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Aircraft Catapult with Aircraft Carrier by Uncle T

647 Bricks.

This is a concept for a working, reusable aircraft catapult and I also made a very simple WWII style aircraft carrier to put it on.

IMPORTANT NOTE!
I have built and tested this vehicle in single player and at 144 FPS. I have NO idea how the catapult is going to behave at lower (or higher) FPS and in multiplayer with ping, server lag, low FPS and all that. I'm guessing it'll be horrible. But that's how the game and the in-game physics "work" sadly.

To drive the ship, get into the driver's seat in the bridge (not the same as the spawn seat):
WASD: Drive.
H/Horn: Horn.

Operating the catapult is a bit more complicated. It can be fired from the operator's seat if you play in MP (if that's even possible) but also from the plane if you are playing SP.
The catapult works with planes at least up to the size of my Mitsubishi G4M, so single and double propeller planes, fighters, ground attack aircraft and light to even medium bombers.
It's a bit trickier but it also works with tricycle landing gears (i.e. with a nosewheel).
I have NOT tested the catapult with jet engine aircraft since they usually can take off on a 150 metre runway anyway in the game.

Catapult operation
1. It's usually a good idea to pin the ship before using the catapult since the sled can get the Brick Rigs shakes sometimes even in SP at high FPS.
2. Get in the catapult operator's seat, which is the one hanging off the side of the ship next to the catapult.
3. If it's the first time you use the catapult after spawning in, press Fire action 1/Num 1 while in the seat to remove the orange spawning-in sled holders on either side. These prevent the sled from jumping off its tracks when spawning in. Mind the flying debris. Make sure to remove any remaining detonators so they don't interfere with the sled.
4. Make sure the handbrake of the sled is engaged, as indicated by red lights on top of the sled and on the wheels. The handbrake is operated from the catapult operator's seat with Space/Handbrake.
5. Spawn in the plane as straight as possible and on top of or close to the sled.
6. WITH MINIMAL THROTTLE drive the plane SLOWLY onto the sled, over the little bump, until it hits the front stopper flap. Then set throttle to idle and make sure the planes handbrake is engaged. It's usually a good idea to go to idle and brake/engage hand brake as you go over the bump.
7. Raise the wheel stopper flaps that are on the sled to stop the planes wheels from rolling off the sled when it accelerates. I've made it so you can choose what flaps to use to avoid any under-wing or under-fuselage ordnance getting in the way, so only raise the necessary flaps just behind the wheels.
8. Disengage the sled's handbrake from the operators seat. The red lights on the sled will go off.
9. Make sure the pilot is in the plane. ;)
10. Start the engine and start revving it up as either the catapult operator or the pilot (with the help of some right mouse button holding free-look while in Alt-mode) launches the catapult with the red button on the little pole between the operator's seat and the catapult.
11. Start pitching up about half way to the white line, where the catapult will abruptly stop.
12. The plane usually slides up out of the catapult before the stop, but if not just pitch up and the plane takes off when the catapult stops.
13. The catapult brakes VERY hard and starts slowly rolling backwards. The catapult operator can then use the Up and Down Arrow keys to make the sled move forwards (Up) and backwards (Down). They can also use S/Brake to brake it and as mentioned before Space/handbrake to keep it stationary when in position. The white starting line shows where the sled should approximately be placed for the pilot to be able to fire the catapult from the plane, but if you have an operator you can start a bit further back or forward.
14. Once the catapult sled is back in position repeat steps 4 to 13 and you can catapult another plane into the air. Don't forget to lower the wheel holding flaps before trying to drive another plane onto the sled!

Catapult Operator's controls:
Fire action 1/Num 1: Remove orange spawning-in sled holders.
Space/Handbrake: Handbrake on sled.
Red button next to seat: Fire catapult.
Up/Down arrows: Move sled forwards and backwards.
S/Brake: Brake on sled.

The "hidden" lying down seat on the catapult is just for testing and if you want a fun ride. :)

Feel free to edit and copy in any way you want but it's always niceto acknowledge the original creation and creator if you re-upload publically. :)

Have fun!