Multiplayer Carrier Ops - Nimitz

[SpazSinbad]

There is a method to these callsigns from INITIALS (or slang mnenomic) of those so named:

IKE=November India Kilo Echo
VINSON=November Charlie Victor Victor
ROOSEVELT=November November Tango Romeo
LINCOLN=November Alpha Bravo Echo
WASHINGTON=November November Golf Whiskey
STENNIS=November Juliet Charlie Sierra
TRUMAN=November ? ? ?

Info above came from this .PPT file at: http://www.slideshare.net/kapitan/aircraft-carrier-nimitz-class-presentation

Sadly the TRUMAN callsign was a repeat of STENNIS. I'll keep looking....

BTW these are 'flag hoist' or official callsigns indicated by signal flags. There would be many other non-official or semi-official callsigns for the ship or departments in the ship and on and on. GOOGLING will get many results.

[Pop]

thanks these are the "comm" call signs, what I am looking for is the RT call sign. Enterprise = "climax" TD = "rough Rider". VFA 14 = camalot, etc

[Orion]

Status update: Most things are done, only need to do the fun features (reward(s), documentation, briefing, graphics, etc...), which is really the boring work, but whatever .  I've done the cameras, goal, the carrier, its path and the stuff essential for a multiplayer mission.

Anyways, here's a question for you all:  What kind of custom camera views would you like?

At the moment, I have a view similar to the carrier camera I had in my previous mission and another camera that's just outside the tower.

[SpazSinbad]

Orion, An LSO eye view would be good thanks. Then please a centreline/glideslope PLAT from the deck view as seen in the onboard TV footage would be great also I reckon. Being a simulator you could have the camera exactly at the intended (hook) touchdown point. Both cameras would look down the approach path, I guess the LSO view would aim for a point at about 1nm from touchdown more or less parallel to approach path.

Could the PLAT camera on deck at touchdown point have a set of needle points please? I think the Virtual Blue Angels Video had such a camera in their excellent 'how to deck land' video.

[GOONIE]

I agree, an LSO view and a PLAT camera view would be great.  

Example picture of a PLAT camera


Also, are you able to make the carrier pitch up and down with the waves, to create a pitching deck scenario?
Here is a great video of pitching deck in real life,  looks fun

Here is the video of this being done in FSX, http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1204166/fsx_smit_rotterdam_heavy_tug/

Thought this would make for some challenging approaches, but might not be desired all the time, so it could be an option.  

Finally, can you add a loitering AI tanker to the mission, is that possible in multiplayer?

[Orion]

Oops!  Sorry, totally forgot the refueling bit .  I'll be sure to get to that today or this weekend .

As for the cameras, I've tried the LSO one, but it looks a bit odd up close.  I'll re-make it and take some screenshots if you'd like.  And excuse my ignorance, but the PLAT camera should be between the 2 and 3 wires in the middle of the runway at deck level?

Capthaltli: I don't think I can make the PLAT camera have crosshairs, but I'll look into having the deck pitch if other's like the idea.

[SpazSinbad]

Orion, I have not checked where the PLAT cameras on the actual NIMITZ. Just my suggestion to put the one and only PLAT at the hook touchdown point (with the LSO view just being a view - no need for a camera itself?). On the real deck I don't think anything would survive at that hook T/D point. I guess there is no need to put a camera there but have a viewpoint from there. Does that help? Personally I don't see the need to have an actual camera modelled - only the viewpoint.  Others may have a different opinion however.

IF the IFLOLS is not gyro stabilised in FSX then I don't see the point in having the deck move up and down. It is difficult enough to do a good carrier landing as it is. With the PLAT people can further refine/see what they are doing. Deck Landings are a task for perfectionists. One can never do a good enough approach even if it is an "OK No Comment 3 wire".    The pilot will have seen something during that approach that probably he would like to fix the next time around.

Having the deck move will force a pilot to 'deck spot' (stop using the IFLOLS). This is catastrophic in real life and probably not so good in FSX. The point (I think) is to do the best Deck Landing one is capable of doing. That is never easy when any approach is looked at afterwards in detail.

If there is a call for that 'up and down option' then please don't make it the default. Thanks. 

[Orion]

By camera, I mean viewpoint.  It's just they're called cameras in the SDK, so I just kept that consistent in the post .  I'll stick the LSO camera back in and add that PLAT camera and post screenshots for you guys to take a look .

[Razgriz]

Orion, An LSO eye view would be good thanks. Then please a centreline/glideslope PLAT from the deck view as seen in the onboard TV footage would be great also I reckon. Being a simulator you could have the camera exactly at the intended (hook) touchdown point. Both cameras would look down the approach path, I guess the LSO view would aim for a point at about 1nm from touchdown more or less parallel to approach path.

Could the PLAT camera on deck at touchdown point have a set of needle points please? I think the Virtual Blue Angels Video had such a camera in their excellent 'how to deck land' video.

I believe that the LSO camera (the camera, not where they stand, is that the "PLAT Cam?") is between the 2-3 wires.  I would like an LSO camera view, and I think pitching deck would be an amazing idea.  I think its a lot of fun.

The FSX BA has an "OK, 3" video, which has EVERYTHING for carrier landing, amazing video.

[SpazSinbad]

Orion, OK I getcha. The 'camera' is as you describe.

[Orion]

There we go!

Got aerial refueling working !

Now back to those cameras...

[GOONIE]

Check out Microbrewst video of pitching deck, pretty sweet!

This would be a great option for carrier ops IMHO, very challenging, and it sounds like the ball is stabilized.

Also, thanks for working on adding an aerial tanker, just curious what aircraft was added?

There is a nice free AI KC-135 with an extended drouge for navy aircraft to refuel, here's a pic

[Orion]

Sure, I'll look into the pitching deck.

At the moment, I'm just using the default 737, but I don't really want to use another aircraft because it would depend on yet another addon, and I don't want to be installing too many extra things to everyone's computer.

Anyone want to be able to refuel on the deck of the Nimitz?  If so, where on the carrier should I have people stop for fuel?

[Orion]

Not to double post, but I believe all requested features are working now, aside from the pitching deck .

Only thing I'd like to do now is add a spot to refuel from on the Nimitz, but I don't know where on the carrier I should let people refuel from .  Once that's done, it's just the reward(s), briefing and graphics .

[SpazSinbad]

Orion, (not being USN or US citizen I don't see USN carriers much - if at all) so I have been googling to search for an answer to your question. Possibly there is no spot to refuel an aircraft except where they might be ranged ordinarily. In other words 'the aircraft do not go to the fuel' "the fuel goes to the aircraft" via long hoses manhandled around the deck by the tireless 'grapes' (aircraft refuellers in their purple flight coats designating their job). Perhaps not every spot on a large US carrier deck can handle refuelling due to the limited hose lengths but probably most of the used 'spots' where the aircraft are chained ordinarily will be in range of these hoses. Someone else might have a better more specific answer for USS Nimitz though.