I intend to post on the Lotus sim forum, but can anyone here advise:I'm very pleased with the new L-39, but the handling seems almost TOO stable. I would have expected a tad more twitchiness in pitch, but since I've only flown Warriors for real, I'm not really in a position to make a judgement. My joystick settings are default, but I'm wondering if I should perhaps reduce the null zone or increase sensitivity. I love the way the jet feels, but can't help wondering I've unintentionally made it too easy to fly! No, it's not a big deal, but I'd like to know what settings give the most accurate feel.ThanksIan

I intend to post on the Lotus sim forum, but can anyone here advise:I'm very pleased with the new L-39, but the handling seems almost TOO stable. I would have expected a tad more twitchiness in pitch, but since I've only flown Warriors for real, I'm not really in a position to make a judgement. My joystick settings are default, but I'm wondering if I should perhaps reduce the null zone or increase sensitivity. I love the way the jet feels, but can't help wondering I've unintentionally made it too easy to fly! No, it's not a big deal, but I'd like to know what settings give the most accurate feel.ThanksIan

Ian,That's a tough one. The real L39 uses springs and counterweights to reduce the aircraft's load forces in pitch. Without a counter balance, or hydraulic flight controls, the real airplane would become unmanageably heavy on pitch at high speeds.L39 pilots report the airplane does not build up pitch forces naturally at high load factors because of the counterweight's action, which makes the airplane a little easy to over-control at first at higher G's. In level flight they report the airplane is just heavier than they were used to in slower aircraft and stable.A Piper Warrior has very low wing loading, so any turbulence is going to move the airplane around. On the other hand the MD-88 has very high wing loading and a none too efficient wing anyway so it just plows right through turbulence that would have a 737-700 rocking despite their similar weights.To use in formation flying I like the L39C's stability, but, if you want to get knocked around a little more you could try changing your weather preferences and adding turbulence there.

In level flight they report the airplane is just heavier than they were used to in slower aircraft and stable.

That's what I'm feeling. It seems too 'solid'. Not that I'm unhappy. I like the feel of it. I'm just a bit surprised.ThanksIan

I use a Saitek X-52 Pro with Pro pedals, and I have every null zone set to zero and sensitivity to max.I originally did this as per a suggestion from Hovercontrol to make flying choppers easier, but I found benefits when flying the RealAir Marchetti and default Trike. Before I maxed out my joystick settings the Marchetti had much more of a tendency to get into accelerated stall at the bottom of a loop, and the Trike was harder to manage energy in the flare.The L-39 is designed to fly with *every* realism setting maxed out... otherwise the spin characteristics are severely affected. Something to be carefull of is if you join a session whose host does not check "Players can change their settings" then everyone besides the host will be forced into flying with flight dynamics at minimum realism settings.Robert

That's what I'm feeling. It seems too 'solid'. Not that I'm unhappy. I like the feel of it. I'm just a bit surprised.ThanksIan