I just got this sim (ip trainer 7.0) today and it really is fantastic-a second recommend for it for anyone serious in either learning or brushing up precision flying.One thing this program has that is fantastic is called "auto trim". One of the things msfs has always let me down on is trim. I have used a variety of controllers-but the trim is always quirky, much less not as easy to use in a real airplane-and a lot of the feel is just never right-and that is a good part of the flying experience on a sim.IP trainer has a button below the trim wheel called "auto trim". Get the plane in the attitude you want-hit that button-and the plane holds that position letting you release the pressure on the wheel. Although this is a type of compromise-I find that suddenly I feel like I am controlling the plane more like reality. No more using the touchy trim wheel on my ch yoke-or using a drawn one on fs where a constant porpoising occurs.It would be great if some third party would come up with a gauge like this imho for fs. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

Hi Geof,I too have IP Trainer 7.0, and found it excellent in bridging the gap between IFR theory and actual flight training time (my CFII asked me several times if I had actually had a rating previously, as it felt more like the lead up to an IPC to him- which I credit to both IP Trainer and FS- the former being much more structured than FS).I also second the request for the auto-trim gauge :)Bruce.

Chuck Dome includes an Auto Trim gauge in many of his packages. It isn't perfect--you have to hold the stick where you want the trim to settle for a moment, but it does exactly what you suggest and can be snuck in to almost any panel.-John

Hey Bruce-I can see that-the program is actually harder than reality-I am really enjoying putting it thru the paces...Have a look for my "ex" deb flying out of Centennial now..... (teary eyed....)http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

Thanks-John-I'll look for it....Geofhttp://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

Here's a link to a project I did with Chuck that has the gauge included:http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID...02ac&DLID=34171-John

Thanks again!!!http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

>No more using the touchy trim wheel on my ch yokeEr, that is not a trim wheel on the CH Yoke!No wonder you're having problems with trim... ;)The wheel is for "rough calibration" of the pitch trim setting. Use either the default WinXP calibration procedure or better still, use FSUIPC to perform the "fine calibration."I assigned the rocker on the left yoke handle to simulate "electric trim control" and have excellent results from using it.

As far as I know that is a trim wheel-or supposed wheel on the CH yoke-is rough-and that is a compliment. Have done the yoke calibration/assignment of left yoke button etc.-not real at all imho....However have to confess never have liked the electric trim in the real plane either-John-got the gauge installed-very nice-thanks again-happy about this one....imho of course :-) !http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

What's the "N" number on the Deb, Geof? I do regular practice approaches to KAPA, so I'm bound to "run into it" one day (bad choice of words :) ).Yes- IP Trainer is much harder than reality. As was the FTD that I did some time in at our club.Bruce.

Hi Geofa, "No more using the touchy trim wheel on my ch yoke"jus' reiterating what Jim said, do not use that wheel for trim.I use the rocker switch on the left of my yoke much soother. :)

regardsEd

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Roger that. I used to have a CH yolk and the trim wheel was essentiall useless. The rocker swith is the way to go and wasn't twitchy at all as I remember.But as to the general post, wouldn't simply engaging the autopilot in ALT mode do about the same thing as an "auto trim" switch?Regards,Jim

1768g...http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

Yeah-but who wants to use the autopilot? Actually-no though is the answer to your question. The autotrim maintains the pitch at the position you are at when you engage it. It would be the same as the "synch" button on my real autopilot which engages the "attitude mode" at your present pitch-not "altitude mode" which will keep you at a specific altitude. I have programmed the rocker switch-still find I can never get the trim in the sweet spot....http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg

>Yeah-but who wants to use the autopilot? >>>I have programmed the rocker switch-still find I can never get>the trim in the sweet spot....>http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg>I am fairly new to FS9 so I might be way off base in my attempted solution to this problem.It is true that the proper way to trim any aircraft is to trim out the pressure of aerodynamic forces that are exerted on control surfaces. The MS engine in FS must be very difficult for programmers to work with as many, even the highest quality products, have some difficulty with the adjustment of trim.My attempt has involved editing the aircraft.cfg file and adjusting the line "elevator_trim_effectiveness=?". Decreasing the digits slows down the turning of the trim wheel and makes for slower but more refined adjustments. Seems not to be the same figure for all aircraft.While not knowledgeable in this aspect of programming, I imagine that is essentially what the autopilot does. It senses, in very fine increments (which we as pilots find difficult to do beause FS does not make it easy for us), the precise adjustments needed and trims out all opposing forces.A bit off subject, but perhaps pertinent and hopefully helpful for some reader...When actively engaged in teaching flight by instruments CFII(ASMEL), my initial flight lessons centered on teaching the student how to control the aircraft utilizing the proper use of four items... .pitch,.power,.bank,.trim.If an individual can learn to control those four elements of flight in instrument conditions, the remaining flight portion of the instrument rating becomes fairly easy.Understanding and implementing the effects of these items in relationship to each other sets the hand-flying precision instrument pilot apart from most of his/her peers.If a pilot, with autopilot engaged, is alert to the subtle changes in pitch, power, bank and trim managed by the computer, he/she can learn to apply similar changes while flying without the aid of autopilot.One can easily see the programmers have algorithmically enabled the autopilot to do what we older pilots once did on a regular basis... and the autopilot does it better than humanly possible.Trim is such an essential part of this process. It would be wonderful if it could be more easily controlled in MSFS.Sorry for the long post. Y'all knew this... :-( donmac