MSFS Naval/Carrier Aviation

[delta_lima]

Those that know me from FSX/P3D, know that I'm a huge fan of carrier aviation. Indeed, I held of getting MSFS for fear of the limitation of realistic carrier-related content in the sim, but I've taken the plunge, and here's where I'm at.

Addons I currently have:

• Maverick freeware addon
• Miltech Supercarriers
• Miltech UK Carrier strike group
• Payware IFE T-45
• Freeware DC F/A-18C
• Freeware Asobo F/A-18E
• Freeware Natalli F/18F/G Super Hornet/Growler

Next addon under consideration (to fly off the UK carriers) is the payware DC Harrier.

Note, I'm aware there are some (IFE?) carriers that are static, but have ABSOLUTELY no interest at this point in static carrier sim flying. Yes, they look good, but for me, that's a throwback to pre-Acceleration FSX and FS9 days, and maxing out wind of over the deck to simulate carrier movement is just a dealbreaker for me. If it floats your boat, great, but just looking at moving carrier addons and how to operate with those, in my questions.

So while I get that we don't have (yet?) an AICarriers type of experience possible, am wondering some basic questions:

• Departure from a land base: Can I not take off from an airbase (eg: NAS Pensacola) and fly to where a moving carrier (eg Supercarrier CVN-78) is operating, as opposed to simply spawning nearby?
• Flight planning: how does one create flight plans that originate from a moving carrier, have a number of waypoints, and recover back to said moving carrier?
• How far / how long can I operate on a mission and expect when I return to the carrier location, to know it'll be there? How will I find it, if I've been gone for an hour or two on a feet-dry mission?
• I'm aware there's not FRN-type TACAN (alas), but what if any navaids exist for guiding the above missions? Or is it just GPS/minimap?

I know that's a lot, and there'll be more I'm sure, but I appreciate this "naval nerd but noob to MSFS naval ops" type. Also hope it triggers some good helpful insight for other folks, in the vein of the good old days when Dave Booker et al were around.

Thanks,

PS: Have held off getting the IFE Tomcat and DC F-4, which I love, for absence of moving period carriers, to my knowledge. If the SOH collective knows of any, even if under development, that'd be great. I've asked that on the IFE Facebook group regarding their upcoming QE project. Dino (or some other IFE person) said it's "under consideration" so hope there's others working on proper moving carriers in MSFS like we used to have in P3D.

 

[collensr]

Those that know me from FSX/P3D, know that I'm a huge fan of carrier aviation. Indeed, I held of getting MSFS for fear of the limitation of realistic carrier-related content in the sim, but I've taken the plunge, and here's where I'm at.

Addons I currently have:

• Maverick freeware addon
• Miltech Supercarriers
• Miltech UK Carrier strike group
• Payware IFE T-45
• Freeware DC F/A-18C
• Freeware Asobo F/A-18E
• Freeware Natalli F/18F/G Super Hornet/Growler

Next addon under consideration (to fly off the UK carriers) is the payware DC Harrier.

Note, I'm aware there are some (IFE?) carriers that are static, but have ABSOLUTELY no interest at this point in static carrier sim flying. Yes, they look good, but for me, that's a throwback to pre-Acceleration FSX and FS9 days, and maxing out wind of over the deck to simulate carrier movement is just a dealbreaker for me. If it floats your boat, great, but just looking at moving carrier addons and how to operate with those, in my questions.

So while I get that we don't have (yet?) an AICarriers type of experience possible, am wondering some basic questions:

• Departure from a land base: Can I not take off from an airbase (eg: NAS Pensacola) and fly to where a moving carrier (eg Supercarrier CVN-78) is operating, as opposed to simply spawning nearby?
• Flight planning: how does one create flight plans that originate from a moving carrier, have a number of waypoints, and recover back to said moving carrier?
• How far / how long can I operate on a mission and expect when I return to the carrier location, to know it'll be there? How will I find it, if I've been gone for an hour or two on a feet-dry mission?
• I'm aware there's not FRN-type TACAN (alas), but what if any navaids exist for guiding the above missions? Or is it just GPS/minimap?

I know that's a lot, and there'll be more I'm sure, but I appreciate this "naval nerd but noob to MSFS naval ops" type. Also hope it triggers some good helpful insight for other folks, in the vein of the good old days when Dave Booker et al were around.

Thanks,

PS: Have held off getting the IFE Tomcat and DC F-4, which I love, for absence of moving period carriers, to my knowledge. If the SOH collective knows of any, even if under development, that'd be great. I've asked that on the IFE Facebook group regarding their upcoming QE project. Dino (or some other IFE person) said it's "under consideration" so hope there's others working on proper moving carriers in MSFS like we used to have in P3D.

Maybe have a look at the Freeware F-4's that are on Flightsim.to as well

Milviz F-4J Phantom II - Full Aircraft (Native Conversion) for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS

✓ Milviz F-4J Phantom II - Full Aircraft (Native Conversion) is a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 mod created by Aviator671. Fly in style with the Milviz F-4J Phantom II, now available for MSFS as a freeware conversion from FSX. Customize wing ordinance, enjoy realistic animations, and...

flightsim.to

 

[fallenphoenix1986]

We're on the same page here, statics don't cut it for me either and the nav aids are as I understand non existent in MSFS. So I've pretty much given up on MSFS carriers and do my carrier flying in DCS these days.
From what's been said recently about global AI shipping shipping in FS2024 I'm hopeful there will be a broader scope for naval aviation there.

 

[Victory103]

Your add-on list is almost complete, but not sure how you are holding off on the IFE/HB F-14? Also from the long ago days of single/multiplayer static carriers in FS9/FSX, and happy when we finally got them with vLSO. I only want the moving boats now, just flying over the statics to check them out. On both Miltech and IFE Discords there is talk of having a Miltech AICarriers style and IFE getting the Forrestal class moving. I have launched from KNPA, out to FM01 to find the Ford, so one should be able to work a flightplan with a carrier start/mission/trap even without navaids (PMS50 GPS is what I use in all my mil aircraft). MSFS is not there yet compared to DCS where I can take off, tank, and return after finding the boat again at night.

 

[Bomber_12th]

My best experiences with carrier flying in MSFS has been using the IFE F-14 along with the Miltech Supercarriers - both spawning from the deck of the moving carriers, or taking off from a nearby airbase. I really like that the Miltech addon places one of the carrier groups near to NAS Key West, as I can then regularly fly from NAS Key West (Skydesigners payware) out to the nearby carrier group (using the minimap to find their approximate location), do several traps/cats, and then head back to Key West or just end the outing on the carrier.

The IFE F-14 Tomcat comes with 4 static Forrestal class carriers and, since Version 1.1.2, it also comes with 2 moving carriers. For the static IFE Forrestal carriers, there are preset channels to use with the TACAN in the F-14, and also the option to tune the proper ICLS frequency and have the VDI and HUD display accordingly. Of course this can't be used with the moving carriers. The moving carriers that come with the IFE F-14 are also a bit lacking without the IFE carriers addon and, unlike the static carriers or the Miltech moving carriers, you can't spawn from the deck of the IFE moving carriers

 

[delta_lima]

Maybe have a look at the Freeware F-4's that are on Flightsim.to as well

Milviz F-4J Phantom II - Full Aircraft (Native Conversion) for Microsoft Flight Simulator | MSFS

✓ Milviz F-4J Phantom II - Full Aircraft (Native Conversion) is a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 mod created by Aviator671. Fly in style with the Milviz F-4J Phantom II, now available for MSFS as a freeware conversion from FSX. Customize wing ordinance, enjoy realistic animations, and...

flightsim.to

Thanks - I'm aware of those, but without clickable cockpits, not sure how much fun they'd be, nor are there any carriers (that I know of) even remotely appropriate, age-wise. Especially an HMS Ark Royal. I've toyed with the idea of the DC F-4, but the same would apply there.

Your add-on list is almost complete, but not sure how you are holding off on the IFE/HB F-14? Also from the long ago days of single/multiplayer static carriers in FS9/FSX, and happy when we finally got them with vLSO. I only want the moving boats now, just flying over the statics to check them out. On both Miltech and IFE Discords there is talk of having a Miltech AICarriers style and IFE getting the Forrestal class moving. I have launched from KNPA, out to FM01 to find the Ford, so one should be able to work a flightplan with a carrier start/mission/trap even without navaids (PMS50 GPS is what I use in all my mil aircraft). MSFS is not there yet compared to DCS where I can take off, tank, and return after finding the boat again at night.

Thanks for chiming in! Funny that you'd mention FM01 - that's the very scenario I chose to start with. Launching from KNPA and I can't find it to save my life. Weird. But I can spawn next to it ....

I'm not a huge Tomcat fan, to be honest. I like it, to be sure, but not having a moving period (ish) carrier with F-14s on it, put me off, at least for now. That said ....

My best experiences with carrier flying in MSFS has been using the IFE F-14 along with the Miltech Supercarriers - both spawning from the deck of the moving carriers, or taking off from a nearby airbase. I really like that the Miltech addon places one of the carrier groups near to NAS Key West, as I can then regularly fly from NAS Key West (Skydesigners payware) out to the nearby carrier group (using the minimap to find their approximate location), do several traps/cats, and then head back to Key West or just end the outing on the carrier.

The IFE F-14 Tomcat comes with 4 static Forrestal class carriers and, since Version 1.1.2, it also comes with 2 moving carriers. For the static IFE Forrestal carriers, there are preset channels to use with the TACAN in the F-14, and also the option to tune the proper ICLS frequency and have the VDI and HUD display accordingly. Of course this can't be used with the moving carriers. The moving carriers that come with the IFE F-14 are also a bit lacking without the IFE carriers addon and, unlike the static carriers or the Miltech moving carriers, you can't spawn from the deck of the IFE moving carriers

Did I read that right? I'm looking for any screenshots of the moving Forrestal and can't find it, nor any info on the Simmarket website. Where are those 2 moving carriers, John? If there's decent moving Forrestal-class carrier included, that could change everything. Might make me spring for the A-6, which would / should have been modelled in as part of a 80s era Forrestal.

Thanks to all. The tractor beam may yet pull me in further than I've gone thus far ...

 

[jmbiii]

delta-lima, I just loaded up my Miltech "Super Carriers" for the first time (I've had it for some time) and the carrier does move along with the escorts.
I does have a hard deck. I had to try it. Landed a little off center line. The air boss wasn't pleased. Here's three pics.

 

[Priller]

I like the wake effect!

Priller

 

[Bomber_12th]

Did I read that right? I'm looking for any screenshots of the moving Forrestal and can't find it, nor any info on the Simmarket website. Where are those 2 moving carriers, John? If there's decent moving Forrestal-class carrier included, that could change everything. Might make me spring for the A-6, which would / should have been modelled in as part of a 80s era Forrestal.

The two moving carriers included with the IFE F-14 features the USS Forrestal and USS Saratoga. One is positioned near San Diego, CA, and the other is positioned near Norfolk, VA. They are just a single lone carrier, with no static aircraft, and SDK-complient arresting wires. However, if you have the IFE Ford-class carriers addon also installed, as I have, the carriers will have escort vessels with them, as well as animated jet blast barriers for the catapults. When you load the sim, the IFE moving carriers begin sailing from the location of the fixed POI's and head east, eventually doing a quick 180 and heading back in the opposite direction. It is disappointing that the moving Forrestal class IFE carriers don't have the static aircraft/F-14s like the static IFE Forestal carriers do.

The Miltech Super Carriers addon of course provides much more options - being able to spawn from the moving carriers, change the carrier's course, launch from any of the four cats, animated crew throughout the multi-step launch functions, detailed opitcal landing and rating system, etc.

Here are some screenshots of the IFE moving USS Saratoga included with the IFE F-14, with the escort vessels and animated jet blast shields displaying because the IFE Ford-class addon is also installed.

 

[jmbiii]

Those "bigg-uns" are great ships. But what I wish for is the '60s era Essex class.Specifically the USS Intrepid (CVS-11). It, a Sea King, and a "Stoof" and I would almost quit flying all my GA. Go out hunting subs and fly plane guard again.

I can almost smell the stack gas.

And deliver mail to the "guppies".

 

[delta_lima]

The two moving carriers included with the IFE F-14 features the USS Forrestal and USS Saratoga. One is positioned near San Diego, CA, and the other is positioned near Norfolk, VA. They are just a single lone carrier, with no static aircraft, and SDK-complient arresting wires. However, if you have the IFE Ford-class carriers addon also installed, as I have, the carriers will have escort vessels with them, as well as animated jet blast barriers for the catapults. When you load the sim, the IFE moving carriers begin sailing from the location of the fixed POI's and head east, eventually doing a quick 180 and heading back in the opposite direction. It is disappointing that the moving Forrestal class IFE carriers don't have the static aircraft/F-14s like the static IFE Forestal carriers do.

The Miltech Super Carriers addon of course provides much more options - being able to spawn from the moving carriers, change the carrier's course, launch from any of the four cats, animated crew throughout the multi-step launch functions, detailed opitcal landing and rating system, etc.

Here are some screenshots of the IFE moving USS Saratoga included with the IFE F-14, with the escort vessels and animated jet blast shields displaying because the IFE Ford-class addon is also installed.

Thanks John!

Yeah, CVN-60 Saratoga looks a little quiet. Good for CARQUAL work, given the locations, but not much else until they at least add more locations and/or a bit more complete deck.

I have the Miltech Supercarriers, @jmbiii, and yes, they're superb and set the visual standard for MSFS insofar as moving carriers go. Like yourself, I'd love to have more retro period carriers, but I'll never expect to relive the heyday that was P3D with carriers from so many periods, and so many navies. Those were good times.

I'll try the navigating to FM1 from KNPA again and see why that's not working.

dl

 

[delta_lima]

Ok - partial success - took off from KNPA and flew out to / found FM01 (USS Ford moving). Did a few launch/trap circuits. Really like the interactive deck crew - that's an improvement over P3D, if nothing else, functionally. Couple of questions:

1) How do I get rid of the POI flag / callout? I despise that in MSFS, and disabled it in the controls - yet it appears on to point out where the carrier is.

2) Is there a better way to navigate to the the carrier rather than look for the FM01 icon on the minimap? I get there's no TACAN, but even a GPS and/or the MSFS default flightplan utility would be good.

3) Is there a way to create a button shortcut to bring up the Miltech Supercarriers menu, so I can select the catapult selection, confirm ready, etc.?

 

[delta_lima]

Hi - all my Supercarriers issues are now resolved for the CATOBAR boats and I'm really enjoying launching and recovering the C and E/F/G Hornets.

I've gotten the DC Harrier, and also got the RN HMS boats. I have to say, I'm very disappointed because the only ones I wanted were the "moving" boats, and they have an annoying bug where you "slide" aft, relative to the forward movement of the boat. So they're essentially useless, at least for the Harrier. Not sure if other VSTOL aircraft (eg: F-35B?) somehow work better. But for now, i've moved on.

So that means I'm shopping for a suitable Harrier carrier. One that ideally "moves" - which brings me to another Miltech product - their Amphibious Carrier package. How does this one work? Will it work properly with the Harrier? Or the IFE USS America? I understand the latter is static only.

What STOVL carriers can you all recommend for the Harrier?

thx,

dl

 

[Cazzie]

I like the wake effect!

Priller

If you do not have this utility yet, it improves wake effect and many others like a charm. Highly recommended add-on. Works while the sim is running too, drop down at the top of the info in MSFS and allows one to adjust everything during a flight. Much better than wasting your money on REX Atmos.

Cazzie

SimFX - Visual Effects Utility

A global "Visual Effects Utility" covering a range of immersive scenarios and aircraft. BUY IF: You want a range of Visual Effects across multiple aircraft in your hangar as well as environmental effects. Our legacy in creating the gold standard of VFX for FSX/Prepar3D continues as we bring our...

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[fallenphoenix1986]

I have to say, I'm very disappointed because the only ones I wanted were the "moving" boats, and they have an annoying bug where you "slide" aft, relative to the forward movement of the boat. So they're essentially useless, at least for the Harrier.

So that means I'm shopping for a suitable Harrier carrier.

Again, same page, I'd kill for an Invincible class and Sea Harrier FRS.1 and/or FA.2... boggles my mind that there's never really been a decent Sea Harrier given its history. Closest we've gotten is the old Wilco (?) one with the Gr.3 cockpit.
Didn't bother with the above package because I'd read about that sliding issue.