The USS Ronald Reagan is your new base. Launch and recovery is the order of the day. During launch, powerful catapult gets you airborne in just a few hundred feet. And in recovery, your tailhook needs to catch the steel cable to bring your muscular aircraft to a screeching halt.

The new launch and recovery system is exclusive for Flight Deck 4 with easy to use catapult and cable. 

From the flight deck of the new USS Ronald Reagan, you'll fly these seven aircraft: 

F/A-18C HornetTM 
F/A-18E Super HornetTM 
E-2C Hawkeye 
S-3B Viking 
SH-60 Seahawk 
C-2A Greyhound 
EA-6B Prowler 
  
 

approach to recovery  
Photo of the F/A-18 Super Hornet
courtesy of US Navy  
The F/A-18 Super Hornet from
Flight Deck 4 looks very similar  
Flight Deck 4 uses an all-new simplified catapult launch and recovery system. You'll experience the thrill of authentic deck operations with AI traffic on and above the carrier. You'll see why cable recovery on the short flight deck is both thrilling and nerve-wracking.

This is our fourth iteration of our world-reknown Flight Deck series -bringing you the excitement of aircraft carrier-based flight. Registered users of previous versions of Flight Deck are elibible to upgrade to Flight Deck 4 for a special price. 

Here are some comments from users of the earlier versions of Flight Deck series 

"... I am very pleased with my recently purchased Flight Deck 3. Truly, the most beautifully designed carrier available - payware or freeware.", M.D. via Internet
 
"... has surpassed all my expectations ....very grateful and impressed", M.S. via Internet

"WOW! You guys are fast. I just ordered FLIGHT DECK 3 yesterday and received it today. Thanks!" 
 
 
Launch

Hurry onto the deck. It's launch time and you're next in line.

Taxi into position over the catapult. The launch team connects you.

The steam is flowing and now it's armed.

Set your brake. From his crouching position, the yellow jacketed shooter gives you thumbs up. 

It's game time. 
 
Shove the throttles forward. Release the brakes. The catapult slams you to the back of your seat. 

Before you know it, you're hanging over the deck's edge. 
 
Gear and flaps up. Pull back hard. You're up!

You can feel the sweat inside your helmet. Climb into the blue yonder.   
 

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Recovery

Flying over the sea, Mama is barely perceptible over the blue water. Drop down and you'll see your home base. 

The LSO orders you to lose altitude. Fly past and do a 180. 

Flaps down and throttle back.

Your fingers tighten around the stick. You jiggle it back and forth as you line up with the swaying deck.

Drop your gear and tailhook. Stay up there; don't loose too much height. 
 The LSO gives you the green. Hold steady. Over the edge hit the deck and give it full power.



The tailhook catches the cable . You're jolted to a screeching stop.
 Your helmut bangs against the back of your seat. You're down!




Throttle back. The cable is down. Look down for the thumbs up. Taxi off. 
 

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IFOLS "Meatball"

Here's a tool that you'll use when landing. The center light on the meatball lets you know if you're above or below the glideslope to the carrier. Click to see the IFOLS indicators, 
 
above the glideslope 
on the glideslope 
Heads Up Display

You can also use the HUD display to guide you onto the deck. On the left you can see that the aircraft icon is above the "center" mark meaning that you need to lose altitude to stay on the glideslope.
   
Special Effects

Superb workmanship and special effects add to the realism of Flight Deck 4.

See the steam venting from the deck surface at the catapult and the engine afterburners ready to get the aircraft airborne.
   

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Here's a gallery of Flight Deck 4 aircraft and equipment. For enlargement click on any image. 

  
C-2A Greyhound  
  
E-2C Hawkeye  
  
EA-6B Prowler  
  
F/A-18C HornetTM  

  
F/A-18E Super HornetTM  
 
S-3B Viking  
  
SH-60 Seahawk  

USS Ronald Reagan 
 

 
Prowler on approach  
   
Super Hornet cruising  
 
Greyhound on catapult    
   
Seahawks on deck  
 
Greyhound     
Seahawk airborne  
  
Hawkeye surveillance   
Viking airborne  

 
Tower    
  
S3 landing    
 
Prowler gear down  
 
F/A-18 Super HornetTM   

SH-60 Seahawk 
 
 
EA-6B Prowler  
F/A-18 HornetTM 
 
  
on deck traffic  
 

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Aircraft Visual Details by:
Dave Eckert
Graham Oxtoby
Massimo Taccoli
Tolga Piskin 

Launch and Recovery by:
Konstantin Kukushkin 

Aircraft Carrier by:
Turgot Piskin 

Special Instrumentation by:
Frank King 
Scott Prinz 

Flight Dyanamics by:
Laurie Gregoire 
Dennis Seeley  

Special Effects by:
Robert Baum
Ron Jeffers 

 
 Special animation:

Launch and recovery - simplified operation of catapults and cables with steam and sound effects

Aircraft: HUD, meatball, tail hook, folding wings, cowl flaps, afterburners, cargo door

Aircraft carrier: detailed lower deck, navaids, AFD, AI traffic, wake effects

Dozens of pre-set flights for each aircraft. USS Ronald Regan is positioned at 4 different locations:

Bay of Bengal 
South China Sea 
Mediterannean Sea 
Coastal San Diego 
For official information about the USS Ronald Reagan, please visit www.reagan.navy.mil or join the ship's pen pal program by writing to his email address: [email protected]
 
 
Enjoy MYTRAVEL