F4U Takeoff problem

[The Stalker]

Hi, I've been reading some topics on this but I can't find anything conclusive.

Basically, I used to fly the F4U when I started playing IL-2 and had no problems with it. I've returned to the game recently (4.11.1) and wanted to practice carrier take off (single mission - USN - F4U takeoff 1) and I can't seem to get the thing off no matter what. I don't remember having this problem before.

In my opinion the carrier in the training mission seems a bit short. I'm having trouble taking off without ordnance and I don't even want to think what it would look like if I tried with ordnance.

I'm attaching 2 of my attempts just so you get the picture of the problem and maybe tell me what's wrong.

Thanks in advance.

[The Stalker]

*Update.

I managed to take off with F4U-D variant, barely. Lowering fuel amount also helps with F4U-A. Still it seems strange I'm having so much trouble taking off the F4U-A with a full tank without ordnance.

Any thoughts?

[EJGr.Ost_Caspar]

I can take off with F4U-A with 100% fuel as well. Its close, but also AI cannot make it better. Didn't check your track, but did you use mixture 120%?

But indeed the CVEs are a bit short. Maybe we should change it.
Not sure, if Corsairs ever started on light carriers...

[The Stalker]

Thanks for the reply. In the training mission, the AI from the other carrier takes off but seems to be as close as half a meter from water at one point. I simply cannot hold the stick so perfectly still.

If someone has the time, please attach .trk of your take off in training mission "carrier take off 1" for the F4U-A with 100% fuel.

[IceFire]

Originally Posted by EJGr.Ost_Caspar

I can take off with F4U-A with 100% fuel as well. Its close, but also AI cannot make it better. Didn't check your track, but did you use mixture 120%?

But indeed the CVEs are a bit short. Maybe we should change it.
Not sure, if Corsairs ever started on light carriers...

They didn't. Only Wildcats and Avengers operated from CVE's in any quantity. It's not possible to take off from a stationary CVE with a Corsair. I haven't tried with 10% fuel but even then I doubt it.

Probably should be changed... I can do that!

[sniperton]

Originally Posted by EJGr.Ost_Caspar

I can take off with F4U-A with 100% fuel as well. Its close, but also AI cannot make it better. Didn't check your track, but did you use mixture 120%?

I envy you Caspar. I can do it myself, but with rather strange trim settings:

Aileron 6-8 notches right
Rudder 6-8 notches right
Elevator 25-30 notches up (!)

This way it flyes off from itself, and only minimal stick input is needed after takeoff, but still it's a bit odd historically.

[horseback]

During the war, Corsairs, Hellcats, even Spitfires, P-40s and P-47s were all flown off of CVE type carriers with full combat loads by average service pilots on several occasions without the aid of catapults. Taking off wasn't the problem; landing on a shorter, slower, more unstable CVE deck was a distinct problem.

By every account, the Wildcat was one of the hardest aircraft to take off from a carrier--the F4F-4 and FM-1 models were especially somewhat underpowered, and the darned things were so torque-y on top of those narrow landing gear that almost anything after that must have seemed like a piece of cake by comparison. Certainly, the late-war carrier fighters should have more than enough power and lift to clear even a short carrier deck easily with a normal combat load.

I think that there's either something 'off' in the acceleration & takeoff modeling or that the 'correct' procedure for the Player to achieve the desired results is not well known or understood.

cheers

horseback

[IceFire]

Originally Posted by horseback

During the war, Corsairs, Hellcats, even Spitfires, P-40s and P-47s were all flown off of CVE type carriers with full combat loads by average service pilots on several occasions without the aid of catapults. Taking off wasn't the problem; landing on a shorter, slower, more unstable CVE deck was a distinct problem.

By every account, the Wildcat was one of the hardest aircraft to take off from a carrier--the F4F-4 and FM-1 models were especially somewhat underpowered, and the darned things were so torque-y on top of those narrow landing gear that almost anything after that must have seemed like a piece of cake by comparison. Certainly, the late-war carrier fighters should have more than enough power and lift to clear even a short carrier deck easily with a normal combat load.

I think that there's either something 'off' in the acceleration & takeoff modeling or that the 'correct' procedure for the Player to achieve the desired results is not well known or understood.

cheers

horseback

If I'm not mistaken, those were all much larger than the one class of CVE that we have from Pacific Fighters.

The Wildcat may have been a bit of a handful but it was still the aircraft of choice for these tiny pocket carriers. At the battle of Leyte Gulf it was a few Wildcats and Avengers from the CVE's of Taffy 3 that held back a much larger force. There was no Hellcat or Corsair employed from these carriers.

[Plane-Eater]

The obvious solution here is to implement deck catapults the same way the ships had (and depended on) them in real life...