CVN-65 Enterprise Last Cruises

[dhazelgrove]

Coming soon to a simulator near you -- The Big "E", as on her final series of cruises.

Dave

[blanston12]

Very cool, just a historical question. While CVN-65 was retired in 2012 the A-7 Corsair 2 was retired in 1991, were there any A-7's onboard during her last cruise?

[TARPSBird]

Very cool, just a historical question. While CVN-65 was retired in 2012 the A-7 Corsair 2 was retired in 1991, were there any A-7's onboard during her last cruise?

A-7's were long gone from the fleet by the time Enterprise made her last deployment in 2012. While in service they paid back every penny the Navy invested in them. The great thing about FSX with AICarriers is you can thumb your nose at the real world and launch and recover whatever you like to fly. Paul Clawson's prewar Northrop BT-1 was the first plane I downloaded for FSX. It's my default FSX plane and I routinely fly it aboard the modern carriers.

[dhazelgrove]

A-7's were long gone from the fleet by the time Enterprise made her last deployment in 2012. While in service they paid back every penny the Navy invested in them. The great thing about FSX with AICarriers is you can thumb your nose at the real world and launch and recover whatever you like to fly. Paul Clawson's prewar Northrop BT-1 was the first plane I downloaded for FSX. It's my default FSX plane and I routinely fly it aboard the modern carriers.

Just so. The A-7E(TP) is my usual first choice for Naval operations.

Dave

[TARPSBird]

Dave, do you fly the Razbam A-7E?

[Victory103]

My Big "E" cruise included a "last cruise" for another iconic attack aircraft, the A-6 Intruder! VA-75 painted one up to represent the "A" model when the unit first received them for SE Asia.

[dhazelgrove]

Dave, do you fly the Razbam A-7E?

I do. I've also found that all of the RAZBAM A-7s work well in P3Dv4.5 -- which came as a bit of a surprise.

My Big "E" cruise included a "last cruise" for another iconic attack aircraft, the A-6 Intruder! VA-75 painted one up to represent the "A" model when the unit first received them for SE Asia.

You can see the EA-6Bs in the background above.

Dave

[dhazelgrove]

Here's a long shot -- she's not small.

Dave

[fsafranek]

Here's a long shot -- she's not small.

Dave

A bit close to the tower there Maverick.
Just slightly longer than a Nimitz class.

[fsafranek]

Available exclusively from Flightsim.com Store through end of November, then everywhere else.

This version began as an idea to enhance the original release for use in Prepar3D v4 by updating the RFN Carrier gauge to the 64-bit version. The initial idea was to replace the F-14 Tomcats, A-7 Corsair IIs, A-6 Intruders, and SH-3 Sea Kings with the more modern F/A-18 Hornets and SH-60 Seahawks borrowed from Javier Fernandez's beautiful Nimitz carrier package. But as happens sometimes the smallish project took on a life of its own and soon became an extensive overhaul worthy of a separate package. The new model visually reflects changes from the 3+ year refit of 1990-1994 and the overhauls of 2005 and 2008-2009.

We selected two cruises. The final World Cruise in 2006, one of the last cruises for the S-3 Viking onboard the Enterprise. And the 2012 Mediterranean/Arabian Sea Cruise, the last cruise of the Enterprise before returning stateside for defueling and eventual decommissioning in 2017. Both cruises originated at Oceana, Virginia and saw military action in the Persian Gulf. The included Boat Traffic files cover these two areas of operation. The included aircraft types, units, and markings are correct for the two cruises.

In addition to the Enterprise we have included an Arleigh Burke class Destroyer in two versions - Flight IIa Class2 and Flight IIa Class5. These are based on the models by Henrik Nielsen. With Henrik's permission, we have enhanced them for this project.

To give the package a bit more usefulness we have gone a step further from the original release and have included a complete RFN Carrier gauge. This will not only give access to nearly a dozen Advanced Features but also a graphic interface to locate and interact with the ships. Thanks to the improvements of Prepar3D v4 we have been able to include very realistic night lighting effects on all ships. To manipulate the lights and other details a configuration interface is included.

Features
- Two configurations representing the 2006 World Cruise and the 2012 Final Cruise with unique carrier details and carrier/aircraft textures for each
- Empty deck versions of both cruises
- Full FSX Acceleration carrier operations compatibility
- New and updated static aircraft on deck (F/A-18C Hornet, F/A-18E Super Hornet, F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-6B Prowler, S-3B Viking, E-2C Hawkeye, and SH-60 Seahawk)
- Aircraft servicing vehicles, fire trucks, and deck crew figures
- SH-60 Seahawk plane guard helicopter flying alongside
- Arleigh Burke class Destroyer escorts (Flight IIa Class2 and Flight IIa Class5)
- RFN gauge for TACAN (TACtical Air Navigation system - course and distance) and ICLS (Instrument Carrier Landing System) navigation to the ship
- Advanced FLOLS (Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System) system with correct glide slope
- LRLS - Long Range Line-Up System
- Audible LSO (Landing Signal Officer) announcements
- Advanced aircraft launch trigger
- Realistic launch speed tailored to individual aircraft
- Animated Catapult Officer (Shooter)
- Steam effect on catapult (Prepar3D v4 only)
- GOTO feature to position your aircraft in one of four deck locations
- Working #3 elevator for movement between hanger deck and flight deck
- Night operations lighting including sequenced flashing centerline lights
- Dynamic night lighting (Prepar3D v4 only)
- Carrier Traffic files for both cruises near NAS Oceana, Virginia and the Persian Gulf
- Configuration file for use with AI Carrier utility

[CIMOGT]

Available exclusively from Flightsim.com Store through end of November, then everywhere else.

This version began as an idea to enhance the original release for use in Prepar3D v4 by updating the RFN Carrier gauge to the 64-bit version. The initial idea was to replace the F-14 Tomcats, A-7 Corsair IIs, A-6 Intruders, and SH-3 Sea Kings with the more modern F/A-18 Hornets and SH-60 Seahawks borrowed from Javier Fernandez's beautiful Nimitz carrier package. But as happens sometimes the smallish project took on a life of its own and soon became an extensive overhaul worthy of a separate package. The new model visually reflects changes from the 3+ year refit of 1990-1994 and the overhauls of 2005 and 2008-2009.

We selected two cruises. The final World Cruise in 2006, one of the last cruises for the S-3 Viking onboard the Enterprise. And the 2012 Mediterranean/Arabian Sea Cruise, the last cruise of the Enterprise before returning stateside for defueling and eventual decommissioning in 2017. Both cruises originated at Oceana, Virginia and saw military action in the Persian Gulf. The included Boat Traffic files cover these two areas of operation. The included aircraft types, units, and markings are correct for the two cruises.

In addition to the Enterprise we have included an Arleigh Burke class Destroyer in two versions - Flight IIa Class2 and Flight IIa Class5. These are based on the models by Henrik Nielsen. With Henrik's permission, we have enhanced them for this project.

To give the package a bit more usefulness we have gone a step further from the original release and have included a complete RFN Carrier gauge. This will not only give access to nearly a dozen Advanced Features but also a graphic interface to locate and interact with the ships. Thanks to the improvements of Prepar3D v4 we have been able to include very realistic night lighting effects on all ships. To manipulate the lights and other details a configuration interface is included.

Features
- Two configurations representing the 2006 World Cruise and the 2012 Final Cruise with unique carrier details and carrier/aircraft textures for each
- Empty deck versions of both cruises
- Full FSX Acceleration carrier operations compatibility
- New and updated static aircraft on deck (F/A-18C Hornet, F/A-18E Super Hornet, F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-6B Prowler, S-3B Viking, E-2C Hawkeye, and SH-60 Seahawk)
- Aircraft servicing vehicles, fire trucks, and deck crew figures
- SH-60 Seahawk plane guard helicopter flying alongside
- Arleigh Burke class Destroyer escorts (Flight IIa Class2 and Flight IIa Class5)
- RFN gauge for TACAN (TACtical Air Navigation system - course and distance) and ICLS (Instrument Carrier Landing System) navigation to the ship
- Advanced FLOLS (Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System) system with correct glide slope
- LRLS - Long Range Line-Up System
- Audible LSO (Landing Signal Officer) announcements
- Advanced aircraft launch trigger
- Realistic launch speed tailored to individual aircraft
- Animated Catapult Officer (Shooter)
- Steam effect on catapult (Prepar3D v4 only)
- GOTO feature to position your aircraft in one of four deck locations
- Working #3 elevator for movement between hanger deck and flight deck
- Night operations lighting including sequenced flashing centerline lights
- Dynamic night lighting (Prepar3D v4 only)
- Carrier Traffic files for both cruises near NAS Oceana, Virginia and the Persian Gulf
- Configuration file for use with AI Carrier utility

Great work !!!

[fsafranek]

Great work !!!

Thank you! Sylvain Parouty deserves the lion's share of credit for this project.

Hoping you'll consider the CVN-80 USS Enterprise as a follow-up to your other Ford class carriers once more details are known.

[dhazelgrove]

Dave

[RS]

Dear Team SDB


...you´ve made an exellent work! Thank you.





Keep it up!


RS

[CIMOGT]

Thank you! Sylvain Parouty deserves the lion's share of credit for this project.

Hoping you'll consider the CVN-80 USS Enterprise as a follow-up to your other Ford class carriers once more details are known.

We will have to see the development and changes between ships

[delta_lima]

Hello all,

Giving thought to getting this package.

Compared to the prior version, how does this version compare on FPS impact?

Thanks.

DL

[fsafranek]

Hello all,

Giving thought to getting this package.

Compared to the prior version, how does this version compare on FPS impact?

Thanks.

DL

I'll do a comparison. My personal system (specifically the graphics card -- Radeon R9 270X 2Gb) is pretty lame by current standards but I still get acceptable results.
That said, I think giving out my own frame rates might be counter-productive since they can't be considered steller. But here goes.

Original version sitting still with 21 aircraft on deck I get numbers fluctuating quickly from the 70's to over 100 fps. This is in P3D v4.5 with latest hotfix.
New version with 18 aircraft on deck I get the same quickly changing numbers. The new version has 2048x2048 textures versus 1024x1024 used on the original.

There was discussion during development on how much deck eye candy (aircraft, trucks, and people) to include so as not to negatively impact FPS.
That, along with better textures, is the reason for fewer aircraft.

I do know that the new one has 7+ additional years of experience by our shipbuilder, Sylvain Parouty, in making things work with the various sims.
P3D didn't even exist when the original was released back in 2012 and now we're up to v4.5 (it works fine in v5 by the way) while FSX went from FSX-A to the improved FSX-SE.

Hope this helps.

By the way, if you buy on a Tuesday from PC Aviator you can save 10%. Just sayin'.


-----------------------------------

Since this is in the FSX forum here are my FSX-SE numbers:
Original: 80s-90s
New: Same

So I get slightly better results with P3D than with FSX but the two versions of the ship are quite similar.
Hope this helps.

[delta_lima]

I'll do a comparison. My personal system (specifically the graphics card -- Radeon R9 270X 2Gb) is pretty lame by current standards but I still get acceptable results.
That said, I think giving out my own frame rates might be counter-productive since they can't be considered steller. But here goes.

Original version sitting still with 21 aircraft on deck I get numbers fluctuating quickly from the 70's to over 100 fps. This is in P3D v4.5 with latest hotfix.
New version with 18 aircraft on deck I get the same quickly changing numbers. The new version has 2048x2048 textures versus 1024x1024 used on the original.

There was discussion during development on how much deck eye candy (aircraft, trucks, and people) to include so as not to negatively impact FPS.
That, along with better textures, is the reason for fewer aircraft.

I do know that the new one has 7+ additional years of experience by our shipbuilder, Sylvain Parouty, in making things work with the various sims.
P3D didn't even exist when the original was released back in 2012 and now we're up to v4.5 (it works fine in v5 by the way) while FSX went from FSX-A to the improved FSX-SE.

Hope this helps.

By the way, if you buy on a Tuesday from PC Aviator you can save 10%. Just sayin'.


-----------------------------------

Since this is in the FSX forum here are my FSX-SE numbers:
Original: 80s-90s
New: Same

So I get slightly better results with P3D than with FSX but the two versions of the ship are quite similar.
Hope this helps.

Thanks Frank - that's helpful. I'm running an i5 4430 + 16GB with a 1050ti card - so humble specs gives me the exact benchmark I need.

thanks,

dl