Nick Black's FA-18's carrier ops

[robystar]

Hi,

Although I am on FSX, I am extremely grateful for the outstanding AI models that can be found in the MAIW packages.
As I am a carrier operations addict, I was of course enormously happy when Nick Black's hornets and superhornets were released (even with folding wings!). My congratulations.
I am not sure whether one of the team will configure those Fa-18's for carrier ops, so I had a go at it myself, like I did for other models in FS9 some time ago.
Turns out it is rather easy to make them land, brake and stop decently if you do the following:
- in the aircraft.cfg
- set spoiler limit to 1000
- set the front wheel turning angle to 270 in the contact points section
- in the .air file
- set braking power to -32000 or max and
- set spoiler drag to 32000
in the primary aerodynamics (1101).
The catapult launch is more problematic to speed up sufficiently and I am still working on it.
Do not forget to first make a copy of the F-18 folder and change the aircraft.cfg and the air file in there, otherwise all your Fa-18 AI's will take off and land unrealistically on normal runways as well.
I do hope, however, that MAIW will soon come up with their own updated carrier ops dynamics.
In the meantime, keep up the good work. It is sure appreciated.

[nickblack423]

Hi,

Although I am on FSX, I am extremely grateful for the outstanding AI models that can be found in the MAIW packages.
As I am a carrier operations addict, I was of course enormously happy when Nick Black's hornets and superhornets were released (even with folding wings!). My congratulations.
I am not sure whether one of the team will configure those Fa-18's for carrier ops, so I had a go at it myself, like I did for other models in FS9 some time ago.
Turns out it is rather easy to make them land, brake and stop decently if you do the following:
- in the aircraft.cfg
- set spoiler limit to 1000
- set the front wheel turning angle to 270 in the contact points section
- in the .air file
- set braking power to -32000 or max and
- set spoiler drag to 32000
in the primary aerodynamics (1101).
The catapult launch is more problematic to speed up sufficiently and I am still working on it.
Do not forget to first make a copy of the F-18 folder and change the aircraft.cfg and the air file in there, otherwise all your Fa-18 AI's will take off and land unrealistically on normal runways as well.
I do hope, however, that MAIW will soon come up with their own updated carrier ops dynamics.
In the meantime, keep up the good work. It is sure appreciated.

Cool mate well done indeed, We have been working on realistic carriers ops for some time, and although we have not yet released anything solid, we are only a short time away from such a launch so keep your eyes peeled.

Nick

[robystar]

Thanks Nick but all the tributes go to your team.
It is easier in FSX than in FS9 by the way, as more elements go into the aircraft.cfg.
Problem also is that the carrier AFCADS have to be adjusted to the characteristics of the planes, so your package should also include some customized ones, afcads I mean. No wonder you have been at it for some time.
Always willing to give a hand if you want me to and will keep my eyes peeled for sure.
Roby

[fishlips]

Can't wait for this package to be released, sounds cool.

[bismarck]

Hi Robystar,
do you know wich are the values/fields to modify in the AIR file for FS9?
Thanks, Giorgio

[robystar]

Sorry, Giorgio, I do not.
In FS9 I only managed to adapt the Fa-18E (light and superlight version) of Daisuke Yamamoto.
Nick Black's Fa-18's are different and I only adapted them for FSX (I made the mistake of giving my FS9 away).
I do know I had to adapt a lot of things in the airfile in FS9 but I cannot tell you if that is also the case for Nick Black's FA-18's.
If you want me to, I can send you the adapted cfg and airfiles of Yamamoto's Fa-18's if that is of any help.

[bismarck]

I'm certainly not an expert of FDE, but I could give it a try...

Sent a PM with my mail.

Thanks, Giorgio