matches just slinging AIM-9Ls everywhere. Prior to that, using the gunpod was fine. Other notable opponents are the A-5C which had an amazing T/W ratio, being basically an uparmored MiG-19 with amazing missiles, and J35A and Milan, which could stick to you like glue if they got behind you. Most other opponents were easier to deal with, F-100Ds, F-105s, Su-7s.

It was never a user friendly plane. Since it shares the FM of the MiG-21PFM pretty much, it has some serious issues with thrust (it's missing some I last recalled) and most maneuvering will make it lose energy that will take a minute or two to regain if it falls below 800 km/h. But if you learn it, and stay patient and choose your battles carefully, you could have some great matches with it. I found itnused to be a good SL printer for me, but with the recent uptiers you need to bank more on your opponents being braindead mouth breathers.

[Kentuckybandit]

I usually burn immediately to a high altitude and then gently start to cut to either the left or right while looking for targets under me. I dive, fire missiles, make a cannon pass, all while making sure to be pointing home so I can burn away and land and re arm.

As stated above, this plane will be a amazing at its own tier or downtier, but will mostly have to prey on the inexperienced in an uptier.

Great plane though.

[Swag Messiah]

Originally posted by Foehammer:

If the MiG 21 was a WW2 prop, which one would it be ? I need to know its strengths and weaknesses and any notable enemies it will face. All advice is appreciated.

Nearly all cold war era jets are lower altitude boom and zoom fighters.

[Maxim M1910/30 enjoyer]

Thank you for the advice. Now I'm struggling to get a lock with those rear aspect missiles without bleeding all my speed. Damn prop reflexes.