DCS: Supercarrier Mini-Updates

[Wags]

To kick off the first Supercarrier mini-updates, I bring you launch ops!

 

 

Thanks,

Wags

[Wags]

Hey everyone,

 

To give you a head start learning operations around the boat, we have attached a preliminary copy of the DCS: Supercarrier Guide, created by Bunyap.

 

Please note that this is work-in-progress and we'll be adding a chapter on using the LSO station, some adjustments to the radio messages, and some tuning of the deck crew hand signals. However, this should get you started.

 

Thanks,

Wags

DCS Supercarrier Operations Guide (29 Mar Draft).pdf

Edited March 30, 2020 by Wags

[Wags]

Dear all,

 

Please find an updated draft of the Supercarrier Guide that includes additions like the landing grading system, LSO displays, and Mission Editor features.

 

Thanks,

Wags

DCS Supercarrier Operations Guide (Draft).pdf

Edited April 5, 2020 by Wags

[BIGNEWY]

Hi all

 

After purchasing DCS: Supercarrier, you may have questions of how to install it, select a mission to fly from it, and takeoff in your first experience. This Quick Start video is designed to walk you through those first steps into virtual combat naval aviation.

 

 

 

 

Planned release in May 2020

 

Thank you

[BIGNEWY]

Hi all

 

With the upcoming release of DCS: Supercarrier later in May 2020, we offer this unscripted video instruction for creating a mission using DCS: Supercarrier.

 

We hope it will be helpful for you mission creators out there.

 

 

Thanks

[NineLine]

 

In preparation for the release of DCS: Supercarrier later in May 2020, my friend Jar from the Virtual Stingers Squadron has assisted me with an updated tutorial on Case I landings. These are your daytime landings with clouds above 3,000 feet and visibility greater than 5 nm. We hope you enjoy this video and encourages you do try one of most fun things you can do with an aircraft carrier.

[BIGNEWY]

Hi all

 

please find the latest version of the super carrier manual here

 

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/upload/iblock/e1b/430ooc582lpb0npynbsewan6omd5ohvs/DCS_Supercarrier_Operations_Guide_EN.pdf

 

 

Thank you

[BIGNEWY]

In a recent DCS: Supercarrier update the functionality of the upcoming Air Boss station and Briefing Room was described. Both features will provide interactivity that requires changes to the ViewCore subsystems. In order to smoothly transition between the Air Boss station, Briefing Room, and LSO station, we have created a special Camera Route Editor and an advanced view system that allows custom bookmarks to be created on the carrier deck and other locations. This adds camera movement route options to help create spectacular scenes for video creators.

Over the past six month we have been working on a human motion model with intelligent behavior for infantry and deck crews. We have started with the deck crew, and we will scale it to infantry units. Both logics will receive two new behaviours: Obstacle Avoidance and Dynamic Reroute according to the situation. Re-routing behaviour is based on a path search algorithm with any-angle path planning.

Obstacle Avoidance is based on the Optimal Reciprocal Collision Avoidance (ORCA) method used for holonomic robots with several restrictions on linear and angular speeds, linear acceleration, and discreteness of animation. The first phase of the development is complete and cases must now be considered for when aircraft are passing by, directing aircraft to and from a parking position, avoiding moving aircraft, different states of service and interruptions, etc.





Thank you 

The Eagle Dynamics Team

[NineLine]

Earlier Case III video:
https://youtu.be/n4d92zwyb04

In this DCS: Supercarrier and Hornet instruction video, we’ll review operation of the Automatic Carrier Landing System (ACLS) and associated Link-4 datalink system that allows two-way communication between the carrier and aircraft.

ACLS provides guidance to the Marshal Stack, the carrier, and three different levels of landing assist. Mode 1 provides hands-off recovery, Mode 1A allows manual landing with ACLS HUD and Link-4 indications, and Mode 2 allows manual control with just “tadpole” guidance.

ACLS is only available for Case III recovery operations.

[BIGNEWY]

Dear all,

we apologize for any confusion the upcoming inclusion of ACLS to the Hornet may have caused. A primary reason for the development of DCS: Supercarrier was to provide the most realistic carrier operations ever done for a PC flight simulation. Key aspects of this include the new Link 4 datalink and Beacon systems specifically created for the Hornet (just recently completed) and the new ATC radio communication system.
While the ATC radio communications system will remain a unique feature of DCS: Supercarrier, we are investigating moving Link 4 datalink and Beacon (BCN) from SC to the free carrier. This would use the existing communications for the free carrier of simply messaging inbound. When we have more information on this, we look forward to updating you.

Thank you
Eagle Dynamics

[BIGNEWY]

An important and challenging feature of DCS: Supercarrier has been the development of night operations. Over the past year, we have been working on several aspects that will soon be released to Open Beta. These include new deck crew animations that utilize the new skeletal animation

[BIGNEWY]

In the previous Automatic Carrier Landing System (ACLS) video, we looked at using this in conjunction with DCS: Supercarrier. In this video, we’ll discuss how to use the Hornet ACLS with the free, CVN-74 John C. Stennis carrier comes with DCS World.

The steps are:

Contact the carrier on the correct radio frequency using COMM 1 or COMM 2 and select the ATC option. From the ATC selections, select Inbound. Enter the correct Link 4 frequency from D/L. From the HSI page, enable ACL. Fly a Case III as before, and at 5.5 nm (should be gear down, flaps down, hook down, and on-speed) select AP (autopilot) from the UFC (Upfront Controller) and select the CPL option on the UFC. Once coupled, you can press the paddle switch to uncouple and manually fly the approach on Mode 1A.

Rather than couple, you may also elect not to and fly manually in Mode 2.

[BIGNEWY]

In this DCS: Supercarrier update, we’ll be looking at the new deck crew feature that allow plane directors, yellow shirts, to direct player and AI aircraft from parking locations to catapults and from the landing area to a parking location.

This is supported in both single player and multiplayer with the option to disable.

We’re currently behind the six pack and waiting for the division ahead of us to launch. I’ve already got the APU running and have completed my checks.

To start the new deck crew, launch procedures, we need to alert them by either selecting the Salute command from the Ground Crew radio menu or pressing the Left Control + Left Shift + Left Alt + S key combination route. If you decide to use the hot key, you may certainly wish to bind to a simpler key press in the Controls set up for Supercarrier.

Our plane captain has now given us the engine start signal, and we have an “Awaiting engine startup” message. Let’s crank the right engine. Once we do, the message will be removed and replace with an “Awaiting salute gesture message”, meaning, the when next give the Salute command, we are indicating our readiness to taxi.

With that done, I’m going to skip ahead to the next phase.

When we are ready to taxi, we’ll give the Salute command again, and the plane captain will hand us off to the plane director ahead of us, marked with the purple icon over his head. As mentioned earlier, these helper icons are optional.

At this point, we precisely follow the plan directors as the pass between each leg of the route to the catapult. Trust the directors, even if you think they are going to taxi you off the deck. 

Deck crew direction is quite similar after landing, and it will direct you from the box to a parking location. 

Once landed and the hook and flaps are raised, you must then taxi forward and not immediately taxi out of the box with no direction. Once you taxi ahead, a plane director will direct you out of the box and hand you off to the next director.

If you wish to rearm, refuel, repair, or re-launch, you must first taxi and stop at the directed parking spot. Do not taxi directly to a catapult. Once at the parking spot, you will be rotated 180-degrees, and a menu appears that gives you the mentioned options. You can toggle this on or off by pressing Left Control + Left Alt + Left Shift + P.

If the route to the catapult becomes blocked, you will be teleported to a different parking spot with clear route to a catapult.

If you get stuck or just want to skip the taxi process, you can press Left Control + Left Alt + Left Shift + T to teleport to the parking spot.

While we’re waiting, let’s go over some important points:

From the Controls, Supercarrier tab, we have several new options that include the ability to enable this new deck crew feature, or only just the deck crew around the catapults as before. The ability to toggle purple helper icons over the active plane director. Toggle on or off deck taxi messages. Limit your maximum speed on the deck and have simplified signals.

We’ve changed how wheel chocks work. They will now only be removed once taxi clearance has been given. 

It’s very important to follow plane director orders as carefully as possible and only launch from the catapult directed.

When in multiplayer, we strongly recommend NOT conducting launch and recovery operations at the same time. Better to complete all of one operation before doing the other. If not, there could be plane director errors.

When landing, it’s also very important to contact carrier ATC and follow instructions properly. To not do so will cause wave offs.

[Wags]

With the next update, we will be adding this new Supercarrier feature. To add additional detail for players, and particularly mission builders, we have attached an updated version of the Supercarrier guide that discusses the new director features in greater detail.

Best wishes,

Wags

DCS Supercarrier Operations Guide EN.pdf

[Wags]

Attached are the missions used for the new plane director instruction video. Nothing fancy.

Best wishes,

Wags

 

 

 

Supercarrier-Video-Cold.miz Supercarrier-Video-Hot.miz Supercarrier-Video-Recovery.miz

[Wags]

Tips for Better Supercarrier Missions

Since the release of the new plane director functions for DCS: Supercarrier, we’ve noticed that some customers have encountered issues with being unable to get taxi instructions, interrupted taxi instructions, and failed taxi instructions after recovering. While this is still early and a work-in-progress with more tuning to do, we’ve noticed a common set issue that has led to many, not all, of these issues. By understanding how the plane directors work, you can avoid such issues.

• First and foremost, if you are creating Supercarrier missions, we strongly recommend reading the new chapter in the Supercarrier Guide starting on page 43. This is particularly important to visualize taxi routes for players and AI aircraft in relation to the placement of static objects. https://forum.dcs.world/topic/228670-dcs-supercarrier-mini-updates/#findComment-5554122
• Second, as noted in the Supercarrier Guide, the directors taxi aircraft along predetermined routes. If these are blocked, it will result in the deck crew being unable to marshal an aircraft and thereby hold up launch or recovery operations. As such, it is critical that you do not place static objects along these paths.
• Third, and related, the directors marshal aircraft based on the predetermined routes and available catapults. Blocking a catapult with static objects would also break the marshal operations. Do not place statics along catapults, like 1 and 2.
• Fourth, note that you will often need to send the Salute command twice. First to alert the deck crew of intention and then a second time to initiate the taxi. Please keep an eye on the notification messages in the center of the screen.
• Fifth, the deck crew works best in cyclic operations. Meaning, first launching all aircraft, and only after that is done, recovering the launched aircraft. It is best to avoid mixing them.
• Sixth, for the deck crew to operate correctly, you must check in with carrier ATC and get permission to recover. This allows the ATC to sequence launch and recovery operations and be able to get you on the deck. If you fail to check in with ATC and follow ATC instructions, you are currently notified of your failure by red flares. Will be adjusting how players are notified of uncleared landings.
• Seventh, once you land and you quickly raise the hook, flaps, and then fold wings, you may need to taxi forward at bit before you direction out of the box.

Again, this is the first release of a very complex process that will be tuned with continued feedback. During this period, we hope that you will keep these points in mind for a better Supercarrier experience.

Best wishes,

Wags