F-4 Simulator on USS Midway

[MachFly]

Has anyone ever used the F-4 simulator on USS Midway?

USS Midway has a simulator called "Mach Combat" which is an actual simulator used to train F-4 pilots. I'm planning a trip there and trying to find out more about it, things such as the kind of missions that you do, do you actually learn anything from it? Do you get an instructor?
So If anyone has been there your story would be quite helpful.


Thanks

[noTch]

Here is the response when I tell my wife I can't find anything on the 'internet'

"how hard is it to use google? I got all these sites & you can't find what you need!"

Here ya go,  http://www.midway.org/node/313

[MachFly]

Here is the response when I tell my wife I can't find anything on the 'internet'

"how hard is it to use google? I got all these sites & you can't find what you need!"

Here ya go,  http://www.midway.org/node/313

Trust me the BBS is one of the last places I try to find out the answers to my question.
I have read a lot of things on the museum website before I looked anywhere else, and the link you provided does not answer any of my questions.

Appreciate you trying to google for it thought  

[AAJagerX]

I took a "hop" in the f-4 simulator.  It's pretty cool, but the missiles weren't guided.  You had to use them like rockets and they'd score a kill if you got them close enough.   You get a "crash course" that lasts about a minute.  They get you familiar with the cockpit layout and show you how to use the RWR/radar.  You don't "lock up" the opposing planes though.  Sim experience is definately helpful.  You get a few rounds of air combat with the other sim drivers, a few landing attempts on a runway, and a few attempts at a carrier landing (which takes a STEADY approach).  I did manage a couple of traps on the carrier though (I was one of two drivers in that group to get it on the boat safely ).  The sims aren't 100% accurate but it's well worth trying out, and enjoy the rest of Midway, it's one of the coolest places to visit in SoCal.  

EDIT:  Just down the road from Midway there's also an outstanding seafood restaurant "The Fish Market" (I recommend the Thresher Shark steak   ).  If ya can, take a harbor tour as well.  Seeing all the warships from a boat is awesome.

Another EDIT:  It's good to tour Midway either in the morning or really early afternoon as they close the bridge off around 4 pm and ya wouldn't want to miss that part of it (as I did).

[MachFly]

Thanks for the advice!

I have two more questions regarding the museum
1. You mentioned you get to fight other sim pilots, how many sims are there? Are they all F-4s? (The museum site mentions that they have 3 F-4s and 1 F-8, but I'm not sure if I understood it right)
2. I will be in San Diego for only day, I'm not sure if I will have time for the harbor tour but I am interested, could you tell me how long it takes?

Thanks again

[AAJagerX]

Thanks for the advice!

I have two more questions regarding the museum
1. You mentioned you get to fight other sim pilots, how many sims are there? Are they all F-4s? (The museum site mentions that they have 3 F-4s and 1 F-8, but I'm not sure if I understood it right)
2. I will be in San Diego for only day, I'm not sure if I will have time for the harbor tour but I am interested, could you tell me how long it takes?

Thanks again

Yeah, there's 3 dual seats and 1 single seat unless they've changed it (I lived 60 miles north of SD, but it's been 2 years since I've been there.).  Flight performance is based on the Phantom though, so no worries about being outgunned.  The harbor tour takes roughly an hour and a half or so from boarding the boat to returning.  It's really cool to see the ships from that perspective.  There's usually a supercarrier and all sorts of Marine ships (medical, amphib assault, destroyers, subs, etc. in port.).  Unless you're in a heli, the tour is the best way to see em. 
If you're only there for a day, try to stay off the 5 and 15 freeways.  You can sit for hours if it's between 7-9 AM or 3-7 PM.  That would be frustrating to say the least.  Also, parking can be a real pain down by the harbor, so take a cab if you can.

Have fun, and post some pics when ya get home!

[Wildcat1]

at the US Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, they have a combat simulator where there are 5 actual F-14 cockpits that the Navy used to train new pilots. it focuses on teamwork, and the AI is challenging, too

[Kermit de frog]

I took a "hop" in the f-4 simulator.  It's pretty cool, but the missiles weren't guided.  You had to use them like rockets and they'd score a kill if you got them close enough.   You get a "crash course" that lasts about a minute.  They get you familiar with the cockpit layout and show you how to use the RWR/radar.  You don't "lock up" the opposing planes though.  Sim experience is definately helpful.  You get a few rounds of air combat with the other sim drivers, a few landing attempts on a runway, and a few attempts at a carrier landing (which takes a STEADY approach).  I did manage a couple of traps on the carrier though (I was one of two drivers in that group to get it on the boat safely ).  The sims aren't 100% accurate but it's well worth trying out, and enjoy the rest of Midway, it's one of the coolest places to visit in SoCal.  

EDIT:  Just down the road from Midway there's also an outstanding seafood restaurant "The Fish Market" (I recommend the Thresher Shark steak   ).  If ya can, take a harbor tour as well.  Seeing all the warships from a boat is awesome.

Another EDIT:  It's good to tour Midway either in the morning or really early afternoon as they close the bridge off around 4 pm and ya wouldn't want to miss that part of it (as I did).

The above is truly great advice.
To add to this, I'd like to say I did not enjoy the F4 simulator due to the restricted views (forward looking only).  I enjoyed the Corsair simulator 10x better due to the sim actually moving in pitch and roll directions, even though this also had a forward looking view only.  Oh and the corsair ride was about 1/3 the price. There is another ride, but I ran out of time and did not get to try it.  Also one of the two F4 sims was down for maintenance when I attended.  The Midway Tour can easily take over 4 hours to see every part of the ship.

The Fish Market is the best!  Truly great food and atmosphere.  Looking out over the bay, sometimes you'll get to see up to 4 carriers, which are 3 active and the other being the USS Midway.  Makes for a very cool sight to see.

If you still have time, go to Balboa Park and check out the Aerospace Museum, among the many many other museums there.

[AAJagerX]

Hey Kermit, were you able to resist looking up the skirt of the giant WW2 era lady statue by the Fish Market?  I wasn't able to. 

[MachFly]

One more question, since the phantom requires two people will I be completely screwed if my WSO (weapon systems officer) ends up being an "idiot"? 

[AAJagerX]

One more question, since the phantom requires two people will I be completely screwed if my WSO (weapon systems officer) ends up being an "idiot"? 

Ya both have a chance to fly.  I can't guarantee this, but I think you can choose to fly solo.  My dad was in town for a visit, so he rode shotgun when I was there.  We split 50/50 for the most part.

[MachFly]

Ya both have a chance to fly.  I can't guarantee this, but I think you can choose to fly solo.  My dad was in town for a visit, so he rode shotgun when I was there.  We split 50/50 for the most part.

So the second seater has the same controls as the first? I thought the F-4 required two people to operate it. 

[ImADot]

Actually, I think for these simulators, the two-seater is side by side so both people can see the screen.  I was there a few years ago and did it.  I was in the single-person cockpit.

It was late in the day - been exploring the ship for about six hours and wanted to make sure I got to try the F4 sim.  There was nobody in line, and the tech was eating lunch.  I struck up a conversation and after he finished eating, gave me a five-minute briefing (since he could tell I flew simulators on my PC).  I jumped in the cockpit and he let me fly around for a couple of minutes.

Then he said, "just fly around for a while...there are a couple other guys that just showed up."  Fifteen minutes later the others are up and flying.  It was pretty cool.  We did some guns-only dogfights.  Then near the end, we did some carrier traps.  He pushed some buttons and I was teleported a couple miles from the CV, about 30 degrees to port.  Not thinking anything of it, I got myself lined up but had a little power issue and boltered my first attempt.  I circled again and nailed it the second time.

The "20 minute experience" that I paid for turned into almost an hour.   

After it was all over, as my wife and I were walking away, she told me the tech asked her if I was a real pilot because I flew very well and he had made my simulation tougher than normal after the first 10 minutes.     She told him "No, but he flies on his computer a lot." 

[AAJagerX]

The F-4 sims are just like the real cockpit, front/rear seating.  There's another ride there that has the tandem seating config. though. 

Like I was saying, the sims aren't all that accurate as far as the controls go.  The back seater has a controls similar to the front seat, there are a few small differences though. 

I wouldn't let that part of it deter you from trying it out though.  It's still fun.

[MachFly]

Alright, makes sense.

Thanks a lot