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help needed

PostPosted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 4:32 pm
by bluebird121
;) can anyone help me. i am trying to fly the cessna 172 in the 2 nd  part of century of flight. but when i come to bank the wings they seem to get stuck in that mode and not roll back straight as quickly is i thought it should. am i banking the wings too much??

Re: help needed

PostPosted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 4:38 pm
by legoalex2000
2nd part of Century of Flight. not sure what your talking about

are you using your keyboard or joystick to ryaw, bank, and pitch?

Re: help needed

PostPosted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 4:47 pm
by bluebird121
:-[ok it is the part where you learn to taxi . stalling etc.. it is flying  steep banking then  learning  the vor..s but i will have another shot at it..

Re: help needed

PostPosted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 5:41 pm
by beaky
:-[ok it is the part where you learn to taxi . stalling etc.. it is flying  steep banking then  learning  the vor..s but i will have another shot at it..


Not too sure what exactly you're describing, but in flight, when you bank, you want to roll the plane just to a certain point, then neutralize. If you have a stick or yoke controller, "neutralize" means:: return it to center. If you're using buttons, it means take your finger off the button! You might even have to tap the opposite button a few times to stop that movement.  The plane should more or less hold that angle until you say otherwise. If you "tell" the plane to, say, roll left, and you don't stop pushing that button or leaning your stick (or whatever you've got) when you reach the angle you want, it'll just keep rolling over.  A hint:  with the 172, for normal turns, you should bank only about 20 degrees left or right of center. The Attitude Indicator will show you- if the center needle in that blue area is on the 2nd line left or right of center, that's 20 degrees (each line represents 10 degrees).  
Also, very important: the 172 is not a snappy roller. It may also just be that you're not giving it enough time...
Hope that helps- good luck!

Re: help needed

PostPosted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 5:44 pm
by bluebird121
;)thanks very much for your advice..i have had another few tries and find it  a bit easier now that i do not bank the wings too much..if at first you don't succeed etc.. ;)

Re: help needed

PostPosted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:27 pm
by beaky
if at first you don't succeed etc.. ;)


True, true... especially when it comes to learning to fly. There's a lot about it that runs against one's instincts; very alien at first.
Now go and practice!

Re: help needed

PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 4:55 am
by bluebird121
;) i have managed to almost get there but i keep getting told my bank is too shallow. does that mean i am not applying enough power ? :)oh i have a force feedback joystick by the way..

Re: help needed

PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:18 am
by Nav
bluebird, to bank, it's important to move the stick with decision, not nibble at it.

Re: help needed

PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:23 am
by bluebird121
;)thanks again..i have been trying flying outwith the lessons and they have been great fun.however i will try  the manoever you suggested and see what happens..  ;)

Re: help needed

PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:44 am
by beaky
When they say "too shallow" I think they mean "not enough bank angle", so now maybe you're over-compensating for banking too much earlier.  It's rare to need to change your power setting during a turn; it's all about matching the right bank angle with the right amount of pitch, and of course rudder (unless you have "autorudder" enabled).
 And nav is right about how to work that stick: think of turning as "flick, neutralize, flick"; your  motions should be fairly rapid, but small, if you know what I mean. And the overall rule to controlling an airplane is: firm, but gentle.
  I also agree that in addition to flying with the "virtual instructor" you should just mess around a little... unlike in real life, no harm can come from it if you screw up!    ;)

Re: help needed

PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:09 am
by Nav
Bluebird, difficult to get it over on here, but at first the panel and all the gauges take your eye, and you don't look through the windscreen much!

Try just flying round spotting landmarks and turning towards them - and keeping the nose position steady against the horizon when you turn.

They talk about 'hand/eye coordination', but actually it's the other way round, 'eye/hand' - with practice, you'll find that your eyes are 'leading' and the hands are following, bringing the aeroplane into line with where you want to go.  So you start 'looking the aeroplane along' instead of reacting to what it does.

Keep up the practice, and it'll happen soon.  And after that, you won't look back, you'll be an addict like the rest of us.  :)