How to trim an aircraft

[misgav 2]

I'm asking a question, not offering a solution.

It's about trimming an aircraft, specifically elevator trim to control pitch mode.

I'm having a hard time trimming aircraft- both default and payware.

It's a lot easier to use the autopilot, but sometimes I want to handfly those babies.

I've got the trim commands assigned to two buttons on my controller (Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS X)

 

But whenever I use them, the a\c pitches up or down way too steep.

I can't get small increments in the pitch.

The default assignmenst are to the 7 and 1 on the numerical keypad. I've tried those and htey are way too senstive.

 

SohHow do I change the sensitivity in order to get a manageable trim control?

 

Eytan Ornstein

[HaraldG 559]

Hi Eytan,

 

in the steerings assignment menu, you can set a repeat factor for joystick button assignments. How are your settings there?

 

I have set this to "low" (slider to the middle) and it works fine for all my planes.

[fppilot 4,360]

Have you had any real world training, or read up on trim adjustment? If not you might find value in the thread referenced below. Read into the thread far enough to pick up the discussion on technique for leveling off.

 

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/394390-saitek-multi-panel-trim-wheel-increase-sensitivity/

[misgav 2]

in the steerings assignment menu

Where do I find this repeating factor?

I cannot find it inside fs or is the joystick settings.

Eytan

[misgav 2]

Ok. I found it. It does seem to help.

Also I found this thread for FSX trim settings.

 

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/394795-unrealistic-pitch-response/page__hl__elevator%20trim#entry2557435

 

Would changing the aircraft cfg file help?

I don't want to proceed in that direction unless it's safe to do so.

 

Eytan

[HaraldG 559]

Glad I could help at least a little bit. Unfortunately, editing the aircraft.cfg for this problem is beyond my experience.

[pfflyers 7]

To modify the aircraft config file find this section:

 

 

[flight_tuning]

cruise_lift_scalar=1.000

parasite_drag_scalar=1.000

induced_drag_scalar=1.000

elevator_effectiveness=1.000

aileron_effectiveness=2.000

rudder_effectiveness=1.000

pitch_stability=1.000

roll_stability=1.000

yaw_stability=1.000

elevator_trim_effectiveness=1.000 //try reducing this in small steps like 0.800, 0.600 until you like the performance

aileron_trim_effectiveness=1.000

rudder_trim_effectiveness=1.000

 

It is totally safe, just make a copy of the config file as a backup before editing. This would be a lot of work to do it to several aircraft, but not so much if you want to modify a couple favorites.