adding tailhooks to aircraft that have none?

[Hooky722]

Hi All

Was wondering if anyone knew a way of adding a tailhook (albeit an Invisible one) to aircraft that were not built with a tailhook function. for example I'm converting an old fs2000 t-2 buckeye by Kirk Olsson to as near fs2004 standard as i can get for use on carriers I've added the catapult gauge from a sea fury package i have but the tailhook key is unclickable. I'm sure i stumbled across someone who solved this problem with another aircraft but for all my searching I cant find any reference to it, Any help would be great

Kind regards

Hooky:salute:

[Milton Shupe]

Have you added this section to the aircraft.cfg?

[TailHook]
tailhook_length=5 ;(feet)
tailhook_position=-19.5, 0.0, -1.0 ;(feet) longitudinal, lateral, vertical positions from datum
cable_force_adjust=1.0
[LSO]
LSOAdjustSpeed=0.7

[Willy]

Use the tail hook section out of an aircraft.cfg that has one and adjust length as needed.

[Motormouse]

Use the tail hook section out of an aircraft.cfg that has one and adjust length as needed.

IIRC one of Rob Barendregt's (sp?) carrier ops gauges can help with that; it will display a green light if hook is touching the ground

ttfn

Pete

[Willy]

His gauge that I use will give a green light if the tail hook and gear are down together.

[Motormouse]

Here you go Willy; from the RCBO readme file

3.2. Carrier landings: the arrester gauge
=========================================
****** IMPORTANT ******
For this gauge to operate properly, your aircraft MUST have a "functional"
tailhook, defined in the aircraft.cfg. Operation is based on the real FS2004
Tailhook function, contrary to using Slew, Superspoilers, or other mechanismes
to decelerate aircraft.
If the tailhook is non-existing (the switch won't move and the light stays
DarkGreen), or if the tailhook is too short (the light is FlashingRed when
the aircraft is on the ground with the tailhook lowered): see Appendix-2 in
file "Installation Examples.txt"

This gauge has a switch and an indicator light:
- With the switch, you can lower/raise the tailhook of your aircraft, thereby
arming/disarming the gauge.
Alternatively you can do this by using the assigned FS2004 key or controller
button (in menu Options-Controls-Assigments, Tailhook up/down).
- The light indicates the state and functioning of the tailhook.
- DarkGreen: Tailhook is retracted, the gauge is inactive.
- Orange: Aircraft is on the ground, with tailhook partially extended.
The tailhook is now resting on the deck.
- Green: Aircraft is in the air, with tailhook fully extended and
gear lowered. Ready for an "arrested" landing.
- FlashingRed: Aircraft is in the air, with tailhook fully extended but the
gear not lowered yet. Do not attempt to land !!
Or:
Aircraft is on the ground, with tailhook fully extended.
This indicates that the tailhook is too short !!

and

Appendix-2: About tailhooks, and how to add/modify them.
================================================== ======
First of all, you should understand that in FS2004 there is a distinction
between a "visible", animated tailhook (which is part of the aircraft's
.mdl model), and a "functional" tailhook as defined in the aircraft.cfg.
In some older jets the "visible" tailhook is coupled to the Spoilers or
Flaps function, instead of the real Tailhook function. And possibly even
coupled to a decelleration mechanisme based on high drag, known as
"Superspoilers" or "SuperFlaps".
However, the arrester gauge requires that the aircraft has a real "functional"
tailhook, which is defined in the aircraft.cfg like:
[TailHook]
tailhook_length=3.0 // Length, in feet
tailhook_position=-20.0, 0.0, 0.0 // longitudinal, lateral, vertical position
cable_force_adjust=1.0
If not, you must add this section at the end of the aircraft.cfg file.
Note again that this does NOT add, or influences, the "visible" tailhook !!
The values are of course aircraft dependant, but what matters is that the
tailhook should stick out below the wheels a few feet. This result can be
achieved by making the tailhook longer, or by moving it closer to the deck
by decreasing the vertical position (negative values move the tailhook down,
away from the centre of the aircraft.)
The Arrester gauge activates when the tailhook touches the deck.
However, if you are not comfortable (or too lazy :-) ) in fine-tuning these
values, just use the values already present in your aircraft.cfg file or (if
not present) use the values specified above. Because:
- If the tailhook is too short: the aircraft is still trapped, but now only
when the wheels touch the deck.
- If the tailhook is too long: the aircraft is trapped a bit too early.
But if you do want to check the tailhook for correct length:
- Position your aircraft on the deck, or any other runway.
- Lower the tailhook (either by clicking the switch or pressing the keystroke
assigned to the "Tailhook up/down" function)
- Check that the gauge light turns Orange.
- If it starts flashing Red after a few seconds, the tailhook is too short.
In that case: increase the value by one feet or so, reload the aircraft and
try again.
- Advanced users will want to compare the reach of the tailhook (as specified
by the tailhook length and vertical position) with the vertical position of
the landing gear.
I emphasize again: adding/adjusting the Tailhook section in the aircraft.cfg
might not be reflected in the behaviour of the visible, animated tailhook (if
any) that you can observe in Spotview mode. If you have an aircraft in which the "visible" tailhook is coupled to Spoiler
or Flaps, you can off course still use that ON TOP OF lowering the functional
tailhook. Take care however, that this is not a "Superspoiler" since your
aircraft will then fall out of the sky :-). See also Appendix-4.
Remedy in that case:
In the aircraft.cfg file, look for the line:
Spoiler_limit = "a high value". Change this into a low value (e.g. 60)

Thanks Rob !!
ttfn

Pete

[Willy]

I'm using an early version of the gauge that doesn't need catch zones to work. Saves me the trouble of setting them up on all the carriers I have installed. (I've got more carriers installed than all the Navies of the world combined including museum ships)