Bonz

Thanks

There are times when it is necessary to set recovery operations (CAT Bubbles down, IFLOLS lights on, Landing lights one, deck crew out of the way, etc.) such as during an emergency or immediately after a launch cycle completes. I recently made a mission to practice spotting the deck from low holding to train folks on how to minimize the time the ship is required to steer into the wind. This requires that the ship transition from launch operations immediately after the last aircraft launches... Actually, it's when the last aircraft leaves the landing area and the deck transitions from FOUL to CLEAR, but I'm not sure how that can be determined using the mission editor.

Spawning on Bow CATs is done in real life and would increase the number of spawn locations during multiplayer missions. Start with spawning on CAT 2 because it leaves CAT 1 open for launching aircraft.

I set up a mission with Statics on the deck including personnel, aircraft, and equipment. I then added some AI. A Helo on the Bow, an E-2D on CAT 1, and an S-3 Tanker on CAT 2. I also included five sections of F-18s. I sequenced the launch so that the three support aircraft on the Bow launched first (Helo then E-2 then S-3) and then the 10 F-18s started up by section 20 seconds apart and taxied to the various CATs for launch. After a few iterations I got it so that the first F-18 Launched right on my event cycle time. All good so far. The problem is that when I attempted to land... after "reading the deck" from low holding. When I rolled into the grove the IFLOLS wasn't on. Even though the deck was reporting CLEAR and all AI aircraft had departed. It's worth noting that deck crew were still in the launch mode. I then added one additional trigger in an attempt to turn the IFLOLS on. I created a small circular moving zone around the carrier and listed all ten F-18s as units leaving the moving zone. Once the last F-18 left the zone the Carrier Lights would change to Recovery. It worked for about 1 second. As the last F-18 departed leaving the zone the IFLOLs datum lights briefly flickered on then off. As I understand it, the IFLOLS works but the carrier did not transition to Recovery mode. even though all AI aircraft had launched and the deck was reporting "CLEAR". Also of note, the static F-18s on the deck (not the 10 F-18 AIs) were placed using Dynamic Decks and as the launch progressed, the six F-18s on the Fantail "moved" using triggers to Elevators 4, 3, and 2. They did this after AI F-18s had moved off those spots. Actually the triggers removed that fantail aircraft and added three sets of F-18s on the three elevators. Can anyone tell me why the ship failed to transition to Recovery Mode? The Client F-18 attempting the land had checked in on button 1 with "Inbound" and the deck was reporting CLEAR on the LSO panel.

I'm a former Naval Aviator... I flew from the USS Kitty Hawk on my first tour (A-7s) as a J.O. and I was a TAO (Tactical Action Officer) working in CDC (Combat Direction Center) during a later cruise aboard USS Nimitz. My point is that I have some experience with flight deck operations. I'm sure there are many others who fly in DCS with as much or more experience than I have. First, I'm very happy with DCS and the Supercarrier as currently put together, but a little confused by this latest addition... the new flight director crew members! I suspect that this is the first of many iterations in EDs development of the Supercarrier module. Generally speaking, launch operations seemed fairly well thought out with the avoidance of some static objects a notable exception. I found it intuitive and did not require the use of HELP ICONs or HELP TEXT once I understood how it worked. Recoveries on the other hand seem completely nonsensical. I assume ED understands cyclic operations. It makes no sense to wrap arriving aircraft back around and through the landing area, fouling the deck, to park aft of the island. It would seem to make much more sense to direct aircraft forward onto the bow to park first on CAT 2. Additionally, you could direct them across the six-pack area then back around to the right to park along the foul line or, with a pushback, on elevator 2 and the corral area. Elevator one should remain open so that armed aircraft exiting the landing area could point in a safe direction while they disarmed... or not. You could also direct aircraft directly to CAT 1 for a Trap-Cat-Trap scenario. In order of priority... I would have fill CAT 2 first, followed by CAT 1, then the area along the foul line (Six pack and street areas) and finally Elevators 2 and 1.

I'm a former Naval Aviator... I flew from the USS Kitty Hawk on my first tour (A-7s) as a J.O. and I was a TAO (Tactical Action Officer) working in CDC (Combat Direction Center) during a later cruise aboard USS Nimitz. My point is that I have some experience with flight deck operations. I'm sure there are many others who fly in DCS with as much or more experience than I have. First, I'm very happy with DCS and the Supercarrier as currently put together, but a little confused by this latest addition... the new flight director crew members! I suspect that this is the first of many iterations in EDs development of the Supercarrier module. Generally speaking, launch operations seemed fairly well thought out with the avoidance of some static objects a notable exception. I found it intuitive and did not require the use of HELP ICONs or HELP TEXT once I understood how it worked. Recoveries on the other hand seem completely nonsensical. I assume ED understands cyclic operations. It makes no sense to wrap arriving aircraft back around and through the landing area, fouling the deck, to park aft of the island. It would seem to make much more sense to direct aircraft forward onto the bow to park first on CAT 2. Additionally, you could direct them across the six-pack area then back around to the right to park along the foul line or, with a pushback, on elevator 2 and the corral area. Elevator one should remain open so that armed aircraft exiting the landing area could point in a safe direction while they disarmed... or not. You could also direct aircraft directly to CAT 1 for a Trap-Cat-Trap scenario. In order of priority... I would have fill CAT 2 first, followed by CAT 1, then the area along the foul line (Six pack and street areas) and finally Elevators 2 and 1.

Is magnetic variance listed anywhere for each map/location? ... specifically for Carrier operations.

General... Is it possible to turn directors on for Launch operations but off for Recovery operations?

On startup... Is there a plan to open up the number of Start/spawn locations to include the bow and Stern areas? On Recovery... My group almost always parks on CAT 2, or we taxi directly to CAT 1 for launch (for trap-cat-trap operations). Is this possible with directors? If not., is it a future plan?

The F-18C Flaps Light (Lower left hand quarter panel) does not come on when Hydraulic Pressure is depleted on Shutdown. This has been reported numerous times with no indication that it's going to be fixed... or not. I don't think this should have been a priority early in the module but the F-18C is a mature module and this should be fixed for completeness. This is a great module and fixing this bug will go a long way to proving it. Thanks

For the Airboss to do his job he needs radios... Four is preferable but at least three for: Deck Operations, Tower/BOSS, Arrival/Departure and Marshal. This isn't a mirror of what's real but a compromise. Deck could be the 5MC which is the BOSS's Loudspeaker for the Flight DECK. It's very loud and he uses it sparingly to keep this tracking safely. The Yellow Shirts manage the flight deck in the real world, But in DCS a Radio for Deck Operations would be OK. Arrival/Departure and Marshal can be combined into one radio but having two would work better. It's necessary to have multiple radios, not just different frequencies, because they all need to be monitored. The 5MC would need be heard by anyone on the Flight Deck including aircraft crew and the LSOs. Once off the flight deck and either in the pattern or beyond you would no longer hear the 5MC.

The F-15E is unfinished and has a few issues... What's the latest with resolving issues?

We should switch... I have three screens but only one MFD shows up in DCS Controls.

There are a few reasons why you get the amber FLAPS light (Ref. Page 1.2.57 of the NATOPS manual). 1. Flap switch HALF or FULL and airspeed over 250 Knots. 2. Abnormal Flap Condition (Any Flap is off or Lacks Hydraulic Pressure). 3. Aircraft is in Spin Recovery Mode. 4. Gain Switch in ORIDE position. On aircraft shutdown there is a WARNING (Ref. Page III-7-35 of the NATOPS Manual), "Turning the battery off before the amber FLAPS light illuminates could result in severe uncommanded flight control movement. The only cockpit indication that Hydraulics have been removed from the flight controls and that they are no longer powered is the amber FLAPS light. The FLAPS light in DCS works for three of the four conditions... 1. Both the flaps HALF and FULL Overspeed conditions, the ORIDE position of the Gain switch, and when the aircraft is in the SPIN mode. (Spin switch in the SPIN position). It doesn't work in the Hydraulics zero position following engine shutdown.