Howto:Carrier: Difference between revisions

* If you also specify an airport (e.g. --airport=KSFO) then the carrier will be available, but your flight will start at the chosen airport!

* If you also specify an airport (e.g. --airport=KSFO) then the carrier will be available, but your flight will start at the chosen airport!

You can also start at the 180 "abeam" positition (--carrier-position=abeam) or on the final approach to land (--carrier-position=FLOLS).  In both cases, you will need to set an offset distance, e.g. --offset-distance=1

* If you also specify an airport (e.g. --airport=KSFO) then the carrier will be available, but your flight will start at the chosen airport!

Once FlightGear has started, you should ensure that the parking brakes are off, ease the plane a little way down the catapult pressing {{key press|Shift}}+{{key press|L}} to engage the launchbar (hold for several seconds until given "Engaged" feedback; this might be best done from an external view initially.) You should notice the aircraft being pulled into alignment with the catapult and see the strops appear and hold down the aircraft. This will only happen if your aircraft is close enough to the correct spot on the catapult; as a rough guide, for the default parking position the seahawk's nose should be roughly level with the deck observation bubble.

Being engaged to the catapult, you should spool up the engines to full power, ensure the brakes are off and that all flight controls are in a suitable position for launch. When ready, press {{key press|Shift}}+{{key press|C}} to release the catapult. Your aircraft will be hurled forward off the deck, and you should be able to raise the undercarriage and climb slowly away, being careful to avoid stalling.

First, you must set the appropriate TACAN channel (e.g. 029Y cf. below) in the radios dialogue ({{key press|Ctrl}}+{{key press|r}} or choose <tt>Equipment > Radio Settings</tt> from the menu). You should, if within range, notice the [[DME]] instrument show your distance from the carrier, and the [[ADF]] instrument (next to the DME in the seahawk) should indicate a bearing to the carrier. Turn to the indicated heading and you should see the DME dial indicate you're closing in on the carrier.

| Vinson (CVN-70) || vinson_demo || 029X || Fly ca. 60 nm West from KSFO || Detailed ship with warships around. In menu 'AI' -> 'Carrier Controls' you can choose 'Enable deck park' in order to have a more crowded deck.

| Foch (R99) || foch_demo || 026X || Fly South from LFTH || FG 2016.x and earlier: foch model is missing !!

Setting up for approach is important; for example with the F-14 at 6nm from the carrier you should be at 1200 feet and maintain this until you intercept the glideslope at around 3 nm. At this point you will need a descent rate of roughly 800 fpm (depending on configuration). The most important part is the setup part; the aircraft should be trimmed based on the AoA indexer (orange donut). Before the 3nm mark you must have around 15degrees (indicated) AoA. It is usual to control the AoA by (frequent) minor adjustments to the throttles and an occasional minor pitch trim change as required. This is generally referred as being in the groove. To begin descending at 3nm reduce power to achieve the correct descent rate to achieve roughly 400feet descent per mile (around 800 fpm). At 1nm you should be at 460 ASL (400 above deck) Contrary to popular opinion the key thing about a carrier approach is to come in as slow as you can whilst maintaining good control.