I have had the Alphasim USS Enterprise for years and used to regularly do launches and traps using 3Wire. I used the Alphasim A-3 Whale or the Skysim Sea Vixen and with either I was able to regularly catch a wire. (Not every time, just as in real life!) I even got the Cloud9 F-4 Phantom onto the deck ONCE! LOL Since reinstalling, I cannot catch a wire no matter what I do. It launches fine so the 3Wire module is operating correctly. I have the aircraft configured the same way as before I THINK. I have tried with extreme high winds over the deck, I even configured the C172 with a tailhook to see if I could catch the wire. (Launch was hilarious - it went up almost like a helicopter!) Nothing works. I have tried it so many times that I am certain it's not just a matter of my pilot skills going from reasonably good with XP to lousy with Win7 - it really isn't able to register a "trap" no matter what. And in case you wondered, yes I do have the zone's configured. I have even tried tinkering with them to see if expanding the zones and making the tail hook "longer" would help. Zilch! I am 99% sure it is an aircraft.cfg or panel/gauge configuration issue, though it might be Win7. But I'm doubtful it's a Win7 problem as I have the MAAM TBF Avenger addon and the carrier landings and launches on there work perfectly. If someone could help me with this one, I'd be very grateful as operating from a carrier is an awesome addition to the repertoire of fun things you can do with FS9 CheersIan

I have had the Alphasim USS Enterprise for years and used to regularly do launches and traps using 3Wire. I used the Alphasim A-3 Whale or the Skysim Sea Vixen and with either I was able to regularly catch a wire. (Not every time, just as in real life!) I even got the Cloud9 F-4 Phantom onto the deck ONCE! LOL Since reinstalling, I cannot catch a wire no matter what I do. It launches fine so the 3Wire module is operating correctly. I have the aircraft configured the same way as before I THINK. I have tried with extreme high winds over the deck, I even configured the C172 with a tailhook to see if I could catch the wire. (Launch was hilarious - it went up almost like a helicopter!) Nothing works. I have tried it so many times that I am certain it's not just a matter of my pilot skills going from reasonably good with XP to lousy with Win7 - it really isn't able to register a "trap" no matter what. And in case you wondered, yes I do have the zone's configured. I have even tried tinkering with them to see if expanding the zones and making the tail hook "longer" would help. Zilch! I am 99% sure it is an aircraft.cfg or panel/gauge configuration issue, though it might be Win7. But I'm doubtful it's a Win7 problem as I have the MAAM TBF Avenger addon and the carrier landings and launches on there work perfectly. If someone could help me with this one, I'd be very grateful as operating from a carrier is an awesome addition to the repertoire of fun things you can do with FS9 CheersIan

Still hoping someone can help me out with this issue or point me to a site where I could get some help

Ian, I'm not exactly sure how the specific Alphasim cable trapping (and catapult launch) system works because I've been using Rob Barendregt's pioneering COP (carrier operations) system for many years on different carriers all over the world. However, Alphasim's system must work in the same way, simply because and as far as I know, there's no other method. The Alphasim cable trap area (four lat/long co-ordinates + runway heading + deck altitude) must therefore somehow be specified and saved somewhere so that a specially programmed (hidden) gauge in your plane's panel can initiate and simulate the cable trapping ........ if you actually touch down within the specified area. In the COP system these cable trapping zones are specified per carrier in an .ini file within the main FS9 Gauges folder. I believe that due to your re-installation you have not re-specified your cable trapping area or your .ini file has somehow got lost. Hope this helps.Hans

Thank you so much Hans. You were right on the money! There were the two .ini files in the gauge folder but the Alphasim info was not on them. (It was in a seperate folder) So I corrected the entries, fired up the sim and caught a wire first attempt! I guess all those "bolters" I flew trying to catch a wire that wasn't there at least improved my approach skills! LOL I really appreciate you helpCheersIan

To anyone who glances at this thread, let me say that the combination of the Alphasim USS Enterprise, 3wire catapult/arrestor system and a good naval aircraft configured with a hook is fantastic fun. Since reinstalling it and getting it all working again, I have been totally addicted. If you've never tried carrier ops or thought it wasn't a good option in FS9, think again. I don't remember having this much fun with my clothes on for a long time!

So Ian -what naval aircraft have you been using for these carrier ops? Sounds like fun!!! regards -Robert

So Ian -what naval aircraft have you been using for these carrier ops? Sounds like fun!!! regards -Robert

Hi RobertI'm using the Sea Vixen from Skysim - I just have to pretend that the RN is doing some cross deck training with the USN back in the late sixties! It is stable on approach but still challenging and has a fabulous soundset. (If you're into mind-numbing noise!) As I recall, there is an excellent French Navy F8 Crusader available as freeware and Virtavia, the successors to Alphasim, have a number of nice looking naval aircraft. When I'm feeling particularly cocky, I also use the awesome Cloud9 F4 Phantom. You have to modify the aircraft.cfg to give it parking brakes for catapult launches with 3Wire but if you are into a real challenge, that will give it to you. I have crashed and burned with it more times than I've "trapped" but it is fun to try. If you decide to give it a shot, you will have to configure the panel file of your aircraft to include some invisible gauges. I don't think the instructions mention this so if you need some help with it, send me a PM. You won't regret it - the feeling of accomplishment when you actually trap is worth all the "bolters" and crashes when you're first getting the hang of it.CheersIan

Hey there Ian, Have you tried carrier landings at night yet or in bad weather conditions ? That's one of the reasons why I have teeth marks on my yolk !! LOL. The aircraft I'm using all have modelled tail hooks and a good military looking panel which I have then modified to be able to use Rob Barendregt's freeware "Carrier Operations" (COP) instruments etc. As a consequence I have very many (modified) aircraft, e.g. the Grumman Tomcat, the Super Hornet, the Vought Crusader, the Viking, the Hawkeye AWACS, the Greyhound, some Navy helicopters and (of cause) the Osprey and the Sea Harrier. The latter two aircraft, because they are not real helicopters but must be able to hover, also have some Rob Barendregt modifications to make them able to hover with very little air moving across their control surfaces. The Sea Harrier's so called "puffer ducks" do not seem to be able to be simulated in FS9, hence the slight wind necessary over it's control surfaces. For these two aircraft a head wind of at least 10 kts remains necessary. I predominantly use the static freeware "Waikato" carrier situated off the East coast of New Zealand's North Island, mostly because of it's animated jet blast shield and catapult steam vents, etc. But because Rob's COP system can be installed in any aircraft and on any carrier, I have different carriers and aircraft paints in many parts of the world. But, I must also admit that I have done quite some modifications to all those carriers (and other marine vessels with helicopter pads), e.g. made animated wakes to create the illusion of a moving ship. I agree with you that carrier operations are great but they will shorten your life by about a week for each successful landing. LOL. Hans

Hey there Ian, Have you tried carrier landings at night yet or in bad weather conditions ? That's one of the reasons why I have teeth marks on my yolk !! LOL. The aircraft I'm using all have modelled tail hooks and a good military looking panel which I have then modified to be able to use Rob Barendregt's freeware "Carrier Operations" (COP) instruments etc. As a consequence I have very many (modified) aircraft, e.g. the Grumman Tomcat, the Super Hornet, the Vought Crusader, the Viking, the Hawkeye AWACS, the Greyhound, some Navy helicopters and (of cause) the Osprey and the Sea Harrier. The latter two aircraft, because they are not real helicopters but must be able to hover, also have some Rob Barendregt modifications to make them able to hover with very little air moving across their control surfaces. The Sea Harrier's so called "puffer ducks" do not seem to be able to be simulated in FS9, hence the slight wind necessary over it's control surfaces. For these two aircraft a head wind of at least 10 kts remains necessary. I predominantly use the static freeware "Waikato" carrier situated off the East coast of New Zealand's North Island, mostly because of it's animated jet blast shield and catapult steam vents, etc. But because Rob's COP system can be installed in any aircraft and on any carrier, I have different carriers and aircraft paints in many parts of the world. But, I must also admit that I have done quite some modifications to all those carriers (and other marine vessels with helicopter pads), e.g. made animated wakes to create the illusion of a moving ship. I agree with you that carrier operations are great but they will shorten your life by about a week for each successful landing. LOL. Hans

Hi HansYes, I've done night and bad weather landings, and even combined the two. After trying the latter, I went upstairs and made myself a very strong cup of tea and remarked to my wife that anyone who would actually try to do that in the real world VOLUNTARILY was crazy! The only drawback I have with the Alphasim Enterprise is that the blast deflector shield is not animated so you have to taxi around it to line up on the starboard bow catapult. I believe the steam effect can be added via the 3Wire program but am not certain. Other than those minor things, it is a superb example of object modelling - even after all these years. And the "ball" approach lights work very effectively... Other than the Sea Vixen and the Cloud9 Phantom, I have the VRS Superbug but every time I convince myself it's time to learn to fly it, I get a headache reading the manual and end up postponing for another day. I know it's a superb aircraft and once I've got the hang of it would be the ultimate carrier aircraft, but the realism of the systems modelling is so high that I'm not sure I could maintain proficiency in it while continuing to enjoy all the other FS activities I enjoy. I like the idea of your animated wake. Perhaps you would be willing to upload it to AVSIM along with some of your other mods? I have a couple of FFG7 Oliver Hazard Perry escorts with the Enterprise but they have no wake at all and that would really "up" the realism quite a bit. I wouldn't mind hardening their flight decks too and then use Flight1's Heli AI program to get a chopper doing Vertreps between them all. My guess is that most of the really keen naval aviation fans on FS have migrated to FSX but it would be nice if we could get a community going among us FS9 diehards. It really is pretty much the ultimate flying challenge in FS as it is in the real world.CheersIan

Ian, I've never posted anything concerning my modifications to anything in my FS9 because it was almost always a case of tweaking or "twisting" other developer's work for my own personal tastes and/or needs. Furthermore, by doing so I would be infringing on copyrights. However, for hardening a helicopter pad on any "soft" deck or building top I use the late Opa (David) Marshall's method for positioning a very small square Afcad "runway" (without taxiways etc) on any static scenery. Works very well but only for user helicopters. I've tried different AI helicopters in the past but none of them actually land AND take off verticaly. They all seem to have varying STOL properties which as a result, makes them unfit for any confined helicopter pads. However, Severn Rewetti's Waikato carrier has quite some dynamic aircraft and helicopters flying around. Some of these actually take off from and land on his carrier but they are definitely not AI aircraft. They are unpredictable dynamic moving objects which more often than not, just get in the way when flying carrier operations yourself.Long ago I had a good look at how these dynamic objects were programmed so that maybe I could re-program the helicopters for flying only between Waikato's other accompanying ships but it turned out to be just too complicated. As far as I can remember from many years ago I probably found and downloaded a dynamic wake for static ships from somewhere and used that for all my scenery object ships according to the "readme" instructions. In some cases, e.g. for the larger ships, more than one wake was necessary and quite some "trial and error" methods were used before things began to look right.The name of the included effects file was: fx_wake_4_medium_ships.fx . However, I searched through all my CD/DVD download backups but could not find the original download. Hopefully, anyone else reading this post may be able to point you to where this download can (still) be found. If you can PM me then please have a go at it because otherwise this thread could become very long. I've personally never tried PM-ing anyone and have no idea how this works. HansFfrom behind the dykes in the Netherlands.

Thanks Hans. If you would like to have totally realistic helo operations, you want to purchase Heli Traffic 2009 from Flight1. It adds a module that will give you realistically behaving chopper traffic. They approach like a helicopter, hover and land and take off in a completely realistic manner. You can configure it to operate random or schedule flights. You don't even need to alter any AFCADs to add helicopter landing pads, though the AI will use any that are there. But you can land any place you want and then designate it in Heli Traffic as a landing spot and it will direct traffic there.You can designate AI Harriers as helicopters and they will land and take off vertically. The vertical take off with weapons and tanks isn't realistic of course, but it still looks pretty cool! The payware version of the Alphasim Enterprise has fairly realistic carrier AI using low polygon F14, A6 and S3 Viking. Launch is very slow so it's not too realistic but everything else is quite well replicated.Stay dry behind those dykes. I hope Europe does not get the kind of flooding we've had this summerIan