I seem to find that J41 needs much more than Vr/2 to unstick and achieve 7-10 of pitch for climbout. For example, even without payload, 93kts Vr/V2 indicated sails past with the yoke well back and liftoff occurs at about 125kts ++.What's the probable pilot error? :( Thanks!Best wishes,David Abrahams

I have never had problems with the JS41 lifting off at or around the interval between VR and V2. Two questions. First, have you set your elevator takeoff trim appropriately based on the load sheet? And second, you mention a flight without payload, but if you had a full load of fuel this would make you quite heavy and bump up your speeds. What was your fuel like?These are the two most likely areas I think for an error in calculating takeoff Vspeeds.

I also have no problems unsticking the aircraft at VR and it climbs out just fine, I assume you get no config warnings? Make sure your elevator trim is correctly set, even if it is in the green band, if it is on the wrong end (high end of the green bad) it can still make the aircraft more difficult to lift off.

Thanks to you both.My V1 and Vr calculations have certainly taken proper account of fuel -and payload on other occasions - using the load sheet. But, in truth, I never yet looked at the elevator trim settings - so probably that's my error! :( In my defence, the tutorial doesn't go into detail except to say trims needed to be centred before start (page 55). Page 38 does refer to the Final Index/Trim, promises to come back to the subject later ... but doesn't!! Looking in the (wonderful) AOM now, all becomes (almost!) clear:Set the elevator trim to the % SMC (standard mean cord) as calculated on the CG Calculator or as received on the AFISI can see that the elevator trim is on the central console - but when do you dial in Start Index and when Final Index? I imagine Start for TO, but not absolutely certain about this ...Could you kindly advise on this last point - and then I'm probably back in business :( Thanks again.David Abrahams

David, the Start and Final Indeces are located at the bottom of the load sheet. Unfortunately, while those index values are used to derive the Takeoff Trim value, they are not what you actually set on the Trim indicator. In the real airplane, you use a circular slide rule to calculate all the weight & balance variables, and once finished, you would read both the final index and a trim value from the calculator.Unfortunately, the calculator isn't simulated, and we don't have access to the actual trim value.The good news is that the airplane is very forgiving, and setting the Takeoff Trim anywhere near the center of the green band (near or over the %SMC marking) works well for nearly all gross weight and CG conditions. You might need to adjust the trim during climbout, but it's not really a big deal, as trim would need to be used as the aircraft accelerates anyway.

David, the Start and Final Indeces are located at the bottom of the load sheet. Unfortunately, while those index values are used to derive the Takeoff Trim value, they are not what you actually set on the Trim indicator. In the real airplane, you use a circular slide rule to calculate all the weight & balance variables, and once finished, you would read both the final index and a trim value from the calculator.Unfortunately, the calculator isn't simulated, and we don't have access to the actual trim value.The good news is that the airplane is very forgiving, and setting the Takeoff Trim anywhere near the center of the green band (near or over the %SMC marking) works well for nearly all gross weight and CG conditions. You might need to adjust the trim during climbout, but it's not really a big deal, as trim would need to be used as the aircraft accelerates anyway.

I haven't actually flown the JS41 for a while (waiting for FS2Crew at the moment), but it does give you the exact value to trim. I can't remember if it's under start or final index, but one of those is reported as X.X/XX.X%. The XX.X% refers to takeoff CG and is what you trim in to the elevator green bar.

OK, thanks. Much appreciate your advice. So it appears that by default my trim setting has been OK - in the centre of the green band. Which leaves me puzzled over Vr/V2 performance here. Could be to do with general sensitivity of control settings - still flying by mouse, ashamed to say. Will take a look and some more flights ... though if any one has further thoughts on the subject, I'd welcome them, of course. Best wishes,David Abrahams