Ok, now that I've got your attention, here's my request.Please consider the RCBCO package as a recipient for some recognition as an outstanding freeware addon. Rob Barendregt and Doug Dawson have made a wonderfull contribution for all us wanabe Naval Aviators out here with the new upgrade to their previous release. To anyone unfamilliar with RCBCO, simply stated, it is a package of complimentary gauges and .ini files that allows you to takeoff and land on ANY aircraft carrier scenery with ANY aircraft you wish. It is the defacto succesor to the much loved "Arrestor Cables" addon , which is no longer useable in FS2004 (the developer now has this package included with "Flight Deck 3" from Abacus). To those out there who have used RCBCO, get in here and lobby for these two guys to get their credit! If you have not tried RCBCO, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? No, really, try it out. Now admitedly, it ain't the easiest thing to install, but that is part of the fun. The instuctions are clear and easy to follow. The results are amazingly realistic too. Also, if anyone out there would be interested in making an Autoinstaller for a package that would include RCBCO, a set of aircraft carriers, and a panel for the F-14 Tomcat, please post your interest here. I would, of course, have to get permission from the various authors. I think a nice complete package may bring more people into using this. Todd

Hi Todd,Thanks for your kind words ....How could I ever disagree with this ??? :-) :-) Although, I would not be in favour of auto-installers for functions like these. Not because I don't want to make life easy for end-users, but because of the possible negative side-effects (as explained in my Readme). Which is why I didn't include ready-made panel.cfg's, but just the description and examples on how to do it.Of course it's different if someone includes the whole set in a complete, new aircraft, but automatically adding gauges to an existing panel.cfg (and aircraft.cfg) is an impossible task to do properly IMO.Don't forget, that if someone adds these gauges to his panel, there's a big change that he/she also allready made other changes. Which most likely would conflict with lines added by an auto-installer.Or, when auto-installing a new aircraft.cfg or panel.cfg, would overwrite possible existing modifications.FS just lacks a proper "software version control" to do these types of auto-installs. Cheers, Rob

I see your point there Rob. Todd

This looks very interesting and thanks to the two authors, Rob and Doug for this freeware addon.I haven't downloaded it yet, but if anyone has any other comments on this addon, please take a few minutes to tell us about it.I will be trying this out when I get home in a few days. This could really be a lot of fun.Ed

Comments? It's an amazing bit of kit. I've had it installed on a Tomcat and F/18E since release, and I just love it. The sound effects are enough to make you jump out of your seat (which I do not recommend if you are sitting in a Tomcat :) )Thanks to Rob and Doug for doing this. An alternative systems is 3wire, recently upgraded. Anyone have any comments on how this compares, out of interest? I have downloaded the prog, but not fired it up yet.MarkMark "Dark Moment" BeaumontVP Fleet, DC-3 AirwaysTeam Member, MAAM-SIM[a href=http://www.swiremariners.com/cathayhk.html" target="_blank]http://www.paxship.com/maamlogo2.jpg[/a]

Thanks Mark,I am going to try it as soon as I get home to my desktop computer.Ed

I have used 3Wire and RCBO gauges. I like RCBO, because its better for in-game movies or screenshots, because 3Wire uses a text display (similar to the Parking Brakes message in FS) which can ruin the otherwise photo-realistic screenshot...

I just downloaded and install this great addon.Rob and Doug have created a whole new world for FS9.Also Steve Hinson combination of this addon, plus an aircraft carrier and panel cfg files to make installation very straight forward and actually very easy.This is really fun and getting shot off the carrier and trying to get her back on the flight deck is a real challenge. The sound effects really add to the overall effect.Thanks to Rob, Doug, Steve, Savern Reweti and the aircraft creators Daisuke Yamamoto and Dino Cattaneo for all the time and effort they must have put into this project.All of this is available there at AVSIM and also a warm thanks to AVSIM for hosting all of the great works from these talented creators. Ed

Wow... this is an old thread :-)To Mark:As far as I can tell, the main difference between 3Wire (and the original Arrcab program) and Doug's/my COP package (apart from my HUD) is in implementation: 3Wire is an external module that works for all aircraft, while our solution is a gauge built into an aircraft panel.The main functional difference (I think), is that our COP gauge solution actually performs arresting based on detected Tailhook compression in the defined arrester zone (so when the Tailhook hits the ground), whereas 3Wire (and Arrcab) performs arrests based on the actual defined height in the zone (or when the aircraft touches down ?).It's just a subtle difference, but in real life the tailhook sticks out below the landing gear, so the aircraft is "catched" when the tailhook hits the ground, not when the wheels touch down.Cheers, Rob

I've been using Rob and Doug's gauge since it came out (and now have a better than average chance of landing successfully ;-) )I have put it in to a number of aircraft, but my favourite combination is the RCBO gauge and the DSB Goshawk freeware trainer jet. It makes an excellent package.Blair

Now this is funny,This thread went over a year between post. Glad to see that Rob and his team are getting some recogniton, and glad to see that more people are finding out about this great addition. Please pass the word on and like I said over a year ago, it would sure be nice to get these guys officially recognized by the community for thier great work. Also, if you search Rob's name in the file library, you will find a gauge the does a nice job a simulating VSTOL flights such as a Harrier or Osprey.Todd

This is a great little program and everyone should give it a try.I have to check to see if I can find Avsim's review.Does anyone have any .ini files for other carriers?Thanks,Ed

Search for rcbco_up.zip by Todd McKee.It's a very accurately mapped catapult and trap ini file for the Richard Hogen carriers. I use my own version (one that offers a little more leeway for missing the cables ;-) )BlairCYOW

Thanks for the info.I just figured out how to edit the .ini file and mapped my own cables to the deck.The little PositionDisplay gauge really makes it easy.This carrier flying is a lot of fun. Kind of like being a airline pilot flying aircraft like the PMDG 747 and then doing reserve duty for the Navy flying a F-18 or F-14.Doesn't get much better than that!Ed