WWW.CVW-2.ORG.
Unlike most of the other organizations in this arena of military flight simulation, CVW-2 is all about Planes and Pilots, NOT about Policies and Procedures. As a long-time hater of absurd paperwork, I assure you that "administrivia" will be kept to the absolute minimum. Wherever possible, automated facilities will be used in flight planning, monitoring, recording, and evaluation. We automate any, and all phases of the administrative process (Pilot's Flight Scheduling and Reporting, Greenie Board, etc.).
Pilots are expected to participate in the creation and development of meaningful operations for the use of the group. The tools and templates for producing mission packages are available for your use and convenience. If we all take a turn in doing mission development, we all get to fly more, and do the things we individually want to do.
Look at the following information and, if you think this is "your kind of place with your kind of people", feel free to drop a note in the Contact CVW-2 tab, or register as indicated above. Any questions you may have may be addressed via email to info (at) cvw-2.org, or via the “CONTACT” tab on the Home Page of the website.
Why is CVW-2?
After many years of participating and observing the administration and operation of more "Virtual Airlines" than you can believe, I decided to create something a little different from the usual VA; where you take off, engage the autopilot, and stare at a "Magenta Line" on a screen for hours. This organization is an amalgam of the best points observed in the numerous others operating in the FSX/P3D arena, and is created to capture the best characteristics, while eliminating the weaknesses, of the others.
Who is CVW-2?
1. We are a group of flight simulator and real-world pilots who enjoy operating in that ridiculously small segment of FSX/P3D which supports Naval Aviation (i.e. Aircraft Carrier operations, Air to Air Refueling, close formation flight, and all phases of air-to-air and air-to-ground combat).
2. We are reasonably mature individuals, who possess a better-than-average understanding of flight concepts and principles.
3. We have all made a significant expenditure of money, time, and effort to develop and maintain our individual computing capabilities.
4. We operate in a peer group setting which will be conducive to further development and refinement of our piloting skills.
5. We are not here to impress each other with our superior knowledge, tactics, or technique.
6. While other airframes are present in the structure and operations of CVW-2, this is PRIMARILY A VRS SUPERBUG oriented organization. Other pilots are welcome to participate utilizing the representative aircraft of their squadrons, but the focus and efforts of the wing will be directed towards maximizing the utilization of the VRS F/A-18 Superbug, and all subsequent modifications, additions, and iterations, including the TAC-PACK, & FSXatWAR.
What does CVW-2 "do"?
1. We follow, as closely as possible within the confines of the flight simulator environment, the operational doctrines, and procedures of our real-world counterparts. We regularly perform Carrier operations, AAR flights, training sorties and worldwide deployments of varying nature.
2. Deployments are planned and executed which reflect the current and past operations of the real-world CVW-2, making use of the full capabilities of the aircraft we fly.
3. We communicate via the radios in the aircraft when we are flying, not by TeamSpeak or Discord, which we use as a replacement for either a PA system for briefings, or a chat room for BS sessions. In-session radio communications on JoinFS will be by use of SIMCOM X.
4. TACView logs are the definitive standard of performance recording, and vLSO will record/grade all carrier operations.
5. We assume you come to the wing qualified to fly your aircraft. This means you should be able to operate the airplane without having to pause every couple of minutes to read the manual. In the case of the Superbug, you should be able to fly the "tutorial flight". In the wing, we are here to improve technique, not learn the basic flight maneuvers. That is the function of VFA-122 in the case of the F/A-18, and they are not here.
6. Wherever possible, we utilize the latest, most detailed scenery of the fields from which we operate. While not required for each person, you should have the applicable “AFCAD” installed, as starting locations, and destination parking spots will be based on a standard field configuration.
7. Except as indicated by exception noted on the website, MAIW MATRIX software will be installed in all Prepar3d environments. Whether the “traffic” is turned on or off is immaterial. The purpose of the installation is to provide uniformity of Airport scenery, and continuity of parking place assignments (keeps from spawning on top of each other).
8. Unless required by the participation of a member operating an other-than-standard flight simulator platform, CVW-2 will establish, operate, and maintain a Prepar3d Multi-Player Host Session. When cross-platform operations are dictated, CVW-2 will establish and operate a JoinFS “HUB” at the published supported level
8. When flying in a multi-player environment, unless otherwise indicated in the OpOrder, weather will be “real-world”, and your simulation date/time should reflect real-world offset from UTC. A given sortie is one thing at 12 noon on a perfectly clear day, and something totally different at 3am during freezing rain and sleet.
9. Targets are developed using FSX@War/CCP and will be placed as close as possible to real-world available documentation. JTAC’s will be provided on occasion using CCP functionality and laser codes. When flying in the MP session, the Targets, convoys, ships, planes, tankers, and JTAC’s will be placed from the server/host of the session. This will reduce the work-load on the pilot flying the sortie, since everybody will see the same stuff. When flying SP, the packages for given flights will be made available for distribution, with the sortie packet.
What doesn't CVW-2 "do"?
1. We don't provide basic flight school instruction (T-6A's, and T-45's are for somewhere other than CVW-2).
2. We do not qualify and certify pilots for multiple airplane types in the wing. You pick an airframe and fly that one while you are here. While we may occasionally fly a Texan-II or a T-45, if combat ops with the P-51 or F-4 are your "thing", this is not the place.
3. We don't "beam ourselves by magic to areas of operations? Squadrons fly wherever we go. That is how you perfect formation flight, AAR, comm’s, cross-country navigation, etc. The only exceptions to this rule are when we operate jointly with another organization on their servers.
4. We do not use pause, slew, reset, ARRCAB refuel, tags on, LittleNavMap or Plan-G "GOD-mode Radar View ", or any of the other myriad of "cheats" within FSX/P3D.
5. We do not operate to different standards of performance based on your rank and/or seniority. The CAG, and all the other senior staff, does the same qual’s at the same currency intervals to the same standard as the newest "nugget".
6. We do not do operations based on a briefing that goes "Follow me, if you can” or "Don't let me shoot you down". You get objectives, criteria, tasks, methods, along with a post-flight debrief that DOESN'T include "I'm great and really showed you guys up".
7. We do not do DCS, BMS, LOMAC, Janes, Falcon-4, or any other simulator platform as a part of CVW-2.
8. We DON'T EVER compare our unit to, denigrate, or bad-mouth any other group. That type of behavior is for the kids, of whatever age, who populate those groups. We fly our stuff to the best of our abilities, and let the others do whatever it is they do to the best of theirs.
9. If your purpose in joining this organization is solely to fly around fast and shoot people and blow things up, this is probably not the best place for you to be. Thanks for reading this far and good luck in your future flight simulation endeavors. We wish you all the best.
Updated 01 March 2020