Su-33: landing on the carrier

Hello,

I have two questions about the technique for landing the Su-33 on the carrier. It is my impression that the best way to line up for a perfect approach, on glideslope, is to 'fly' the two indicator circles on the HUD such that they are concentric (e.g. keep the smaller circle inside the larger circle). But when I do this well (even in version 1.2.8, where the changelog notes that there was an adjustment), I do not end up in the right spot - almost as if the system is not guiding me right onto the deck. Further, the two circles seem to diverge as a I get close to the ship. I remember back in the old days with lock on and the original flaming cliffs (granted they are light years behind today's product in terms of realism), I could pretty much fly the instruments in total darkness and land on the Kuz consistently - the circle and (I think ILS needles at the time) would guide me right onto the deck. I would like to be able to similarly land via instruments in FC3 at night and in bad weather - my questions are:

1) Am I using the right methodology to land (I wouldn't be surprised if I'm missing something)?

2) Is the system in FC3 designed to guide the plane right onto the deck, or just close enough to make a visual landing as straightforward as possible?

Thanks in advance for the help,

Rag48

I have the same questions. It seems like lining up the circles and trying to fly through them works from far away, but as you get closer to the carrier, the circles diverge. If I follow the larger one, it takes me too high and I pass over the carrier. If I follow the small circle, I slam into the back of the ship.

Use de Flight Director on the ADI.

I don't think it's about landing on the carrier successfully. It's more about do the circles on the HUD work correctly and if so, what are we doing wrong? Are those circles designed to guide you right onto the deck?

According to the 1.2.8 change log, this should no longer be an issue. Personally, I'm still trying to find the ECM, countermeasure quantity, autopilot and afterburner indications.

I don't think it's about landing on the carrier successfully. It's more about do the circles on the HUD work correctly and if so, what are we doing wrong? Are those circles designed to guide you right onto the deck?

Yes, I believe they should. I'm pretty sure they use to in the not too distant past.

Edit: Launch the instant action - Su-33 recovery to deck mission, then engage the autopilot 'A' key and watch the flight director circles as the AC lands. Seems pretty much on the ball to me.

Thanks so much for the help!

Axion, should'nt the ECM indicator be on the right hand panel??

According to the 1.2.8 change log, this should no longer be an issue. Personally, I'm still trying to find the ECM, countermeasure quantity, autopilot and afterburner indications.

All these things you're searching are currently buggy or missing:

ECM light not working atm (should light up if activated) and countermeasurements quantity also not working (lights should display quantity in percentage):

Autopilot indicators are working but the displayed modes don't match all of the activateable modes (also there should be a green light where the red dot is to indicate activation):

The afterburner indicators where located above the engine instruments but they're gone atm (there are some real Su-33 version where these indicators also gone but IRL they had more indicators for AB like throttle friction etc.):

The point where AB snaps into and where IRL would be friction at the throttle is here:

Thank you Zabuza, for making the effort to explain in such a manner. Much appreciated!

I sugest not to use cicrcles.Landing at carrier is not so easy as it looks like.

You must watch HSI.At the centre of the HSI you have ILS lines.Horizontal line of the ILS shows you that you are currently taller or lower than it should be.Vertical these shows you the direction of the runway, do you step back to the left or right.

Also at HUD,to the upper right and left corner you have the recommended height and speed.You MUST, pay attention at recommended altitude.

ALSO,you have to strictly take into account the value of the vertical velocity.

Plane computer will lead you to a land on the so-called glade pathern.You must maneuver the plane as the computer says.What better adapt recommendation computers, landing will be more accurate.At night time the only possible.Aircraft's computer guide you at touchdown point,but take note that point is moving forward, going away from you at the speed at which the carrier sail,so maintain a height slightly greater than the recommended.Let the AI do it few times,and watch instruments.