navychief

Welcome, Big John! I am not a modeler, but one who appreciate the efforts of those who are! You will like the group here. We are all very interested in making SFP1 better, and better. Bring on the "Sky Whale"! I have to tell you that when an A-3D (All Three Dead) would come in for a landing on a carrier; everyone would head for the catwalks! Navychief

I will admit that I look forward to the addition of a "bird farm", but I am not humilitated about not being able to land on one. It sure will be nice to have that option, though! It is so encouraging to see the interest being generated in Navy aviation squadrons! Of course I have a, shall we say "somewhat biased"?, view on things; but the forthcoming release of the A-7 Corsair, with the various Attack Squadron markings, has defiinitely got me spending a lot of time on this site! All of the modders are contributing enormously to SF, and as predicted, this sim is becoming something truly great! Here's some USS Independence pictures. One of Indy's LSOs, one of a A-3 Skywarrior, or "Sky Whale", as we called them, and one of the Indy off the coast of Grenada. I was with VA-15 onboard the Indy at the time that picture was taken Go NAVAIR! and Have a great Navy/Marine Corps day! Oooohrah! Navychief

Hey thanks, Dagger I plan to download and install soon. FS9 is quite impressive, eh? I was able to take only a few flight lessons before the cash ran out, darn it. So flight simming is the closest I will get to the real thing. Thanks. navychief

I would like to find out if perhaps there is an interest in forming a virtual carrier airwing to fly SFP1. I don't have the expertise to it or a web page for it, but am sure someone out there does. Not even sure if such an idea is plausible, but wondered if it could work. Naturally, such an airwing would be comprised of several squadrons, all Navy: A-7, F-4, F-8, A-6, RA-5C.... Navychief

Hey Fast Eagle! You have been UA! No, wait, it's been way over 30 days, you were AWOL!! Do me a favor, PLEASE, and send me an email, so I know how to contact you? I have a lot to tell you, so please contact me when you have time! Thanks, and it is great to hear from you. Welcome back, shipmate! AMEC(AW) Peter C. Ward, USN, Retired AKA...........Da Navychief

Ahem..... Now you got me started. Rules as they apply to The Chief THE CHIEF IS ALWAYS RIGHT. IN THE IMPOSSIBLE HYPOTHESIS THAT A SUBORDINATE MAY BE RIGHT, SEE ABOVE. THE CHIEF DOES NOT SLEEP, HE RESTS. THE CHIEF IS NEVER LATE, HE IS DETAINED ELSEWHERE. THE CHIEF NEVER LEAVES WORK, HIS PRESENCE IS REQUIRED ELSEWHERE. THE CHIEF NEVER READS THE PAPER IN THE MESS, HE STUDIES. THE CHIEF NEVER GOES ON LIBERTY WITH HIS JUNIORS, HE CONDUCTS TRAINING SESSIONS. WHOEVER CONFRONTS THE CHIEF WITH AN IDEA OF HIS OWN, MUST LEAVE WITH THE CHIEF'S IDEA. THE CHIEF IS ALWAYS THE CHIEF, EVEN IN HIS SHOWER SHOES. and then there's: THE LEGEND OF THE CPO FAIRY The legend of the CPO fairy has been lost for centuries, but has made a comeback in recent years. As the legend goes, the CPO fairy was a brave selectee, who was far and again above all other selectees, but seconds after the cherished moment (pinning on the anchors), the brave selectee died as a result of the initiation proceedings. So, impressed was the judge, that the brave selectee was posthumously promoted to E-9. Now the ghost of that brave selectee, the CPO Fairy, appears each year at this time to protect all selectees. Now, all selectees can have a guardian angel through the initiation by just placing a collar devise under their pillow and saying the following prayer; CPO fairy, please protect me I've worked very hard to become a selectee Keep me safe initiation day Save my money, and this I pray.... I'll be brave and I won't budge And I'll honor you with "KISS OFF JUDGE!" No one ever sees the CPO fairy, but it's real, and you know its been there by the little piles of khaki "Ca Ca" it leaves everywhere, to bless the path of new CPO's. and my ALL TIME FAVORITE: The Chain of Command Admiral - Leaps over tall buildings with a single bound. Is more powerful than a locomotive. Is faster than a speeding bullet. Walks on water. Gives policy guidance to God. Captain - Leaps short buildings with a single bound. Is more powerful than a small engine. Is just as fast as a speeding bullet. Walks on water if the sea is calm. Talks with GOD. Commander - Leaps short buildings with a running start. Is almost as powerful as a small engine. Is slower than a speeding bullet. Walks on water in indoor swimming pools. Talks with GOD if special form is provided. Lieutenant commander - Barely clears little huts. Lose tug of war with small engine . Can fire a speeding bullet. Swims well. Is occasionally addressed by GOD. Lieutenant - Crashes into buildings trying to leap over them. Is run over by small engines. Can sometimes handle a gun without inflicting self injury. Dog paddles. Talks to animals. Lieutenant Junior Grade - Cannot recognize buildings. Recognizes small engines two or three times. Is not issued ammunition. Can stay afloat if instructed in Mae West. Talks to walls. Ensign - Falls over doorstep when trying to enter a building. Says"Look at the Choo-choo" when locomotive passes by. Not allowed elastic for his slingshot. Plays in puddles. Mumbles to himself. Chief Petty Officer - Lifts tall buildings and walks under them. Kicks Locomotives off tracks. Catches Bullets in teeth and eats them. Freezes water with a single glance. He is GOD. Have a Great Navy Day... navychief P.S. For a GREAT site about Chief Petty Officers, go to the "Goat Locker" at: http://goatlocker.org/cpo.htm

Well, after much frustration and consternation, I flew two successful hops, via IFR in a EA-6B. Flew from SEATAC to NAS Whidbey Island. A very short flight, but wanted to try my hand at IFR. FS9 works really neat, what with ATC directions and all. I had never tried IFR, but I found it to be fairly simple. One thing I haven't figured out, though, is how to use the "altitude hold". I assigned it to one of my throttle buttons, but it doesn't work. Navychief

Hey Beer Well, I chose to fly my IFR flight in clear, sunny weather, just to see how it works. Next time, I plan to set the weather at thunderstorms....and see how I do. Navychief

I have to agree with Dagger, as I really like the EA-6B Prowler, and the way it handles. Excellent! But where can I find a Navy A-7 that will work with FS2004? "Ain't" found one yet. The FS2002 will not work right. Navychief

I was wondering if there are any real life A-7 drivers out there? I would like to configure my CH Pro 568 Combatstick and Throttle to emulate as best as possible the actual controls for a Corsair. Perhaps that won't be practical; but thought I would ask anyway. I read a post recently that someone had assigned one of the buttons on his joystick for when he used a comm program. I thought that was a great idea. And so I thought, why not try to copy assignments from true-to-life A-7 controls to sim controls????? Navychief

Thanks Dagger and Seawolf I have noticed that some of the features on 2002 military aircraft do not work in FS2004. For example, when I transferred a RA-5C to FS2004, the landing gear are not there. Somewhat disconcerting, to say the least! Also, I was not able to find a Navy Corsair, darn it. Found a link to one, but is dead, and the only other one is a National Guard type, and the colors don't transfer well to FS2004. navychief

Well, I broke down and bought FS2004 today. I have only flown once, in a DC-3, but have to say I am most impressed. The graphics are beautiful; specifically, the ground detailing is superb! Will aircraft created for earlier versions of FS work with this version? Navychief

Thanks, Seawolf I still have some contacts in the Jacksonville, Fl area who were in VA-15 with me. One of them was the Maintenance Officer at the time, and I hopeful he will have some contacts. I will email him about it. Thanks. Navychief

Well, I finally broke down and bought IL2. Actually, I got both IL2 and FB for 26 bucks on Ebay. Not too bad. I am gonna need a lot of help with this sim, though. Heck, I am having a hell of a time just getting off the ground! I am using all CH Pro equip, and the trim seems all messed up for the pitch control. Navychief

Great idea, MJ! I doubt seriously that I will run out of pictures to post anytime soon! Navychief

Thanks, Seawolf! Maybe I should just start a thread called, "Navy Chief's Scrapbook", and continually post my pictures there. Sorry if I "Hogged" the new postings too much. I was going through a lot of my stuff yesterday, and found those pictures. Juat had to post them. The closer to the release of the Corsair, the more anxious I get for it to happen! I am so looking forward to my first test flight! navychief Go Valions, and how 'bout them "Rammies"!!!!!??? (VA-83 Rampagers)

This picture was taken around 1985 or 1986. At the time, I was assigned to VFA-106 (Gladiators), a Fleet Replacement Squadron. They used to call them "RAG" outfits, but the PC crowd decided that term was derogatory, as it somehow referred to a woman's time of the month. Go figure. So now the acronym is "FRS". The A-7 in the picture is from VA-174, the A-7 "RAG" squadron, hehehehe....... Navychief

I agree that this is really exciting! There are so many new aircraft that will be added to this already great sim; and it seems like almost every day now, we hear of more fantastic mods that are on the way. Just gotta be patient, is all. The end will most definitely justify the long wait, for sure. "Now start all jets, and launch the Hummer!" navychief

Here are two pictures from two Naval Aviation magazines. One from Naval Aviation News, March-April 1989, and the other from Wings Of Gold, Fall 1990. Navychief

When I was at NATC Patuxent River in the early 1970s, there was an A-7A Corsair, BUNO 152650 that was assigned to North Site Maintenance. The aircraft was eventually retired, and sent to NAS Cecil Field to become a "gate guard" for the base. In 1998, NAS Cecil Field was closed by the BRAC commission, but I have not been able to find out what happened to the display Corsair. The picture of a/c 650, was taken at the NAS Pax River base Catapults. Navychief

Here's one of the VA-15 Valions. Not sure where the picture was taken. Navychief

Some of you already know, but I posted a message on Sim HQ, asking about the possibility of adding Wake Island to SFP1. I just think it would be a great place for landings/take offs. I spend just over a week there in 1996, and it is the most beautiful place I had ever seen. Scuba diving is a once in a lifetime experience there. So many sunken ships, right off Wake's coast. The fighting by the US Marines there was so intense, that you can literally walk the coastline on Wake, and pick up .30 cal shells. MajorLee is hard at it, working on Wake Island. Thanks, MajorLee!!! Navychief

Will do, Trashman. I hope it arrives in the mail soon. Navychief

I haven't even thought about buying LOMAC yet. I only just recently broke down and bought IL2 Sturmovik, and The Forgotten Battles, because I got great price for them as a set on Ebay. SFP1 is still the sim I want to fly the most, mainly because of the Vietnam Era aircraft. I love flying the F-4, and I REALLY look forward to the Corsair, Crusader, and the Vigilante. All beautiful and powerful aircraft. No offense meant to anyone in advance, but the F-16 doesn't have the "class" that a Phantom has. And it never will. Navychief Naval Aviation..........rules!

Hey XO Yep. If the CO was still interested, I think he would have posted by now. Either that, or he is way too busy with his new assignment to have time for gaming; which is ok. I understand that. So, I want to look at establishing a new squadron, and I am thinking that a composite squadron might be possible. Only question I have is how that would work with MP? I will probably be flying the A-7 mostly, and specifically, VA-15, or VA-83. Chief