Black Aces Message Board

For catapult launch, trim settings should provide for a hands-off cat stroke and launch. Hornet's FCS is supposed to put you in the air with no pilot input until a positive climb rate is achieved. That's what the "towel bar" handle is for. The "shooter" is not supposed to send the plane until he see's the pilot's right hand gripping the towel bar, NOT on the stick. Left hand is supposed to be holding the throttle in AB so that momentum from the cat stroke doesn't retard the throttle.

For runway take-offs, I don't know. Seems to be more-or-less pilot preference. Personally, I like I lot of trim to let the nose come up by itself by 170 kts. More weight, more trim.

from what ive read(not sure how true, its from the internet) 12 degrees for shore take off and pull back on stick at around 150