Hello, I normally don't do military aircraft in P3D but I'm now interested in getting a good quality aircraft carrier that is capable of takeoffs and landings.  I also want to find aircraft that will work for carrier operations but looking at military jets I've found, none of them say whether or not they can do takeoffs and landings on carriers.

Can anyone please recommend some good aircraft carriers and aircraft to do carrier operations?

Also, how do I find where are located the carriers that are capable of this that are already in P3D? (I know in FSX there was one or two)

BTW I did try installing the FSX F-18 into P3Dv5 since I know it can takeoff and land on carriers but the plane didn't work.

Thanks

Edited October 5, 20241 yr by Zylx

Try the BOEING T-45C GOSHAWK  and the F14 both free from Dino https://indiafoxtecho.blogspot.com/  I use it with the  Team SDB carriers.

Also look at the RFN site , lots of carriers and the RFN Carrier Gauge...

 

Jorge

 

Edited October 5, 20241 yr by aeronauta

2 hours ago, aeronauta said:

Try the BOEING T-45C GOSHAWK  and the F14 both free from Dino https://indiafoxtecho.blogspot.com/  I use it with the  Team SDB carriers.

Also look at the RFN site , lots of carriers and the RFN Carrier Gauge...

 

Jorge

 

Thank you, since I don't look for military aircraft much for P3D, I never heard of this developer before.  Does their F-14 also work for carrier takeoffs and landings?

Also, speaking of F-14's, does anyone know if the Aerosoft F-14 does carrier landings and takeoffs?

I should also mention that I'm not a big military jet nerd so I'm not even sure which aircraft types can do carrier landings and takeoffs in rl so if anyone has more suggestions, I would appreicate it.

Edited October 6, 20241 yr by Zylx

Best advice, honestly, is DCS World.

Free simulator, 

Free HiFi carrier ops

T-45C free high fidelity addon

A-4E SkyHawk, free HiFi addon 

HH-60, free HiFi addon 

If you decide you like it, there are a fantastic payware Hornet and Tomcat available,  along with a payware carrier.

///

If you want to stick with P3D, I would get the VRS Super bug and TacPack. Includes a carriers and weapons, etc.

Flight model isn't nearly as good as those in DCSW, but the Super Hornet systems are very well done 

Edited October 6, 20241 yr by UrgentSiesta

11 minutes ago, UrgentSiesta said:

Best advice, honestly, is DCS World.

Free simulator, 

Free HiFi carrier ops

T-45C free high fidelity addon

A-4E SkyHawk, free HiFi addon 

HH-60, free HiFi addon 

If you decide you like it, there are a fantastic payware Hornet and Tomcat available,  along with a payware carrier.

///

If you want to stick with P3D, I would get the VRS Super bug and TacPack. Includes a carriers and weapons, etc.

Flight model isn't nearly as good as those in DCSW, but the Super Hornet systems are very well done 

Thank you for the helpful information.  I already have DCS World.  So far, besides the free Frogfoot and P-51, I only own some of the Flaming Cliffs aircraft, the F-15, MIG-28 and the Warthog.  I also have the Huey which is a blast once I figured out how to fly it.  I have yet to try any of their big boy study level jets or other helicopters.  While I know a lot about flying WWI & WWII aircraft playing those type of combat flight sims but I only started learning modern aircraft and warfare.  I've been slowly learning, taking my time.

I still want to be able to do carrier landings and takeoffs in P3D as well though.  I will look into the add-ons you mentioned.

I just thought of this question, I wonder why nobody ever tried to make a combat flight simulator out of FSX or P3D?  I'm sure it would be technically possible. like being able to encounter AI enemies and have air to air combat with enemy AI aircraft, or air to ground, have special scenery for combat areas, explosion animations, damage models, etc.  That would be really cool I think.

be  better to get dcs,  can  download  it  for  free  with  basic aircraft 

1 hour ago, Zylx said:

Thank you for the helpful information.  I already have DCS World.  So far, besides the free Frogfoot and P-51, I only own some of the Flaming Cliffs aircraft, the F-15, MIG-28 and the Warthog.  I also have the Huey which is a blast once I figured out how to fly it.  I have yet to try any of their big boy study level jets or other helicopters.  While I know a lot about flying WWI & WWII aircraft playing those type of combat flight sims but I only started learning modern aircraft and warfare.  I've been slowly learning, taking my time.

I still want to be able to do carrier landings and takeoffs in P3D as well though.  I will look into the add-ons you mentioned.

Yep, I totally understand - I do carrier ops in all the sims. Just depends on my mood 🙂

To the DCS list I forgot to add the Su-33. It's not free, but it's only $15 (very similar to F-15 as an addon). And you can land on the Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov 😉. 

If you're experienced in Warbirds, you can practice landing the included TF-51 on the LHA Tarawa (all for $0)

///

The tough part of flying military/carrier ops in P3D is compatibility with P3D itself.

This is why I recommended the VRS SuperBug as VRS is steadfastly maintaining compatibility with the newer versions of P3D (including v6!).

For P3D, I forgot to add that you already have a carrier capable aircraft built right into the sim (2 actually 😉 ) : the F-35C is the US Navy's conventional carrier strike aircraft (it is replacing the F/A-18 Super Hornet). It launches and traps just like a Super Hornet/Tomcat/etc.

The F-35B is the USMC STOVL version, which is almost exclusively used on the LHA amphib / "Lightning Carriers". It's basically the modern Harrier.

As to aircraft carriers in the sim itself, since I have VRS TacPack I use those.

There are some freeware aircraft carriers listed on flyaway simulations, and payware in other places with just a quick google search.

Thanks, I'll check out the Su-33 for DCS, I am also looking into the addons you mentioned for P3D.  Yeah I did a bit of research and found out about the ones that's already in P3D.  I also found a nice freeware carrier on flyawaysimulation (as you mentioned):

Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz for FSX & P3D (flyawaysimulation.com)

And here's a high quality payware carrier model:

CVN-65 USS Enterprise "Final Cruises" Aircraft Carrier for FSX/P3D by Team SDB (simshack.net)

I'll give the free USS Nimitz before I decide if I want to buy a payware aircraft carrier.

I use VRS Super Bug and TacPack in P3D4 / P3D5

Example screenshot:
Take on more fuel from a Tanker then return to the carrier for another approach.

 

 

I'd go with DCS World for carrier ops, buy the carrier, Hornet, Tomcat, download the T-45, should be good to go.
 

4 hours ago, jymp said:

I'd go with DCS World for carrier ops, buy the carrier, Hornet, Tomcat, download the T-45, should be good to go.
 

Wait, there's a T-45 for DCS World?  Where can I find it?

7 hours ago, vonmar said:

 

I use VRS Super Bug and TacPack in P3D4 / P3D5

Example screenshot:
Take on more fuel from a Tanker then return to the carrier for another approach.

That is really awesome, I didn't know that was possible to to in air refueling.

1 hour ago, Zylx said:

That is really awesome, I didn't know that was possible to to in air refueling.

I have done DCS (and others) in the past but always returned to VRS Super Bug.

I mean, even XP12 have better carrier operation...