Simviation Forums

I'm doing fairly well with flying but keep having a problem lining up on the runway to land.  It seems that I always have to make small corrections as I get close because I'm off to one side or the other.
Are there any tricks or pointers anyone has for lining up correctly?

Try to align yourself to the FAR end of the runway  :D

I had the same problem up to the day began using pedals to control the rudder.

Before that happy day a manual approach was, in absence of winds, moderately difficult to be done correctly and the difficulties only escalated if there was any kind of wind (and seen I fly with real weather...)

I can only suggest you to try the same. Even if you must scrounge together the old racer wheel (which pedals aren't the best for a plane, but better than nothing). Plug them in, off the auto-coordination in the sim and ensure that FS sees the pedals as the rudder (and that they work the right way too) and you'll see.

It's just another thing.

Could be any number of things, wyodeacon - but probably it just needs yet more practice!

Landing is the most difficult part of FS - actually considerably more difficult than landing the real thing.

Brett-Henderson's advice - to look at the whole runway, not just the threshold - is very important.

The other key thing is to relax - it takes some minutes to carry out any approach, take your time, don't use up all your energy trying to stay dead in line from five miles out, it's much easier to straighten up once you're closer in.

Speed is another issue - IMO the approach speeds recommended for various aircraft in FS are a bit under-stated, it often pays to come in maybe 10 knots above the recommended speeds, gives you more 'oomph' so the controls answer more positively. You can always bleed the extra speed off in the flare.

To help your practice, I'd suggest saving an approach say 15 miles out and using it for practice. You'll find that you can substitute any other aeroplane 'in flight', helps a lot when you try out a new type.

If there's any sort of wind you may need to 'crab', aim to one side of the runway, otherwise you'll keep drfiting off line.

Also see if either of these help:-

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

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=COF;action=display;num=1129643666

If I have a cross wind I prefer to drop the windward wing slightly to correct the drift.  

Hey, thanks everyone!  These tips help me and I'm now going to practice.
The ILS approaches  are really interesting but I'm not that far along yet.  However they gave me great pictures of what the runway should look like on approaches so they are valuable too!  I'll save them for use later when I get to the ILS.
Any other suggestions?  Keep 'em coming!

Don't fret if you have to keep making changes all the way down... happens in the sim as well as in real life. In RL, in fact, sometimes one is making control inputs all the way through the rollout, especially in a light single. But you can minimize the amount of correction by basically finding an attitude that is "close enough" then waiting until you really need to be pointing straight down the runway before doing anything else. Otherwise you could start off only a little crooked, but end up very crooked.

When possible, if you have a crosswind of any kind, the best thing to do is establish your "crab" (an airplane heading that points you more into the wind, enough so that you are making a straight line along the runway centerline even though you are not pointing that way) early, then hold it.
Maintain that sideslip all the way to the threshold, then see about using rudder to bring the nose back to the center as you begin to flare.
If you are drifting left or right, use aileron. If you are swinging off-center, use rudder.
And as you begin the flare, look ahead at the far end of the runway... use peripheral vision to judge your height above the runway.

As the Cat Woman would say: : "Practice makes Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrfect!"  ;D

But you can minimize the amount of correction by basically finding an attitude that is "close enough" then waiting until you really need to be pointing straight down the runway before doing anything else. Otherwise you could start off only a little crooked, but end up very crooked.

Great advice.  I've found this to be true many times already!

and, if "practice makes purrfect" I've got to get better!

[quote]I'll save them for use later when I get to the ILS.
Any other suggestions?

It's interesting that I was an electronics technician for the FAA for 31 years.

You're going to get a lot of satisfaction out of it

[quote]The ILS approaches

During my early flights I found that it was much too easy to get fixated on the threshold, (the numbers), when approaching, and getting ready to touch down...

The correct procedure, which I always use now, is to constantly look at the far end of the runway prior to landing, and during the final flare.
Which means that you scan the whole length of the runway...!

This gives a much better idea of your height and position relative to the runway.... ...!

...and constantly scan your air speed gauge!... ...!

Cheers...!

Paul....8+ years of MS Flight Sims, with constant daily practice in GA aircraft!....... ...!

Paul....8+ years of MS Flight Sims, with constant daily practice in GA aircraft!....... ...!

He has to keep practicing ...... because he still hasn't mastered it ..... more of a barely controlled crash