[Guide] Harrier Vertical Takeoff

[CanuckCommander]

This is a short guide on how to takeoff vertically in the Harrier with 100% success rate within the shortest amount of time possible. If done right, this might be faster than taxiing to the end of runway from where CAS Harriers spawn.

Steps:

1) Vertical lift to 120m (minimum) *note: must be a bit forward away from Carrier since the deck is 22m high, you'll need the extra meters.

2) Immediately throttle to 100%

3) At the same time, point nose up 30-45 degrees **THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT** (Most people fail because they don't do this to point the exhaust toward the ground).

4) The jet should fall until you have 10-30m left and start lifting. When you start moving forward, pull up hard.

Congrats, you just did a successful (while not very realistic) vertical takeoff.

[Jafar Ironclad]

That being said, a vertical takeoff is all parts slow, risky, and outclassed by simply lining up on the runway and taking off conventionally.

Note: During the conventional takeoff, there is a chance you may take damage on the ramp if you're going too fast at that point. We will fix this in a later version. For now, avoid using afterburner when taking off, and don't start from all the way at the end of the runway; you can safely launch from the east side of the tower.

[40mmrain]

we ought to test the two against each other.

sometimes there is a bit of a traffic jam on the invincible, and having to turn the GR3 around is a little bit annoying. For the Sea harrier, it is worthless.

[CanuckCommander]

That being said, a vertical takeoff is all parts slow, risky, and outclassed by simply lining up on the runway and taking off conventionally.

Note: During the conventional takeoff, there is a chance you may take damage on the ramp if you're going too fast at that point. We will fix this in a later version. For now, avoid using afterburner when taking off, and don't start from all the way at the end of the runway; you can safely launch from the east side of the tower.

By the time, you taxi from where the CAS harriers spawn and where you need to takeoff, you would still need time to turn around and line up. Vertical takeoff is NOT risky. If you do it like I said, you have 100% chance of success and it doesn't take that long to get to 120m.

Nope, only time you take damage is when you pull up during takeoff. I made that mistake a few times. Don't pull up, just let the ramp do its job. Only pull up after you're airborne. Otherwise, your tail will hit the ramp and you will blow up after takeoff.

Note: Why do Harriers have afterburners? That's unrealistic. I thought there weren't any in game, so I never pressed shift.

[Jafar Ironclad]

They have VERY slight afterburners, as does the A-4, for minor maneuver boosts, catching up in formations, and a better transition from vertical to forward flight. The real planes of course lack burners, so no sound or visual effect.

[Rhino]

Can't say I approve of this myself...

I would advise all players to take off normally, it really doesn't take long, even for the GR3s on the front of the carrier to taxi all the way up.

They have VERY slight afterburners, as does the A-4, for minor maneuver boosts, catching up in formations, and a better transition from vertical to forward flight. The real planes of course lack burners, so no sound or visual effect.

Ye, basically its a "fake afterburner" with no visual or sound effects, but very, very slightly increases your speed, for the main purpose of catching up in formations in the same way jets with proper ABs catch up in formations (but nothing like as effective).

[PLODDITHANLEY]

Landing vertically is good (and realistic), I was watching the traffic jams

[Rhino]

Landing vertically is really the only way to land, other than a rolling landing but that's hard to do well and requires a complete opened up runway.

[jorge_prargentina]

thank you very much for the guide, I had this problem xD

[Daniel]

Yeah, ONLY if runway is full the vert. takeoff is the best (and coolest!!!) way to get airborne the fastest way!

[Bringerof_D]

for take offs as mentioned DONT TOUCH THE STICK. there's a very good reason for this both IRL and in game. Do as one is supposed to, hands off. dont touch the stick till you've cleared the deck completely.

remember the mechanics of an aircraft. the plane does not actually bring it's nose up. what actually happens is that the tail is pushed down.

[Xavo|xXx]

remember the mechanics of an aircraft. the plane does not actually bring it's nose up. what actually happens is that the tail is pushed down.

Which brings the nose up..? Not sure what you're trying to say. Moving an aileron up, forces the other wing down - to put it simply every action has an equal and opposite reaction (provided centre of balance is near the middle).

[Rhino]

Basically what Bringerof is saying is if your going fast enough when going up the ramp and you pull up hard your tail smashes into the deck which is why sometimes you take damage when taking off.

[Xavo|xXx]

Ah right, I see what you mean. The momentum of the aircraft is still pretty much horizontal, despite the nose being high - which means the rear of the a/c is lower and hits the ramp before the a/c can climb.

[Gracler]

I almost always take off vertically unless if the server isnt full or im sure noone is gonna fool around on the deck. Especially on the "air control" version ( i guess it is the ALT version) it is a terrible situation with the traffic... I once crashed myself into the sea evading a guy pulling in-front of me just as I was getting thrust.

At about 100m altitude going 90 degree like a spaceshuttle also works, for me but it is absoulte minimum.

[Ca6e]

Ok, taking off is not problem, at least anymore, but how the hack u land verticaly, tried everything on test airfield map, but it always drug my nose down. Can somebody write down how u do it.

[Rhino]

The Harriers current on Test Airfield have different, older, buggy code from the Harriers in PR:F which have fully working code. I suggest you try flying the Harriers on PR:F in either local, or on a server running the Vehicle Warfare mode as loosing a vehicle in that mode doesn't cost any tickets and their are an infinite number of aircraft that spawn very quickly so even if you destroy all the jets on the deck they will all be back in 30secs or so

As for landing, with the Harriers in PR:F, assuming your at full speed in forward flight at roughly 100m altitude, put the engines into full reverse (ie, full vertical) 3kms out from the Carrier and you should come to a hover next to it. If you are going to overshoot it slightly do turn away and then back towards the ships stern for your landing. If your going to undershoot you can put your engine into full power (providing your not going too slow) and you will gain forward speed pretty quickly then shove it back into full reverse after picking up just enough speed to see you there easily
Then just hover next to the ship, slide over the landing zone, and ease off the throttle till you land on the deck, taxi to the ramp/plane stand on the side to reload, done