That is not how the ball works though. It will only tell you where you are in degrees in relation to a 3.5° glidepath. It does not give any instructions on how to correct or is anyhow affected by your range and speed. If a red light indicated 0.X° below the glidepath at 0.1 NM, the same light will indicate the same 0.X° below the glidepath at 1 NM. Consequently if the light is obstructed at 0.1 NM, it will likewise be obstructed at 1 NM.
Here is an example with the Hornet at about 0.5 NM, on centerline and intentionally flying a low ball. Note that it isn’t red yet and the LSO’s instruction is “You are a little low” (really??). Ball is obstructed by the carrier.
It does and in DCS it should (although it seems it doesn’t), because the hook-eye distance is different for each aircraft type. In the Tomcat the hook is much further away from the pilot than in the Hornet. So if the Tomcat pilot’s head would follow the same glidepath as the Hornet, its hook would strike the deck a lot further aft.
This actually has been happening in DCS (and I suppose is still the case even with the supercarrier), where a center-ball landing with all parameters met will lead you to a 2-wire in the Tomcat.
I know it is bad form to reply to your own posts, but I keep laughing every time I look at his seeing-eye dog…the worried look on its face, with the handset to its ear…
Actually, there is a spot on the approach where the ball is obscured, but only for a second or two and everybody knows it. I saw something on this aways back - might have been in Approach or one of the other Naval Aviation magazines.
I think that when it is all said and done, there is an angle where even the red cell can no longer be seen. On the plus side, a pilot in that position has a great view of the Jet Shop.
Quick Sea Story - not enough. to put in the special thread.
2003-2004 ish I’m on the Stennis and we have a gaggle of T-45s onboard - new guys/gals getting their initial carrier quals. As usual, I had the PLAT on in my office. I had the sound turned up since it was interesting to hear the LSO-pilots going through their paces.
I hear a wave off…no big deal…then the LSO comes back on…assume the plane waved off was “205” - this was the conversation:
LSO - 205;, Paddles: What did the ball look like on that pass?
Pilot - It was low
LSO - It was Red!!
Yeah, sure! I’m not saying you should be able to se the lowest ball light if you fly in below the deck
But the IFLOLS shouldn’t be obscured unless going below red.
The couple of seconds you’re talking about I’m guessing is a mast or something similar, that gets in the way when it lines up with the IFLOLS, laterally, during the approach?
Yep…I can’t remember exactly what it is that blocks it but I had heard about it. From what I’ve seen on the SuperCarrier mod, nothing should be blocking it. Interesting.
Very nice. Of course the MiG-28 reference is to Topgun.
Did I ever tell you all that I worked for one of the guys that flew the “MiG-28s” for the movie? Admiral (when I worked for him) “Rat” Willard. An interesting guy.
Sort of yes, under case I conditions at least. You can call inbound shortly after take-off, call in your see you at 10 (even if you’re well within 10nm) and with a tiny measure of luck you’ll get your charlie signal in the downwind. The LSO will then talk you in.
I usually fly straight and level at low altitude for a few miles after take-off just like in normal ops, just to make sure there’s enough time for all the chatter to get a signal charlie.
If you have calling the ball bound to a key or button you can skip the whole ordeal and simply fly straight back. If you don’t, you won’t get a ball/clara option in the radio menu dropdown.
In RL and I assume when doing this in MP, it depends on how the deck is spotted, how many jets are launching in your Event, where you launch in the event.
So if you are shooting off the waist Cats, the bow is probably clobbered with jets, some of which are making their way back to launch, plus you have other planes that were parked on the fantail (in the landing area) taxiing for their turn to launch. Back in my VF-32 days, when I was giving the Event Briefs we could have upwards of 13-15 aircraft launching for one event - subtract the double cycle birds like the E-2 and S-3 and maybe a tanker or two (A-6E/ KA-6) and that number might drop to 8-10. Still a lot to clear out of the way (emergency pull forward) if somebody needs to come back and land right after launch.
Of course a “BAGEX” (just doing Cats & Traps; i.e. “Bagging” Traps) it is all set up for going into the overhead soon after launching. Usually just a few jets in that pattern.
I think this has been brought up before but worth repeating, the F-5 is actually an excellent carrier trainer. I find it much easier to stay on the ball (probably because power changes don’t do all that much).
