DCS: F/A-18C Hornet Carrier Qualification (CQ) – 20 May 2018

For me, the most fun and difficult thing you can do in the DCS: F/A-18C Hornet is a CASE I landing. Like most skill-based things in life, it takes lots and lots of practice. Here are my uncut, unedited, raw CQ traps (4) this weekend. Yes, these can be pretty long. Certainly not “OK” or even “FAIR”, they do though provide a little look at the process.

Basic notes:

1- Enter 5 nm diameter orbit over the boat at 2,000 ft at 250 kts using BARO hold and ATC.
2- Set TCN to the boat and set boat TCN course line to heading.
3- Set up the jet: hook down, displays, heat, radalt to HUD, anti-skid off, hook bypass carrier, and radalt gauge to 370 ft.
4- Break the 2,000 ft deck when abeam and behind the boat and approach the boat from the starboard side. Pass the boat at 350 kts / 800 ft.
5- When at most 1.5 nm ahead of the boat (closer if you are more seasoned), break into the pattern.
6- Gear down and flaps to full when below 250 kts.
7- Level off on the downwind at 1.2 to 1.3 nm abeam the boat’s course line.
8- Establish 8.1 on-speed AoA at 600 ft. Power and trim.
9- Once the boat’s round down on the stern is visible, roll into the groove with 30 degrees of bank in gradual decent (100-200 ft/min) for the first 90 degrees of turn.
10- Roll out on groove and adjust height with power to keep IFLOS ball centered. Combat recovery 8 seconds in the groove or 12-16 seconds for standard groove time.

Anyone doing a straight in during VFR conditions should hang their head in shame 😊