I've had auto-rudder on for a while, but just realized it was causing the C172 to slowly and constantly bank to the right (I guess it overcorrects or something). I turned it off, and now the plane slowly banks to the left, which I suppose is realistic, but annoying without rudder trim or pedals. Just wondering how much luck people had without pedals, and just using stick twist for rudder? It seems hard to control, either too much or too little with a given amount of twist. I may just forego the extra hassle and just keep using autorudder. Even then, I find I still need to make some corrections during crosswind situations, but it's less drastic.

I used to have (pedal) rudders but for some space reasons I now have a twist joystick. It's fine for taxiing and taking-off but for a long flight you need the autopilot or trim manually the rudder/ailerons (when the aircraft has those trim) to relieve you of the effort, no matter twist joystick or pedal rudders.

Thanks! Yeah, I mainly use it (the twist) for taxing. I was just playing around with it today in a crosswind, and it took quite a bit of twist to stay somewhat straight. Plus, it's just so touchy that I twist a little too much and it's like the plane is having a seizure. I could probably tweak the rudder sensitivity settings a bit. On top of all that, there was another weird issue where there were two windsocks near the end of the runway. One was showing a strong wind from my right, and the other, which was maybe a few hundred feet farther way, was showing a strong wind from the left. As I flew through there on final, it did seem like the sim was actually creating the wind from both directions, so I don't know if that was a glitch or what, but it made trying to use the rudder a lot harder.

3 minutes ago, SpaceForceCapt said:

I could probably tweak the rudder sensitivity settings a bit.

That would be true for most planes. anywhere between -.15 to -.35 Should do the trick

Start at -0.15 and see how it feels. Remember every plane is different. Might also think about saving a different profile for that joystick.

That way you will not have to go into your settings on every flight.

40 minutes ago, SpaceForceCapt said:

Just wondering how much luck people had without pedals, and just using stick twist for rudder?

First it depends on your hardware! For instance Hall Effect Sensors are far superior to potentiometers, next would be adjusting software settings.

30 minutes ago, Mike_CFII_MEL said:

First it depends on your hardware! For instance Hall Effect Sensors are far superior to potentiometers, next would be adjusting software settings.

I was using a Thrustmaster (cheapish stick, but had some Hall sensors, I think). Recently got a Gladiator NXT which seems to be higher quality =)

Note that there are keyboard assignments available for Left and Right Rudder trim and Left and Right Aileron trim, as well as resets for both. Sorry, I'm not at the sim right now to see what the default key assignments are (not all have default keys assigned, but are available). You can search for them in the sim.

The other thing I've done, since I also don't have foot pedals, is to assign Left-Right differential braking to the same axis as my rudder control. It works for some planes that only have differential braking for ground taxiing.

Just some suggestions.

I'm at a point in life now where I am slowly becoming a minimalist. Less is more! I've been using twist rudders now in MSFS and DCS. Works great with the A-10C.

6 minutes ago, bofhlusr said:

I'm at a point in life now where I am slowly becoming a minimalist. Less is more! I've been using twist rudders now in MSFS and DCS. Works great with the A-10C.

I'm with you 😃

MY TM twist went south so now Im fully converted to an XBOX controller.

I bought the Elite version so the rudder buttons have 3 settings that can be adjusted on-the-fly. 🙂

dd

Edited yesterday at 07:29 PM1 day by Sky_Pilot071

My Sidewinder 2 FFB has twist but I disable it as I've had pedals for a LONG time.

I would highly recommend saving up for a decent set of pedals.

I recently bought the Winwing (or WINCTRL now) Orion Rudder Pedals and they are superb. I think I paid about 330 USD for them about 3 months ago. It seems kinda pricey (but it can be way worse). I would not recommend those crappy plastic Saitek proflight pedals or really the cheaper Thrustmaster pedals. The TPR's are pretty cool but they are way too loose imo...

Oh if you get the Orion's buy the dampener so the movement is harder and not so loose.

For those trying to make their sim life simpler, the controller below might be worth your time to check out. Very convenient for laptop warriors. And the 2 extra buttons come in handy for some button hungry study-level flight sims eg. DCS's A-10.
KING of Hall Effect Controllers | Flydigi Vader 4 Pro Review

Why use a game controller?
Why I Ditched my $3,000 HOTAS for a $50 Controller

And the twisty joystick I use now (but I've been tempted to grab VKB's for their expandability and parts availability)
The ONLY Flight Stick You NEED | WinWing Ursa Minor Fighter Review

I had to remove my pedals a few years back as my business required so many multimedia devices they took all of my USB slots. I'll eventually get an expanded USB port and put my pedals back in - they are the best way to go.

In the meantime I am surviving with my twist-stick rudder and can do fairly well with it (though it's hurt me a few times): Thrustmaster T.16000M

I have an old Cessna Trim Wheel which works very well for both nose wheel steering and rudder control. What's nice is you use two different sensitivities on one device, one for wheel one for rudder and they sensitivity curves are different

I too, due to space constraints and other peripherals, have used a twister stick for the rudder.

For light or calm winds it's fine but the stronger the crosswind and the smaller the aircraft, the more of a challenge a twisty becomes. Pedals are most definitely the best way to go for GA flights on windy days, IMO. Otherwise you'll have to get comfortable with your hand performing 3 simultaneous movements on windy landings.

On crosswind landings you will be twisting your hand to align your nose with the runway, while at the same time you're also needing to make your hand tilt left or right (for the ailerons into the wind) to stay on the centerline, and then also with same hand you'll then be pulling back on the stick for the flare.

Just imagine twisting, leaning & pulling in a precise way on landings. All 3 movements then need to be held in place, independent of each other until after you roll out. Not so easy when its windy, and it feels strange...both to your hand as well as your brain, lol. Takes some practice :-)

I found, for example that when flying the Phenom I must use my pedals. It's the only aircraft I have that requires such extreme rudder and aileron precision on touchdown, and for me, the twisty rudder works terribly with that aircraft.

Edited 18 hours ago18 hr by hangar