Ok guys.......
I worked well into the wee hours of the night to create a suitable training sortie for our next gathering. The focus of this particular sortie is to get everyone ready for the upcoming Okinawa campaign using the AAA's newly released "LAL Okinawa" map sheet. If you don't have this map, get on over to the AAA web site and download it ASAP. You will need this map for training.
In any event, I've scripted a training sortie to cover those necessary skill sets to properly "trap" on a moving carrier flying our assigned aircraft per Flights.
This mission will find the "Group" (MCVG-2) sortieing out of the hardened airfield on "Ie Shima". Since this airfield has dual runways connected by taxiways, both the Bomber Flight (Ranger) and the Corsair Flight will have their own runways to launch from and from there, both flights will be able to head out and link up with the training carriers which aren't too far away to begin their practice.
The idea behind this sortie is to get people into the habit of going over checklists and then being ready as a "Flight" before taking off together. Accountability of your pilots and where they are in the sky is key for success in the FISC community, thats the arena we fly in as a Group.
In this mission, you will seek out the carriers and practice your approaches for landing as well as performing takeoff's according to Naval doctrine.
What kind of carriers will you see in game ? You will find two FULL SIZE carriers as well as one ESCORT carrier in a decently spaced formation that will allow you to enter into the proper pattern and make your landings, touch and goes and or full stop landings etc. Any additional landing practice if you need it can be conducted back at the training base on "Ie Shima" island.
The aircraft that is available for this mission is the following:
1. Flight of TBM-3's (4). 75% fuel & default loadout.
2. Flight of F4U-1D's plus two extra for a (4+2). Same loadout and fuel as above.
Note: I was able to take off, enter into the pattern and properly trap on a moving Escort on my first attempt using the above mentioned aircraft loadout. From there, I turned around, taxi'd to the Stern, turned around and performed my take off checklist prior to launch and was able to climb out and away from a moving ship with little trouble.
See you all soon......
Rino
