if you don't want to read all this, the funny part's at the end.

    Well, had my FSX accel for a while, and just installed it.  Being the grandson of a naval aviator, you can imagine the first thing I did was the carrier tutorial mission.  First time I flew that nutty F-18. 
    Took off successfully.  Ended up going a bit too fast on the turn to 200 degrees.  That speedbrake just doesn't work well.  and i never got her below 250 KIAS or above 1,000 ft on the whole downwind before it was time to turn for the approach.  I was still getting used to the aircraft, and by the time he said "call the ball", i was having to pitch up and full throttle to not crash into the deck.  "hey, kid,  you just completely flew over me.  why didn't you just pitch up? "
    On the second go, was still going way too fast, but I atleast made it up to 1,500 ft and 230 KIAS by the time it was time to go on approach, so i got much better.  But this time, I ended up going down to 130 KIAS way to fast, and ended up at just over 100 KIAS and below the deck again.  another pitch up, another go around.  "Kid?  do ya even have a brain?  you were doin okay!  ya couldda' just increased throttle a bit and pitched up!  Do ya even know what you're doin up there?!?!? "
   
Okay, now that was just insulting.

Time to show him what I'm made of!


Third go.  finally starting to get used to this thing. Kept within 10 of 200 KIAS and within 200 of 2,000 ft the whole downwind.  On approach, got to the speed and pitch i needed, at the time I needed it.   When it was on final,

"KID!!!!! "
"DON'T SAY IT!!!! I WAS STILL GETTING USED TO THE AIRCRAFT AND I ATLEAST CAUGHT THE WIRE!!! "



But for a first attempt in both trying to land on a carrier and the first time flying that thing, it was still pretty good.   Or at least until I got my list of injurys and the bill from the nurse at the hospital.

Not the best humour, but it was an attempt.  an attempt.

patchz wrote on Aug 25^th, 2011 at 10:59am:


Add a moving carrier and an engine failure.


Renè

Club508 wrote on Aug 25^th, 2011 at 11:20am:


Sure you can. Keep us updated on your progress to the career of your dreams. 


Renè

H wrote on Aug 25^th, 2011 at 11:48am:

Then what job did you have at the airforce?  ATC?  Radar?  There are too many for us to know.

My son was stationed on the USS Wasp (LHD 1) years ago, as a radar tech. He and his shop were responsible for all aspects of the radar system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wasp_(LHD-1)

We went to visit him in Norfolk and were walking along the dock. He pointed up at the top of the mast were the radar arrays are and said, "It's a real hoot to have to go up there during rough seas to have to repair something, it's about 300 feet to the water line."

His momma about fell over and asked what they did if he fell. He said, "I get points for good form in a swan dive." I about fell down laughing. 

4th go, too fast, slightly too high.
5th go, PERFECT!!!

Well, just did the carrier practice mission.
Here's how it went:
Miss
Catch
Miss
Catch
Miss
Catch
Catch
Catch

Missed 3
caught 5
Crashed 0
Ratio: .625% of successfull landing.

Much better than the training went.

Now to move on to that final carrier one.

patchz wrote on Aug 25^th, 2011 at 10:59am:


Something tells me to be worried when naval aviators have to call their landings "traps".