Carrier Landings
by Rolex
A carrier landing is similar to an "overhead" approach on land, but called a "break turn" approach. The carrier will travel over one mile during the pattern, so the pattern will resemble a complete loop instead of an oval racetrack. The exact approach depends on the plane, but this will present a generic landing pattern. After you've made a few successful landings, you can modify it by starting at a lower altitude and using a tighter turn.
When you're heading to the carrier, do it at the speed of heat. In combat conditions, enter the break (or the overhead at an airfield) at full speed just in case there's a bandit in the area. You'll have the energy to shoot him down before you land. In peace time you do it to look cool. Also, it gets you on deck quicker than a long, drawn out, straight-in approach. The key is to use the break turn to bleed off all that extra speed.
Controlling your rate of descent will be important. Remember that power controls altitude and elevators control airspeed. To increase rate of descent, decrease power. To decrease your rate of descent, increase power.
Terminology
CV - aircraft carrier
Loop - carrier landing pattern.
Break turn - the starting point for a high-G turn
Abeam - point on downwind leg that is directly abeam of the stern of
the boat
Start - the beginning of the "final"
180 - begining of 180° turn back to the boat and the start
90 - 90° from the start
45 - 45° from the start
Groove - final approach
Trap - successful landing on CV
Bolter - Unsuccessful trap (Go Around)
 Entry Parallel CV, but slightly offset to starboard side 800' altitude, full power >300 mph Tailhook down <Shift+G> Note the CV course and reciprocal heading |
 The Break
Count 8-10 seconds Throttle to idle Roll to approx. 60° of bank Pull into high-G turn |
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 In the Break Continue high-G turn to reduce airspeed Extend gear <G> at gear extension speed (<400 mph F4U, <150 mph for other aircraft) Flaps <Q> as necessary* |
 Roll Out on Reciprocal Heading
Looking for 600' altitude, 130 mph Add power as necessary 3 green, no red, gear down, hook down Flaps <Q> as necessary |
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 Approaching Abeam 3/4 - 1 mile
from CV
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 At the 180 Begin abeam of ramp Bank just under 30° Coordinated turn (ball centered) Constant 500 fpm rate of descent |
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 At the 90 400' altitude Continue 500 fpm rate of descent Gear down, hook down, flaps as necessary Keep the CV in view |
 At the 45 300' altitude Work throttle and turn for alignment Resist tendancy to flatten out turn too much, causing an overshoot on alignment |
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 Approaching the Start 200' altitude Aligned with 400 - 600 fpm descent Only 17 - 25 seconds before trap Adjust power to control rate of descent |
 In the Groove Keep wings level Use rudder to crab for alignment Keep CV at constant position using power Flaps <Q> as necessary |
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 Over the Ramp Wings level, on center line 300 - 500 fpm descent |
 The Cut Cut throttle after passing over the ramp Plant it on the deck |
Notes:
*When using Combat Trim, the aircraft will pitch up when lowering flaps <Q>. You can either push the nose down or add down elevator trim <I> until slight back pressure is necessary to hold the aircraft level. Combat Trim disengages when any trim is used.
Make sure you're less than 130 mph at the cut and your Angle of Attack (AOA) is high enough to not bounce on the main gear and miss the arresting wires. If you do bolter, smoothly add power. Don't raise the nose too fast or too much. Retract landing gear <G>.
Caution: adding power too quickly in the F4U may cause a violent torque roll to the left. Bank right as you roll in power.
Do not retract flaps because you will sink quickly from the lost lift. Establish a shallow, positive rate of climb and build speed before you begin slowly retracting flaps <W>. Perform a climbing turn to the left and establish yourself on the downwind leg for another try. It's your turn in the barrel!
After you've begun the 180° turn for landing, your scan outside the cockpit to your landing point increases from mostly outside after the 90 to almost completely outside the cockpit after the 45. Your throttle and control inputs become instinctive from the sight picture. Check the section on the Look Forward View to set a view looking down the cowling like you see in these cockpit screenshots.
Advanced Carrier Landings
After you've made a few successful landings using the basic technique to stay ahead of the aircraft, it's time to try a more aggressive, tighter carrier loop. The goal is to keep within the perimeter of the fleet and get the aircraft on the deck even faster. You'll go from full speed and power over the CV to landing on the deck in less than 45 seconds.
This is closer to the actual technique developed to qualify the Corsair for carrier landings. The long nose of the Corsair, combined with the difficult low speed, full flaps handling and low pilot seat in the early models made long, straight-in approaches difficult. This technique is a continuous, descending turn around a moving point, allowing the pilot to keep the CV and Landing Signal Officer (LSO) in view. You will not be "dragging" into the CV at low speed and high power, requiring a high Angle of Attack (AOA) and reducing your visiblity over the nose.
 Entry Approach CV at 45° from rear, port quarter Descend to under 500' altitude, full power Tailhook down <Shift+G> |
 The Break
Over CV, throttle to idle Roll to just under 90° angle of bank Begin pull into high-G turn |
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 In the Break Continue high-G turn to bleed airspeed Extend gear <G> at gear extension speed 3 green, no red, gear down, hook down |
 Abeam
500' altitude at fleet perimeter Continue 180° descending turn One notch of flaps <Q> as necessary Nose down to counter pitch up from flaps* |
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 At the 90 Gradually
reduce bank angle, continue descent
Spot CV in front-left cockpit view Adjust to fly over support ship |
 At the 45 Approx. 250' altitude Bank under 30° Work throttle and turn for alignment |
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 At the 45 140 MPH, 500 fpm rate of descent Another notch of flaps <S> Keep the CV in view |
 The Start Rollout wings level at: 100' altitude, 100 MPH, 100' from ramp 500 fpm rate of descent |
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 The Groove On center line Rudder for alignment if needed |
 The Trap Cut throttle after passing over the ramp Gradually increase back pressure on stick |