On speed AOA while landing on a carrier?

Somehow, i can't manage the on speed AOA that i see in a lot of DCS video's while landing on a carrier. They al sit around 132-135 kts, while i have to keep mine around 143 kts (no stores) to keep the E-bracket aligned and to keep the ball in the middle. Landing is then OK but when i go below 139 kts i have the ball drop on me and i always fall short of the edge of the deck (which is correct according to the ball).

I also wonder if the DCS AOA landingspeed that everybody's is using is correct compared to real life because i saw quite some video's of real F/A-18's landing with a speed of 119-120kts, nice AOA with E-bracket right in the middle.

It sounds to me as if it's related to weight. You need to be around 33k lbs or lower. At that weight your airspeed should be around 130-135 knots.

Yeah as Falby said, its all about weight. If you are lighter your onspeed will be lower.

So put the VV in the centre of the E bracket and you are golden, you dont need to worry about the actual speed at all.

Side note, using RL videos as a reference is a bit flawed as DCS Hornet flies onspeed a little slower than real world hornets, it actually flies more like superhornet onspeed.

The whole point of using AoA for a reference is that it makes airspeed irrelevant. When you fly a given approach speed in a civilian aircraft, you're doing so in an effort to fly the correct AoA, so using an AoA indicator directly is just an easier and more accurate way to accomplish it.

I've never understood why we don't use AoA the same way in civilian aviation, though we're finally starting to. Our 737 HUDs have an AoA indexer.

Focus on AOA as said before. Don't worry about airspeed. You'll be fine!

It sounds to me as if it's related to weight. You need to be around 33k lbs or lower. At that weight your airspeed should be around 130-135 knots.

Makes sence, made a quick mission putting me 4nm behind the boat to practise "ball flying". Just selected an airplane without load, didn't look at the fuel quantity at all.

There is a ton of great information on this topic in the new DCS Carrier Guide

Located here: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=280143

Head wind?

Head wind?

What about head wind?

Higher the head wind slower the approach speed.

Higher the head wind slower the approach speed.

A headwind will decrease the ground speed sure. But it wont affect true, calibrated, or indicated airspeed at all.

From the frame of reference of an aircraft moving through a steady headwind, there is no difference to it move through still air. So the speed shown in the HUD and the aerodynamic affects of the aircraft will be exactly the same.

The only time a steady wind will affect flight is any time the ground is involved, eg navigation.

A headwind will decrease the ground speed sure. But it wont affect true, calibrated, or indicated airspeed at all.

 

From the frame of reference of an aircraft moving through a steady headwind, there is no difference to it move through still air. So the speed shown in the HUD and the aerodynamic affects of the aircraft will be exactly the same.

 

The only time a steady wind will affect flight is any time the ground is involved, eg navigation.

Thank you. Still learning to fly what I've been working on.

And if the carrier is moving at say 25 knots into a headwind of 25 knots, there's a useful 50 knots knocked off your relative approach speed to make landing much easier..:)

PS- in real life what's the top speed of a carrier while recovering aircraft, 25 knots or more?

And in real life if a plane still has stores on board when returning to the carrier, do pilots jettison them all for a lighter landing? (Sidewinders, bombs, missiles, pods, tanks etc)

Higher the head wind slower the approach speed.

Slower the ground speed. Meaning the approach will take a little longer.

do pilots jettison them all for a lighter landing? (Sidewinders, bombs, missiles, pods, tanks etc)

Only if they can't dump enough fuel to get below max trap weight or in an emergency

And if the carrier is moving at say 25 knots into a headwind of 25 knots, there's a useful 50 knots knocked off your relative approach speed to make landing much easier..:)

 

PS- in real life what's the top speed of a carrier while recovering aircraft, 25 knots or more?

And in real life if a plane still has stores on board when returning to the carrier, do pilots jettison them all for a lighter landing? (Sidewinders, bombs, missiles, pods, tanks etc)

When there is no massive war going on etc. You don't max load up the jet for carrier ops. The f14 would only take up 2 x 54 etc. Not 6 and drop them for landing. For the sim, sure drop them like they would have to if you cannot keep min fuel needed.

And if the carrier is moving at say 25 knots into a headwind of 25 knots, there's a useful 50 knots knocked off your relative approach speed to make landing much easier..:)

It's my understanding that the carrier's speed will account for the headwind to maintain a consitent wind over deck. Faster wind = slower boat.

And if the carrier is moving at say 25 knots into a headwind of 25 knots, there's a useful 50 knots knocked off your relative approach speed to make landing much easier..:)

 

PS- in real life what's the top speed of a carrier while recovering aircraft, 25 knots or more?

And in real life if a plane still has stores on board when returning to the carrier, do pilots jettison them all for a lighter landing? (Sidewinders, bombs, missiles, pods, tanks etc)

The wind will not be blowing at 50kts anywhere other than on .the deck. The wind will be 25kts in front of and behind the ship.

While speed is not the important factor in an approach, I do like to monitor it. I fly in SP and do the included missions and I like to land afterwards if the is an airfield or the boat near by. So I end up at varying weights. I have also inadvertently tried landing w/ half flaps. So checking airspeed is a handy guide.