F4U question

[badhorse]

I admit, I rarely fly any of the F4U models.  The other day the Rooks were attacking a base from a CV and I decided to take up a D model. I took two 1K bombs, rockets and 1/2 fuel.   Checked to make sure the CV wasn't turning and launched.  Hit WEP on roll but went off the front of the deck into the water.
Tried again. This time with a notch of flaps. Same result.  
Tried again. This time with 1/4 fuel and got rid of the rockets.  Same result.
Tried again. This time as soon as I started to lift, I retracted the gear and came out of auto-take off.  Finally struggled into the air.

I know I was doing something wrong. This airplane can't be that difficult to launch from a CV.. ..

[splitatom]

the bent wing bird has always been hard to get off a cv you have to do it manualy and retract gear quickly with full flaps and then once off the deck take it manualy and try to get it to go flat not climb then retract flaps and start climbing or take 500IB bombs with full fuel it is a lot easyer to get off the cv but if you want to get 1000IB off the cv take the hell cat:)

[Saxman]

badhorse,

First, turn auto-takeoff OFF. It's one of those crutches like stall limiter that actually make the plane harder to fly.

Second, use full flaps. Get your gear up as soon as you're airborne and DO NOT CLIMB initially. Get your airspeed up so you can start retracting flaps. Once you have a decent amount of airspeed THEN you can begin your climb to altitude.

[Scca]

It also helps to back up some.  Starting from the rear of the deck gives you a little more speed.  It's the only way I will up from a CV with a fully loaded F4U.

[MjTalon]

You can get a fully loaded D-hog off the cv with 3 notches of flaps + wep.

[AKDogg]

Even a c-hog will get off the CV fully loaded, 100% fuel with 2 notches of flaps + wep.  C-hog I believe is the heaviest of the hogs fully loaded.

[Gulp]

Originally posted by AKDogg
Even a c-hog will get off the CV fully loaded, 100% fuel with 2 notches of flaps + wep.  C-hog I believe is the heaviest of the hogs fully loaded.

Works for me.  If the cv is turning you have another factor, but 2 notches and wep gets me off the deck safely if the cv isn't turning.

[Widewing]

Originally posted by AKDogg
Even a c-hog will get off the CV fully loaded, 100% fuel with 2 notches of flaps + wep.  C-hog I believe is the heaviest of the hogs fully loaded.

Two notches of flaps can get you airborne, but I always recommend full flaps as there is far greater margin for error and issues, such as the carrier turning in the middle of your takeoff run.

When I demonstrate carrier ops to a new player, I load an F4U-1D with full gas, 2k of bombs and a load of rockets. I takeoff, drop hook and fly the pattern to a landing with that full load still hanging off the wings. I then walk them through the same drill. If a player can do that with consistency, they have mastered most of what they need to learn to fly effectively from a CV. Finally, I have them practice taking off and landing on a turning CV. Many players can learn all of this in a few hours.

My regards,

Widewing

[RTR]

Here's what I do:

Full flaps and Wep. As soon as you clear the deck get your gear up and make a very gentle turn to the right (very gentle IE drop your wing just a bit), it will help with the torque. Do not try to climb initially, let the airspeed build a bit and start to retract your flaps.

 You can do this with auto climb set, or without. Doing it without gives you a little more control though.

Works every time. 100% fuel, 2 X  1,000 lb'rs and full load of rockets.

cheers,
RTR

[SgtPappy]

Sometimes, you might not even need WEP. The thing about the F4U is that, at full flaps, it will produce more lift than drag which is why F4U pilots commonly dropped flaps all the way back then.

Don't hesitate to use those flaps. Just watch out for the actual take-off the deck. Pull too hard on the stick at that speed and you'll probably crash.

yes, AKDogg, the C-hog is the fattest of the bunch.. i wonder how the perk ord system will affect the C-hog...

[badhorse]

thanks for the replies fellas.   I appreciate it.  

[Simaril]

Badhorse:

If you're thinking of flying the F4U more, one additional tip that will save you lots of frustration landing on airstrips.

The F4U has a tailwheel that can turn in any direction, but that is locked when the theres good downward pressure. When landing, come down slow enough that pulling back firmly doesn't shoot you back up in the air...which I usually do at about 100mph with flaps out. When you touch down, pull back firmly on the stick, and if you think you might be too fast to keep wheels on runway, pull a few notches of flaps back up right then.  The nose should stay straight with a bit a rudder. Again, the whole key is to pull back firmly enough to get nice downward pressure on the tailwheel from the back end  of the aircraft.

If you don't lock the tailwheel, the nose will spin in wild directions, you'll ground loop, and large chunks of airplane will fall off.

A couple tries and you ought to have it down.

[llama]

I'd also add the following:

1. Full flaps on rollout tend to slow your accelleration, so I don't do it. I WEP on rollout with no flaps. Then lower two notches at the very last second before the deck ends.

2. Apply some backpressure on the stick JUST BEFORE sailing off the end of the deck, but not enough to actually take off from the deck itself. The idea is that as soon as the wheels roll off the deck, your elevators are already applying some tail-downwards pressure. This keeps you from nosediving off the deck into that precious 100 feet of airspace between the deck surface and the water, allowing you to build enough speed to slowly climb out. I'm not saying you won't loose some altitude, but at least you don't need to swing the nose hi from a downward angle because you'll remain fairly level by doing it this way.

3. Gear up AS SOON as you roll off the deck. Reduces drag.

4. Stay low (under 100 feet), meaning don't dry to climb out immediately. As soon as you level out (stop loosing altitude) raise flaps one notch. You gain some speed. Then raise flaps all the way. You gain some more speed. THEN start your climbout.

Works every time.

-Llama

[dedalos]

Originally posted by badhorse
I admit, I rarely fly any of the F4U models.  The other day the Rooks were attacking a base from a CV and I decided to take up a D model. I took two 1K bombs, rockets and 1/2 fuel.   Checked to make sure the CV wasn't turning and launched.  Hit WEP on roll but went off the front of the deck into the water.
Tried again. This time with a notch of flaps. Same result.  
Tried again. This time with 1/4 fuel and got rid of the rockets.  Same result.
Tried again. This time as soon as I started to lift, I retracted the gear and came out of auto-take off.  Finally struggled into the air.

I know I was doing something wrong. This airplane can't be that difficult to launch from a CV.. ..

Were you using the catapult?

[Saxman]

Have to disagree with you on the acceleration thing, Llama.

First, F4Us (except Der Uberhoggen -4) don't accelerate well regardless. And full flaps isn't going to make all that much of a difference to acceleration if you're already hauling a full load of gas and ordinance.

Second, the large amount of lift the F4U's flaps generate MORE than offsets any reduction in airspeed by the time you get to the edge of the deck compared to a clean takeoff. Done right, full flaps and WEP should get you in the air with little to no drop in altitude when you roll off the deck.