A couple of questions.  I just got my PPL-ASEL license in a 180HP 172G.  In this particular airplane, I do need substantial right rudder to stay on the centerline during the takeoff roll.  On a soft-field even more is needed once the nosewheel gets off the ground due to p-factor.

 

Here are the questions...

 

1.  If Torque, Slipstream, and gyroscopic precession are not modeled, is P-factor accurately modeled?

2.  Is ground effect modeled?  (i.e. can I perform an accurate soft field takeoff or any landing)

3.  Are stalls modeled?  Power on/off and level/turning flight

4.  If so, does a power-on stall produce a typical wing drop?  P-factor modelling?

 

Ok, I couldn't resist...

 

The C172 is now on my hangar :-)

 

After all, I am a very satisfied A2A customer with my other products (b377 and p51d), and I am sure that whatever started wrong with this C172 can certainly be fixed.

 

I'll start saying that I 2nd most of the observations on strange bahaviour in as far as pitch and yaw in respect to other factors, are affected. Alec's notes here and at the A2A forum are on spot, just as other have also pointed out.

 

Something IS wrong with this FDM, and it is NOT a problem with our controllers... C'mon, I come from the X-Plane world where many tend to sell the idea that we simply do not know what flying a prop is, because we do not have the right hardware... A simulator has to have it's own ways of coping with the vast variety of input devices and still be usable and provide plausible response to control inputs, even if the users have to tweak their settings a bit, transforming linar into exponential or the way around, choosing dead zones, etc...

 

While A2A looks at the various problems described by the users, I would suggest a simple editing of the AIRCRAFT.CFG file for testing, with backup of the original.

 

At least one of the modifications was already suggested, by Q-400 I believe:

 

I am using, in the [flight_tuning] section:

 

elevator_effectiveness        =1.000

rudder_effectiveness           =1.000

elevator_trim_effectiveness=1.000

p_factor_on_yaw                = 1.5

torque_on_roll                    = 1.0

high_alpha_on_yaw           = 1.5 // didn't exist
high_alpha_on_roll             = 1.5 // didn't exist

 

Try it, and experiment with other values. Define a keyboard combnation for aircraft reload from within a sim session so that you do not have to leave and reload the Cessna each time you edit and save AIRCRAFT.CFG. I defined CTRL-SHIFT-R  for "Aircraft Reload".

In addition to Rob's comments, Alec, FSUIPC allows one to create a profile for each aircraft, or group of aircraft types, and, as the A10 and the C172 are very different aircraft, you may want to create a "Single-Piston" group/profile, and assign this C172 to it, giving it its own curves, slopes and limits - in particular - the Elevator Slope, which you would not necessarily want as "linear" - it should probably have a fairly flat response around neutral, with an increasing effect as the yoke is progrssively pulled back. You could then assign to it all of your aircraft of this category. Splendid product!

 

Hey Paul, just discovered something in FSUIPC that I don't know if you guys knew about. It's the Delta Box, inside the Axis Assignment Tab. Default was 256, and that resulted in extremely low resolution of the axis of my joystick being sent to FSX. Double click it and it goes to 1, now I have perfect fluid motion on my controls, detecting the minimum movement I make on my Warthog.

 

Just thought you should know

You didn't know about the Delta Box before, either?????

 

What about syncing the (hardware) throttle positions?;... and Reverse Thrust???  (Just joking) :lol:

 

Seriously, Alexis - I'm glad you're using FSUIPC. That resolution makes a huge difference when you're running a twin with Pedestal mounted hardware (home-made or otherwise) - it's another great product, isn't it!

as far as i recall, Pete suggests not to change the delta box from 256 for fear of flooding sim connect.

You didn't know about the Delta Box before, either?????

 

What about syncing the (hardware) throttle positions?;... and Reverse Thrust???  (Just joking) :lol:

 

Seriously, Alexis - I'm glad you're using FSUIPC. That resolution makes a huge difference when you're running a twin with Pedestal mounted hardware (home-made or otherwise) - it's another great product, isn't it!

 

Yeah! You get the idea

 

Can't imagine myself without FSUIPC now.

 

No changing on the Delta box? Come on! That was my biggest discovery in FSX in months! In FSX Default setup, the control surfaces movement seems very smooth, but I don't know it it's using all the Joystick resolution, or just interpolating values to make it smooth without actual data.

I think Pete put that box in there to offset the issues with 7-bit controller, Alex, which cause a jumpy action, and when using two pots for two throttles - (SimKits USB board) they're almost impossible to sync. Moving to a 10-bit fixes it.

My Warthog has 16 bit resolution. I think this is why the Delta box is so incredible for me. It outputs every tiny movement I make.

Can A2A provide a recommendation for best controller sensitivities, please?  If you developed the plane's control feel with an assumption of something other than default FSX sensitivity settings, then it would be helpful to know what settings you require to capture the stick/rudder feel you designed for.

I just made the change. What a great improvement. I also experimented and changed the "elevator _ trim_effectiveness=1" to "elevator _ trim _ effectiveness=2". Now it flies smooth and also I do not have to trim it down to 37 to 47% with the trim tab. Thank You for the post.

I just made the change. What a great improvement. I also experimented and changed the "elevator _ trim_effectiveness=1" to "elevator _ trim _ effectiveness=2". Now it flies smooth and also I do not have to trim it down to 37 to 47% with the trim tab. Thank You for the post.

 

Hey,

 

this is a super old post, make sure you update to using the latest Accu-sim updater;

http://a2asimulations.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=41279

 

Though please remember the aircraft is a 172R and the trim is correct for the type. Also make sure you fly using the yoke, the trim is not a primary flight control, as many simmers seem to use it as an elevator in itself, one of those simmer bad habit compared to flying in reality.

 

thanks,

Lewis