Corsair Tailhook

[DaveB]

Indeed.. do you know where the fix is Dave?

ATB
DaveB

[fliger747]

There was an excellent tutorial by an online carrier group, not sure if they are still alive and well. The racetrack pattern is the key to repeatable arrested landings. Critical is the distance on downwind from the carrier which will control the turn to final. Depending on the speed of the carrier and wind the final turn, fully configured should be made somewhere abeam the bridge for a strong wind, but more likely abeam the LSO platform. Speed should be stable around 90 knots, full flaps, aircraft trimmed (especially rudder) hook and gear down. I have a second hat on my X52 which I can use to slide my viewpoint around. Having a dogs view down the side of the cowl is quite helpful. Pattern altitude no higher than 600 ft. Steady descending and curving approach important to keep power and speed stable. Having to add power getting slow or too tight a turn to the very short final (< 1 ship length) caused the demise of many inattentive naval aviators. Pay no attention to the water, just judge the relative position between you and the carrier. If everything is on speed, alignment and altitude correct, the cut should come just before the ramp. Ease the stick back to thump the plane on in the landing zone, it should want to quit flying, being behind the power curve. and hook a wire.

Michael Davies Leyte is a great ship!

Regards: Tom

[WarHorse47]

Got one small favor to ask.

I've tried both FDE's and noticed the addition of two VC Camera Definitions. Unfortunately, [CameraDefinition.3] doesn't work for me.

Is it possible to get an adjustment of [CameraDefinition.3] for the VC switches?? When I switch to that definition, it places the view on top of the panel and has a weird angle on the right hand switch panel.

Thanks.

[Bomber_12th]

Here, I thought all of those camera definitions were from the original Aircraft Factory product, but instead they are from Tom's FDE and made for the original MV model.

Try these and let me know what you think regarding the VC views (replace all of the existing definitions). I adjusted them so that you get a full view of both the right and left control consoles, and you can work all of the switches and levers.

[CameraDefinition.0]
Title=Tail
Guid = {5c1df273-034b-4e7f-953a-9d5e26f1646c}
Description = Looking forward from behind the aircraft
Origin = Center
SnapPbhAdjust = Swivel
SnapPbhReturn = FALSE
PanPbhAdjust = Swivel
PanPbhReturn = FALSE
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = .75
ShowWeather = Yes
InitialXyz = 0, 5.5, -20.0
InitialPbh = 10, 0, 0
XyzAdjust = TRUE
Category=Aircraft
MomentumEffect=TRUE
ClipMode=Minimum

[CameraDefinition.1]
Title=Right Wing
Guid = {C690EAFD-223A-42d0-99E0-681ADF93BB59}
Description = View from the right wing tip looking at the cockpit
Origin = Center
SnapPbhAdjust = Swivel
SnapPbhReturn = FALSE
PanPbhAdjust = Swivel
PanPbhReturn = FALSE
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = 0.5
ShowWeather = Yes
InitialXyz = 15.8, 1.3, 0.0
InitialPbh = 8, 0, 270
XyzAdjust = TRUE
Category=Aircraft
MomentumEffect = FALSE
ClipMode=Minimum

[CameraDefinition.2]
Title=Left Wing
Guid = {f25dfa2e-fd2e-4b89-81e2-0575cbcb60de}
Description = View from the left wing tip looking at the cockpit
Origin = Center
SnapPbhAdjust = Swivel
SnapPbhReturn = FALSE
PanPbhAdjust = Swivel
PanPbhReturn = FALSE
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = 0.5
ShowWeather = Yes
InitialXyz = -15.8, 1.3, 0.0
InitialPbh = 8, 0, 90
XyzAdjust = TRUE
Category=Aircraft
MomentumEffect = No
ClipMode=Minimum

[CameraDefinition.3]
Title=Right Console
Guid = {195EAB58-9E4A-3E2A-A34C-A8D9D948F078}
Origin = Virtual Cockpit
MomentumEffect = No
SnapPbhAdjust = None
SnapPbhReturn = False
PanPbhAdjust = None
PanPbhReturn = False
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = 0.8
SmoothZoomTime = 2.0
ZoomPanScalar = 1.0
ShowWeather = Yes
XyzAdjust = TRUE
InitialXyz= -0.25,0,0.2
InitialPbh= 48,0,90
ShowLensFlare=FALSE
Category = Cockpit
PitchPanRate=20
HeadingPanRate=60

[CameraDefinition.4]
Title=Left Console
Guid = {777EAB58-9E4A-3E2A-A34C-A8D9D948F078}
Origin = Virtual Cockpit
MomentumEffect = No
SnapPbhAdjust = None
SnapPbhReturn = False
PanPbhAdjust = None
PanPbhReturn = False
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = 0.8
SmoothZoomTime = 2.0
ZoomPanScalar = 1.0
ShowWeather = Yes
XyzAdjust = TRUE
InitialXyz= 0.25,0,0.2
InitialPbh= 48,0,-90
ShowLensFlare=FALSE
Category = Cockpit
PitchPanRate=20
HeadingPanRate=60

[gray eagle]

John,

The new camera views are nice but I did notice that a couple of the older views were super ceded (read eliminated) and not included with your latest and greatest.
So, I just selected some of your new views that were not previously included. Bear in mind to replace all the camera defs you would lose following camera views:

[CameraDefinition.4]
Title=Machine Guns <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< I kept this one
Guid = {777EAB58-9E4A-3E2A-A34C-A8D9D948F078}
Origin = Virtual Cockpit
MomentumEffect = No
SnapPbhAdjust = None
SnapPbhReturn = False
PanPbhAdjust = None
PanPbhReturn = False
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = 0.8
SmoothZoomTime = 2.0
ZoomPanScalar = 1.0
ShowWeather = Yes
XyzAdjust = TRUE
InitialXyz= -0.00,-0.0,-0.10
InitialPbh= 38.5,00.00,0.00
ShowLensFlare=FALSE
Category = Cockpit
PitchPanRate=20
HeadingPanRate=60

[CameraDefinition.3]
Title=Switches <<<<< Kept this one too
Guid = {195EAB58-9E4A-3E2A-A34C-A8D9D948F078}
Origin = Virtual Cockpit
MomentumEffect = No
SnapPbhAdjust = None
SnapPbhReturn = False
PanPbhAdjust = None
PanPbhReturn = False
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = 0.8
SmoothZoomTime = 2.0
ZoomPanScalar = 1.0
ShowWeather = Yes
XyzAdjust = TRUE
InitialXyz= -0.30,-0.20,0.50
InitialPbh= 38.5,00.00,90.00
ShowLensFlare=FALSE
Category = Cockpit
PitchPanRate=20
HeadingPanRate=60

[Bomber_12th]

The "switches" view (which was not in the original Aircraft Factory product) is the one I've corrected, and re-named "right console", so that you get the full view of all of the switches and levers on the right-side. The "machine guns" view (also not included in the original product) isn't needed as it doesn't provide anything of value. Instead, I modified that one into the "left console" view, which is just an opposite/companion to the right console view, providing a full view of all of the switches and levers on the left-side.

Here is a most recently updated version of the FDE files, incorporating the camera definition and brakes updates/corrections:

[WarHorse47]

Thanks guys. Much better and very appreciated.

[gray eagle]

Thanks to John for his patience with us all and his time in honing this plane into a much better performer.

I sure do like that 214 Marine repaint, I fly that one a lot as of late

[roger-wilco-66]

Great tutorial Tom. Thank you.

Ditto! Thanks, Tom!

Hey, and thanks John, for the new FDE!!



Cheers,
Mark

[Bomber_12th]

No problem, guys, and again, all of the credit for these FDE files should go to Tom (Fliger747), having provided the original work in the first place...I've just tried to provide them with the modifications that anyone else would have to do in order to get them to work with the Aircraft Factory model (if anything, I've probably ruined his work...). : )

[gray eagle]

No problem, guys, and again, all of the credit for these FDE files should go to Tom (Fliger747), having provided the original work in the first place...I've just tried to provide them with the modifications that anyone else would have to do in order to get them to work with the Aircraft Factory model (if anything, I've probably ruined his work...). : )

I managed to install the latest FDE files and everything is working very well. No complaints here. I sent Tom (Fliger747) a thank you PM as well.

[fliger747]

Most happy to see the Corsair see deserved attention.

Regards: Tom

[dhasdell]

Indeed.. do you know where the fix is Dave?

Ow yiss, DaveB. Here are Rich's original instructions:

Make a copy of your aircraft.cfg as a backup.
Locate this section in the working cfg.
[TailHook]
Delete the whole section = 4 lines.
copy paste this replacement in its place,
[TailHook]
tailhook_length = 2.50
tailhook_position = -20.100, 0.000, -0.500
cable_force_adjust = 2.0

[DaveB]

Yowm a goodun Dave.. tar

ATB
DaveB

[expat]

I finally got around to getting the Racers Expansion Pack, which it says has a number of model and FDE improvements and realism features (engine failures?). I have added some of my favourite repaints to the racer model. Not sure the extra shine of the model made a difference and still testing flight handling.

Question: should I use the FDE in the Racers package or the most recent mod's of Tom posted above?

[expat]

. . or to put it differently, has anyone tried to splice the Racer's mods in with the warbird Corsairs? Or is Tom's FDE above superior?

Also, has anyone been able to trap the plane on an escort or light cv? I can land - crash detection on - on an Essex (eg. Michael's Yorktown or Leyte) without too much trouble, and without nosing over. However, because the Casablanca or Cabot deck is that much smaller, that big long nose of the Corsair blocks out any visual reference of the flight deck (moved the vc eye point out to the left - ie "dog view" - but didn't really help) making it VERY tough!! They did fly off of them, e.g. the USS Sicily in Korea. Respect!

[DaveB]

I think for some evolutions.. an essential bit of kit has to be TrackIR.. which I no longer have.. but whether this would help seeing around the Corsairs nose, I don't know.

EDIT: I've just put her down on HMS Ocean a couple of times but that's a bit longer than the Casablanca class. A case of lining up with the island and falling out of the sky at the right time!!

ATB
DaveB

[fliger747]

One has to admire the hose nose guys assigned to the smaller decks. I am sure peripheral vision played an important part here, one got used to the shape, texture and position of the ships wake. The most important thing one can do is to judge the turn to final such that one really only gets wings level just before the cut. A little extra (means a lot of right rudder) rudder helps keep the LSO platform in view for the cut. In essence the whole deal starts with making the properly placed turn to final from downwind. The last thing to do is wings level before the cut.

At least the CVL's could make good speed. The poor guys trying to land Seafires aboard CVE's in the Med with no wind had a very high attrition rate just due to deck "landings".

T

[PRB]

Right rudder! Hadn't thought of that. I've been doing CQ around CV-12 in the F4U-1A with Tom's FDE, with John's adjustments for the later A2A release. This beast is a handful in the CQ pattern. I'm 1 knot from being one of those "eliminated ensigns", swimming with the fishies behind the boat, on almost every circuit. I can never get the turn setup correctly. Always end up right behind the ship, too far back, after turning too tight and almost departing. But, the right rudder trick is useful. Crabs the nose over a bit. I set 16 knots of wind, with the ship going 25 knots (ish). Haven't nosed over yet. I setup a formation with a couple DDs acting as visual turn points. Not sure it's helping yet... Good stuff.

[expat]

Yeah, gets you sweating in the CQ pattern PRB for sure! Managed a trap - just - this time on the CVL USS Cabot. Stopped with one wheel a foot from deck edge. Still, I could walk away . . Then my immersion bubble went POP! when I decided to press slew to move her back for a relaunch - the plane then went shooting out a mile off to starboard like a hockey puck - LOL!

Second trap on the Cabot was clean, no nose over, followed by a good cat shot. Success! Satisfaction!

Ruined the momentary elation by getting cocky and trying to trap on the larger CV-45 Valley Forge (here in the library and a great looking cv). Saw I was too high 30 ft out due to the vc magnification set wrong (this happens to me all too often), fussed then with moving the eye point down and out to the left BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE FOR SH***T (like trying to drive a tank with no outside views), and then blew it big time. Augured-in - yes, not a ramp strike but a real nose first, stalling cork screw - at about the second wire. Really very ugly. Why? Embarrassingly, of all things, simply by letting my AS fall too low. DOH!!! Back to work!

[expat]

A relevant read:

http://www.aviationclassics.co.uk/ne...-carrier-crash

[Stickshaker]

Thanks for all the interesting information here!
I read somewhere that Corsair pilots often did not see the deck in the last seconds before landing, just (part of) the LSO. That happens to me quite a lot, but it is not really a problem. If you know where the LSO is, you know where the ship is.
But how anybody would want to do this at night.....?
Btw; here is the tailhook entry for the Flying Stations Seafury that I modified, based on John's suggestions. It seems to cure the tipping-over problem, but at a price. The short hook gives a lot of yaw if you don't land in exactly the right place (and perhaps even if you land in the right place, but I have not been able to find that out).

[TailHook]
tailhook_length = 2
tailhook_position = -35, 0, 0
cable_force_adjust = 1

[DaveB]

Yes.. it's been a great thread thus far and long may it continue

Hmm.. the Sea Fury is another model I need to reload. Without wanting to drag this thread OT.. does the model fly level for you Stickshaker? I've not flown it for a while but the fact it wandered to the right (if I remember right) stopped my using it. Will try that mod once I've re-installed it again

EDIT: That TH entry works just fine mate. The Sea Fury handles like a drunk on ice at close to stall speed but I didn't notice any adverse effects on catching the wire. The aircraft straightened up (levelled on it's fore/aft axis) then settled back on it's tail wheel. I tried a couple of times before adding the edit and while I admit I'm out of practise on the Sea Fury.. she nosed over at the same weight and speed. Tried 2 traps with the edit.. both fine
ATB
DaveB

[bentwing]

Hello:

I am really enjoying this thread; seeing how older models are being reborn and the discussions that follow about their real world counterparts. Thanks to all!

One question: is anyone else experiencing the cowl flaps being activated with the brakes on the Corsair with the latest FDE update? I can't seem to get that sorted...

Thanks,

[PRB]

Tom mentioned right rudder, and I thought it was used to kick the nose over a bit, allowing you to see better on final approach. Then I read the article that expat posted (great story), and it seems you really needed a lot of right rudder. I don't understand why. Are we not just in a coordinated left turn during the approach? Why is so much right rudder needed?