How do I Model a Takeoff from an Aircraft Carrier?

Using Aviator, you can use the STK Vehicle Site and Launch procedure to model a takeoff from an aircraft carrier. Simply create a VGT point representing the catapult start, create a VGT vector to represent the cat track, and set a min launch speed 150 EAS +- and 3 G acceleration.

Below are the steps to build this scenario in STK's Aviator and Analysis Workbench capabilities.

Create a new scenario

1. Launch STK 12.
2. Create a new scenario called Carrier_Takeoff.
3. Set the stop time to +1 hour after the start time.
4. Click OK.
5. Right-click in your 3D Graphics window and select Properties.
6. Open the Advanced page and select the Use checkbox for Depth Cone / Buffer Crossover.
7. Click OK to save the changes and close the window.
8. Right-click the scenario object, select Properties, and go to the 3D Graphics – Global Attributes page.
9. Change the "Surface Reference of Earth Globes" to “Mean Sea Level.”
10. Save the scenario.

Create the aircraft carrier

1. Insert a new ship object using the Define Properties method.
2. Under Altitude Reference, set Reference to MSL.
3. Set Route Calculation Method to “Specify Time.”
4. Click the Insert Point button and specify the following: Latitude = 33.5 deg, Longitude = -120 deg, and Altitude = 10 m (to center the aircraft carrier model on the water surface).
5. Click the Insert Point button again and specify the following: Latitude = 33.6 and change Time to one hour after the time of the first point.
6. Click Apply.
7. In the 3D Graphics – Model page, under Model, click the ellipsis for Model File and select the file aircraft-carrier.mdl.
8. Right-click the Ship1 object in the Object Browser and select Zoom To.
9. Right-click the Ship1 object again and select Analysis Workbench.
10. Click the "Create new Point" button (in the middle of the window) to create a point for Ship1. Specify the following in the Add Geometry Component dialog box:
    1. Name = “CatapultStart”
    2. Z = 3 m
11. Save the scenario.

Create the aircraft

1. Insert a new aircraft by defining properties.
2. Change the propagator to “Aviator”.
3. Change the aircraft type to “Basic Fighter”.
4. Right-click phase1 and select "Insert first procedure."
5. Select the STK Vehicle site type.
6. In the Link To section, make sure the ship is selected, then click Next.
7. Select Launch.
8. Change the Position Point to Ship1 CatapultStart.
9. Enable the minimum launch airspeed.
10. Click OK.
11. Insert a new procedure after the Launch procedure.
12. Select STK Object Waypoint then click Next
13. Select Holding Circular; then set the following values:
    1. Clear the default altitude checkbox.
    2. Set the MSL to 1000 ft.
    3. Set the Range to 0 nm.
    4. Set the Diameter to 2 nm.
    5. Click Finish.
14. Click OK to apply the changes.
15. Right-click the aircraft and select Zoom To.
16. Decrease the animation time step and then click play.
17. Save the scenario.