VFA-41 BLACK ACES


   Welcome to FSX Fleets VFA-41 Black Aces home page. We are a virtual  F-18 squadron based out of NAS Lemoore ,C.A. we are one of many FSX Fleet squadrons. Info on FSX Fleet can be found at www.fsxfleet.com .  Currently VFA-41 is assigned 5 F-18Ds. Airframe #166100 assigned to RADM Nonfirm "Rachet", airframe #166200 CAPT. Mike "Rhino", airframe #166125 LTJG. Vinny "Keyston" , airframe #166128 ENS. Helfrich "Clock" ,  airframe #166133 LTJG.  Denayer "Muleboy", ENS. Mickey airframe #166130, ENS. Dan airframe #166136 ,  LT. POPS airframe #166129                            

FSX FLEET 

WE FLY FOR PEACE, WE FLY AS ONE


Squadron News

 3 New Aircraft Ready for VFA-41

                                   8/28/09

        VFA-41 welcomes 2 new members to the fleet this week. ENS. Mickey and ENS. Dan. The Total number of aircraft in VFA-41 is 12 now with 5 being active, 2 reserved and 5 being used as back ups untell they have pilots.  

                               8-26-09

        ENS. Mickeys arrives along with 2 other aircraft. 166130, 166134, and the infamous 166136 that has been given the nick name "Scleprock" becouse of the many problems it has had sence it was made.  ENS. Mickey will be fling #166130.                        


 VFA-41 New Arrival



8-23-09

 Ens. Mickey is a new addition to VFA-41 this week. This brings 41's numbers up to 5 members. A new aircraft is on order and should be ready with in a week.

 

CVW-11 R&R

                               7-2-09

CVW-11 has arrived in Hawaii. The battle  group will have an extended port call for R&R and to conduct training missions before deployed to help with any problems in the Sea of Japan with North Korea. Local businesses have offered help in providing buildings for CVW-11 training missions.


Supplying The Ship 

                              6-18-09

   HC-4, H-53 flys in supplies to the USS Nimitz before it leaves Panama. VRC-30 will be flying in more supplies while the ships underway.  Isla Socrro Airfield (MM81) off the coast of Mexico may be used as a staging area for VRC-30 aircraft.


New Orders for CVW-11
USS Nimitz and USS Belleau Wood off the coast of Panama.
                              6-19-09

    New orders from the fleet have CVW-11 on a new course. CVW-11 is to head directly to Hawaii for a port call and then to the Sea of Japan to help with recent problems the area has had with North Korea. CVW-11 should be in Hawaii in about a week. The air wing will be getting in a lot of carrier practice until then.
      The USS Nimitz and USS Belleau Wood will both be taking part in this operation. Both ships departed Panama and are now headed for Hawaii. With  both a CVN and LHA the Fleet should be able to handle any situation that arises in North Korea.

Types of Pursuit
   There are 3 types of pursuit. lead, pure and lag. they are technically defined by the orientation of the attacking aircraft’s velocity vector ahead of, directly toward, or behind the target aircraft, respectively. Since the fighter pilot does not always have a precise indication of the direction of his velocity vector, his nose position is usually substituted as a reference. In maneuvering situations, these two references (velocity vector and nose position) vary by the amount of the attacker’s angle of attack and sideslip, which are generally not great enough to be of importance. So, what is called “pure pursuit”, for instance, may actually involve a small amount of lag.




LEAD PURSUIT
   A lead pursuit path is followed by positioning the aircraft’s nose ahead of the target fighter. The purpose of lead pursuit is primarily to increase closure on the target fighter by use of geometry. The ideal lead angle for greatest closure depends on relative aircraft positions, relative speed and target maneuver. By moving your nose inside the targets turn circle, closure is increased and you will notice the wingspan of your target getting larger as previously discussed. The more lead you pull the more closure you will generate. If you get behind, increase the lead pursuit instead of adding power. Remember, that when you induce more lead, and thus closure, you will have to kill the closure rate when you have achieved position.
                                                                  PURE PURSUIT
   Holding your nose directly on the target also provides some closure, unless the target ahs a significant speed advantage and the angle off the tail is very small. Although pure pursuit does not generate as much closure as lead pursuit in most cases, it is very useful in holding a relative position behind the target when maneuvering is remaining fairly constant.

LAG PURSUIT
  In lag pursuit, you will place your nose at an angle behind you target fighter. This tactic is useful in slowing or stopping closure to maintain a desired separation from the target while simultaneously maintaining or decreasing the angle off the tail. Using lag pursuit, even a faster fighter can maintain a position in the rear hemisphere of a maneuvering target aircraft, for instance, Mustangs in the racetrack with Thunderbolts, etc. Using lag pursuit is the answer. Avoid having to pull the power off to stay in position, and using flaps should never be considered.





information on pursuit found at
www.warbirddepot.com
by Bradley C. Hood
Fighter Formation Qualification Program


   Navy CODs arrive at NAS North Island. With people and equipment for the deployment from near by areas. Fighters and helos are fling in from NAS Lemoore, MCAS Yuma, MCAS Miramar, and NAS Whidbey Island.
CVW-11 WELCOMES THE WALLBANGERS VAW-117

     VAW-117 joins the deployment. New E2-C textures for VAW-117 will be up for down load in the next few days. The squadron has no full time members yet but will still be worked in to the deployment with pilots from other CVW-11 squadrons.


 "Squawk" / Transponder Codes

FA-18D radio squawking 4000

  
     A transponder is an electronic device that produces a response when it receives a radio frequency. aircraft have transponders to assist in identifying them on radar. Below are some Transponder / Squawk codes that you may see or use in FSX Fleet.

0000 = military intercept code
0001 = Military code for high speed uncontrolled
1000 = IFR under 18000 feet
1200 = VFR
1400 = VFR above 12500
4000 = Aircraft on a VFR Military Training Route or requiring frequent or rapid changes in altitude
7777 = military interception
7500 = Hijack
7600 = lost communications
7700 = General Emergency

Setting a Sqawk code in the F-18

-press the IFF key and you should see XP on the display followed by 4 numbers.
-enter the 4 digit squawk code you want.
-now press the ENT key. your display should now read XP followed by the code you entered.
your squawk code is now set.



VRC-30 in Ensenada

    VRC-30 arrives off the coast of Ensenada with last minutes supplies and personal.  CVW-11 has there first port of call in Ensenada. VRC-30s DET 3 will be adding CVW-11 trough out the deployment and at times may have help from other parts of the VRC 30 squadron. Anyone needing or wanting the VRC-30 repaints  will be able to get them on this web site in the next day or 2.

CWV-11 Flys to Mexico City

                                6-5-09

      CVW-11 makes a 200 mile flight from the west coast of Mexico to Mexico City to help support local government. Mexico has been having problem with terrorist in the Mexico City area for the past few weeks.  FSX Fleet has given orders to CVW-11 to assist the Mexican government in getting the area under control. CVW-11 looks to have a major operation in the area some time today.


      Heavy fog made things challenging for day 1 of the deployment.  With 0 visibility above 800 feet pilots had to be talked in for there landings on the carrier.  Luckily the first port call wasn’t far. After a short stay in Ensenada maybe we will have better weather conditions for carrier ops.