Landing questions...

[fullcoupe]

I recently started getting back into some of the FC3 jets and I'm having a blast with the Su-33.

 

The one thing I'm struggling with is landings, or, at least landing with any sort of precision. I'm really used to the Hornet and other jets that have a velocity (flight path) vector in the HUD - which allows you to get a general idea of where you're going to touch down.

 

In the Su-33, I can get on a good glide slope and maintain my AOA with ease, but trying to determine my landing point is a crap shoot because the HUD seems to lack any sort of flight path indication. I'm always under/overshooting - which is kinda crucial when it comes to landing on the ship...

 

Any tips/tricks on this? Reference points maybe?

[draconus]

Just put the small circle into the bigger one :)

 

 

[Ironhand]

...

 

Any tips/tricks on this? Reference points maybe?

Assuming you want to make a precision PRMG (aka ILS) landing, then draconus has you covered. OTOH, if you want to make a non-precision VFR landing--a lot more fun--and you are in an aircraft with a modern HUD like the Su-33, then your reference point is an imaginary line about a quarter of the way up the HUD. It'll be just about where the range number is:

 

 

To start, place the runway threshold on that line. Once you close the distance to the threshold, adjust to move the line to your touchdown point prior to your roundout. Flare and land smoothly.

 

On a slightly different note, when you go into the real world manuals for the Russian birds, it becomes clear that you are not holding a particular AoA all the way down the slope, since you are constantly slowing as you come down the "slope". The Su-33 might be different--don't have a real world manual for it--but, if you fly it like the Su-27, it all works the same and you'll land smoothly where you want.

 

Attached is a quick track of a landing at Gelendzhik.

 

EDIT: Just realized I wasn't answering your question. You were referring to landing on the carrier. Ideally, you use the meatball to put you in right spot on the deck. I can never see it clearly enough myself for it to be helpful. I don't know if you realize it but there is a white circle on the deck under the #2 wire. That's your aim point. To hit it--or to be close to it, anyway--divide that bottom quarter of the HUD in half again and use that new line when you get close to touching down. That should put you close. Fine tune it for yourself until it works for you. But, like I said, ideally you're using the meatball.

Su-33 Landing Gelendzhik.trk

Edited April 11, 2019 by Ironhand

[fullcoupe]

Very helpful tips! I will give these a try! Thanks Ironhand.