Information needed on NAS Cecil Field, FL

[retnavycpo]

Thanks for the google earth picture, E6bflyer. My best friend from the Navy retired from a VQ squadron at Tinker a couple years ago. He's AT1 Fran Mchale. The finest LPO I ever had the honor of having work for me. Great guy.

Anyway, the email I got from the designer about his FCLP question said this:
"I will probably have to remodel it bit it's good to know what it looks like. The current equipment has all been removed so does not show on the Google of Cecil. Can you tell me where the carrier training traps would have been? If you want them?"

He obviously did not find the Google picture you found. What would be great is a picture of the actual arresting gear...and that site. The attached picture is roughly what the simulation FCLP will look like.

Pete

 

[nittany03]

Thanks for the google earth picture, E6bflyer. My best friend from the Navy retired from a VQ squadron at Tinker a couple years ago. He's AT1 Fran Mchale. The finest LPO I ever had the honor of having work for me. Great guy.

Anyway, the email I got from the designer about his FCLP question said this:
"I will probably have to remodel it bit it's good to know what it looks like. The current equipment has all been removed so does not show on the Google of Cecil. Can you tell me where the carrier training traps would have been? If you want them?"

He obviously did not find the Google picture you found. What would be great is a picture of the actual arresting gear...and that site. The attached picture is roughly what the simulation FCLP will look like.

Pete

I think your designer has a misconception about FCLP. The arresting gear at shore bases is not collocated with the FCLP box. There is no such thing as a "carrier training trap" at the field; they're all touch-and-go. The purpose of the arresting gear at the field is for emergencies only. If it was in the middle of the FCLP box, we'd be knocking it out of battery all the time.

 

[A4sForever]

...... There is no such thing as a "carrier training trap" at the field; they're all touch-and-go. The purpose of the arresting gear at the field is for emergencies only. ...

You are correct, of course.

But just for the sake of historical interest, there WAS a time when field arrestments were SOP and the occurence was an everyday part of the launch and recovery cycle. Without it --- some SEA airfields -- namely Chu Lai in the RVN -- could not have functioned like they did ...

Leave it to the Marines .... heck -- they -- SATS/EAF -- have even got their own association!!!

SHORT AIRFIELD FOR TACTICAL SUPPORT (SATS) History

 

[retnavycpo]

Virtual NAS Cecil Field Scenery almost finished....

The NAS Cecil Field scenery for use with Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2004 is almost done. John Stinstrom is the designer, and he has done a wonderful job, in recreating this great base. Sadly, all but the hangars have been replaced.

But with this scenery, vets like myself can "relive" those days.

The screenshots are of VR-57, bringing VA-83 squadron personnel home, after a long deployment on the USS Forrestal (CV-59).

Go NAVAIR.

AMEC (AW) Peter C. Ward, USN, (Ret.)

 

[retnavycpo]

Navy pilots hot dogging it at Cecil

Those Navy pilots are always showing off. Good reason, since they are the best, period.

NC

 

[phrogpilot73]

It looks good, does any of that work on FSX?

 

[retnavycpo]

As I understand it, no. But according to a friend of mine who designs aircraft (RAZBAM simulations), it is much easier to create/mod scenery in FSX. I have only just reinstalled FSX since the release of SP1. It was a piece of sh.. before that, and I wouldn't have it on my computer. But it is much more stable now. But I have had FS9 since its release, and there isn't much that I don't have for it.

Navy Chief

 

[FastMover]

As I understand it, no. But according to a friend of mine who designs aircraft (RAZBAM simulations), it is much easier to create/mod scenery in FSX.

Does this mean that all of this stuff can be retrofitted to work on FSX?

Everything looks good!

 

[retnavycpo]

You got me on that one. But I will endeavor to find out. I am interested in doing just that.

NC

 

[FastMover]

Hey Chief, what's the latest on this project? Any idea on a release date or whether this stuff will work on FSX?

I'm supposed to be working on a land surveying project out at Cecil Field later this week. If you need any pics let me know. I may be able to help out if I can get my POS digital camera to work.

 

[retnavycpo]

NAS Cecil Field FS scenery

Hey Chief, what's the latest on this project? Any idea on a release date or whether this stuff will work on FSX?

I'm supposed to be working on a land surveying project out at Cecil Field later this week. If you need any pics let me know. I may be able to help out if I can get my POS digital camera to work.

Very glad you asked about this! The FS9 scenery of NAS Cecil Field was finished a few weeks ago, and is wonderful! It's posted on AVSIM, and FLIGHTSIM.COM.

But now here's the thing. I have absolutely NO experience with scenery creation or modification. Only just recently, I purchased Flight1's Instant Scenery. I highly recommend it, although I am still just now learning to use it.

If you have, or KNOW someone who can make the conversion from FS9 to FSX for NAS Cecil Field, please let me know. The creator of this scenery has already told me he'll gladly furnish me with anything I need to do that, including all the source files. I would'nt know what to do with them, so am asking you...thinking you might.

I appreciate your offer of assistance with pictures. Wish I'd had them a couple months ago!!! But the end results of the project are impressive, to me, at least. If you download and install it, notice the squadron symbols on the hangar doors (two large hangars that look identical). Those symbols are of the A-7 Squadrons (all of them) which had been homebased at Cecil. Originally the symbols were affixed to the squadron walk-in entrances on the parkinglot side of the hangar. But it didn't make sense to place them there, since most folks would'nt think to look for it in flight simulation. So the creator and I made the decision to put them on the hangar doors, so they'd be seen.

Pete Ward

Pls let me know if you can help!!!

 

[FastMover]

Sorry Chief...I'm about as computer illiterate as they come. Anything beyond pointing, clicking, and typing and I'm lost.

It might be worth asking the guys at SimHQ if they can help. I wouldn't know where to begin.

 

[retnavycpo]

Sorry Chief...I'm about as computer illiterate as they come. Anything beyond pointing, clicking, and typing and I'm lost.

It might be worth asking the guys at SimHQ if they can help. I wouldn't know where to begin.

Thanks anyway for your quick response. To be honest, I haven't even done further research on this, as my house appliances (including my game computer) took a lightning hit a week ago last Friday. My computer isn't trashed, but it's in the shop, going through diagnostic tests. I want to ascertain just what needs replaced, prior to submitting claim to insurance company. Hope to be "back in business" by middle of next week.

Pete

 

[navyao]

The NAS Cecil Field scenery for use with Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2004 is almost done. John Stinstrom is the designer, and he has done a wonderful job, in recreating this great base. Sadly, all but the hangars have been replaced.

But with this scenery, vets like myself can "relive" those days.

The screenshots are of VR-57, bringing VA-83 squadron personnel home, after a long deployment on the USS Forrestal (CV-59).

Go NAVAIR.

AMEC (AW) Peter C. Ward, USN, (Ret.)

BZ AMEC! Not sure if you're familiar with it or not but, here's a link you might want to take a look at:

http://www.vusn.org/

I spend my spare time flying Wings Over Vietnam & Strike Fighters. I wish I could enlist you to build scenery like NAS Cecil Fld. for my sim. Keep up the great work!

AO2

 

[FastMover]

I was at Cecil Field all day yesterday finding locations for drillers to insert PVC pipes into the ground around the Navair/Boeing hangar. Apparently the Navy used a type of degreaser (TCE, TCP, something to that effect) that is hazardous and is now in danger of seeping down into the local aquifer. The drillers are going to insert some type of microorganism into the ground that is supposed to eat this stuff up before it gets into the water.

I wanted to take a camera to make some pics but cameras were prohibited along the flight line, so no dice there.

In many places it looked like the Navy had just left yesterday...especially around the Boeng F/A-18 hangar where we were working. The VFA-105 CO/XO/CMC parking spots were still marked in the parking lot. There was also a large STRIKEFITRON 37 emblem inside the doorway in the building. The movie theater, exchange, uniform shop, etc. are all still there. The biggest difference that I noticed is that the entrance to the base has now been completly changed.