losing control at critical moment??

[lim]

Hey, I've this weird problem - just as I have lined up with the runway for landing and turned off the altitude hold switch, I begin to lose control of the plane (MelJet 747). When I try to bring the bird down...it won't. Just continues to glide over the runway   sucks right?

Any help for this? Is it my engine power is too low or is it the aircraft?

[Foxtrot Sport]

If this is a problem about you and YOUR flying skills (no offense), then I think I can help.  

For such a large plane, when you're taking her in and switching to manual, SLOWLY decrease speed until over the runway.  You should be around full or near full flaps (depending on weight)  and be preferrably around 150.  Remember, small adjustments to the joystick, and of course....

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

[Nexus]

Full flaps at 180kts? And you say you tend to go faster in the T7's? In the real world you'd activate the flap load relief system, otherwise your flaps would be located somewhere on the ground along the approach path

Au contraire mom ami. Larger airplanes usually sports a slow landing speed because they use LOTS of runway when they slow down to taxiing speed (larger mass, larger inertia)
Not uncommon to see Vrefs around 145 for triple sevens, and that's comparable to some 737 at times  :)


The 747 flies the approach a little faster because of the inferior wing design and the extra X00.000lbs in weight  ;D

But trying to land a 747 or a 777 at 180kts is not the correct way, really. Try to have 3degree nose-up attitude with that speed (and landing flaps)...I bet you're climbing instead of descending.

[logjam]

Here's a possibility: I had the same problems till I got wise from these forums, so you are doing the right thing. I solved my problem by remembering to switch off auto throttle as well as Auto pilot. With flaps down and a speed over the fence of above 120, you can still be airborne a long way up the runway. Hope this helps.

[Foxtrot Sport]

But trying to land a 747 or a 777 at 180kts is not the correct way, really. Try to have 3degree nose-up attitude with that speed (and landing flaps)...I bet you're climbing instead of descending.

*walks away*  

0_0

[FridayChild]

Indeed, I almost exclusively fly 737s and I usually land at 140-145 knots at a maximum, full flaps or 30 degrees flaps, depending on the weight. And make damn sure you disengage both the A/T and the AP, as suggested, otherwise your plane will exactly behave as you described.

[TSC.]

Sounds like the auto throttle was left on - I used to forget that one on almost every landing  - my family thought I had 'Tourettes' for a long time.............

Cheers,

TSC.

[lim]

really???? I'll try that soon. Hope it works man! Just to ask, any idea how to saty aligned on the runway throughout the entire take off procedure? My plane tends to move from side to side and I have to keep controlling it using the rudders!!!Can never monitor the take off properly!!!

[FridayChild]

Crosswind.... even big planes are affected... turn off the weather if it bothers you, but then it would not be realistic.
In real life you have to take the wind into account and adjust your heading accordingly.

[beefhole]

Just to ask, any idea how to saty aligned on the runway throughout the entire take off procedure? My plane tends to move from side to side and I have to keep controlling it using the rudders!!!Can never monitor the take off properly!!!

Are you refering to while you're still on the runway, or shortly after you're airborne?

If this happens while you're on the runway, you're supposed to correct using rudder, so you're not doing anything wrong there. If you think you are yawing excessively, try reducing the amount of rudder input, calibrating your joystick and/or reducing the sensitivity and increasing the null zone of your rudder axis.  You should also turn off autorudder, in the realism settings.

If you're refering to just after liftoff, FridayChild is correct in that it is the wind-do NOT use your rudder to make corrections, even small ones, when you're airborne (except for short, short final).  Simply put in what's called a "wind correction angle" (WCA).  If you're getting a strong wind pushing you left, that means you need to turn your airplane more to the right to maintain your groundtrack.

Remember-the plane does not always fly in the direction that it is pointed in

[Nav]

Just to ask, any idea how to saty aligned on the runway throughout the entire take off procedure? My plane tends to move from side to side and I have to keep controlling it using the rudders!!!

lim- that's what the rudder is FOR!  :)

I'd strongly advise that you do some of Rod Machado's lessons - up to the point of 'going solo', anyway. That'll solve most of the 'mysteries' for you.

As to your landing problem, could be speed, could be power setting, could be trim, could be wind........or any number of other things. See if this helps:-

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=COF;action=display;num=1111322151

[lim]

Are you refering to while you're still on the runway, or shortly after you're airborne?

Oops! I was referring to while i am still on the runway!. Thanks for the help pple!

[FridayChild]

The wind affects the plane not only when airborne, but also when rolling on the runway. Try to takeoff on a Cessna with a strong crosswind. I suggest you read a brilliant post in this section, from a few weeks ago - can't remember whose it was but the topic was something like "difference between heading and course". When you are cleared to takeoff flying "runway heading" you have to in fact fly a heading that keeps you aligned with the runway (or which results in a track that almost exactly matches the course), which would match the runway heading only if there was no wind or the wind was exactly in front or in the back.