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Howto:Carrier: Difference between revisions
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==What to do first== | ==What to do first== | ||
To enable the carrier, you must edit your preferences.xml file. This lives in your FlightGear data directory, the one under which your Aircraft, Scenery etc directories reside. Open this file in a text editor (such as notepad on Windows, or TextEdit on OSX - Linux users are probably familiar with such software... try kedit or gedit if not.) | To enable the carrier, you must edit your <tt>preferences.xml</tt> file. This lives in your FlightGear data directory, the one under which your Aircraft, Scenery etc directories reside. Open this file in a text editor (such as notepad on Windows, or TextEdit on OSX - Linux users are probably familiar with such software... try kedit or gedit if not.) | ||
Search for the word ``nimitz'. You ought to find something that looks like this : | Search for the word ``nimitz'. You ought to find something that looks like this : | ||
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'''2:''' The land part of the carrier with the wires]] | '''2:''' The land part of the carrier with the wires]] | ||
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 ``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. | 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 ``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. | ||
==Land== | ==Land== | ||
Actually finding the carrier in a vast expanse of open water can be very difficult, especially if visibility is poor. To assist with this task, the carriers are equipped with TACAN, which allows a suitably-equipped aircraft (Seahawk at present) to obtain a range and bearing to the carrier. First, you must set the appropriate TACAN channel, 029Y in this case, in the radios dialogue (ctrl-r or choose Equipment/Radio Settings from the FG menubar). 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 your closing in on the carrier. | Actually finding the carrier in a vast expanse of open water can be very difficult, especially if visibility is poor. To assist with this task, the carriers are equipped with [[TACAN]], which allows a suitably-equipped aircraft (Seahawk at present) to obtain a range and bearing to the carrier. First, you must set the appropriate TACAN channel, 029Y in this case, in the radios dialogue (ctrl-r or choose Equipment/Radio Settings from the FG [[menubar]]). 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 your closing in on the carrier. | ||
This is the most difficult part of the operation, as in real life. You might well find Andy Ross' [[A- | This is the most difficult part of the operation, as in real life. You might well find Andy Ross' [[A-4F Skyhawk Operations Manual]] useful here. Basically, though, you should use the TACAN to locate the carrier, and line up with the rear of the deck. As this part of the deck is at an angle to the course of the vessel, you may need to correct your alignment often. Ensure that the aircraft is in the correct configuration for approach (the Help/Aircraft Help menu should contain useful data for your aircraft) and that the gear and the arrestor hook are down. | ||
[[Image:Carrier5.jpg|thumb|300px|The Fresnel Lens Optical landing System]] | [[Image:Carrier5.jpg|thumb|300px|The Fresnel Lens Optical landing System]] | ||
As you approach you should see, on the left hand side of the deck, a set of brightly coloured lights - called the Fresnel Lens Optical landing System (FLOLS). This indicates your position on the landing glideslope. You will see a horizontal row of green lights, and when approximately on the glideslope, an orange light ( known in some circles as the ``meatball') approximately in line with the green lights. When approaching correctly, the meatball appears in line with the green lights. If you are high it is above, and when low it is below. If you are very low the meatball turns red. If you fly to keep the meatball aligned you should catch number 3 wire. | As you approach you should see, on the left hand side of the deck, a set of brightly coloured lights - called the Fresnel Lens Optical landing System (FLOLS). This indicates your position on the landing glideslope. You will see a horizontal row of green lights, and when approximately on the glideslope, an orange light ( known in some circles as the ``meatball') approximately in line with the green lights. When approaching correctly, the meatball appears in line with the green lights. If you are high it is above, and when low it is below. If you are very low the meatball turns red. If you fly to keep the meatball aligned you should catch number 3 wire. | ||
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Don't be discouraged if you don't succeed at first with carrier landings - it's not an easy maneouver to master. If after a little practice you find the Seahawk too easy, you could move on to the Seafire for more of a challenge! | Don't be discouraged if you don't succeed at first with carrier landings - it's not an easy maneouver to master. If after a little practice you find the Seahawk too easy, you could move on to the Seafire for more of a challenge! | ||
== | ==Related content== | ||
* [[Carrier over MP]] to find out how you could control the carrier and/or use the carrier over the multiplayer network. | * [[Carrier over MP]] to find out how you could control the carrier and/or use the carrier over the multiplayer network. | ||
[[Category:Howto|Carrier]] | [[Category:Howto|Carrier]] | ||