Carrier Trap...

[forthbridge]

Cheers Guys

I was scouting last night on the net and found zilch to confirm about AC on deck while recovery was ongoing

But that clarifies it

The only trouble is it's made 'authentic' landings go from highly unlikely to virtually impossible for me :brick:

I think I'll install the Ark with AC onboard, as I currently use an empty deck so I don;t write off too much hardware

[SkippyBing]

I'm fairly sure there's no crash detection on the static aircraft, just the hull and the superstructure so if you don't see it happen you never crashed!

[petermcleland]

Just a point on Bolters as we all seem to do plenty...The American method of "slam full throttles as you hit the deck and then close them again if you have hit the wire", is not used on the Sea Vixen as it would overstress the aircraft. The correct method is to wait to feel the decelleration of the wire and then close the throttles...If no decelleration from wire the slam the throttles for a bolter...It works just fine :flying:

BTW Dave...I note that Pilot's Notes say 128 knots for the trapping, with 5 knots extra for higher than usual weight or stores or crosswind or turbulence. These numbers in Pilot's Notes are often adjusted in the light of experience, so I'm wondering if your 138 knots has come from that.

[forthbridge]

I'm wondering if my joystick is knackered, with the DSB Tornado (Yes I know but it's got a tailhook!!) , Alpha Bucc, and the Vixen, I am finding it VERY hard to maintain speed on the approach, and the AC seem to have got ridiculously responsive to any input of control surface unless I use buttons

I noticed this to begin with with the Baron which started getting the response of an aerobatic plane on steroids. At first I thought it was just the fact the carrier is so small and is in the water so any movement is amplified but I might need to do some tinkering...

[DaveB]

BTW Dave...I note that Pilot's Notes say 128 knots for the trapping, with 5 knots extra for higher than usual weight or stores or crosswind or turbulence. These numbers in Pilot's Notes are often adjusted in the light of experience, so I'm wondering if your 138 knots has come from that.

Hi Peter,
Having read that, it's obvious my post wasn't as explicit as it should have been The approach was flown at 138kts with TD being as you've quoted ;-) Many erstwhile SV sim pilots are probably coming in either too slow or too fast and this will result in a) driving straight into the hangar via the stern as has been mentioned or b) missing the wires due to too high a speed. This tends to force pilots to push forward on the stick to try and hit the spot which in turn, shoves the hook further away from the wires. The model will fly absolutely bang on 138kts all the way down the line with only minor adjustments being made on the stick ;-) As you approach the stern, it is relatively easy to scrub off the remaining 10kts and get down smack bang in the zone I've done a couple of landings with speed hold on (set at 138) and it's b1oody unnerving I can tell you but that also works. Plus or minus a couple of knots won't hurt either way but if you aim for around that.. you'll find the aircraft tremendously stable and that it'll require only the smallest of input to keep online. Minimum catch speed for my ArrCab setup is 120kts (this can be adjusted) but a low speed keeps you focused. I suppose I could adjust it to the ideal catch speed but I don't want to be that focused

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Seaking]

What an interesting discussion, I'm afraid I don't know the exact speed that the Ark would go for launch, I can tell you that
at times the windspeed down the deck for launch you would have to angle yourself into the wind to walk.

In calm seas like the Med, she would be going full pelt , we could tell this by the massive wake. Another point I remember was
up in the Artic the temp was something like close to zero, when we turned into the wind for launch it was like someone turned
on the fridge, with the windchill it was brutal.

As for aircraft with full flaps on launch, yes that was so, I have many pics of the phantoms on the cat ready for launch, all
had full flaps. They only had something like 140Ft to launch, the phantom on take off with full AB used as much fuel as a Seaking
did in a2 hour sortie

For those of you that have not seen this site before it's one of the best out there showing the Ark when I was on board, it
has some fantastic shots of the aircraft on launch and recovery.

http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/AirSea/ ... kCont.html

[hobby]

For all those making non vertical lanches and traps aboard carriers in FS9 I strongly recommend rob's gauge rbco-20.zip.
One advantage is that you can fit 'catapults' and 'wires' to any carrier or runway - which means that without building any special scenery you can simulate arrsted landings via hook at any airfield for any aircraft built in fs9 with an hook.

Having fitted the requisite gauges to any panel it is also possible, without leaving the panel view, to choose the speed at which an aircraft will reach at the exit end of any catapult. So one can use different speeds for Phantoms, Gannets etc.

All fixed wing aircraft whether nose or tail wheel configuration can be launched and recovered.

The zip comes with satisfying cat and arrester wire sounds as standard and your arrester hook is automatically raised after a succesful trap.

[Nigel H-J]

Just found the landing speed for the Vixen onto carrier deck:

Final approach: 128Kts at 31,000lbs add 2kts per 1,000lbs above 31,000lbs

No flaps add 5kts

Turbulance add 5 kts

Nigel.

[DaveB]

RIght Nigel!!

Now you're armed with all the necessary info, the only thing left is to keep hitting the mark ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Nigel H-J]

Correct Dave, but it still takes a lot of practice, Just out of interest I used to fly down with airbrakes deployed but now find it much easier without them. What is the correct method?

Nigel.