Carrier Shoot w Hook Doesn't Always Launch

I've taken off from the carrier many times in the F-14. Does anyone have any idea why sometimes it won't launch me.

For example, I'm in a mission where you start already with the hook set up. You literally just press SHift + U and it should launch. I see my pilot giving the salute. I'm hooked up.

Nothing happens. What am I missing?

Thank you

Previously reported but it's inconsistent for me too I can't work out why it sometimes doesn't work.

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For me that happens when my F14 was Damaged or destroyed in the previous flight. only a complete DCS Restart helps to fix it.

It's launched me off the carrier at a very low speed several times and never understood what it was that I did wrong.

I can't say for certain, but I think it may have something to do with the 'sliding airplane' glitch someone mentioned in another thread, especially when the ship is moving at high speed.

You can still get it to launch you when it hangs up- I throttle all the way back to idle, and wait for it. As soon as the cat fires, jam it into burner. The spool-up time on the Tomcat-B is so good that it'll catch you before you come off the end.

Not a 'realistic' solution in the slightest, I know, but it works and enables you to launch without having to exit and restart the mission, sometimes multiple times. It's a frustrating glitch.

For me that happens when my F14 was Damaged or destroyed in the previous flight. only a complete DCS Restart helps to fix it.

Sent from my GM1915 using Tapatalk

I can't say for certain, but I think it may have something to do with the 'sliding airplane' glitch someone mentioned in another thread, especially when the ship is moving at high speed.

 

You can still get it to launch you when it hangs up- I throttle all the way back to idle, and wait for it. As soon as the cat fires, jam it into burner. The spool-up time on the Tomcat-B is so good that it'll catch you before you come off the end.

 

Not a 'realistic' solution in the slightest, I know, but it works and enables you to launch without having to exit and restart the mission, sometimes multiple times. It's a frustrating glitch.

This is good to know! So if it doesn't launch....let me get this clear please - just kick back to idle and keep pressing shift u until it does....then afterburners?

This is unfortunataley an issue not on our side, or at least we would not have found anything on our side yet that would cause it.

One way I fix it, is that I press U, disconnect from the cat, extend the nosewheel, kneel it back, press U again to hook up and the launch. Very rarely it will slide me off super slow.

This is good to know! So if it doesn't launch....let me get this clear please - just kick back to idle and keep pressing shift u until it does....then afterburners?

You don't have to hit Shift-U again, just wait for it. If nothing happens, hit it one more time, and then wait for it. As soon as the cat fires, get that throttle forward!!! :pilotfly:

Any time I havent had a launch, i just drop back to idle and wait a sec and then back to full throttle and it typically launches. That said, I've noticed that as long as I make sure the engines are at full rpm before I hit launch I never have a fail. Not burner, just full mil. Every fail to launch I have is when I dont wait for the engine to spool up completely before hitting launch. Maybe something to do with the way the system works with the hirnet interfering with the tomcat launch system.

Been going on since release:

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=236797

And since nineline says carrier sliding is “fixed” and has a tendency to close threads that mention it too succinctly,

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=234990&highlight=Deck+sliding

an actual fix is probably a long way off.

The best I could do to get consistent launches is keep relative wind speeds low:

Unfortunately I’m out of town this week so I can’t access the tests I’ve already done, but I’ve managed to narrow it down so that I can at least avoid the problem. The problem is directly related to the Tomcat’s deck sliding and/or relative wind speed.

The Tomcat can’t launch at “realistic” carrier speeds, meaning ~25kts wind over the deck. If your carrier speed is set higher than around 15 knots then you’ll experience wicked deck sliding in the F-14, attached to the shuttle the plane will shake fairly consistently, and you won’t launch after salute. There may be a weather/wind component required (ex. 17kts carrier/8kts wind or 10kts carrier/15kts wind), but with realistic winds over the deck the Tomcat won’t launch after saluting. Lower the carrier speed and/or wind velocity (below realistic values) and the ability to launch returns.

Been going on since release:

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=236797

And since nineline says carrier sliding is “fixed” and has a tendency to close threads that mention it too succinctly,

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=234990&highlight=Deck+sliding

an actual fix is probably a long way off.

The best I could do to get consistent launches is keep relative wind speeds low:

Thank you for this additional info!

No probs. Keep up the great work!