dswo
August 16th, 2009, 18:23
Carrier Tracks Volume 1 is now available from the Sim-Outhouse (cartraks1.zip) and FlightSim (carriertracksvolume1.zip) file libraries.
What should Volume 2 contain? I've already got the Clemenceau steaming from Marseille to Cannes, and this afternoon I made a track for Oceana NAS in Virginia.
Meanwhile, here are the details for Volume 1.
Carrier Tracks: Volume 1
By David Scott Wilson-Okamura
These scenery files place Nimitz-class carrier models as moving AI boat traffic in Hawaii and four coastal locations, situated by Marine Corps and Naval air stations.
Operations in the Pacific use the U.S.S. Nimitz. Operations in the Atlantic use the U.S.S. Eisenhower. Carriers begin sailing at approximately 0700 or 0800 local time, depending on time of year, and continue throughout the day. Carrier speed is set at 25 knots; knowing this is useful when you are searching for them using AI Traffic Map (installed as part of the SDK Traffic Tools). On AI Traffic Explorer, they appear as CVN68 (for the Nimitz) and CVN69 (for the Eisenhower).
Sample flights are included if you want to start on one of the carriers. Note: each flight begins paused. Press pause again (usually the p-key) in order to begin. Be ready on the brakes, though. When a flight is saved, the relative momentum -- of aircraft and carrier -- is not saved with it. When you load the flight later, the carrier's momentum is conducted suddenly to the aircraft, and you can either roll off the deck or, with a small plane like the Goshawk, pitch over backwards. To compensate for this, I have parked the aircraft in deck positions that you would not see in real life. Another way to compensate is with slew mode. After the flight loads, but before you un-pause, go into slew mode with the y-key. Then un-pause with the p-key. Then exit slew mode, by pressing the y-key again. This method works, but I prefer not to use it, because it seems to affect the catapults; also, because the carrier keeps moving while you are in slew mode, it will create problems for any flights that you save on deck.
REQUIREMENTS
Freeware "FSX Acceleration USS Nimitz and Eisenhower" by Javier "Thrawn" Fernandez. Filename uss_nimitz_ike.zip in the Flightsim.com file library; search for Javier Fernandez, though, in case there's a more recent update.
INSTALLATION
1. Exit the sim.
2. Copy the .bgl files into an active scenery folder. If you don't know what you're doing, a safe bet is usually:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Addon Scenery\scenery
3. If you want to use the sample flights, copy the .FLT, .WX, and .FSSAVE files into the folder where your other flights are stored. This folder is usually named "Flight Simulator X Files" and can be found in the "My Documents" folder if you are using Windows XP, or the "Documents" folder if you are using Vista/Windows 7.
4. Restart the sim.
5. If you want to try one of the saved flights, their names all start with the word "Carrier."
SETTINGS
For carriers to show, you must have boat traffic set to 40% or higher.
THE TRACKS
1. Oahu, circles the island beginning and ending at Pearl Harbor. Accessible from Naval and Marine Air around the island. Included flight starts on a carrier south of MCAS Kaneohe Bay (PHNG), using the Acceleration Hornet (in Marine livery).
2. San Diego, travels up and down the southern California coast, from San Diego to Point Mugu. Accessible from NAS Point Mugu (KNTD), NAS North Island (KNZY), and MCAS Miramar (KNKX). Included flight starts on a carrier north of San Diego, configured for T-45 training quals. Aircraft is the freeware T-45 Goshawk by Dino Cattaneo, but if you don't want to install that you can switch to another aircraft after the flight loads (or edit the .flt file to accomplish the same result).
3. Juan de Fuca, starts in the Georgia Strait, travels down through the San Juan Islands and out to the Pacific Ocean via the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Accessible from NAS Whidbey Island (KNUW) and CGAS Port Angeles (KNOW). Included flight starts on a carrier in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, using the Acceleration Hornet.
4. Pensacola, hugs the coast from Mobile Bay to Fort Walton beach. Accessible from Eglin AFB (KVPS), NAS Pensacola (KNPA), and NAS Whiting (KNSE). Included flight starts on a carrier configured for T-45 training quals. Aircraft is the freeware T-45 Goshawk by Dino Cattaneo, but if you don't want to install that you can switch to another aircraft after the flight loads (or edit the .flt file to accomplish the same result).
5. Key West, circles the archipelago from Seven Mile Bridge to the Marquesas. Accessible from NAS Key West (KNQX). Included flight starts on a carrier north and west of the airfield, using the Acceleration Hornet.
What should Volume 2 contain? I've already got the Clemenceau steaming from Marseille to Cannes, and this afternoon I made a track for Oceana NAS in Virginia.
Meanwhile, here are the details for Volume 1.
Carrier Tracks: Volume 1
By David Scott Wilson-Okamura
These scenery files place Nimitz-class carrier models as moving AI boat traffic in Hawaii and four coastal locations, situated by Marine Corps and Naval air stations.
Operations in the Pacific use the U.S.S. Nimitz. Operations in the Atlantic use the U.S.S. Eisenhower. Carriers begin sailing at approximately 0700 or 0800 local time, depending on time of year, and continue throughout the day. Carrier speed is set at 25 knots; knowing this is useful when you are searching for them using AI Traffic Map (installed as part of the SDK Traffic Tools). On AI Traffic Explorer, they appear as CVN68 (for the Nimitz) and CVN69 (for the Eisenhower).
Sample flights are included if you want to start on one of the carriers. Note: each flight begins paused. Press pause again (usually the p-key) in order to begin. Be ready on the brakes, though. When a flight is saved, the relative momentum -- of aircraft and carrier -- is not saved with it. When you load the flight later, the carrier's momentum is conducted suddenly to the aircraft, and you can either roll off the deck or, with a small plane like the Goshawk, pitch over backwards. To compensate for this, I have parked the aircraft in deck positions that you would not see in real life. Another way to compensate is with slew mode. After the flight loads, but before you un-pause, go into slew mode with the y-key. Then un-pause with the p-key. Then exit slew mode, by pressing the y-key again. This method works, but I prefer not to use it, because it seems to affect the catapults; also, because the carrier keeps moving while you are in slew mode, it will create problems for any flights that you save on deck.
REQUIREMENTS
Freeware "FSX Acceleration USS Nimitz and Eisenhower" by Javier "Thrawn" Fernandez. Filename uss_nimitz_ike.zip in the Flightsim.com file library; search for Javier Fernandez, though, in case there's a more recent update.
INSTALLATION
1. Exit the sim.
2. Copy the .bgl files into an active scenery folder. If you don't know what you're doing, a safe bet is usually:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Addon Scenery\scenery
3. If you want to use the sample flights, copy the .FLT, .WX, and .FSSAVE files into the folder where your other flights are stored. This folder is usually named "Flight Simulator X Files" and can be found in the "My Documents" folder if you are using Windows XP, or the "Documents" folder if you are using Vista/Windows 7.
4. Restart the sim.
5. If you want to try one of the saved flights, their names all start with the word "Carrier."
SETTINGS
For carriers to show, you must have boat traffic set to 40% or higher.
THE TRACKS
1. Oahu, circles the island beginning and ending at Pearl Harbor. Accessible from Naval and Marine Air around the island. Included flight starts on a carrier south of MCAS Kaneohe Bay (PHNG), using the Acceleration Hornet (in Marine livery).
2. San Diego, travels up and down the southern California coast, from San Diego to Point Mugu. Accessible from NAS Point Mugu (KNTD), NAS North Island (KNZY), and MCAS Miramar (KNKX). Included flight starts on a carrier north of San Diego, configured for T-45 training quals. Aircraft is the freeware T-45 Goshawk by Dino Cattaneo, but if you don't want to install that you can switch to another aircraft after the flight loads (or edit the .flt file to accomplish the same result).
3. Juan de Fuca, starts in the Georgia Strait, travels down through the San Juan Islands and out to the Pacific Ocean via the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Accessible from NAS Whidbey Island (KNUW) and CGAS Port Angeles (KNOW). Included flight starts on a carrier in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, using the Acceleration Hornet.
4. Pensacola, hugs the coast from Mobile Bay to Fort Walton beach. Accessible from Eglin AFB (KVPS), NAS Pensacola (KNPA), and NAS Whiting (KNSE). Included flight starts on a carrier configured for T-45 training quals. Aircraft is the freeware T-45 Goshawk by Dino Cattaneo, but if you don't want to install that you can switch to another aircraft after the flight loads (or edit the .flt file to accomplish the same result).
5. Key West, circles the archipelago from Seven Mile Bridge to the Marquesas. Accessible from NAS Key West (KNQX). Included flight starts on a carrier north and west of the airfield, using the Acceleration Hornet.