Manual

the Air Boss (F4 Key). Break even thesmallest regulation and he’ll take apersonal interest in seeing that you staybelow deck for the rest of the time you’reat sea. If you don’t want to end up “flying”a desk, play by the rules!The Air Boss is responsible forchoreographing all aircraft movementboth on the flight deck and in the air. Hisword is law when it comes to trafficcontrol. Nothing moves above deck orbelow without his express approval. AirTraffic Controllers (ATCs) work directly forthe Air Boss. They are on duty at all timesto assist pilots and help the Air Bossensure that nobody breaks the rules.Even with all these safeguardsmomentary lapses can occur and theresult can be disaster.FLEET DEFENDER makes things a littleeasier for you by always having thecarrier turn to a heading of 360 0 (directlynorth) when someone is landing ortaking-off. This makes lining up on thecarrier so much easier, especially duringbad weather or night OPs. To makeeveryone’s job easier, particularly theLSO’s, read the following section oncarrier flight operations.The Carrier Flight DeckThe flight deck of a modern aircraftcarrier is a busy place to say the least. Airoperations are maintained 24 hours aday, seven days a week. It’s a placewhere even small mistakes can have abig impact. This frantic pace must bemaintained in order to get aircraft into theair in a timely fashion. With all four of itscatapults in operation, a modern carriercan launch one aircraft every twentyseconds. There’s not an airport in theworld that even comes close to thissustained level of activity on a daily basis.Because the flight deck is such adeafening place to work, hearingprotection is mandatory. Mostcommunication is conducted visuallythrough a series of intricate gestures.These often comedic-looking signalsmust be understood by everyone withaccess to the flight deck. Anymisinterpretation could cause apotentially fatal accident or loss of anaircraft.CARRIER TAKE-OFFS (CAT-SHOTS)Carrier take-offs are pretty straightforward(no pun intended- well maybe justa little one) but they are also somewhatdangerous. Loaded with fuel andweapons, your aircraft is the heaviest itwill ever get during the mission at take-off.All take-offs from the carrier are assistedby a steam-powered catapult. You won’tsee it, but it’s there. With the catapult’sassistance your 80,000 lb. aircraft will behurled into the air in less than 400 ft.Even with the help of the catapult, youraircraft will be flying just above stallspeed. It will also be travelling extremelyclose to the ground with no reservemomentum or energy to call upon ifneeded. You are unable to trade altitudefor airspeed in case of a stall so don’t playaround.Although use of the aircraft’s afterburneris not mandatory for take-offs, werecommend that you use it. Your aircraftshould begin every take-off at FullMilitary Power (shift= Key) as aminimum. But to be on the safe side,press the Afterburner Engage (A key) tobegin the mission. It’ll take severalseconds for your engines to “spool up” tofull RpMs. Once they reach the necessarythrust, the catapult will fire and your F-14will start down the flight deck. By the timeyou reach the end of the flight deck, youwill have gathered up enough airspeed(hopefully) to get airborne.From the moment the aircraft begins