THE REAL THING…..
Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System - FLOLS
The Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System in Flight Deck 3 is much like the real thing. However, because of limitations in Flight Simulator, it is unable to indicate the lateral deviation at long distances as in the real world. Although we do not claim it to be realistic, it is definitely a very useful and welcome addition to the Flight Deck 3 package.
THE REAL THING…..
Technical Note
The FLOLS is based on 2 objects written in SCASM and designed in FS Design Studio. An FLOLS object positioned on the deck-side to the left of the cables and a set of three lights ndicates deviations along the glide-scope down to the deck from 10 nautical miles out at sea after lining up for landing.
IN FLIGHT DECK III….
HARRIER LINED UP ON THE
FLOLS FOR LANDING
How to use the FLOLS in Flight Deck 3
After performing all pre-checks for lining up to the carrier (gear, flaps, tailhook, angle of attack and position and airspeed), keep the indicator lights to the left of the deck in a small virtual (imaginary) window in the cockpit. This should preferably be a little left of the center and just visible over the nose of the aircraft (top of the panel).
Keep the position of the indicator lights and the distance between the lights and the top of the cockpit panel at a constant distance and check the angle of attack. If you are too low, the lights will indicate full red. If too high, the lights will turn amber.
Position the angle of attack (AOA) and line-up position so that the lights turn green and hold this glide angle until the deck becomes clearly visible. Use the throttle to hold the correct altitude and AOA. Maintain a continual and rapid scan on both the carrier landing lights (in the green) and the lateral position of the aircraft all the way down to the landing deck and this should take you straight on to the arrestor cables.
Flight Deck 3 has pre-set flights you can fly in order to practice this. These ILS landings display a series of red boxes which can be flown through and followed down onto the carrier deck, using the FLOLS indicator lights. The ideal situation is to keep the aircraft centred as you fly through the glide-scope boxes, whilst maintaining green indicator lights for a correct approach and landing.
The USS George Washington CVN 73 has been positioned in 4 different locations in FS2002 and FS2004. The locations are here:
VOR: 112.20
NDB: 373.0
ILS: 110.30
IFLOLS Gauge: Graham Oxtoby has designed a new gauge for Flight Simulator 2004, specifically for the purpose of flying the meatball. Use the Flight Simulator menu item View|Instrument Panel open the IFLOLS window when landing on the carriers.
Here's a shot of the new gauge and a description of how to use it:
