Essex Carrier Question

[Doc3908]

Hi everyone,

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question but are the dimensions of the Essex-class carrier correct? You can't park more than three Corsairs side-by-side in the currently modeled version, yet looking at old images online, it appears that they used to park 4 planes with space to spare. 

Not really complaining, just curious. null

[Silver_Dragon]

I think the problem is that being parked on deck isn't the same as having aircraft ready for takeoff on deck. ED itself hasn't implemented the movement of aircraft on deck. There's only a strategy "game" that simulates such movement, and moving aircraft on deck, whether for takeoff or landing, is very slow.

[-Rudel-]

It's correct +/- a few centimeters.  We had 4 Corsairs spread across the deck during development, but there were issues with the collision model not folding the wings.

I fixed the collision model, but we did not get a chance to change the lua code back.

[AG-51_Razor]

In a much earlier combat flight sim that will go unnamed, they originally had their carrier planes spawn on the deck far enough apart so that after they got started, they could spread their wings and take off or taxi from where they were. Eventually, they figured out how to have the planes spawn with their wings folded (I assume a smaller collision box with the wings folded) and were able to get 4 abreast on an Essex class boat. IRL I believe that they could "easily" get 6 abreast, depending on the type of plane.

[_Hoss]

I remember Fireball fixed it to where we could load the flightdeck with lots of planes in the flight sim that will go un-named. 

[skywalker22]

I will ask right here, since the thread is about carrier. Is the take off of F4U somewhat artificial? Because there is no visible catapult, but the plane takes off in twice (or more) shorter distance then on the land. There are 2 catapults on the CV-11 essex class aircraft carrier, one on the starboard and the other on port side of the Bow. Both are moddeled, but (still not functional). So I'm wonderting, if the take off it self is modeled like it would be done by using catapults?

And, will the catapults ever be modeled like IRL?

[Gunfreak]

2 hours ago, skywalker22 said:

I will ask right here, since the thread is about carrier. Is the take off of F4U somewhat artificial? Because there is no visible catapult, but the plane takes off in twice (or more) shorter distance then on the land. There are 2 catapults on the CV-11 essex class aircraft carrier, one on the starboard and the other on port side of the Bow. Both are moddeled, but (still not functional). So I'm wonderting, if the take off it self is modeled like it would be done by using catapults?

And, will the catapults ever be modeled like IRL?

The carrier is going 30 knots. With 10 or more knots wind. That's 40 knots over the deck. The Corsair takes off at around 80 knots. That means you only need to reach 40 knots in the aircraft to actually have 80 knots of wind under your wing. If you load the aircraft heavy enough.  It will require the whole runway and then some to get airborne.

[skywalker22]

22 minutes ago, Gunfreak said:

The carrier is going 30 knots. With 10 or more knots wind. That's 40 knots over the deck. The Corsair takes off at around 80 knots. That means you only need to reach 40 knots in the aircraft to actually have 80 knots of wind under your wing. If you load the aircraft heavy enough.  It will require the whole runway and then some to get airborne.

What if there is a headwind? There isn't always a tailwind.

[fargo007]

43 minutes ago, skywalker22 said:

What if there is a headwind? There isn't always a tailwind.

 

He is talking about headwind. The carrier always launches aircraft into the wind.

[GUCCI]

45 minutes ago, skywalker22 said:

What if there is a headwind? There isn't always a tailwind.

There's no such thing as a tailwind in carrier aviation. the boat turns into the wind for launch and recovery during their cyclic operations, and return to intended course heading

once launch/recovery periods are completed.

[Pappy2]

Hello,
Does the aircraft carrier have night lights and a glow-in-the-dark Batman ?

 

[Holbeach]

Catapults on a Fleet Carrier are for launching aircraft in full load, zero wind conditions and are much slower turn over than fly off.

A fully loaded Corsair can T/O from spawn position at the island with no problem.

Taxi back was not done on a Carrier. It was pushed back by a crew, but if you must, then either  reverse down the deck, or have the Ship stationary with no wind, then turn round and indulge your fantasy.

Interesting fact: Essex Class Carriers were desighned to launch stern first if required by circumstances. 

..

[Mr_sukebe]

When fully loaded, would I be correct in assuming that there needed to be a decent headwind, with the ship heading into the sea wind at say 20+ knots?

[AG-51_Razor]

I don't think so Mr_sukebe. The Essex class carriers could easily generate 30 knots of wind over the deck, even in a dead calm. The Air department would then decide, based on the number of a/c that were spotted on the deck at the beginning of the launch cycle and the type of a/c and its load out to be launched, whether or not to use the catapults. The Navy had a desired wind velocity over the deck, 30 knots, that they would achieve using a combination of ambient wind and ship's speed. This was for launch as well as recovery. I have read stories about Jeep carriers (CVE's) that could not conduct flight ops due to lack of wind, and it wasn't because they couldn't launch them - they had a catapult, it was because it was deemed unsafe to recover the a/c with only 18-19 knots of wind over the deck.  

[AndyJWest]

2 hours ago, Holbeach said:

Interesting fact: Essex Class Carriers were desighned to launch stern first if required by circumstances. 

..

The Essex-class USS Hornet (CV-12) had to do this, after being damaged in the 1944 Typhoon Cobra, which left her with a very battered bow:

She managed to participate in an attack on Kanoya Air Field, before heading off for repairs. According to this website this was the only wartime occurrence of the practice. The website has a photo showing a Hellcat taking off astern, but I think there may be Corsairs amongst the aircraft in the background.