Turn the lights down. While this is all very visible on our monitors, it is a little sketchy from jpg's.

The two hardest things in YAP are landing on a carrier at night (and in the weather) and not cursing. Strangely, they both seem to happen at the same time.

So, let's dive in...in a manner of speaking.

The problem is putting this:



onto this:



See the ship? That bunch of dots out there? That's home, sweet, home. But this shot shows the radar view also. There is the Ticonderoga about 4 miles ahead, the only blip on the sea.



So let's get the easy stuff out of the way first. Gear, flaps and hook down.



And remember from Day Quals that you have to offset to line up on the angled deck.
When the yellow centerline lights are lined up, you are on course.



Poor planning has me trying to save a bad approach...a bad idea. I have overshot and I am high. But, why not? Maybe I can force it on.



Nope. Stupid. What is the procedure? Full throttle, boards up, flaps up...NOT GEAR UP! Maintain flying speed. Do not yank the nose into the air. Ejecting into the ocean at night at low altitude is...not good.

You bolter...and right here you probably cursed. See what I mean?

Let it touch if it is going to touch. But if you think you are committed to a bounce, better get that hook up. Catching the last wire in YAP at high speed will result in a Wiley Coyote scene with you hanging out over the bow getting ready to get run over by the captain.



Okay. Get your bearings and catch your breath. Turn onto downwind at 800 feet and start configuring again.



This time, be at the right altitude and airspeed and on course farther out. This looks pretty good this time. Remember the speed that gives you that yellow donut. When you disappear the cockpit, you will need to hold that speed down to the deck.



Now line up, recheck gear, FULL flaps, hook down and landing light on. Concentrate on where you know the wires are. Keep it descending at a steady rate. If it feels like it is going low respond immediately, with throttle, raise flaps to takeoff position but continue the approach. If you cannot see down onto the deck, you are going to fly into the fantail.

Here, you are a little high but a little slow so you are good.



I had no time to stop and take a picture or I would have boltered again. This is me on deck, canopy up, getting out of the way.



So, let's recap: Join the Air Force. They have 10000 foot runways.

OR this: Plan your approach. Do not accept a bad position and try to force it on. You have the gas, go around. Otherwise, you will have invested 45-minutes bombing trucks under flares in Pack Two while dodging 57mm tracers just to come home and become a bug splat. If you think that's a lot of pressure, you just got the point of Yankee Air Pirate.

Now go change airplanes to something HUGE and try it. F-4B, RA-5C, KA-3B, A-6A.

Piece of cake.

This is one of the reasons I'm loving this game ; the tension and efforts one goes trough.
... and the level of detail , it makes it so immersive , I still see something new every time I boot this game up!

b.t.w. I would like to thank you and your team for this nice piece of work ( ... might say a labor of love?)

greetings from Holland!