That sinking feeling - again ?

[Bazza]

Despite seeing posts about this problem over many years, I've never struck the problem.    However, on my inaugural flight in my new P38 Lockheed Lightning (all 14 MB's worth) my landing turned to custard when all wheels sank into the tarmac.    This was on a MS default airfield.

I see there is a "tute" at my favourite help me site, thanks Hagar, but it mentions FS2002 with FS2000 aircraft.     Is this a known FS2004 problem as well ?

My second landing, at another airfield was OK so I'm not rushing into tweaking yet.   Any thoughts out there ?

[atotti2000]

it think its he same rule with uncompatible planes. i once had a 2002 Comet, and i couldnt get the wheels to work properly for the live of me. sometimes they sank, sometimes they hovered.

[Hagar]

Thanks for the kind words Bazza. This was a common problem with FS2000 aircraft in FS2002. I wouldn't expect it with one specifically intended for FS9. I cant suggest anything without checking the aircraft out at the airfield you used. Even then I might not be able to come up with a quick fix. Things get more complicated with each version of FS & I've lost touch recently. I don't usually bother with files over 10 Mb these days.

[ozzy72]

Bazza my old fruit I think you need to change the settings for the undercarriage in aircraft.cfg and raise them slightly and twiddle the bounce. I did it. I'll re-install the 38 and take a look for you

Mark

[Bazza]

Thanks for your interest guys, I usually sort out my own worries (if it don't work - re-cycle bin) but this one annoys me...

Airfield was Tauranga (New Zealand - Oceania) - my local, and the plane was on p38tdl21.zip, just in case you have the spare time to fiddle with it.

[Moach]

...and twiddle the bounce.

you can tweak the bounce on an aircraft?

how can that be accomplished?

[Hagar]

you can tweak the bounce on an aircraft?

how can that be accomplished?

I think Ozzy means the damping ratio. There are various [contact_points] entries in Aircraft.cfg that define the gear suspension. Some problems can be fixed by carefully tweaking these entries. It's a case of trial & error & there's no easy fix. Also more difficult now as some entries also affect the animation. All default CFG files have a rough guide as to what the entries do. Here's an example from the default B737-400.

       //8  Static Compression           (feet)  (0 if rigid)
       //9  Max/Static Compression Ratio
       //10 Damping Ratio                (0=Undamped, 1=Critically Damped)