USN Carrier Pattern Video

[Sludge]

To all...

If you have any ideas or would like to be involved, this is a new thread to start a carrier pattern video.  Also, here is a primer for the carrier pattern, in case you forgot.  Look at the pictures and they show what points need to be "hit" and at what TCN (HUD TACAN) distances.  Click on the link and scroll about 3/4 of the way down to my post w/9 pictures including an FCLP picture.

http://www.fsdreamteam.com/forum/index.php?topic=2525.90

Virtuali...

Is there any way to get some of SUN444's videos from the "microsoft permission" thread moved over here?

Later
Sludge

[Sludge]

Alright boys...

Im officially moving all "carrier pattern video" posts over here.

Check out the videos I just made using FRAPS... sorry bout the poor quality, make sure to check 480P, so you can at least see some detail.  My stick skills are FAR BETTER than my video making LACK of SKILLS.

Fellas...THIS IS HOW CARRIER LANDINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE EXECUTED!!  Granted I didnt get all three wires, as Im out of practice, but the final approach technique shown is how its supposed to be done!  Notice how my main job was to keep the meatball centered the whole approach with my overcompensations coming either in-close (1/4 nm) or at-the-ramp.  Also, did you see how much I kept a "yellow donut" in all the approaches once I got settled on final bearing.  This is another key part of carrier landings.  The ICLS just happen to stay close, but to fly good approaches one CANNOT fly the needles.  It will never work as one will end up chasing the needles up and down the glidepath.  Throttle=RoD/Altitude Change; Stick=Speed/AoA Change.  Meatball, Lineup, and Indexer.

(See where I transitioned from VC to 2D HUD view, thats what I do everytime)

(Anyone catch the LSO "Power" call?  And the subsequent change in power on my energy caret?  "Any LSO calls require IMMEDIATE action."

(1 ball low at landing, hence a two wire, makes sense, right?  Still knocking the rust off.  I only got one three wire all night.  Just goes to show, constant practice is always needed for solid carrier landings.)

Enjoy fellas...

Later
Sludge

[SpazSinbad]

Sludge, good videos. No.2&3 are on centreline and glideslope with a good power call as indicated in Video No.2. Video No.1 starts way left and I would like to see more effort to get over to the right to be on centreline. No drifting allowed. Get over there pronto.  [TIC = Tongue In Cheek comments.]

I could see some editing put No.1 with No.2 to highlight those issues - starting left and the power call - for example. Personally I have no problem having an instruction video being a compilation of small bits of an approach. Following the ball in No.3 video to the end I see that it drops out of the bottom of the mirror right at the last second. This may be a function of the sim itself. I make this point to say that the mirror should be followed right to touchdown, including the line up and AoA scan of course but NOT looking ahead to land visually at the ramp (this is called 'deck spotting'). I know things happen quickly and I cannot really remember myself what the ball does in my own carrier landings - and I know it is easy to criticise from the comfort of viewing on Utube.    What I'm attempting to do is show how the small details are important. Yes it is important to get as much correct as possible - all the time. These videos are a good start for sure.

I like the way the ball stays more or less calmly in the correct position between the datum lights and especially the good lineup in Vids 2 & 3. The pilot flies the Hornet, the Hornet does not fly the pilot.

[neutrino]

Sludge, good landings! Did you have some headwind - the climb angle seems pretty steep ?

[SpazSinbad]

neutrino, no angle to climb.    That is the deceptive part about 'carrier landings' for those not willing to concentrate on 'the ball'. Everything looks odd compared to a runway landing. Doesn't matter. Only look at the deck for lineup on the angle, look at the ball for glideslope and nothing else.

Sure, in a video we can look at all kinds of things that a pilot is NOT looking at. The pilot looks at only the ball in the mirror, correct AoA and lineup. Sorry to harp on that but that is the key/trick. Nothing else matters. Headwind, slight crosswind, heavy (under max. landing weight) light. It is all the same. Meatball, Lineup and Airspeed (Opt AoA).   

[Sludge]

Spaz...

Thanks.  Actually, the first video is more to show how I switch from VC to 2D HUD view, so that everyone understands that point.  Its a big deal in FSX carrier landings for me to do that every single time.  Yeah, I floated getting to centerline, but that was just my first pass and I had come thru the 45 early so my lineup was off.  Also, though, the sim was setup using the TopGunSim missions, and since I cant alter carrier speed, I had alot of headwind to make up the difference for Wind-over-Deck.

JR...

Thanks, I know you can do this level of landing.  Ive seen your stick skills.  Yes, I did have alot of direct headwind in this setup.  However, even in Orion's mission, my HUD sight picture looks like this as well, since the carrier's total Wind-over-Deck component is also in the 34+ knot range.  Its actually supposed to be "w" at 5 deg nose up/velocity vector at 3 deg down w/minor changes to keep meatball centered.

Oh BTW, I forgot to tell you, about a month or two ago I get this "facebook friend suggests you join Top Gun Anniversary Group" email from Adam.  Yeah, thanks little man... haha.  Remember, "Madadog" Aussie Adam... he who only eats pizzas that his parents bring him?!  hehe.

Later
Sludge

[GOONIE]

Sludge,

Great videos, am looking forward to more in the future!

Wanted to share this video I just saw, one of the best real world videos I've seen in a long time of a T-45 doing carrier ops.

http://acquiry.com/?p=359

Capt

[neutrino]

Wanted to share this video I just saw, one of the best real world videos I've seen in a long time of a T-45 doing carrier ops.

http://acquiry.com/?p=359

Capt

Looks scary, especially with the rough seas below, nothing like in the sim

[SpazSinbad]

capthaltli, thanks. Very good pilot helmet camera video.

[Paddles]

Brilliant! And I'll have to rework my Goshawk soundpack... 

[SpazSinbad]

Youse can't have enuf LSO NATOPS manuals and here is another one (because sometimes the links to other examples stop working but this one should be good for some time being official and all):

Another LSO NATOP manual (2001 version) is here: http://www.navyair.com/LSO_NATOPS_Manual.pdf (0.7Mb)

[SpazSinbad]

T-45C Goshawk Official Carrier Pattern (just for the heck of it).

[Paddles]

Another good FCLP footage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_JdADh4Zrc

[SpazSinbad]

Nice video again with two good views of the mirror during the approach(s). I like the comment that 'the first pass from the break has to be the best'. EVERY PASS NEEDS TO BE THE BEST! 

[Paddles]

Spaz, now I know why do you call that device 'the mirror'. By the way, how did it work? Those four lamps did reflect on it, right?