Hi people, hope this place is friendly, just wondering if some kind sole could help a gal out.

 

Just purchased the Hawaii package etc. and have been experimenting with the Maule, really like the cockpit and I'm getting used to the various instruments. I've done a couple of cargo jobs but I seem to be experiencing a problem. Whenever I attempt to take-off, my aircraft (Maule) always pulls to the left during it's run-up? What am I doing wrong? It's getting quite frustrating now as it is happening everytime.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

 

Liz.

Hey Liz, I think you'll find a bunch of friendly and experienced folk here...

My understanding (limited) is that the pull to the left is caused by the effect of a big prop up front turning round and round...whatever the technical explanation, it is cured by feeding in right rudder as the plane rolls forward down the runway.

Are you flying with a joystick with twist rudder? If so just twist a bit to the right. Like everything, practice makes perfect :)

Cheers,

Nick

You're not doing anything wrong, all single-engine prop aircraft have a tendency to turn when you push the throttle forward. This is caused by the forces of the prop turning in one direction, which puts some assymetrical forces on the aircraft. If you want to know the details do a search for the terms "torque effect", "gyroscopic precession", "asymetric thrust", and "spiraling slipstream".

 

To counteract this add throttle slowly so you can maintain control of the aircraft and use right rudder to keep the nose straight. You do have rudder pedals, don't you?

 

- Gary Letona

Hi Liz,

 

Does it turn much? Can it be the p_factor your are experiencing?

 

If you apply slitly right rudder during the takeoff roll, will you be able to maintain the plane straight then?

 

P-factor is most noticeable on low speed and high torque.

 

Regards,

Anders

 

Skickat från min GT-I9100 via Tapatalk 2

Yes, me too! I always have to turn on all the stability aids to get a well loaded Maule into the air from short runways. I have to compensate with extreme right rudder, but even then it's impossible to go straight. I thought I was not giving the right elevator input so that too much or too little pressure was on the tail wheel, causing some weird effect. But this seems to happen regardless of elevator input, and the checklist says it should be neutral until the tail rises anyway.

 

Ideas?

 

BTW, I fly using a mouse.

 

EDIT: Ah, I see people have explained this quite well. I knew about torque effects, I just didn't know they were so pronounced on the ground. Thanks! Oh, and phonic_monkey, welcome to the forum! This is a friendly crowd with lots of good info on Flight.

The trick is that you need different amounts of rudder as your airspeed and your engine's torque change. You have to time it right and get a feel for the timing. The best advice I can give is to practice on a long runway by slowly and gradually adding power and use rudder to keep it straight. Once you get the hang of it practice by adding throttle a little faster and faster until it feels natural.

 

Another trick if you're really having a problem: don't use full power unless you really need it. Full power makes all the turning effects even stronger. So if you have enough extra runway available, and there are no terrain concerns taking off with less than full power will make it easier to control.

 

- Gary Letona

Prop torque is the most likely cause, as all have explained above.

 

However are you also taking off into the wind? The Maule has got that big sail on the back, so it weathercocks into the wind and is quite unstable with a tailwind on takeoff and landing. If the weather is fine the wind tends to be out of the north east, so use runways like 02, 03... through to about 08 if you can (that means when you're sitting on the runway the compass is reading 020, 030, thru about 080. The runway number is just the last digit dropped off the compass heading (more or less, with a few exceptions...). If it's wet, it tends to be out of the west, so use runways like 25, 26, and 27 (usually it's just the opposite way on the sinlge runway!). You might already know all that....

 

Mike

A good crosswind will cause a strong weathervaning effect as you accelerate down the runway. You may even find yourself needing the rudder pointed one way due to prop effects as you start moving, then needing to turn the rudder to the opposite side as the wind becomes the dominant factor.

 

But in any case, you can expect most planes to go off the side of the runway without effective rudder inputs.

 

Welcome to AVSIM, and please keep the questions coming. If you haven't found it yet, our Tutorials section may also be helpful.

 

^{My biggest thing is to apply opposite rudder on the take off roll and just feel it out. Next, and very important is to push forward on the controls to pick up the tail and gain rudder authority as soon as possible. Keep the wheels on the ground and steer with the rudder until take off speed is attained. Good luck and don't be afraid to ask questions. The RV6-A with a nose wheel handles the take off roll with just the rudder feed back.}

 

^{Steve A}

Well thanks for all the informed replies. I won't worry the next time I have to fly a cargo to some far off Island now, use of the rudder to keep it on line should help I guess. Flight really is a fantastic piece of software.

 

*Edit* Sorry guys, should have said that I'm not currently using one of your fancy stick things, just the bare-bones control pad, will be looking into getting a cheap one though.*

 

Thanks again, I'm off to check out the tutorial section, could be a while.

 

Liz.

Actually, toedv, if you go back a few posts you'll find my own queries, namely navigating before VOR stations and other navigational questions.

I got lots and lots of responses. I am a guy, BTW.

Really, the folks on these forums are just plain helpful, plain and simple.

Name calling with terms like "geeks" and whatnot really has no place. Stick around, you'll see how much people help each other around here.

Insults and rudeness noted. Thanks for making us aware who in particular's questions or comments don't warrant any response.

 

Your "-14" rep does make sense, though.

 

I'm really not sure why people who don't believe discussions should occur even come to forums in the first place. Other than trolling, I guess.

If your looking for a good cheap stick, look into a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro. Its built like a tank, will last many years, and will only cost you 25$! Its I think the best starting stick, and will give you the option of a "twist" ridder. You can twist the stick to use rudder imput, so you can correct for this torque and wind effect on takeoff. It really will help your flying, and also the immersion.

 

Really glad you like the game and the Maule! Great little aircraft, and welcome to not only the forum, but flying!

 

Here is a link to the stick on Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Extreme-Joystick-Silver-Black/dp/B00009OY9U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338776174&sr=8-1

Thanks MVgibbage.

 

Like the look of that stick, look's pretty good. I'll certainly be getting one soon. Yes I'm quite enjoying the Maule, have yet to crash it.

All the geeks goes gaga when a girl ask a question. Didn't you notice guys, that the first reply post answered her question?? Get a life guys...

 

I'm fairly sure the intention was to simply appear helpful and welcoming given that it was the first post from a new forum member who was asking for help and also mentioned hoping that the forum was friendly. I think you'll probably find that in spite of the reputation for geekiness on the internet, most of us have actually spoken to a woman before. Some of us have even done so more than once. :LMAO:

 

Al