Aircraft Carrier landing

[Brent]

Steve
I'm trying out the aircraft carrier landing mission with the VRS F/18-E Superbug and I would like to make a request.

It seems that when IF generates the flight plan for this mission it generates full fuel loads which tips the maximum landing weight over the limit for carriers with such a short trip.

For example, a carrier landing from CYYJ (Victoria) to the carrier is 104 Nm. IF loads 24,446 lb of fuel and gives me a gross weight of 50,872 lb which is well under the MTOW of 66,000 lb but significantly over the maximum carrier landing weight of 44,000 lb. I could dump fuel before landing I suppose but it would be nicer if IF calculated fuel for a return trip (208 Nm) with whatever 'reserve' was chosen by me.

In the case of F/18-E it should be about 8000 lb of fuel (with a 45 min reserve) for such a short trip.

Cheers,
Brent

[Steve Waite]

Hi Brent,
Simply change the 'Range' value in Aircraft Properties to double and the fuel will be halved.
Steve

[Steve Waite]

Check out the in-sim fuel report shows current fuel use - sitting in your cruise state is a good time to pull down the IF: Main Menu and choose Fuel Report, the on screen message also appears slightly more detailed in the log (IF popup penu).

At the bottom of the debrief shows your average range for the trip, use that for estimating your correct Range value. May be different to manufacturer specs.

[Brent]

Check out the in-sim fuel report shows current fuel use - sitting in your cruise state is a good time to pull down the IF: Main Menu and choose Fuel Report, the on screen message also appears slightly more detailed in the log (IF popup penu).

At the bottom of the debrief shows your average range for the trip, use that for estimating your correct Range value. May be different to manufacturer specs.

Steve
I've got the range value shaved to what gives me good results for long range journeys (1h 40m) at cruise altitudes but I guess my point was that the A/C carrier landing mission is estimating a fuel value about triple what I should be seeing and is giving me 100% fuel for internal and external tanks for a 200 mile trip.

However, I tried what you suggested and changed my range value from ~4000 Nm to 12000 Nm....this didn't change the estimated fuel for the A/C carrier landing mission and was the same - 24,446 lb!

Brent

[Steve Waite]

Maybe I'm not understanding the carrier mission, but that does not sound right.

Say you generate a sea search mission - you get fuel to return - same for a ship landing mission.

The adjustment to range should work as intended. I'll have a look at it.

Check out that theory with a regular trip - you should see the fuel estimate change with Range. The reserve and taxi 30+15 is at cruise speed consumption.


steve

[Brent]

Steve
I tried a couple of scenarios to confirm what I'm seeing:

F/18 - E airport to airport (260 Nm)
range= 4027
fuel = 8871

range=12000
fuel = 2978

F/18 - E airport to carrier (208 Nm)
range= 4027
fuel =24446

range=12000
fuel =24446

Duke Turbine airport to carrier (208 Nm)
range= 1499
fuel = 1065

range=4500
fuel =1065

So, it appears that 'range' is not influencing airport to ship fuel calculations but is working correctly for airport to airport.

Brent

[Steve Waite]

how are you building the airport to carrier mission - with the regular IF land on a ship method?

[Steve Waite]

OK Got it!

...the mission you are on is set to use the default fuel amount (20% in settings) if less than that. It is not required so it is now removed.

IF [sc] out later today fixes your problem with fuel.

- nicely done Brent -

Steve

[Steve Waite]

you could try setting the DefFuelAmount to less for the time being
C:\ProgramData\Ideal Flight 10\Profiles\Settings.ini

DefFuelAmount=20
MinFuelAmount=10

[Brent]

That's great Steve. Very much appreciated!

A couple of other questions for you re: carrier landings:
1. Can I trap an F18 with the arresting hook on the carrier model you use? I didn't seem to be able to but maybe I just suck at it!

2. Does your carrier model have a TACAN signal and an ILS frequency?

Thanks,
Brent