A model launch without burner?

[PhantomHans]

Anyone else find that the A model can frequently takeoff without burners?  I know it was SOP for the As to use burner for every launch but when lightly loaded (4x AIM-9, 4x AIM-7, full fuel, and tanks) they seem, in DCS, quite capable of doing without it and I'm a little surprised by that. 

[LanceCriminal86]

As could cat launch without AB, and they definitely did it in the earlier years with light loads. Later on with increasing loads and aircraft weight it became the SOP to always use burner.

[Jackjack171]

9 hours ago, PhantomHans said:

Anyone else find that the A model can frequently takeoff without burners?  I know it was SOP for the As to use burner for every launch but when lightly loaded (4x AIM-9, 4x AIM-7, full fuel, and tanks) they seem, in DCS, quite capable of doing without it and I'm a little surprised by that. 

During CQ, they wouldn't use burner either. Look up USS Coral Sea CV-43 on YouTube. VF-101 had a CQ period in the late 80's I believe. It's mostly weight depending. Same with Growlers, legacy hornets and Super Hornets. DCS doesn't factor in everything about the catapult shot (weight, wind and asymmetry) so anything hooking up to a catapult is going flying. I've never worked with the Tomcat, just Growlers and Super Hornets and can tell you that they use burner much less than many think.

[RustBelt]

Yes, even with the A or a close coupled hornet, An asymmetrical Afterburner engine out off a cat will give you a bad day very quick. So you only want to use it when you need it.

Or just fly with no failures and never worry about it because we get to do that! 

[draconus]

On 4/22/2025 at 3:20 PM, PhantomHans said:

when lightly loaded (4x AIM-9, 4x AIM-7, full fuel, and tanks)

I wouldn't call it lightly loaded just because you're not hauling bombs.

Techinically if you're launched overboard just below stall speed you still have 70 feet of altitude to get there.

[Rhrich]

Ive never had intimate contact with the USN, but as a general rule: Back in my time the S in SOP was often taken as suggested. 

Pilots do what’s most safe. If something happens, the less you have to worry about asymmetric, the better. That’s true even if your engines isn’t two an a half tennis courts apart. 

[Nervenklaus]

On 4/22/2025 at 4:04 PM, Jackjack171 said:

During CQ, they wouldn't use burner either. Look up USS Coral Sea CV-43 on YouTube. VF-101 had a CQ period in the late 80's I believe. It's mostly weight depending. Same with Growlers, legacy hornets and Super Hornets. DCS doesn't factor in everything about the catapult shot (weight, wind and asymmetry) so anything hooking up to a catapult is going flying. I've never worked with the Tomcat, just Growlers and Super Hornets and can tell you that they use burner much less than many think.

 I'm surprised that they can operate F-14 on Midway class.

[draconus]

28 minutes ago, Nervenklaus said:

 I'm surprised that they can operate F-14 on Midway class.

It was sailing up to 1990 and was even home to F/A-18s.

[RustBelt]

18 hours ago, Nervenklaus said:

 I'm surprised that they can operate F-14 on Midway class.

It had a very thorough CATOBAR refit back when we used to refit instead of throwing out carriers and starting over every 25 years. 
 

They look roughly like the Forestall which I THINK was the followup class to the refit? 
 

including dem sexy bridle catchers. 

[Jackjack171]

20 hours ago, Nervenklaus said:

 I'm surprised that they can operate F-14 on Midway class.

Not sure if this is authorized or if you've seen it but here you go. I fall asleep to this!

[Nervenklaus]

Again, I think it's just for test flights. Never heard that any F-14 squadron assigned on Midway class for normal operation. F-14 is a little bit too heavy for that carriers. For sure, F/A-18C/D is not a problem.

Edited May 28 by Nervenklaus

[draconus]

59 minutes ago, Nervenklaus said:

Never heard that any F-14 squadron assigned on Midway class for normal operation.

You're right:

https://www.navysite.de/cvn/cv43deploy.htm

but what difference does it make for the ship if it's exercise or deployment?

[LanceCriminal86]

They could launch and trap, but they couldn't go below decks. Which is why there's the clips of them doing carrier quals on Coral Sea, and the story of a jet each from VF-114 and 213 that landed on Midway due to weather and low fuel state and launched the next day.