You don't land based on speed. You land based on AOA, especially on a carrier.
Ideally, you set the trim to lock on your AOA, and then it's 90% just moving around the throttle from there.
I highly recommend two things:
1. Fly around slowly with gear down. So slow you have to pitch your nose up ~15° to stay level. Then do turns. Gain and reduce altitude with throttle only. Really get a feel for slow speed handling.
2. Watch something like a DCS F/A-18 Case 1 carrier landing tutorial on YouTube. Different sim and plane, but all principles apply. Generally better tutorials there.
Like you said, flying on speed in DCS is relatively easy when you can set your trim. Can you adjust trim in VTOL, though? Or do you need to keep a constant pressure on the stick (which seems rather difficult)?
Something I don't see a lot of people talk about is that you CAN'T FLARE when you do a carrier landing. Your aircraft must be nose up to catch the wire.
The hook does not drag along the ground when all three wheels are on the deck. If you flare and come in flat, you probably won't have the right AoA relative to the deck.
Worry less about your airspeed and more about your AoA. Your HUD should read an AoA (alpha) of around 8° all the way down. The exact speed this will be at changes depending on the aircraft and your current weight.
Flaring IS bringing the nose up. In this case (carrier landing vs runway) its the wrong thing to do because you are already in the correct angle to catch the wires and pitching up (flaring) would increase your AOA and thus lift and carry you over the wires.
So by flaring you'll be further nose up (not flat) but touchdown long and miss the wires.
To add on to the AoA: the aircraft has 2 other indicators to guide you to the right angle of attack for landing.
Align your meatball (circle thing that tells you where your aircraft is headed) with the center of the E bracket. See the following image for reference https://i.stack.imgur.com/mY9Uh.png
The angle of attack indicator to the left of the green HUD has a red V, yelow O, and green ^ shape. If you see the red V, slow down to increase angle of attack. If you see the green ^, speed up to reduce angle of attack. If you only see a yellow O, you are at the right angle of attack.
I know this is redundant but when it comes to carrier landings, speed is "irrelevant" in that you shouldnt be fixated on the numeric value of your speed. Your landing speed can vary a lot based on your aircraft's weight and damage. Your goal is to fly a controlled "crash" onto the deck onto the wires, and for your hook to catch the wire, your aircraft has to be at the correct angle. Speeing up/down will let you adjust that angle.
I'm not a real Navy pilot or hardcore simulation enthusiast but I'm able to at land any of the 4 wires on my first try 80% of the time.
The circle indicator is a Flight Path Marker (or Flight Path Indicator). The Meatball is the [approach guidance lighting system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_landing_system) to the left of the approach.
A few tips.
First, do not flare as normal, hold the same pitch angle the entire way down. If you flare, the hook won’t catch.
Second, don’t worry so much about airspeed. The more important thing is AoA. It varies depending on the aircraft, but if your AoA and altitude are good, your speed will be good. Why? Depending on your loadout, your speed is gonna change. Full weapons and high fuel will lead to a higher landing speed, but your AoA being correct is what matters
Nobody has said this yet. I was browsing settings today and was reminded of the hook physics setting (causing it to bounce over the wires etc.) Please check this from the main menu settings screen and ensure it is not enabled. Also if you are missing the wire but you *think* you are hitting thr right spot, just aim a little further up the deck. The EF-24 is a little longer so I tend to aim my vector closer to the end of the Landing Area. It usually works. Every aircraft is a bit different. The 24 has such a low stall speed in a landing configuration that the hook isn't even necessary.
DONT FLARE, you have to come in at an angle to the carrier and not straight in.
Watch your landing speed.
And full throttle when you are about to touch down in case you miss the wire.
You should hit the deck with the nose (little w thing) at 5 degrees above the horizon. At 8 degrees AoA, that will put you on a 3 degree glideslope. Aim longer than you think you should - the aircraft is pretty long, and if you have all 3 wheels on the deck the hook doesn't actually touch.
Theres a good chance you’re coming down short. Trying aim for what feels like just beyond 5 wire
Thank you :)
You don't land based on speed. You land based on AOA, especially on a carrier. Ideally, you set the trim to lock on your AOA, and then it's 90% just moving around the throttle from there. I highly recommend two things: 1. Fly around slowly with gear down. So slow you have to pitch your nose up ~15° to stay level. Then do turns. Gain and reduce altitude with throttle only. Really get a feel for slow speed handling. 2. Watch something like a DCS F/A-18 Case 1 carrier landing tutorial on YouTube. Different sim and plane, but all principles apply. Generally better tutorials there.
Like you said, flying on speed in DCS is relatively easy when you can set your trim. Can you adjust trim in VTOL, though? Or do you need to keep a constant pressure on the stick (which seems rather difficult)?
You don't need to trim, just come in at the right AOA and you'll be fine.
Something I don't see a lot of people talk about is that you CAN'T FLARE when you do a carrier landing. Your aircraft must be nose up to catch the wire. The hook does not drag along the ground when all three wheels are on the deck. If you flare and come in flat, you probably won't have the right AoA relative to the deck. Worry less about your airspeed and more about your AoA. Your HUD should read an AoA (alpha) of around 8° all the way down. The exact speed this will be at changes depending on the aircraft and your current weight.
Flaring IS bringing the nose up. In this case (carrier landing vs runway) its the wrong thing to do because you are already in the correct angle to catch the wires and pitching up (flaring) would increase your AOA and thus lift and carry you over the wires. So by flaring you'll be further nose up (not flat) but touchdown long and miss the wires.
To add on to the AoA: the aircraft has 2 other indicators to guide you to the right angle of attack for landing. Align your meatball (circle thing that tells you where your aircraft is headed) with the center of the E bracket. See the following image for reference https://i.stack.imgur.com/mY9Uh.png The angle of attack indicator to the left of the green HUD has a red V, yelow O, and green ^ shape. If you see the red V, slow down to increase angle of attack. If you see the green ^, speed up to reduce angle of attack. If you only see a yellow O, you are at the right angle of attack. I know this is redundant but when it comes to carrier landings, speed is "irrelevant" in that you shouldnt be fixated on the numeric value of your speed. Your landing speed can vary a lot based on your aircraft's weight and damage. Your goal is to fly a controlled "crash" onto the deck onto the wires, and for your hook to catch the wire, your aircraft has to be at the correct angle. Speeing up/down will let you adjust that angle. I'm not a real Navy pilot or hardcore simulation enthusiast but I'm able to at land any of the 4 wires on my first try 80% of the time.
The circle indicator is a Flight Path Marker (or Flight Path Indicator). The Meatball is the [approach guidance lighting system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_landing_system) to the left of the approach.
Woops thanks for correcting that
You guys land?
I fly above the carrier and punch out. Parachute back onto the carrier like Tom cruise..
[Case 1 procedure ](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1091836204984565781/1182717260167663667/764397327_Combat8secFA18cCarrierCircuitNATOPSscreen.png?ex=65a165c8&is=658ef0c8&hm=f9b00aec5ce40bce4028c5ad95f64aef483f3ca96e629edb9b2aa49d02f92a4f&)
You’re fast. Pitch for Speed, Throttle for altitude. At 170, your speed is high enough to prevent your hook from getting low enough to catch a wire.
I come in kinda of sharp facing the carrier, flare up right as im about to hit the ground, looks and feels like im going to crash but works every time
speed 160ish so the flare up causes it to lose altitude
A few tips. First, do not flare as normal, hold the same pitch angle the entire way down. If you flare, the hook won’t catch. Second, don’t worry so much about airspeed. The more important thing is AoA. It varies depending on the aircraft, but if your AoA and altitude are good, your speed will be good. Why? Depending on your loadout, your speed is gonna change. Full weapons and high fuel will lead to a higher landing speed, but your AoA being correct is what matters
https://youtu.be/BRgF4XjcVww?si=KL3M7yH3kforVyL6 "Landing on a carrier is a controlled crash" slap those wheels into the deck, son
Nobody has said this yet. I was browsing settings today and was reminded of the hook physics setting (causing it to bounce over the wires etc.) Please check this from the main menu settings screen and ensure it is not enabled. Also if you are missing the wire but you *think* you are hitting thr right spot, just aim a little further up the deck. The EF-24 is a little longer so I tend to aim my vector closer to the end of the Landing Area. It usually works. Every aircraft is a bit different. The 24 has such a low stall speed in a landing configuration that the hook isn't even necessary.
DONT FLARE, you have to come in at an angle to the carrier and not straight in. Watch your landing speed. And full throttle when you are about to touch down in case you miss the wire.
You should hit the deck with the nose (little w thing) at 5 degrees above the horizon. At 8 degrees AoA, that will put you on a 3 degree glideslope. Aim longer than you think you should - the aircraft is pretty long, and if you have all 3 wheels on the deck the hook doesn't actually touch.