Posting photos is feeding trolls. It’s like posting your birth certificate. I am not claiming that the guys is legit. I don’t really care as I don’t see myself flying around the boat with any serious concern about procedure anyway. But the Navy pilots I know are a pretty blue collar lot, just as are pilots in general. So getting terminology wrong is pretty believable to me. What would raise my BS flag is some dude talking like Shakespeare and quoting the dash whatever verbatim. Then I would KNOW we were dealing with a poser.
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So are these good and accurate? Any suggestions?
Does anyone know of any documentation for Harrier/Helicopter patterns?
The overhead pattern matches every diagram I’ve seen more or less.
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I guess I’m used to it being the norm on Reddit as when anyone makes a claim as to who they are or what they do they verify themselves with the moderators and that’s it, all sorted. Simple thing to do and all the nay sayers are shutdown. As you say, his choice.
My spidey senses were tingling when I watched his videos is all 
but I’ve exhausted the topic now so I’ll leave it there.
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Nice article about the SHB and ‘breaking the deck’:
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That’s a fun website. I’d never heard of it.
Made my first successful landing attempts on the carrier last night. Granted, there were also some into the back of the boat explosions on some attempts, but just the fact that I was able to have two successful recoveries was pretty inspiring. Now to make them a bit more case 1 regimented 
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That’s when most of my landing accidents started happening. I was doing really well when I was just winging it. 
After awhile though, the more structured approach does give consistent results.
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Very true. I FINALLY nailed my first landing last night, and even though it was still horrifyingly ugly and wouldn’t have gotten better than a Cut Pass grade, I got aboard. Just have to keep working the numbers
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So after working on Case I landings for a while, I have a couple of questions. I seem to have the biggest problem with altitude/decent rate on very short final (assuming I’m using throttle only and not using the stick to move the velocity vector).
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Am I supposed to use the ball only all the way until touch down, or at some point to I look for some other visual cues? As I cross over the stern of the carrier (and as I approach touch down), I don’t have time to react to changes in the ball (especially as it becomes more sensitive just before touchdown) with throttle; there’s too much lag in response. Should I start looking at something else or using the stick?
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(Depending on the answer above about watching the ball) - at some point, again on short final, the ball needs to pass behind the canopy frame. I always seem to lose sight of the ball at a critical time in the approach. Are you guys using Track IR to shift your view point left on short final so that ball is already showing up outside the canopy frame as you approach touchdown (and really need to be able to see the ball)?
- My understanding is to follow the ball all the way to touchdown;
- I use TrackIR and try look around the canopy bar within reason;
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From what I’ve seen and read, the ball will start to go high off the top once you’re about to touch down, but it should give you accurate info until you’re right before touchdown. By that point though, you should be committed to the descent you’re on, unless you’re clearly going to have to wave off.
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I haven’t had any issues with being able to see the ball through the canopy on my way to touchdown. I’m glancing only slightly left, but I’m able to keep it and the centerline of the landing area in the same frame.
I’m still having issues myself with bouncing all over the place in terms of descent rate, but as others have said, it’s just something to keep practicing. I’ll get the plane light (less than 33,000 lbs), and work the throttles in approach mode at altitude to get a bit of a feel before I start heading down.
I think I’ve seen this somewhere before, but don’t remember where. Is there a way to figure out the heading of the deck of the carrier so I can set a needle on the HSI for it? My approach attempts were more “blind” where my lineup generally was off.
Generally it’s easiest to use the TACAN, and then set the course line on that to about 11 degrees left of the course of the ship - that way it’ll be right as the ship moves. We’ve also got the new ICLS, so that can be used for a landing bearing with the vertical needle as well.
Part of the overhead pattern for me, and my understanding is, for daytime, Case I ops, pilots will note the course as they’re orbiting overhead, verify before the break, then just subtract 9-10 degrees for the final offset to the angled deck.
Wait a second, nobody told me there would be math involved
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I’m guessing this is why part of the flight physical includes having all your fingers.
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For CASE 1 all you should need is the direction the carrier is going. By the time you would have to do anything that requires accounting for the angled deck, you should be eyes out of the cockpit looking at the ship.
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In the Mr Magoo version (VR) it also really helps to announce “Inbound” to the ship as they put the lights on the deck. It makes it a bit better to see further out, at least with basic alignment. The unlit deck is surprisingly grey and mushy from even a short distance in DCS Magoo.
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Mr. Magoo version…LOL!!!