Classic British Flight Sim

Peter, have a look in the HTML files that come with it and it the Vixen folders, they are switches on the right hand switch panel just behind the wingfold and radome switches. They only operate on the ground though as it would be hard to change your loadout in mid-flight.

Cracking pics

I've read about the procedure for the Vixen landing/bolting and I'll try and dig it out to confirm, but from memory once the aircraft was down the pilot would retract the flaps (had to be done otherwise folding the wings broke stuff) then if it was rolling backwards he'd retract the hook (as they'd have trapped) if it wasn't he'd open the throttle to go round. If they had trapped the Observer would operate the wingfold and they'd taxi forward.

Naturally I would not use full flap for a launch (just one notch) so the shots are correct really...

Peter..
Correct config for cat launch is for full flap. Wait for your speed to exceed 140tks then retract to 20. If you are still in a positive RoC, then fully retract. As you know, things start to happen rather quickly and 140kts comes up in no time at all so it's fingers like bee's wings on the buttons! ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

That's interesting Dave...full flap gives a sight more drag that lift but with full power applied, I guess that tiny bit of extra lift is more relevant than the large drag increase. Thanks for that info Dave and also thanks to Skippybing...I'll modify my procedures accordingly

Peter,
I think the drag increase with full flap is mostly overcome by the use of the catapult!

No, not really as there will be no effective drag against the steam stroke until the aircraft leaves the ram...Then the excessive flap drap is overcome by the thrust of the engines already at full RPM. There would be a lot less drag and about the same lift from less flap, but with full power already developed it does not really matter. It is certainly simpler for a series of circuits and traps or bolters as you can just leave the flaps and the gear fully down for the whole time you are in the circuit

Great set of shots as usual.

I'm not wanting to be picky but the shots on final (with the ark heading for the dry stuff) and the landing seem to indicate that you are lined up with the long axis of the deck rather than the angled deck. I always thought the idea of the angled deck was that a bolter wouldn't interfere with planes on the bow catapults?

Having said that I've been having a try with the carriers in FSX Acceleration and it's bloody difficult to work out the approach to the angle deck anyway! The wake is really little help. The only time I did catch a wire I think I was on a line between the ships heading and the angled deck, so when the plane stopped it was pulled over on to its side and recorded as a crash! :-(

Glyn

:think:

I stand to be 'bolted' myself, but I doubt an AC would be on any cat while one was landing, the deflector panels for a start are 'on' the angled 'runway' aligned with the wires. It may be the case for the US country-sized carriers, but Ark is probably a tad too small?
The logic does apply for anything parked up at the bow mind you - although again, I have no idea if they would be shifted before landing ops.

As you say, the angle is a swine to get correct, although after a little practice, not so bad. (says Mr Bolter/straight into hangar via stern hull) :roll:

I like that

You're almost certainly right there Jim. US Carriers the size of LHR are one thing but I don't think Ark would have had aircraft parked up either side of the flightdeck during flying ops.. perhaps on the front end but not on or around the stern. Flying ops would normally be done in 2 phases.. launch and recovery and if you have a squadron returning for recovery, Arks flight deck isn't/wasn't huge and recovered aircraft needed to be got out of the way sharpish

ATB

DaveB :tab: