I'm sure this has been answered directly elsewhere, but I can't find a definitive answer. I just purchased a new pair of rudder peddles and was hoping to use them in XP11.5.  I plugged them in, calibrated them in XP, and started my flight. The peddles work great on the ground, but as soon as I take off, I find I don't need them to have coordinated flight. It's like auto-rudder is automatically engaged.

Is this just me? Is there a way to turn off auto-rudder and use the peddles properly?

 

Edited September 25, 20205 yr by N9718

rudder pedals are vital in a helo.

In a plane mostly needed for coordinated flight when slow and in a traffic pattern with a decent amount of wind, especially on final with a strong crosswind.

That said, a lot of aircraft (esp. converts from old xp versions) have artificial yaw stability set too high and a bugged slip/skid indicator.

Edited September 25, 20205 yr by mSparks

We would need a bit more information to start making an educated guess as to what your problem is.

So far likely candidates are:

• Pedal axis set to tiller instead to yaw
• Aircraft flown does not need rudder to stay coordinated in flight (like all airliners)
• Misconception as to how much rudder is needed to achieve coordinated flight

Cheers, Jan

 

5 hours ago, Janov said:

We would need a bit more information to start making an educated guess as to what your problem is.

So far likely candidates are:

• Pedal axis set to tiller instead to yaw
• Aircraft flown does not need rudder to stay coordinated in flight (like all airliners)
• Misconception as to how much rudder is needed to achieve coordinated flight

Cheers, Jan

 

Jan, thanks for the response.

Pedal axis set to yaw. Toe brakes set correctly.

I was flying a C172. I usually fly only GA or bizjets.

Peddles definitely work as expected on the ground. However, every turn was coordinated without me using the peddles. That seems off, doesn't it?

1 hour ago, N9718 said:

That seems off, doesn't it?

Normally X-Plane will only "auto apply" rudder if no yaw axis is detected as being assigned in the joystick axis setup.

Keep in mind that even the C-172 will stay "mostly coordinated" in a turn, you can pretty much fly it in "normal" turns without having to apply constant rudder, the sideslip will be small. You should apply rudder when entering and exiting the turn, but you won´t spiral out of control if you don´t.

You can see if your rudder (auto-) deflects by choosing the tab DATA OUTPUT and then search for the field flight-controls and click the leftmost checkbox (for display on screen). Now you will see your flightcontrol surface deflections and you can see if X-Plane stomps on the rudder for you.

Cheers, Jan

 

2 hours ago, Janov said:

You can see if your rudder (auto-) deflects by choosing the tab DATA OUTPUT and then search for the field flight-controls and click the leftmost checkbox (for display on screen). Now you will see your flightcontrol surface deflections and you can see if X-Plane stomps on the rudder for you.

Jan,

I do see rudder deflections when I fly even though I'm not using my peddles. If I reduce the yaw stability augmentation, these are reduced. Is this what is causing the "auto-rudder" effect?

Even if I turn down stability augmentation, I still fly with coordinated turns without using my peddles.

Edited September 26, 20205 yr by N9718

I just tried and indeed the default Cessna needs basically no rudder in turns - which is probably realistic. I have flown PA128s and F33s a quarter century ago, and they did not need rudder in turns, either. Here is a pretty extensive article on this, which states (in a nutshell) that you should apply a bit of rudder when applying aileron (entering and exiting the turn), but not while in the turn itself:

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2018/february/flight-training-magazine/the-common-turn

Cheers, Jan

 

11 hours ago, N9718 said:

Even if I turn down stability augmentation, I still fly with coordinated turns without using my peddles.

Something like the c172 is generally very stable, and will weather vein into the wind to keep you coordinated.

exceptions are (off the top of my head)

adverse yaw

landing with a crosswind

applying/reducing power

intentional forward slips to lose altitude.

even a helo doesnt use much pedal in forward flight, in fact we practice all kinds of landings with failed pedals

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. I'm flying the Baron58 now and finding that I don't need peddles to do coordinated turns in it as well.

So, that leaves me a little disappointed that I spent >$350 on a good set of rudder peddles only to use them during ground ops and crosswind landings. Yes, I can now do several maneuvers better with the peddles (slips, stalls, etc), but I was hoping to get more regular use out of them.

Edited September 28, 20205 yr by N9718

9 hours ago, N9718 said:

but I was hoping to get more regular use out of them

Oh, you can just pretend that your ailerons got stuck and practice flying with the rudders alone - its a nice challenge!

Or... you can try some glider or heli flying, and your rudder / anti-torque controllers ( to avoid writing pedals which might sound as me trying to wave: hey, it's not peddles ... and I don't want to make it look like that 🙂 ) 

20 hours ago, N9718 said:

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. I'm flying the Baron58 now and finding that I don't need peddles to do coordinated turns in it as well.

So, that leaves me a little disappointed that I spent >$350 on a good set of rudder peddles only to use them during ground ops and crosswind landings. Yes, I can now do several maneuvers better with the peddles (slips, stalls, etc), but I was hoping to get more regular use out of them.

To give them a work out.

Set a near limit cross wind on and practice left and right patterns with touch and go, making sure you get a perfect rectangle on the map.

For extra spice, set fuel to last only 10 or 15 minutes, so you finish the practice with an (~unexpected) emergency landing from a pattern.

Edited September 29, 20205 yr by mSparks