Currently, the new MiG-29K (9-41R) on Dev uses two navalized RD-33MK engines sitting at 9,420kgf afterburner thrust each. Notably, these engines also overheat extremely quickly on full WEP. This thrust is being contested as most secondary sources state that the RD-33MK produces a maximum burner thrust of between 8,800 and 9,000kgf. The below report has been accepted, but not yet implemented in-game, for the 9,000kgf figure.
However, the original 9,420kgf number appears to actually be an emergency thrust mode specifically made for the navalized RD-33MK engines. @JFIESTASR posted some sources on this here:
This emergency mode, as stated in the Russian secondary source, was implemented for the purposes of carrier operation. The extra power was needed for takeoffs and go-arounds. It can be assumed that this power was only useable for limited periods, similar to the well-known MiG-21bis’s emergency military power mode (not currently in-game) that would overheat the engine after roughly 3 minutes.
So the question is: should the MiG-29K retain that special power mode or should it be nerfed to 9,000kfg (pre channel loss)?
If the nerf goes through, the 29K’s engines should no longer overheat, but flight performance will drop severely. Instantaneous turn will remain mostly the same due to the new wing, but acceleration, rate, and high-alt performance will suffer.
Personally, I think the emergency power should stay. The engine already overheats as it should, and War Thunder has had the ability to use 101-109% throttle on your burner for a while now. To avoid overheat just stay off of 110%. Additionally, the game has set numerous precedents on this type of issue. Rocket booster and takeoff booster aircraft are largely allowed to use these mid-flight for dogfighting, “Wet” WEP aircraft like the P-51H get infinite WEP, and aircraft like the MiG-25PD do not blow up their engines from burning for too long.
The issue to me would be the double standard. Many if not all aircraft have the same setting, which would be a notable increase to their performance for a short burst. If it can come with one, either with or without the overheat mechanic then it should come to all and it shouldnt be selective. However I have little faith In Gaijin that it wouldnt be used selectively and benefit one nation more than any other (Mig-21BIS also uses the non-standard afterburner figure for its thrust and has done so for years, whilst all other aircraft get rejected outright)
A 2 step afterburner control mechanic would be great, regular throttle control for the 1st stage, and a separate keybind to activate the 2nd stage emergency mode
I believe the MiG-21Bis used to use its emergency military power indefinitely, but was nerfed a long while back to standard afterburner power. This was before you could use 101-109% throttle IIRC, so the change made sense.
(edit): Also, not every aircraft has a special AB mode IRL. The non-naval 29s in-game don’t have it. This mode is specific to the carrier MiG-29s. For other such cases then feel free to appeal for them to be implemented. It would be a nice mechanic.
Agreed, I think they need to do a more detailed rework of emergency power for props as well, I’m pretty sure most WW2 props could not just run at full WEP for 30+ minutes straight.
yep, it should be modeled for all planes with the feature IRL, it would also be nice to be able to turn it off on the planes that currently use it, it occurs to me that this is likely why some planes guzzle fuel at an insane rate compared to others.
That is the issue. There is every chance that this would come to something like the Mig-29K and not something like the Tornado. It must be all at the same time, perhaps through the introduction of an entirely new mechanic, or it should not come at all.
Though at least partially, I think many aircraft are actually lacking in fuel consumption (that is a tricky thing to phrase) I know for example the Harriers have around half their IRL fuel consumption currently. The Tornados, an aircraft with one of the higher fuel consumption rates is known to be set quite accurately for its current thrust states.
Yeah, I’m sure Gaijin would claim “balancing” or some such nonsense but things like engine power should not be altered for those reasons, all planes that have emergency power modes should get them and BRs adjusted for balance if neccercary.
Yep, agreed. Though would be a useful fix for the Tonka which currently has too much drag and cant actually reach its IRL top speed. But alas, it needs to be introduced fairly.
It’s not like they are the first thing that comes to mind when you think of over preforming planes, I doubt an engine buff would suddenly have them ruining whole BRs like some things are doing
The issue with claiming double standard here is that we won’t see it implemented on other aircraft until we have an example of it existing in game with fleshed out functionality, and this is amongst the easiest platforms to get them to action (it’s also a 29, thing’s kneecapped, won’t exactly be a problem maintaining the functionality given it cooks itself).
The easiest implementation we could have right now is afterburner functioning normally up to 110%, and a tick above that putting it into the greater powerstate with associated engine cooking. Which if it was implemented could then be used to make the case for other additions, a case that is difficult to get any action on without a prior existing case.