Crashing on carrier landing

[James Sterrett]

I've got an odd problem: I come in to land at the carrier in the first Single Mission. I'm at a speed of 100, wheels down, all nice and steady. Then the autopilot takes over, the fighter accelerates, and crashes into the front wall of the hangar. Any ideas on the source of the trouble? [:(]

I'm using a Saitek X-35/36 joystick, Windows XP, Starshatter 4.0.

[Mehrunes]

There is no autopilot on landing, you should still have full control over your fighter during the landing scene. Is this repeatable?

[James Sterrett]

It is repeatable.

By "autopilot", I mean the point at which control is taken away from me - the view switches to an external view of the fighter, and it should (and does in training) move into the hanger a bit more, stop, and the mission should then end.

Instead, the control is taken from me, the fighter accelerates into the wall, and explodes.

[TheDeadlyShoe]

Thing is, control is not taken away from you, it only changes the camera angle. You still have full control over the fighter, at least until it is "grabbed" by the arresting gear. If you wanted to, you could mash your forward thrusters, back out of the bay, and you'd be back in space.

Typically I trim my flight path lower and brake a bit at that stage. The braking (end-button) and translation (HAT-switch) thrusters on fighters are very powerful. In fact they are typically all I use on final approach. I go in at, uh, higher-than-recommended velocities (heh) and brake near the bay.

[James Sterrett]

Ah-ha.... I'll give that a try, and try to keep the fighter under control after the view change as well.

[Erik Rutins]

James,

Aim for the "X" and try to bring your speed down even further if you're having problems getting the hangar bay to "catch" you.

Regards,

- Erik

[James Sterrett]

Thanks, guys. It's working now; I was getting confused by the appearance of "Auto" and the view shift, thinking I didn't need to do more. Greater attention and caution = safe landings.