ground handling

[Romflyer]

One thing that has always bothered me is how touchy the steering is on the ground  :-? I use CH pedals with the sensativity dialed all the way back and still the slightest input gives these ridiculously exagerated turns as I zigzag down the taxiway  ::) does anyone know of a way to adjust the configure files to make this is more realistic, because if anything the rudder input on the ground should be a bit sloppy and slow not fast and precise.
Any ideas would be appreciated
Rom

[Staiduk]

For most aircraft, the culprit isn't the rudder, it's the steering on the nose/tailwheel.

If it's giving you problems, you could go into the Aircraft.cfg file and edit the steering angle - many are too large for their respective airplane. It'll usually say 40 or 50 - adjust it to 10 or 20, and use the toe brakes sparingly if you need tighter trurns.

Hope this helps.

[JBaymore]

I used to have this problem all the time.  Everything I tried did not solve the problem...and I tried a lot of things.

Then I mapped all the flight axis controls though the payware version of FSUIPC.  It cleared up INSTANTLY.  I have no idea WHY.... but I know it works.

If I reactivate the joystick controls in the sim instead of using FSUIPC...... it all goes to heck again.

FSUIPC does a lot more... but that is ONE thing is seems to do extremely well.

best,

.....................john

[Staiduk]

[quote]I used to have this problem all the time.

[Nav]

I use CH pedals with the sensativity dialed all the way back and still the slightest input gives these ridiculously exagerated turns

Not sure that 'all the way back' is wise, Romflyer. I suspect that that may set the rudder to 'on/off' rather than a graduated movement. Maybe smaller adjustments and checking the effect would give you a better idea of what's happening?

About checking, one trick that you may not have tried so far - put the settings back to default and then call up various aeroplanes, go to 'outside view' with a good vew of the rudder, and move the pedals. That'll give you a good idea of whether you're getting 'instant hardover' or something, and also how much pressure is/is not required to achieve gradual movements for a given aeroplane.

Also check the calibration of the pedals themselves, of course; it may be that, not the game.

If none of that helps, Staiduk's tip about checking the Aircraft.cfg file is a good one - I was able to improve the ground handling of the default 777 and DH88 Comet a lot that way. But picking the right number (out of dozens!) is a bit tricky - if in doubt, come back on and I (or Staiduk, who knows those files much better than I do) will be able to tell you which figures to change.

[Staiduk]

If none of that helps, Staiduk's tip about checking the Aircraft.cfg file is a good one - I was able to improve the ground handling of the default 777 and DH88 Comet a lot that way. But picking the right number (out of dozens!) is a bit tricky - if in doubt, come back on and I (or Staiduk, who knows those files much better than I do) will be able to tell you which figures to change.

Ground handling sensitivity issued are usually a combination of 2 factors: Steering angle and yaw MOI. Steering angle determines how tightly the nose (or tail)wheel turns when you apply the rudder. It's usually somewhere between 40 to 60 degrees, which is usually pretty OK. For some aircraft however, it's too much, and their taxi performance suffers. For instance, one of the PoSky A319's I downloaded would come to a screeching halt every time I tried taxiing. The reason was the steering angle was set to 90; causing the wheel to turn directly sideways and act like a brake. Reducing the number corrected that. Another example is the fantastic C-150L just released. It's default steering angle is 60 (I think). OK, but the real plane's wheel has a total travel of sixteen degrees; it needs a touch of throttle and toe brakes to get around tight corners so setting the number there added a great deal of realism to that particular plane.
In order to adjust steering angle; do the following.
In the .cfg, scroll down to the [contact_points] section. The wheel steering angle is variable number eight on the center gear - usually the first line in the list. It looks like this:
point.0 = 1,

[Romflyer]

Thanks for all the replies
Nav, yes I have spent a fair amount of energy adjusting and calibrating and so on and so on, dialing back the sensativity seems to have helped.....a bit without comprimising in flight characteristics. But as I mentioned it still is just way to touchy.
Staiduk I will try your cfg tweek, it sounds like exactly what I was looking for. I didnt find learning to taxi (or controlling p-factor/torque) in RL anywhere near as difficult as I do in the sim.
John, it does sound like I need to learn more about FSUIPC, I have a non-registered version that came with something?? Anyways it's obviously something I need to look into, and learn how else it can make my simming more enjoyable.
Cheers
Rom

[Romflyer]

So I went looking for more information on FSUIPC......... :-? does anyone know where I can get something to read that tells me what else I get when I pay for a registration key, or please explain it to me.

[JBaymore]

So I went looking for more information on FSUIPC......... :-? does anyone know where I can get something to read that tells me what else I get when I pay for a registration key, or please explain it to me.

Romflyer,

Get this and be ready for a written exam in a week:

http://www.schiratti.com/files/dowson/F ... amp=280406

It is a heavy piece of information that will take a LONG time to fully understand.

Look here for the forums:

http://forums.simflight.com/viewforum.php?f=54

And download the zip file here (for fs2004) ........and then read tyhe basic users guids:

http://www.schiratti.com/files/dowson/F ... amp=160708

Hope that helps.

best,

..................john

[Romflyer]

John thanks again for your insight on FSUIPC, however I thought I'd try out the CH Controller hardware available at there site. The program was a little cumbersom to get functioning, but I FINALLY have control over aircraft on the ground  8-) without looking as though I've been drinking prior to the flight  ;)

[JBaymore]

romflyer,

Glad you can now taxi.  

I tried the CH manager...... but switched over to FSUIPC.  But I already had FSUIPC installed because of all the interfacing for the simit...... so there was not direct added expense there.

It is still WELL worth looking at for "someday".

best,

..................john

[Romflyer]

John
My head is FULL of ideas, that will require the use of FSUIPC (I too feel the call of the dark side ) I just need to get my wife to look the other way long enough for me to start building  ;D I'll be sure to be posting over at the pit area when the time comes  8-)

[JBaymore]

(I too feel the call of the dark side )

Sorry!   :evil