I have a number of aircraft that just refuse to turn properly - I am always running them into the grass, even though I taxi so, so slowly with them. The nosewheel max turning angle in the aircraft.cfg contact pioints section is already at 70 degrees or thereabouts - any higher than that creates problems. I have looked through the aircraft.cfg SDK document, but haven't come up with anything else. I thought there was a 'turning effectiveness setting', in the same way as there's one for brakes, or spoilers. Maybe not... Any ideas? Thanks, Martin

The turning angle depends entirely on the actual a/c you are taxiing. For example the max turning angle of a VC10 is 70° but the recommended angle for normal use is only 55°. If you are finding that the turning angle is insufficient then you are taxiing way too fast. Corners should never be attempted beyong walking pace!vololiberista

Try adjusting your joystick rudder or pedals setup to make it more sensitive. Also you could use differential braking with F11 and F12. Colin B

I am taxiing more or less at a crawling pace anyway (as I attempt to turn corners). I could try adjusting my X52, or just slowing the a/c in question down until they almost stop - then they turn fine. I was really wondering though if I can adjust anything in the aircraft.cfg file to help. If planes like PMDG 737 & 747s turn just fine at the speed I usually make corners (about 10 KIAS max), why not all? Presumably hard-wired into the IDE.. M.

True.... but if that is the problem here, it should be fixable.

True.... but if that is the problem here, it should be fixable.

Martin - how about identifying some specific aircraft this is happening with so we can give some feedback on whether this is a general problem (therefore the aircraft cfg) or specific to your hardware??? There certainly are some aircraft that are harder to turn than others but what you are describing does sound excessive and may be related to the rudder pedals AND the specific aircraft. In other words, maybe your rudder pedals are not functioning quite right and if the aircraft itself is harder to turn than others, then that might take things "over the top."

It was a CLS A300-600 which was the subject of the post. The others frankly I don't recall, but I know that with a few other a/c I have the same problem

Yes, if it is a specific aircraft that doesn't turn well it should be correctable by adjusting the Caster Angle in the Contact Points section of the aircraft.cfg. Somebody here may have already identified and fixed the problem on the specific aircraft. My own experience of such is limited to classic aircraft so is unlikely to be of direct help I'm afraid. If you look at the default Cessna 172 aircraft.cfg you will see the contact points defined:

//0 Class //1 Longitudinal Position (feet) //2 Lateral Position (feet) //3 Vertical Position (feet) //4 Impact Damage Threshold (Feet Per Minute) //5 Brake Map (0=None, 1=Left, 2=Right) //6 Wheel Radius (feet) //7 Steer Angle (degrees) //8 Static Compression (feet) (0 if rigid) //9 Max/Static Compression Ratio //10 Damping Ratio (0=Undamped, 1=Critically Damped) //11 Extension Time (seconds) //12 Retraction Time (seconds) //13 Sound Type[contact_points]point.0 = 1, 0.90, 0.00, -4.09, 1500, 0, 0.5, 22.0, 0.25,2.5, 0.7, 0.0, 0.0, 0point.1 = 1, -4.70, -4.50, -4.01, 3500, 1, 0.5, 0.0, 0.3, 2.5, 0.7, 0.0, 0.0, 2point.2 = 1, -4.70, 4.50, -4.01, 3500, 2, 0.5, 0.0, 0.3, 2.5, 0.7, 0.0, 0.0, 3point.3 = 2, -3.90, -18.0, 3.00, 1800, 0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 5point.4 = 2, -3.90 18.0, 3.00, 1800, 0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 6point.5= 2,-20.23, 0.0, 0.30, 1800, 0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 9point.6= 2, 1.48, 0.0, -2.17, 1800, 0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 4point.7= 2,-22.80, 0.0, 5.83, 1800, 0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 7point.8= 2, -4.90, 0.0, -2.00, 1800, 0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 8etc etc

Lines preceded by // or ; have no effect, they are just text comments. MS has kindly listed the functions of the contact points for us. Remember when counting across that the count always starts at 0 not 1. Point 0 is the nosewheel, item 7 is the caster angle, highlighted in red here. Adjustment to this figure will make a significant difference to the steering ability but it involves patience and experimentation. If you go too far, it will affect the ability to self-centre after turning. Bets wishes, John

Thanks John, but I said in my original post that that didn't work - the angle is already set to 70 degrees, which would be a maximum I think. I could try reducing it maybe. Also making the nosewheel a fraction lower increases the contact and can sometimes improve turning.. I can but try. M.

Thanks John, but I said in my original post that that didn't work - the angle is already set to 70 degrees, which would be a maximum I think. I could try reducing it maybe. Also making the nosewheel a fraction lower increases the contact and can sometimes improve turning.. I can but try.

I didn't say you had to increase the caster angle, some fine adustment up or down may be the solution. It takes a lot of patience to get it perfect, not least because you need to reload the aircraft to test it each time. The only other thing that might affect the turning ability is the distance the nosewheel is from the centre-point. I very much doubt altering the height of the nosewheel affects adhesion - remember the aircraft.cfg file is just a representation of how the model works and the model is a quite separate representation of the aircraft for the benefit of your eyes. John

This section of aircraft.cfg can also be relevant for find a fix for the steering on ground This for the famous POSKY B-747 400 V4 ground steering problem (nose wheel skid) Before modif (original)// Moments of Inertiaempty_weight_roll_MOI = 37018662.5empty_weight_pitch_MOI = 46713121.5empty_weight_yaw_MOI = 70309608empty_weight_coupled_MOI=0.00000 After modif (for good ground steering)// Moments of Inertiaempty_weight_roll_MOI=9396073.72000empty_weight_pitch_MOI=28872278.53000empty_weight_yaw_MOI=27673786.13000empty_weight_coupled_MOI=0.00000 AFAIK .. this mod don't affect the flight model ... (flying behavior) So .. you can also try to change some of those parameters of your particular plane for improve the handling of steering on ground

John, OK thanks. I am pretty sure though that id the nosewheel is barely touching the ground, lowering it so that it is firm does help turning - that has been my impression, though I wouldn't swear to it! I have made a few slight adjustments and will keep testing (can try moving the nosewheel a fraction). Can have a look at the inertia settings too. Thanks again.

John, OK thanks. I am pretty sure though that id the nosewheel is barely touching the ground, lowering it so that it is firm does help turning - that has been my impression, though I wouldn't swear to it! I have made a few slight adjustments and will keep testing (can try moving the nosewheel a fraction). Can have a look at the inertia settings too.

What might put the nosewheel more firmly on the ground would be to move the contact points for the main undercarriage back a couple of feet - some third-partyFS9 aircraft rock back and forth on the main u/c owing the the CoG being not quite right. But fiddling with FDEs like this is a gamble, fixing one problem can create another. The real solution for an issue like this is to put it back to the developers. John

Well, I can but try - it's easily reversible. When I get a chance to test this I'll post back. Thanks, Martin LATER - I changed the value slightly to move the nosewheel back (about 1.5 feet) and it handles much better - haven't noticed any problems as yet