15.04.2010, 06:40
As already stated, 25% fuel is the answer. Consider Holding on the wheel chocks until engine is at max power, & when you start rolling, try & get the nose down (i.e. tail wheel up) as early as possible - but ONLY select Flaps just before crossing the deck edge.
There is the option of 'back-taxing' to the rear of the flight deck - but this takes time AND if another player suddenly 're-spawns' you're in a whole world of hurt.
In the game selecting "gear-up" as soon as you cross the front end of the 'boat' helps (reduces drag AND buys you a few more inches of clearance from the sea surface) however in reality, I am pretty sure that this was discouraged because the motors driving the undercarriage drew power from the engine - just at the time you need max power.
Again carier decks usually carried markings showing "distance to run" so that for any given a/c weight x ship speed x windspeed over deck x expected a/c ground speed at end of deck = which point to start at. etc, etc. Todays aircraft launches still require the pilots to do their maths (also factoring ambient air temp etc) so as to 'adjust' the power settings on the catapults (or in the case of the 'Harrier' launches - where on the centreline does the jet need to start it's run)
Very few a/c could launch from a stationary carrier (If you google images of Brit carriers inside Malta Harbour for example, you'll see completely 'clean' a/c - and I guarantee that they are holding minimal fuel!)
There is the option of 'back-taxing' to the rear of the flight deck - but this takes time AND if another player suddenly 're-spawns' you're in a whole world of hurt.
In the game selecting "gear-up" as soon as you cross the front end of the 'boat' helps (reduces drag AND buys you a few more inches of clearance from the sea surface) however in reality, I am pretty sure that this was discouraged because the motors driving the undercarriage drew power from the engine - just at the time you need max power.
Again carier decks usually carried markings showing "distance to run" so that for any given a/c weight x ship speed x windspeed over deck x expected a/c ground speed at end of deck = which point to start at. etc, etc. Todays aircraft launches still require the pilots to do their maths (also factoring ambient air temp etc) so as to 'adjust' the power settings on the catapults (or in the case of the 'Harrier' launches - where on the centreline does the jet need to start it's run)
Very few a/c could launch from a stationary carrier (If you google images of Brit carriers inside Malta Harbour for example, you'll see completely 'clean' a/c - and I guarantee that they are holding minimal fuel!)