posted 10-09- 10:30 PM               

The aircraft has a 'built in catapult' and a fully loaded Seafire will get airborne well before the end of the deck on carriers like the Zuikaku or Ark Royal. Then on approach with the hook down and 20 knots of breeze this fully loaded Seafire will stop in less than half the length of the deck. The hook also simulates catching a 'wire' by pitching the aircraft forward (without bending the prop). With the hook retracted, the Seafire lands like a normal Spitfire and the catapult system can be disabled with the 'A' key to allow for conventional takeoffs.

In the download there is a comprehensive guide on how to place, launch and land the Seafire on the Ark Royal & Zuikaku and five training missions.
http://members.nbci.com/sdoe_mace/seafire.html

posted 10-09- 10:44 PM               

We have a seafire in the naval museum here.. can someone do a canadian skin pleaase? I got to look into the cockpit of one of these and look all around/in it.. very neat plane.

TS

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Patch It!

posted 10-10- 04:31 PM               

Somebody finally figured out how to make carrier ops possible! Mace, you rule!!

posted 10-10- 05:02 PM               

What can I say, an absolutely massive breakthrough, this is right up there with the best of them man

I do have to mention that my Ark Royal was built to spec within 4 feet, so I'm interested on what size your's is, unless I made a big boo boo that is

posted 10-10- 05:11 PM               

2 questions...

1) how did you make the catapult 'engine' stop at 110 mph? I haven't pulled it apart to look yet, but I would really like to know!

2) Can the AI be made to use this? If the startup could be linked to speed, say 5mph, then the AI could catapult launch it's planes too. That would solve a little problem I had making an airfield in the shape of a carrier. AI would take off from it no problem, but without an oversize carrier, they all went for a little swim....

Oh, forgot to say, Great Stuff!

posted 10-10- 05:37 PM               

Now, I'm not easily annoyed, so I'll try not to sound like I am...

Your "correctly scaled carrier" i.e. the Ark Royal for download on your site appears to be identical to my correctly scaled Ark Royal carrier available from my site since I released it. So, for those of you thinking that you have to download this new Ark Royal to replace your old one, you don't need to, it's the same as mine.

posted 10-10- 08:39 PM               

This aircraft arrestor system is comprised of three struts or 'hooks'. The tail hook is just for appearance it is not involved in the braking process. Two nose hooks prevent the prop being damaged when the aircraft is pitched down (although one nose hook should be sufficient) The belly hook pivots the aircraft on it's main wheels and places it in a nose down position. (the nose hooks preventing prop damage) With the centre of gravity now over the main wheels the brakes are extremely effective. (the hooks also create drag on the ground)

Using this system on other aircraft I would first remove the obHidden from the belly and nose hooks in the seafire.sm Then have a look at the Seafire on an airfield to see how the hooks interact with the ground and aircraft as they are lowered. Now copy the belly and nose hooks from the seafire.sm and place them in the approximately the same position on your target aircraft.

Now the frustration begins! You will need to adjust the origin and rotation range (in degrees) in the DOF's for each nose and belly hooks so they move in a similar fashion and extent to those on the Seafire.

It's a good idea to start on an airfield so you can lower the hooks, start the engine, throttle up and then test the braking by pressing the 'B' key. To prevent the aircraft turning under brakes I increased the tire width to 3 ft but the real trick is to get the hooks and main wheels perfectly balanced on the ground.

posted 10-11- 01:19 AM               

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posted 10-12- 07:33 AM               

Spanky - I believe the second engine, invisible, is what powers the calapult takeoff mode for the carrier. It adds extra torque and makes take difficult but not impossible with torque mode on. A counter engine should really do the trick. Good luck - I look forward to an update. However, your first effort certainly is a keeper in itself.

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