Simviation Forums

Despite throttle cut and full brakes applied she wont slow down.  The brake light flashes on the screen but nothing seems to happen.  Any suggestions?
Also, can the propeller pitch be reversed?
Bud

No the propeler of any plane can't be reverse, as if it were a jet engine, I don't know if you are talking about the default dc-3, In any case ,Ill suggest you to check the your joystick CALIBRATION throlle

are you landing, if so

parking brakes(ctrl+.)
full flaps(f8)
full prop pitch(ctrl+f4)
idle(f1)

are you landing, if so

parking brakes(ctrl+.)
full flaps(f8)
full prop pitch(ctrl+f4)
idle(f1)

Seems pilot in those times have a good skills, I have try that swordfish and the plane EAT all the runway..LOL ending out of the airport  ;D tough plane Thats why Jakemaster like it soo much, Its a chalenge ,The rudder pedals won't work either as the extra 300  ::)

Cheers

Alex

my problem with that plane in fs9 is the rudder is the only control that works besides throttle.  I find that the fsx one is better. i will try it and see how i can get it to stop.

if all else fails, put it into a racecar-like drift and skid your way to a stop

LOL...

I'm going to try the FSX default too  ;D

No the propeler of any plane can't be reverse, as if it were a jet engine

There are many propellor planes with variable pitch propellors that can be set for reverse thrust.

Main- wheel brakes on tail dragging airplanes can be tricky. Too much braking and they can nose over.

Oh dear!

i landed the dc-3 at boeing field and had no problem stopping . what size airfield are you trying to land at. don't be unreasonable on runway length

Clear the way for the expert!

A DC-3 is NOT a super STOL aircraft.  It will stop, you just have to do it right.  As NAV said, its a taildragge.  You have to put it down on the front wheels and let it lower itself onto the tail.  Dont force it down, and dont let it just drop down.

For a STOL landing in the dak, right after touchdown cut the mixture (kill the engines), then retract flaps and put the tail wheel down while applying brakes.

Dont expect much from the default dak anyways, the flight model is iffy at best.

It sounds as if you have throttle problem so try this:

Make sure your throttle sensitivity to FULL and your throttle null zone is OFF.

A suggestion I feel to give all of you that try to fly the FS9 default DC3 is to go here: http://www.douglasdc3.com/ and download the flight dynamics that the great guys there edited to make our DC3 behave REALLY like a real one.

It makes several worlds of differences between the approximated behavior of the default dynamics and the ones revised.

Remains that the 3 is not a STOL, but I never had any problem in making her fly where I wanted, once I updated her with the new flight dynamics.

Try it. It's free.

It's amazing how easily the DC-3 can "get away from you" on final and rollout, considering how slow it is...

Rule #1: if you are above 90 KIAS on final, you will very likely overshoot. It won't nose over if you jam on the brakes (as the real one might, depending on the load); it will just keep rolling.

It's a very honest airplane: if you are slowed just right, she'll settle down perfectly. But if you are too hot, you will be tempted to force it on, and you will be punished for that as she bounces and decides to float and drift with a great reluctance to be steered in a nearly-stalled condition. Touch down at no more than 70 KIAS!!!

If you're still learning to fly that one, try going into Aircraft>Fuel and Payload and lightening it up a little; makes learning to stop it a little easier. And yes, saving a practice approach is a great idea...

It will also give you very good STOL landing performance (for a plane that size) at any weight, as long as you religiously stick with the correct speeds and prop/throttle settings. I have landed the default DC3 at Courchevel... with a full load. It was built for taking off and landing just about anywhere.

On approach:
1st notch of flaps: 140KIAS (real DC3 pilots claim it's OK to crack them at much higher speeds, so consider that first 10 degrees to be an air brake)
Gear: 125 KIAS. Get it down early, then add a little power to maintain 120KIAS at the most... this is when you start trying to fly it as slow as possible. Another notch of flaps will help.

Props should be not quite at full pitch (about 2000 rpm), but you may need more if you're having trouble holding TPA.

Final: 90 KIAS max, less for short-field...but you MUST try to start slowing to at least 70 as you descend. If you touch down at 90 knots you will bounce and float, etc.
I have found that at gross (and more!) and full flaps, it won't stall above 50 KIAS, but stay above 60 for better control. 75 KIAS over the fence; land on the mains at 55-70. This plane is not a happy 3-pointer; land flat on the mains and just wait, holding neutral elevator.
Tailwheel should be locked (it's under the throttle quadrant), cowl flaps still closed from cruise, and as you pull power over the threshold, props to full pitch (they won't reverse and you don't need to modify them so they do- the DC3 is a pussycat after a little practice).

Ctrl+Enter will push your seat back, not up. You need to move "eyepoint" up to see over the nose on rollout and taxiing... whatver button or key you assign (I use the second hat on my X45 stick for eyepoint moving- up/down, left/right).

To control yaw on rollout with the tailwheel locked, hold full rudder and tap brakes; you should see "Differential Brakes" displayed... wit until the airspeed drops below 40 KIAS though; or the rudder could give you too much yaw.  Even after you unlock the tailwheel to exit the runway, the DC3 needs diff. braking and diff. power ("E" then 1 or 2 allows you to control only one engine at a time; "E", then 1 and 2 gets them back in sync) for steering.
the tailwheel is free-castering; it will not respond to rudder input.
 Again, this is easy after a little practice. Cowl flaps open, props full pitch, short bursts of power.


There is a nice patch that greatly improves handling of the default DC3, but I highly recommend paying a little for the MAAM-Sim package; it's much, much better.

I agree with rotty!  And yes, the MAAM sim package is worth the money, I mean just the SOUND isworh more than 30 bucks.

And on the note of landing it anywhere, I landed the dak at St. Barthelemy, you know, the dive bomb approach near TNCM?  Only used half the runway

It is so great to get a this advice from you all.  I have flown taildraggers (for real) before retiring, largest AT-6, and while having been in a DC-3 it was not airborne.  So now I have a chance to give it a shot even if it is on my puter.   One of the things I always enjoyed was a prop-jet.  When they ran those jets up and threw in the full pitch, the acceleration was awesome.
Bud