Hi all.I currently fly the default DC3 with Dave Bitzer's and Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumont's altered flight dynamics. My question is whether I should set some rudder and eleveator trim before takeoff to counteract torque, or whether I should gradually add it after takeoff. If before takeoff, what settings are recommended? Any help would be appreciated!Cheers!Paul Mallows...

Hi Paul:Come on over to DC-3 Airways (VA) and ask that question on the forum there and I guarantee that you'll get an answer. A correct answer.Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumont flies with DC-3 Airways and as a matter of fact he is a "Mucky Muck" with the organization. (You know; high in the management, a "biggie", a suit, an exec.) http://dc3airways.com/entry.htmlYou might give some thought to joining. A great bunch of guys, many are real world pilots, some even fly or have flown the real DC-3.Regards,Donalds(a non-management, "little guy ", oil stained overalls, low echelon DCA sim pilot.)

Hi Paul,I am currently flying a full size DC3 and our check list calls for elevator and rudder trim set to zero for take of. The DC3 is not difficult to control directionally on T/O (except in a strong cross wind)The only times that rudder trim is used is for slight adjustment to keep the ball in the middle or course adjustments for engine out situations. I hope this helps.Regards,Robert W

That's interesting, Robert. I had always understood that a little right rudder was necessary on take off to compensate for prop torque. Neutral trim, yes, or if anything a nudge up; one of our real world DC-3 pilots at DC-3 Airways tells me he takes her off the runway with trim, not yoke, and that in most stages of climb and descent trim is a major factor and continually adjusted.I, however, have the brain of a demented newt and will bow to all real world input you might offer as I wouldn't be able to challenge it. Don Schaaf might ... don't believe his garbage about being a mere pawn in the game. Don has more hours in his virtual DC-3 than I have brain cells. He's right to invite you over, though, Paul.At DCA, we take our landings seriously. Sometimes, we even use wheels...Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumonthttp://www.swiremariners.com/newlogo.jpg

Hi MARK,Firstly many thanks to you and your team for the excellant MAAM DC3I have owned a copy since the first week and I have enjoyed every minute of flying it.Re the trims; I think you may have misunderstood me, in that yes, we leave the rudder trim at zero, and yes you can take off and indead land the DC3 on elevator trim only.In flight, continual adjustment of the elevator trim is required to balance the aircraft as the cabin crew and others move around.Our Dc3 is not fitted with a autopilot so we get plenty of practise in hand flyiny the old girl.Regards,Robert W

>At DCA, we take our landings seriously. Sometimes, we even>use wheels...>Ha! I'm glad you put that little caveat in Mr B! having watched one of your wheels up landings into Austin/Texas, I believe it was, a few weeks ago from over your right shoulder whilst whispering "GEAR,GEAR!!" Through gritted teeth! You never heard me of course as you were wearing earphones!!!Just as well there were only 2 other DCA'ers to take the mickey out of you on that multiplayer flight! LOL!! Oh, how we chuckled!!!! Especially when it was pointed out to you that you can sit the old girl back on her legs again by hitting the gear lever whilst on your belly! CheersTimhttp://www.fssupport.com/maam_sim/maamsim_logo.gif

<<>>Now look here, you follickly-challenged frightener of frogs and small creatures! "Gear, gear"? I thought you were saying "Here, cheers!" as you passed me another beer or perhaps "Hear, hear" in praise of my on-the-numbers approach. You were saying "Gear, gear"? Naahhhh..... pull the other one.<<<>>>Just because the MAAM-SIM bird is capable of taking advantage of her assymetrical gear action to execute a passing resemblance to an Abyssinian camel rising from the desert, doesn't mean I have to cheat. As you are well aware, in the real world Gooneys can fall down if you touch anything red in the cockpit (even at rest) but they're not in the habit of getting up. No, I made my bed (flowerbed, actually) and had to lie in it. I was so thrilled that you were there with me to share in that important Emergency Training Exercise.Pity you missed the first two hours of the flight and only managed to raise your head from your pillow for the last five minutes, but that's co-pilots for you.LOL. Hope you're well, not travelling more than your frequent flyer miles can stand and that Brenda is still better looking.Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumonthttp://www.swiremariners.com/newlogo.jpg

Just an aside to the DC3. Hurricane Charlie destroyed a DC3 being restored at Orlando Executive (KORL). It came loose from its tiedowns and blew into several hangars which inturn damaged/destroyed several more aircraft.I always obseverd this aircraft sitting on an outlying ramp during the NBAA Convention in October 2003 and also everytime I taxied my aircraft to RW25. It is indeed a shame the DC3 was totalled.I also installed a large GA AI traffic file downloaded from one of the sites. Yesterday, I was AI watching and heard a call from a Douglas to taxi at KORL. It was the DC3. I watched her taxi, takeoff, climb, and cruise for some distance.As a child, I watched many a DC3 and other Beech aircraft takeoff and land from KORL. A Sunday visit to the airport (No Disneyworld in the 1950's), where the security fence was three feet high, was always a thrill.W. Sieffert