Better than a moving carrier : a flying carrier !!

[Daube]

Hi all,

As everybody knows, FSX has finally brought back from CFS2 the feature of the moving carriers, that is, carriers that are not static, but going forward, and turning, following a path.
Some days ago I was asking about what would happen if one would replace an AI plane by a carrier.... I did it, and....


...


IT WORKS !!

the proof:


The textures are missing because I just made a quick try at replacing a dash 8 with the detailled carrier. I must have forgotten some files, but I was not caring, I just wanted to see what would happen, and it happens

The bad thing is that I could not exactely stop on it, shortly after setting the parking brakes, the plane went backward (because of wind, the carrier flies at approx 200 knots) and went through the deck. However, it's a cool new feature

[Daube]

PS: forget what I told above : I could effectively stop completely on it, then shut down my engines
But then I pulled my stick without notice, and because my speed was still 190 knots, the plane took off and the carrier went away (I had no power anymore, of course )

[GunnerMan]

That is frifggin cool, now does airphysics exist in FSX so if you put a wind deflector on the front would you be more safe? 8-)

[Daube]

I must try to fly in the lowe level to check  ;D
I can't wait to see all the Sci-Fi addons that will be made using that feature.
Of course, this is bring nothing for the realism, but only for the fun part of FSX.

[bok269]

That's pretty cool.  I don't think I'll be trying it, but it looks like a lot of fun.

[trojan rabbit]

how do you do it?

[Ashton Lawson]

wow.  i thought it would work, but i didnt really think u would try it.

nice work mun!

and the pull back on the stick making u take off, reminds me of when i started in a 747 at Meigs, with the winds facing my aircraft, at maximum speed.  i only needed to lift the nose a bit and it looked a bit like i had hydraulics!!!

[Daube]

That reminds me of almost the same thing: did you ever tried to set the winf to 150 knots, in line with the runway ?
You could then make a vertical takeoff with a 747, you just had to set some flaps and some thottle. From the tower view it was looking crazy  ;D

Now, the main thing about those flying carriers, appart from the eventual multiplayer fun or other Sci-Fi addons, is that it make it virtually possible to recreate something similar to the USS Akron flying ship which was carrying some planes. This could be simulated with, let's say, a very small transparent runway at the correct place...

[Daube]

PS: needless to say, with all my Dash-8 being replaced by carriers, my FSX has a bit of a StarWars mood... those carriers look like space ships from far away

[Ashton Lawson]

what would be cool, if u could create control in FSX's space environment, then create AI motherships with flight planes to fly around the world, really slowly

space flight has finally come to FSX!!! lol

[F3Hadlow]

I'm more interested in the fact theres a Mig15 aboard the deck!

[Daube]

I'm more interested in the fact theres a Mig15 aboard the deck!

Captured aircraft  ;)

It was not easy to and on there to be honnest. The carrier was going forward at 200 knots, and the mig 15 cannot fly this fast when the landing gear is deployed. So I had to fly at approx 220 knots and then take an appropriate position just bove the deck, then finally deplay the landing gear and try to land before my speed gets under 200 (else I would land "backwards"  :P )

[Ashton Lawson]

that sounds really cool

imagine that, landing backwards on an aircraft carrier craft. lol.

once i get FSX, im doing that, as stupid as it may look

[Daube]

I've made some aditionnal tests.
I wanted to know how the stuff would behave when the carrier was making a turn, landing or taking off.

The first thing is that a small plane, jet or prop, is not stable enough to stay on the plateform, so I tried with a Boeing 737.
During taxi, there's no problem, your plane just stays on the carrier, sometimes moves a bit when the carrier make some sharp turns or brakes, but it's globally OK. Problem comes upon the rotation for takeoff, it's a bit too violent and your plane won't stay on the deck.

BUT, I tried to land again on a flying carrier, I could make a "refuel-like" approach at 250 knots with a bit of flaps, lined up with the deck, getting just above it next to the control tower, then lowering gears, slowing down to 200 knots, and slowly getting down to touch gently the deck. My plane landed safely at 15.000 feet and 200 knots I could set the parking brakes, retract the flaps and turn off my engines. I wanted to see what would happen during a turn.

And it happened, the "Dash-8" carrier made a sharp turn, and my plane on the deck just followed the movement ! I was just like a perfect parasite

[Daube]

how do you do it?

I simply made the following:
- save a copy of the folder of the Dash-8
- copy the subfolders Model and Texture of the detailled aircraft carrier into the Dash-8 folder overwritting.

And that's all...