General Category > Unofficial F/A-18 Acceleration Pack board
Simviation Updated F/A-18 Hud
SUBS17:
--- Quote ---I would prefer to fly with less fuel but the carrier scenario does not seem to allow it to be changed. And of course I need to practice practice and practice some more.
--- End quote ---
Hey SpazSinbad the Hornet has a fuel dump switch on the left side panel use that to lower the fuel to a safe landing weight.
SpazSinbad:
subs17, thanks I'll have a go at that. Also for the carrier landing HUD video (above) the 'realism' sliders were all the way to the left (EASY) so I guess that helped with the 1 wire arrest. ;D
Sludge:
SPAZ...
I'm not sure if your FSX is showing this, but on my "missions" screen, there is a checkbox below the actual missions window that says "enable changes". Just check that before you click on the "go to briefing" and you should be allowed to make changes in-sim with regards to pulling up the top menu. You sound like you know how to change the fuel loadout in-game via the "aircraft" pull down. If not, let me know and I can talk you thru it.
Either way, I say a "balanced" fuel load out is 60%/60% "left/right", 40%/40% "left aux/right aux", and 30%/30% for "wingtips". This should give you 'round 5-6k fuel which is plenty below max trap for a Hornet but gives enough to take 5-7 traps as needed.
Also, on the same "missions" screen, just above the acutal missions window, there is a "show saved missions", I check that... so that I can load my presaved carrier missions. I save them, using the in-game save pull-down menu, with fuel as listed above, my parking brake set, w/my Hornet just before the JBD (deflector) on CAT2 (or whatever cat you like the best). I also have the weather changed to give me 10 kts of headwind over the deck with no gusts or turbulence. I also save it at dusk, as thats the best time of day for me, I like the change in colors and how the carrier lights up.
So, all in all, I can jump from starting FSX, go to missions with the "show saved missions" and "enable changes" buttons clicked and click on my saved mission (it should be listed in an off-blue color just below the default mission) and start up with engines up at idle in the above configuration. Now I all I have to do is set up the HUD, drop the launch bar, hook up, and hit the cat launch button and I'm doing Traps and Cats. Just like the screen shot, except with the default carrier, not the one in the screen which is the AICarrier Nimitz.
EDIT: btw, my first screen is a day setting, and the other two are my usual dusk settings. Just love the sun/water reflections and the contrast between carrier and lineup lights/meatball.
Any questions, holler....
Laterz
Sludge
SpazSinbad:
Sludge, Thanks. Had not noticed that 'enable changes'. Certainly will be convenient. I'll check it out. Until the other day I had only occassionally used FSX other than with the KAHU testing (explanation in other threads). Now that I have discovered this new way to use FSX for carrier landings (via new clear HUD with flaps etc.) I'm enthused again about Fsim Carrier Landings (which before could be terrible disappointing due to the lack of a good view on a computer monitor etc.). As demonstrated in the video with the clear HUD filling the screen with the AoA Indexer to the side in view then carrier landings in FSX are much more feasible (rather than NOT). ;D
AND what you have highlighted - carrier landings at dawn/dusk - can really help due to the deck lights making the deck orientation much more visible at a distance (for correct line up) along with the mirror being more visible. And it looks better - as you say. BTW why not maximise the WOD without turbulence? I'll give that a go if possible also.
YES at mission front there is an option to 'change realism' which I had not noticed. Nice one. Changing the wind to 45 knots is realistic (no turbulence and gusting only to same 45 knots) really helped for 'time in the groove'. However you will have to make sure you turn abeam the stern because the wind is going to push you downwind more than you realise (also if ship is moving). Much better all round - thanks again.
Sludge:
SPAZ...
Not a problem. Try to get everyone on an even keel, so we can get as much fun and realism out of this sim as possible.
Ok, during my time on the G-Dub (USS Geo Wash), we never did more than 20 kts headwind for flight ops that I remember. So I usually just put 10 kts and am happy with it.
Also, on your latest landing video, you scared me. First, you gotta enable your RADAR ALTIMETER on the HUD control panel, either before you takeoff or before you start the ABEAM turn. I would say before you take off. And I would start by basing your approach on 600 ft AGL. 1st, once you are on the 180 from Base Recovery Course, get FULL DIRTY (gear down, hook down, full flaps) but no speed brake. You should be 140-130 kts, FULL DIRTY w/out speedbrake, and once you are abeam of the carrier(I pause, while using a spot locked cam, looking left from the right wing at .50 zoom), then I count to 5 and slowly pull up a tad and start a lefthand 25-30 deg Angle-of-Bank (AOB) turn. Using the AOB tick marks on the bottom of the HUD, they go in 15 deg, so I start with just short of the 2nd or 30 deg tick mark and maintain that to the 90. At the 90, I expect to be around 475-500 ft, and approx. -150 to -200 ft Rate-of-Descent. With my HUD and zoom (1920 x 1200,widescreen, .70 zoom), I keep my same eye level but pan left to where the HUD is just visible on the right side, so I can see the carrier as soon as possible. Once I have the carrier in sight, I maintain my RoD, but I increase or decrease AoB as needed. Usually decrease it til I cross the wake then I go back to full 30 AoB and am set up for line up as in my previous screenshots. Im usually right on for a 15 (1-onethousand, 2-onethousand, ...) sec groove. From there is just maintaining the meatball, lineup, and attitude, til touchdown as we have talked about before in this sim. Speaking of which I would recommend using the + 5 deg hud ladder and work on keeping the "W" waterline close to it. Either just a bit above or below but nothing over 10 deg and definately nothing close to the horizon line or below.
BTW, what resolution are you running at? And do you still fly at a .40 zoom, like the video?
I wish I could make a video, so you could see... damn, I can almost do them in my sleep now. Thats why this sim is soo fun. I know its really not that way, it takes alot of work, but also, this is just sim, so once you set it up right, the sim is definately true to the numbers and gets you down to the deck.
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