Recently Dan Klaue, the author of the X-Plane versions of the Carenado line of flight simulation add-ons made public, at the .ORG forums, his use of the new datarefs provided by LR to allow aircraft designers to fine-tune, among other, the prop effects, was, at least for me, the first official use of this new approach by an aircraft designer.

 

Dan's approach not being complex, is, IMO, very well thought, and honestly while I have some ideas, those were probably turn out to drive me into areas where additional precise air data would be required to really bring the outcome near to what a particular RW model exhibits.

 

Dan was also very helpful in suggesting how I could use that some approach for a twin. On another post I will suggest a modification to his recently released Baron 58 v3.

 

I recently bought the first v3 Carenado, the C185, and as expected it brought with it the new datarefs. I have actually been using a modified version of Dan's code on the default GA prop aircraft in X-Plane 10, and I am very very satisfied with the results.

 

What these approach permits, and in particular Dan's way of coding it into "Lua" scripts made possible,is to, at the same time:

 

1) Decrease the amonunt of roll due to torque from the engine and prop;

2) Fine tune the slipstream effects in terms of yaw

 

Based on this, and since Dan actually gave me his permission tomake public a couple of modifications I am using in the C185 and the Baron 58, both now in Version 3, I will leave here my suggestions. Should you find it worth the editing, the process is not at all complex :-)

 

Bare in mind that any such modifications are meant ** ONLY ** to be used with these CARENADO add-ons, and the underlaying code is Dan's code!!!

 

- Where to find the file to edit and modify:

 

Under the folder of the aircraft you are willing to edit, you will find a folder named Custom Avionics. In the case of my C185 it is under:

 

"...\X-Plane 10\Aircraft\General Aviation\Carenado C185F Skywagon v3\Custom Avionics"

 

A file named "FlightDyn.lua" is the one you should make a backup of before editing, and then edit to find the lines:

 

set(L_plug_acf, get(L_plug_acf) +get(EGTRQ[0])* 1.5)

set(M_plug_acf, get(M_plug_acf) +0)

set(N_plug_acf, get(N_plug_acf) +get(EGTRQ[0])* 0.2)

 

here already changed to the values I am using and suggest you to try - those in red.

 

My main aim was to increase the yaw effect due to prop slipstream asymmetric hit of the tail surfaces. In these new datarefs, "L" and "N" represent respectively moments in roll and yaw, which are the final computation of such moments by the X-Plane FDM. Updating them before being used in a flight simulation step by adding some term dependant in this case of teh original value, allows us to increase the corresponding moment in terms left or right roll or yaw. 

 

Given that positive values in "L" and "M" mean a right moment, Dan Klaue adds to the default X-Plane L and amount of rollto the right that is proportional to the engine torque, translated into a vector variable he named EGTRQ, where the index ( 0.. N) designates the corresponding engine. On a twin 0 will be the index of the left engine and 1 the right one.

 

I just adjusted the amount of right roll added to the original "L" and added a tendency for yaw, on "N".

 

In this particular aircraft using a positive factor for the yaw due to slipstream multiplyer was necessary, although on most other aircraft I use a negative factor, because negative in this case means left-wise...

 

 

Try it and adapt it according to your feel, just as I did with the original values.

Well done J! I'll have to give this a try soon. How do you like flying the 185? Ha sit gotten easier to taxi in this bird?

 

thanks and cheers,

Any of the Carenado aircraft will also present more realistic taxi and takeoff / landing handling than the default and most add-on aircraft available for X-Plane 10, and I particularly applaud Dan's way of doing it, without using simply Artificial Stability tweaks that will, from someone observing the aircraft control surfaces from the outside, look weird...

 

In the very same "FlightDyn.lua" lays the reason for this much better feel we have in the C185, the Baron 58, and most certainly any other Carenado add-on based on the same approach :-)

 

I am really finding X-Plane 10 a new sim. The C185 is a charm to fly, and yesterday, after returning from a whole week in Germany, away from my sim PC [ guys... you eat too much salsiches and hamburgers !!! Too much salt on your food !!! But the beer is great, btw!!! Last time I had been there was long ago in Berlin, in 1997, coincidentally about the same time after having bought Aerowinx PS1 that I am now from having bought Aerowinx PSX, so, unless HH releases a new version, I will probably not get to Germany again :-/... I recall the early night by this time of the year, and the cold weather.... Langen is not the best place to stay, and I really got frustraded for not having the time for a trip to Wasserkuppe :-(, for flying and visiting the soaring museum, just 130km from DSF's Center ... maybe next time... Hey! The guys have a simulation room with two ELITE B200 FNPTs with ESP-generated visuals on a 120º panoramic screen!!! ] I had a great time flying it, and the Baron 58 v3, using EFASS for the weather injection ( great job it does!!! ) and the uncontournable SkyMaxx v2.1 !!!

Hey please tell me this will also work with the Sbach ? that thing just does not want to taxi properly. sorry if this tweak is for something else.

The Sbach from XPFR? That one should really be a nightmare to taxi!

 

I really have to install that one again!!! It was one of my preferred X-Plane 10 aircraft!!!

 

But that model uses it's own tweaks for being able to perform as it does, so, it would be better for the author to adapt the plugin to the new datarefs...

 

One of the main complaints most users have with XP aircraft specially GA and light / medium weight aircraft, is how prone to weathervaning they are when even the slightest wind is present.

 

Dan's approach to fine tune ground handling of his add-on aircraft does a great job. In the past I used an approach based on the "Art Stab Augmentation" section of Plane-Maker, but it has a nasty side effect, specially notice by those voyeuristic simmers who like to watch their aircraft taxiing from the outside ( something only some airliners allow their crew to do.... ) because the rudder will be constantly and very nervously moving all around :-)

 

iron, I can re-visit that technique and hand it to you... I'll also try to download and install the Sbach again

 

Just don't know when I will be able to work on this - the rest of Sunday's morning is reserved for training in what is presently my preferred prop sim - il-2 Cliffs of  Dover - I LOVE THIS SIM!!!!!!!!!!!!! X-Plane too, and PSX, and DCS World, well.... and I'll give the benefit of doubt to il-2 BOS and wait for future updates...

Yep the XPFR one.  

 

Take your time tweaking no worries as that aircraft is only for going super quick at low altitudes  I enjoy that.

 

BTW you mentioned Wasserkuppe , looks great in XPX.

 

So many sims ? I used to have the Pacific Fighters amazing props. Don't know where I kept the disk. 

 

I have posted a snappy on the PPL thread just some clouds. do check when free and also a link to a Cessna.