[newbie] Bobbing aircraft

[pepper_airborne]

Could you show us how your controls are set-up? Maby that is the problem, and i hope your not flying at full throttle?

[Mobius]

A couple important things to add to this discussion:

TRIM - You should trim for a specific airspeed.  Say you want to do a cruise climb at 80-90 kts, you should do this by first pulling back on the stick (usually to 10 to 15 degrees of pitch in the 172), and add full power as you do this.  You should let everything stabilize and keep trimming in small increments until you hit your desired airspeed, and once you're fully trimmed at your airspeed, the airplane will set whatever climb rate it wants.  Say you want to level off and cruise at the same airspeed you were climbing at, do this by starting to level off at 10% your climb rate (VSI reading, 500 fpm = start to level off 50 ft below your desired altitude), and as you level off, pull the power back to some setting that will give you a level cruise, and DON'T touch the trim if you want to maintain your airspeed.  Once you level off, adjust your power setting so you maintain level flight on the VSI and attitude indicator.  If the VSI indicates a slight climb, reduce the power by a tiny amount, if a descent is indicated, increase power slightly.  You will eventually learn "the numbers" for whatever aircraft you are flying, which will be the power settings that will give you a level cruise at 100 kts, or something like that.  Always remember though, trim for a specific airspeed, and airspeed only!

TURN - If you're turning past your desired heading in a turn, you're starting to roll out too late.  If you want to roll-out on your heading, start to roll back level when your half your bank angle (in degrees) away from you're desired heading.  Say you're banked at 20 degrees, you'll want to start to roll-out on a heading that is 10 degrees before your desired heading.  If you're banked 15 degrees, start your roll-out 7.5 degrees before your desired heading.  An example: if you're heading west (270 degree heading), and you want to turn to south (180 degree heading), and you use a 20 degree bank angle, you'll want to start to roll-out on a heading of 190 degrees, while applying a small amount of back pressure to maintain you're altitude throughout the turn.  If you do this, you should be in straight and level flight at your desired heading.

[Nav]

harrybasset, could be one of two things. You may just be over-controlling, or your joystick (yoke?) is malfunctioning or over-sensitive.

To find out which, with the aircraft on the ground (parked or lined up for takeoff), switch to 'outside view' (press 's' a cuple of times) and then pan round so that you can see the tail surfaces. Move the yoke/column about and watch how the elevators, rudder, and ailerons respond.

If you can get proper gradual movements, the problem is your flying technique. If the control surfaces move to extreme positions as soon as you touch the yoke, it's the controller acting up. Either way, someone on here will be able to help.

Suggest that you try that and get back to us?

[Fozzer]

I am a grey haired relative newcomer to Flight Sims and have similar problems in controlling my default Cessna 172. I use a CH yoke and the elevator control seems very imprecise, if I ease back on the yoke I get pitch up but the VSI goes up to maximum and if I ease off the VSI will then go down to maximum. I have tried trimming and can get almost level flight (Minimal indicated ascent or descent) but when I touch the yoke the wild climb/descent gyrations start again. I have lubricated the yoke as it did seem to be very slightly stiff/notchy but this has not helped much. It feels like the elevators are fluttering, could I improve things by adjusting some settings?

Don't "Grab" the yoke, or joystick tightly...!
...just use your finger-tips, and use very small movements to control the aircraft.....!

Observe a Pilot's hand on the flight yoke. He will be holding it between his thumb and forefinger.

Tease the aircraft in the direction you wish to travel...and wait for things to happen...!

Think....skating on ice... ...!

"Grabbing" is for Aerobatics... ...!

Paul... 8-)...!

P.S. And at 61, I note you are still a "Youngster"... ...!

[harrybasset]

Thanks Fozzer

The delicacy of touch prompt was very helpful. There is still a little notchiness on my yoke which I will work on and also fine tune my sensitivity settings.

Thanks for the help.

Harry Basset  (61 & 9 months)

[Transit]

..... (I was fascinated by the bells and whistles of force feedback... big mistake because FF in flight simulator is a sad joke), and I was only able to make it slightly better by extensive and time/nerves consuming tweaking. There is just no way it will allow a smooth flying. I constantly have to trim, and the slightest touch on the stick causes major effects on the control surfaces. Most of all, these reactions are not only exaggerate, they are also inconsistent. Which means that the very same amount and direction of movement applied to the stick at different times causes different reactions in the control surfaces. It's almost useless to try to fly leveled or to make a smooth climb/descent at a constant rate; it's also very hard to make a coordinated turn. That doesn't mean I can't fly; it's just that I'm constantly fighting with the controller and this is spoiling the fun at the point that I think I will ditch FS altogether until I've saved enough to buy a really good yoke.
I don't know if this applies to you, but just in case...

i agree...
With my Logi force ( the first and good one )
FS9 is an unpleasant series of control corrections...

Bought  very low miles sidewinder ffb2
FS9 is an unpleasant series of control corrections...

I loaded up Battle of Britain and good grief what a revelation!
Precise control, seemless control loading, accurate flutter, precision triming...

incredible that MS can't have accurate ff in its flagship sim...
like its not even arcade... its just plain buggy

At this rate i will buy Condor

Pete