You can use the "adjust" term to increase or decrease the tension to which the cables are adjusted for this aircraft. The cable tension is automatically configured for this aircraft's mass and normal approach speeds, so this term is usually correct at the default value of 1.0.
It has been found on the FSX BA F/A-18C that needs to be 1.62 to 1.65, depending on you normal landing weight. Much less, and the bird will go off the end of the deck
And, like a cat, I have an aversion to getting dunked that way
So, you must determine the proper pivot point for the hook, and proper length so it can drop down at about 60-80 degrees to catch the wire. It needs to be lower than the main gear.
I would start with finding the proper pivot point using a nav light.
Then determine the vertical distance difference between that and the main gear hanging.
The tail hook needs to be of sufficient length to hang below that gear when the tail hook is at 60-80 degrees.
A small note on the positioning and length, if I may. Not only should the tailhook extend below the gear when extended (both the gear and the hook), and NO weight on the gear, but it's horizontal position is critical to how the plane stops. If it's too far ahead of the actual rear of the fuselage, the plane will pull to the side, and possibly tip over, even if perfectly on the center of the wires, and traveling in exactly the right direction, when trapping. The FSX BA Hornet I mentioned has the horizontal position at -79, which actually well aft the rearmost point of the plane, visually. The trick is put it far enough aft to prevent the plane pulling to the side, but not so far that it won't pull tot he side or tip over when not landing with proper alignment, IE: Off centerline. The landing area's centerline, and direction, not the overall boat's, btw.
A way to start setting the position and length of the hook, I've found, is to use the Nav light method for a starting point. Adjust it so it shows at the aftermost point of the fuselage, and slightly below. To set the length, I've found, is to look at the main gear contact points, the 3rd positioning number, which is actually the 4th number after the equals sign ( = ).
Like this: point.2=1, -36.760, 12.000,
-7.100 The RED number. Now, make where you place the hook's vertical position just below the visual bottom of the fuselage, thus: tailhook_position = -79.0, 0, 1.5 ,and the tailhook_length = 6.34, to complete the same length as the gear. Notice, in this example, it's longer than the gear, as Mr. Shupe mentioned. Not much, but longer. It's basic trig, if you'e any good at that, although some experimentation is required. Too long, and the hook will grab the wire well before the gear touches the deck, causing an "in-flight arrestment" to occur, which will invariably trash the gear. Too short, and it will never catch a wire.
It should be just long enough to grab a wire, just as the mains touch the deck, with the plane at the proper AOA. Bear in mind, that the AOA will be slightly lower when the boat is moving, and/or there is wind-over-the-deck. Normal WOD for the Hornet is 35 kts. The boat creates relative wind when moving at 25 kts, the default speed for most carriers in FSXA, including add-ons, so one should add 10kts of wind to make 35 Kts WOD.
If you watch slow-mo vids of planes trapping aboard, you will see the hook hit just before the mains, and drag along the deck a little before picking up a wire. Thus, slightly longer hook than mains.
I'm sorry, this is a subject I am very fond of, so I tend to ramble on a bit...
Pat☺
When I checked the SDK I didn't even find the tailhook stuff you posted above. Maybe I just have the SDK for original FSX and not FSX Acceleration.
