A little "good news" regarding the RFN F-8 Crusader interop with the SWS boats. I'm running P3Dv4.5, but I think this interop issue is present on the FSX installs too, so hopefully this helps.
So the problem was that I couldn't get the F-9 to either trap or hook up at the cat on either of the 3 period SWS boats ('65 Coral Sea, '73 Coral Sea, '73 Midway). So recently, SWS updated their CEV/ACA config files, and so with the latest version of the boats installed, I doublechecked and found the F-8 in the settings, but it still didn't work.
And then I recalled a completely unrelated interop problem I had with another model, and how I had inadvertently caused it because I renamed the main aircraft folder I'm quite fussy that all the aircraft in my simobjects folder be named correctly and consistently. So I had renamed the F-8 from "Crusader_F-8E_RFN_---P3D" to Vought F-8E Crusader". I like the manufacturer and then the model and then the name. Anyway, I renamed the main aircraft model to RFN default, and it works well*. I renamed it back to what I wanted, and it stopped working. Renamed back to default a 2nd time, and it worked* correctly. So I conclude that you have to leave the folder name unchanged, because CEV somehow has that tied to it's config settings for that aircraft.
That makes little sense given that I "correctly" relabel most of my aircraft, including the Razbam A-7s, for example from whatever they were originally to "Vought A-7E Corsair II" and it never had an issue trapping and launching. So its a bit puzzling, but the point is my RFN F-8 now launches and traps from the SWS boats withing (too much*) issue.
I should note, I had no issue launching / trapping with the other boats I used - the SDB CVN-65, or Gary's Oriskany boats.
*Note - I've asterisked the the words "works correctly" because while they indeed hook up to the SWS cats, I lose both the bridle that RFN modelled, as well as the correct orientation. Instead of sitting nose high/squatted, engaging the SWS catapult rotates the aircraft forward in pitch to a 0 deg angle of attack (so nosewheel on deck but main 2' up in the air), which frankly ticks me off. But then again, their own F-4 sits sunken 1' below the surface of the deck when engaged to the cat engaged, so I think there's multiple issues there.
The other thing I did with the SWS '65 Coral Sea is used the layout tool to untick static aircraft formations containing F-4s. So if you start with "crowded deck", then de-select yellow dots representing the aircraft cluster next to the island (you lose the F-4s but unfortunately the S-2 Tracker too) as well as the cluster of F-4s ranged along the right-hand side of the starboard forward cat, AND you add back in the cluster of A-4s ranged along the port forward cat - you now have a partially accurate early mid '60s (more specifically 1964) fit with just A-4s and A-1s on deck. In this configuration, you can get get an uninterrupted flow for circuits from the landing area then steering right to use the starboard cat for launch, and then repeating, without bumping into/taxiing through any deck statics. It's a fairly "crowded" deck with the F-4s removed so you can get the immersion of flying on a crowded CVN from the right period.
Not perfect, because there's no static F-8s, but that's the compromise that works best for me. Until Gary releases his stunning updated Essex boats, this is one configuration SWS owners can use to get by in the interim. Pretend you're the last in your F-8 squadron to launch and the first to recover, as reason for why you're the only F-8 on deck ...
Anyway hope this gets you SWS boat owners going with the F-8 if that's a configuration you like.
DL
