I have seen mentions of several Aircraft Carriers. I want to add one to the sim and wonder which one you guys think is the best one.
The free and easy way to try it out is get the Super Warrior F/A-18 and USS Enterprise carrier Ops (separate downloads) on flightsim.to and see what you think.
Read all the instructions!
There are two things you need to consider: the carriers themselves, and the system(s) used to enable landing/takeoff on them.
These are the ones I have:
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Hard Deck Sim’s Nimitz-class carriers: Good looking models; you get five locations out of the box and can ask them for one free additional placement of your choice. They use a modified version of Kinetic Assistant for takeoffs/landings, so you can use any plane in the sim. (It’s a unique experience to land a Cessna with an arrestor hook… )
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Superspud’s freeware Aircraft Carrier Group Vol. 1 and 2: So… Many… Carriers… Spud’s work is always high quality and these are no different. Pros: MANY different types of carrier models, from all over the world. They are not all precise models, but they look darn good. Does not come with a takeoff/landing system; you use Kinetic Assistant (which is also free). Possible negative: Spud puts carriers in some… unique locations, like the bottom of the Grand Canyon. You may not want that level of unreality. (I don’t mind it that much.)
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Photosbykev’s freeware USS Enterprise – Nice model, but the big selling point here is that it has animated crew ops… but only if you use a plane that has the coding used by TouchingCloud’s FA-18 Super Warrior mod. Which as far as I know right now is just the Super Warrior, but the specific code is available for free to other developers or modders. If you don’t have the code, it’s still a carrier, but you will need Kinetic Assistant or a built-in launch/landing option. Currently only one model, off of Wallops Island VA.
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Miltech’s USS George HW Bush – Absolutely gorgeous model. Comes with detailed escort ships as well. Includes seven locations around the world. Comes with its own cat/trap software module (run separately from the sim, as with Kinetic Assistant).
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IndiaFoxtEcho’s Ford-class and America-class carriers: Addons mainly intended to complement the F-35. Very good looking, but don’t show up in the sim as airports, only as POIs. Which means you can’t start a flight on them. That’s very disappointing. Of the two, the America-class one is the better option, because the other carrier mods don’t have the small amphibious assault carrier models that are perfect for the F-35B (or helicopters). The new Ford class carriers are laid out differently than the older US models; that would be the main attraction for the Ford mod. Otherwise, it doesn’t do anything differently than the other carriers. Both are pretty inexpensive, though.
I think there’s one other mod available, but I forget who makes it (and I don’t own it, obviously).
Hope this helps.
** Forgot to add: Most (all?) of the carrier jets now available have built-in cat/trap systems connected to the launch bar and the hook. The Super Warrior, F-14, F-35, and Goshawk all have this. So if you don’t want to run a third-party app for takeoffs and landings, you won’t have to with these planes.
Nice report! Some corrections:
- HDS uses their own peace of software. It makes same things but still not related to Kinetic.
- Some (most?) Superspud’s carriers now have arresting wires and crew compatible with Carrier Ops (F/A-18 Warrior and so on)
- Enterprise has not only crew but also arresting wires, not just square on the deck but actual lines which you should catch with tailhook (1m calculations precision so not for professional trainings obviously). This script should be installed into each aircraft which brings limitations, but you can find upgraded F-35 mod on Flightsim.to already.
Another carrier I remember is moving Europe (flightsim.to) - but because of SDK limitations it did not get much progress (making moving runway with spawn points, VOR/ILS and crew just not possible at the moment).
Today @PinkPanteees released another moving carrier with same limitations (flightsim.to as well).
USS Enterprise & upgraded F-35:
Thanks for the corrections! I could have sworn that I read that HDS’s software was based on KA… It’s definitely their own product, though, that’s for sure.
The Enterprise ops are so cool. That’s a great mod.
This is one that I had been leaning towards! I do like that they have airport code and you can spawn on the carrier.
I also like the IndiaFoxtEcho ships. I do have the T-45.
Nice this about these are that they are sold by ORBX which I already have their Seafront vessel packages and Aerosoft Simple traffic. So if I buy from them only one place to get updates.
I think I will most likely get the Miltech and IndiaFoxtEcho carriers. Those seem to require less mods, which I’m not too thrilled about installing.
@DaveR44 Well, I got just about everything out there!
Hard Deck Simulation - Mostly for the capability to use any plane.
Photobykev’s freeware USS Enterprise with F-18 Mod - A friend has and wanted to fly there with him.
Miltech’s USS George HW Bush - Sounds like a great addition
IndiaFoxtEcho’s Ford&America - Already owned their T-45 and also purchased their F-35. So I got these to complement the planes.
I guess that will keep me going for some time -)
Are these available on Xbox S marketplace? Not finding anything, but want to make sure it’s not user error.
There is a carrier addon on the marketplace for Xbox for around $13,
It’s not super high quality but it does have multiple ships and they show up as airports so you can start a flight on them. They do not have a built in launch or arrest system so you’ll have to have an aircraft with one, i.e. the T-45C.
Are there any WWII era carriers available? Something to fly the Hellcat from?
What do I type into Airport search to get on a carrier? Thanks
The USS Lexington from Miltech Simulations (on simMarket and ORBX). I’m interested as you are for using the F6F. However, I can’t see anywhere whether it is compatible with SU10.
If you’re on xbox, despite how awesome this model is, and the fact that the arresting gear finally works, I’d go ahead and avoid Miltech’s Bush CVN until they can get the stuttering/performance issues sorted. Its frustrating as hell to finally have at least a borderline working arresting system on a CVN only to get a CTD a solid 7 out of 10 times while attempting to trap with the Goshawk or the Lightning or even with the stock Hornet.
LVFR’s Global Carriers, though primative-looking, seem to function just fine with the former two birds, but alas this one seems like abandonware from them and AFAIK haven’t been updated since release.
The Miltech stuff is gorgeous, I definitely agree. Worth it just to have them to fly over periodically. I’m on xbox so it’s just decoration. The Shock Ultra is almost comical with all that real estate out there. Pretty fun to have, especially with it on sale. Wasn’t expecting full carrier ops with it. I had liquid glass smooth performance on, around, and under everything there in 4k HDR, didn’t see ANY performance hit. And at KEYW I have the airport, static ships, birds, and GS installed.
Is there a carrier or several that don’t need "crash turned off '. Thanks
I didn’t turn crash detection off and did about every goofy thing you can with a static aircraft carrier, albeit with STOL’s.
Hi phutyoo, which carrier pack are you using?
late add here, I only own the miltech, and find it to be working very well (F/A 18)
I just got the F-A/18 livery pack which lets you cosmetically apply fuel pods. I’m told there are now a few aircraft carriers I can access apparently.
How does that work? Where do I find them?