Simviation Forums

Is there a way to make the steering on taildraggers ie. DC-3 more responsive? The need to make sharp turns while taxiing are all to frequent and with taildraggers it is hard to keep it in the taxiway. bilben94@gmail.com

...ensuring, (or adding), that this entry appears in your aircraft.cfg file for your particular Aircraft, always helps with Tail-draggers and Tricycles...>>>

[brakes]
parking_brake = 1

The DC-3 does not have a steerable tailwheel- it is "free-castering." So you need differential brakes, and differential thrust, ideally, to steer it properly on the ground. Also: the DC-3 has a tailwheel lock, for takeoffs and landings... if it is locked when you are trying to taxi, you will have a lot of trouble steering it!!

BTW, the Ford Tri-Motor also has a free-castering tailwheel...

Just a few weeks ago, someone on this forum advised that the DC3 tailwheel could be locked using SHIFT + G.

Just a matter of forethought and practice, taildragger.

First of all, lock the tailwheel once you're lined up.

The FS9 default DC-3 & Ford Trimotor already have the Aircraft.cfg differential

This is for the "non-realism" flyers only -

The default DC3 aircraft.cfg file can be edited so that plane can be steered on the ground simply by using your joystick.

Details are in this file:

http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?DLID=57955

The data came from Milton Shupe - the man who has created some of the finest aircraft for FS.

As I said, this is the easy way out and applies to the default DC3 only or aircraft with the same contact points.

Hope someone finds this useful.

There's a download on Simviation P68 FS2004 vintage that might be of help.

[quote]There's a download on Simviation P68 FS2004 vintage that might be of help.

Sixpence?  You're showing your age  :).

A little underwhelming for me.

Silly question. Did you add the gauge according to my instructions?

Not so silly.

I installed the gauge that was recommended and that did the trick. A thousand thanks for your help.