Launch bar red

[bessleswick]

Occasionally after landing on the carrier and then going to launch, the launch bar won't extend and the light that is usually green is red. All other conditions for launching are correct (flaps etc)

I put this down to damage, but a repair didn't fix the issue. A new aircraft does.

 

Just wondering if I am missing something and if anyone else has had this issue.

Edited October 5, 2018 by bessleswick
Further details

[Revelation]

I don't think ED has modeled damage to the launch bar yet, though it will come eventually. You must make sure you raise your launch bar after you hookup to the shuttle prior to taking off.

[pete_auau]

I don't think ED has modeled damage to the launch bar yet, though it will come eventually. You must make sure you raise your launch bar after you hookup to the shuttle prior to taking off.

 

Not quite sure what your getting at here, if you raise your launch bar prior to taking off how do you launch?

[Bloodhound57]

You can hit the switch back up when you are under tension from the shuttle attached to the CAT. It will not raise the bar if under tension.

[Revelation]

Not quite sure what your getting at here, if you raise your launch bar prior to taking off how do you launch?

 

Your launch bar is "attached" to the shuttle. Your launch bar won't actually retract until after you leave the deck. There were certain models of F-18Cs that would suffer damage if the launch bar switch wasn't "retracted" prior to take off.

[Fakum]

You CAN raise the launch bar during prior to launch, it will NOT physically raise as it is locked into the catapult shuttle

[bessleswick]

So figured out how to reset the launch bar when it is in the described state (flicks red, won't stay down). There is a circuit breaker switch rear of the panic dispense switch on the left edge of the cockpit. When that is popped out, the launch bar won't go down, but popping it back in, the launch bar works normally.

Screenshots here show the broken state http://bit.ly/2NqZVC7, and the CB switch http://bit.ly/2NrRkPx

[Chief_Biv]

Three and a half years later I have run into the exact same problem. I think landing on the deck might throw the fuse loose? I will check it next time it happens.