Simviation Forums

A very nice and complete plane. powerful and fast......
BUT, ground handling does not work. It just runs straight, no steering like with other tail dragger's possible.
I had an issue with another vintage AC, and someone here showed me how to change settings in the AC.cfg to overcome the problems. It did indeed work nicely.
Anyone who would venture to make suggestions how this issue could be solved?

two things to look for.
1) Use the differential brakes
2) Check and see if your tail Wheel is not locked.

1) As you turn, move your stick to the left or right like your going to turn (not the rudders) and tap your brakes.

2) The tail wheel lock should be on the panel, If not, it is keyed to "Control+ G" to turn it off and on. Check your keyboard settings on that.

I hope I helped some

BTW, you didnt post what the aircraft was
*never mind...just realized it was in the title!

Making the tail wheel steerable.

In the aircraft.cfg, [contact_points] section identify the tailwheel. It will usually be point.0, but can be identified by it's class (1) and it'snegative longitudinal position.

Find the 'steering angle', (the 8th value) which will be 0.0 or 180.0 for non-steerable. Change the value, something betwee 40.0. and 50.0 works well on most aircraft.

(This is not from the 500, just an example)

point.0 = 1, -19.904,

Hi and thanks a million Dave. ( this is the best forum for FSX matters),

here the contact points of the Howard 500. It is set on 180.

max_number_of_points = 7

//point.0 = 1, -38.815, 0,    -1.1, 1574.803, 0, 0.667, 60, 0.3,   3, 0.5,   3, 5, 0, 194, 220
//Replace contact_point.0 below with the one above if you want a steerable tailwheel
point.0 = 1, -38.815, 0,    -1.1, 1574.803, 0, 0.667, 180, 0.3,   3, 0.5,   3, 5, 0, 194, 220
point.1 = 1, 1.65, -9.75, -7.022, 1574.803, 1, 1.708,   0, 0.8, 1.5, 0.7, 1.8, 3, 2, 194, 220
point.2 = 1, 1.65,  9.75, -7.022, 1574.803, 2, 1.708,   0, 0.8, 1.5, 0.7, 1.8, 3, 3, 194, 220

I exchanged the two lines.
Let's see today if it works
Thanks again,

Hi, Dave,
Hey, the HOWARD 500 is handling fine on the ground now. Thanks again for very proficient advice. 8-)
If you like the old props The Howard is a very complete plane.
Take care.