During the takeoff roll, when the Fenix A321 reaches higher speeds (e.g., 120+ KTS) with either the CFM or IAE engines, it feels very unstable and I have a difficult time keeping it centered on the runway.  I would have suspected my skills and/or the settings of my controller as the cause but I don't think that this is it because I don't have this problem with the PMDG B77W.  For this particular aspect of flying, the B77W is kind of my gold standard.  

Is anyone else having this difficulty with the Fenix A321 ?  Does this particular function require a more or a less sensitive rudder (keep in mind, the problem is for higher speeds) ?  Any suggestions/direction is welcome.

Thanks

1 hour ago, zachlog said:

During the takeoff roll, when the Fenix A321 reaches higher speeds (e.g., 120+ KTS) with either the CFM or IAE engines, it feels very unstable and I have a difficult time keeping it centered on the runway.  I would have suspected my skills and/or the settings of my controller as the cause but I don't think that this is it because I don't have this problem with the PMDG B77W.  For this particular aspect of flying, the B77W is kind of my gold standard.  

Is anyone else having this difficulty with the Fenix A321 ?  Does this particular function require a more or a less sensitive rudder (keep in mind, the problem is for higher speeds) ?  Any suggestions/direction is welcome.

Thanks

The A 320 is similar when comparing it to the PMDG 737 or 777. I can keep the PMDG right on the centerline very easily, the Fenix is much more difficult, it likes to wander a bit from left to right. 

With a crosswind, I give it a bit of nose down elevator to start with.

It is a long body so x-wind has a bigger effect in the vertical stab.

I also made the Pendulum TM's pedals a bit softer touch in the middle ( progressive curves) in the hdw setup.

The 319 is easier in X-wind. And that makes sense to me.

It has been a while since I flew the PMDG 737 but I don't remember it being easier.

 

2 hours ago, zachlog said:

During the takeoff roll, when the Fenix A321 reaches higher speeds (e.g., 120+ KTS) with either the CFM or IAE engines, it feels very unstable and I have a difficult time keeping it centered on the runway.  I would have suspected my skills and/or the settings of my controller as the cause but I don't think that this is it because I don't have this problem with the PMDG B77W.  For this particular aspect of flying, the B77W is kind of my gold standard.  

Is anyone else having this difficulty with the Fenix A321 ?  Does this particular function require a more or a less sensitive rudder (keep in mind, the problem is for higher speeds) ?  Any suggestions/direction is welcome.

Thanks

To handle a crosswind during takeoff or landing you cannot use rudder alone. You must use aileron deflection as well - deflecting the ailerons into the direction the wind is coming from. With a right crosswind you would apply right aileron and left rudder. The amount of aileron and rudder to use varies with the amount of crosswind.

24 minutes ago, JRBarrett said:

To handle a crosswind during takeoff or landing you cannot use rudder alone. You must use aileron deflection as well - deflecting the ailerons into the direction the wind is coming from. With a right crosswind you would apply right aileron and left rudder. The amount of aileron and rudder to use varies with the amount of crosswind.

My question is unrelated to take-offs where crosswind is a factor.  This A/C exhibits this behavior with calm winds.

In my experience, all the Fenix aircraft are much harder to keep centered on the runway, x-wind or not. This is compared to PMDG 737+777, iFly 737, iniBuilds A300 and A330.

Absolutely no problem keeping the Fenix centered on my side. I do use quite a harsh sensitivity curve on my (low quality) rudder pedals though.
It‘s not only that, though, since I *do* have problems with keeping all the iniBuilds aircraft (esp. A300) centered. Compared to that the Fenix is very easy.

I have centering challenges also with Fenix (2024). Wasn't that way in 2020 so have played with my pedal curves to see if that helps.

5 hours ago, zachlog said:

My question is unrelated to take-offs where crosswind is a factor.  This A/C exhibits this behavior with calm winds.

You have a config or hardware issue somewhere, I have found the Fenix has no issue with take off roll whatsoever.

The FENIX even added e "feature" to it's options, accessible through the EFB, that modulates rudder input to make it less quirky as seen by default in FS 2020, and although a bit better in FS 2024 too.

All aircraft are extremely responsive to rudder / tiler inputs during taxi and the takeoff and rollout phases, and enabling that option makes a noticeable difference, at least in my case:

What option was added to the FENIX A320 for MSFS in order to make rudder inputs less sensitive?

The FENIX A320 for Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) introduced a "Rudder Damping" option to make rudder inputs less sensitive. This setting can be adjusted in the EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) under the Fenix App's Sim Settings, specifically in the Controls section.

You can use this option with linear rudder sensitivity and then fine-tune the sensitivity according to your preferences. If you choose not to use the rudder damping option, it's recommended to set a minimum sensitivity of -40%

Edited January 20, 20251 yr by jcomm

The rudder on the A320 is REALLY powerful so you still have effectiveness at VMCG (minimum ground effectiveness) - the purpose of this is to be able to counteract the asymetric thrust if an engine were to fail at lower speeds but high thrust output (i.e before V1, at TOGA) - the rudder is so powerful that the aircraft itself will limit allowable rudder inputs above 180knts in flight so you don't rip the tail clean off. This reduction is from 30 degrees of deflection down to around about 8 degrees if I remember correctly. Now, to give you an idea of the input you need to place to achieve this rudder limit of 8 degrees, it's about 1 inch of rudder pedal travel..

The point to all the above - the rudder is powerful, and sensitive. Treat with care and an abundance of respect. And please configure your sensitivities - we've tried to capture this facet of the airplane but it requires cooperation on your side to calibrate your hardware appropriately to this "sensitivity", by reducing your hardware sensitivity if it's uncomfortable. Feel free to use the rudder damping options to further help. 

Edited January 20, 20251 yr by Aamir

4 hours ago, Aamir said:

The rudder on the A320 is REALLY powerful so you still have effectiveness at VMCG (minimum ground effectiveness) - the purpose of this is to be able to counteract the asymetric thrust if an engine were to fail at lower speeds but high thrust output (i.e before V1, at TOGA) - the rudder is so powerful that the aircraft itself will limit allowable rudder inputs above 180knts in flight so you don't rip the tail clean off. This reduction is from 30 degrees of deflection down to around about 8 degrees if I remember correctly. Now, to give you an idea of the input you need to place to achieve this rudder limit of 8 degrees, it's about 1 inch of rudder pedal travel..

The point to all the above - the rudder is powerful, and sensitive. Treat with care and an abundance of respect. And please configure your sensitivities - we've tried to capture this facet of the airplane but it requires cooperation on your side to calibrate your hardware appropriately to this "sensitivity", by reducing your hardware sensitivity if it's uncomfortable. Feel free to use the rudder damping options to further help. 

Your Fenix appears to be slightly off the laws of physics compared to the other simulated airplanes: flying on rails, floating on landings and a "powerful rudder", make it very "special". Yours appears to be an airplane made on the so called RL and real simulated pilots consensus, not on a research and experimentation based on the real thing.

I find the Fenix to be the most ‘planted’ of all the add-ons in 2020 and I have very little difficulty maintaining centreline with it. In comparison I flew the A300 last night and was all over the runway on the take off roll. One thing I did want to ask @Aamir about was lack of nose wheel steering with the rudders. I have my tiller set to the twist axis on my Airbus TCA joystick and it works great, but I notice at taxi speed that there is zero nose wheel steering effect from the rudder, whereas my understanding that the A320 does give you limited deflection of the NLG with your feet. Is this locked out for sim reasons or is there something wrong with my setup?

The number of times I've been in the rear of the A321 and felt the pilot swinging side to side on the departure roll is uncanny. It happens more often than not where I'm pushed against the window and then against the arm rest. It's always on the A321 too.

Dunno how many of you have felt the same.

1 hour ago, WestAir said:

The number of times I've been in the rear of the A321 and felt the pilot swinging side to side on the departure roll is uncanny. It happens more often than not where I'm pushed against the window and then against the arm rest. It's always on the A321 too.

Dunno how many of you have felt the same.

And there's even that famous song going ...: "I'm swinging in the plane... just swinging in the plane... what a glorious feeling [...]" dedicated to Airbus pilots and simmers using the FENIX 321...

Edited January 20, 20251 yr by jcomm