EnergyFX

EGAD!! :thumbup:

Just play with them on the runway or tarmac while watching. Get used to how long it takes to fully open, fully close. Once you are pretty familiar with how long it takes them to operate you can simply adjust how long you hold the open/close keys. It's not an exact percentage but you will get a 'feel' for it the more you use them. Even with Track IR I have found myself looking out at the wings much less lately. More so now I look out to verify their operation, not so much to guage their exact position.

Personally I was never happy with the movement of the stick itself. It's sticky for some reason. I even tried greasing the pressure cone but it made no difference. The movement of the Logitech Extreme is far better, but like you said lacks in button (HOTAS) availability. The throttle movement is nice, the rudder twist is good, but the stick movement could be better. All in all is a great upgrade from what you're using. The slider, rotary, MFD, button, HAT, and mode options simply can't be beat. If you want mine I will sell it for whatever this bid closes for: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Saitek-X52-Pro-Flight-Controller-Joystick-Throttle-Set-/320811465124?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab1da79a4 ... plus shipping.

Turn very gently to your ATC heading. Try to stay at whatever altitude the auto pilot already had you set at (8000 I think). Auto pilot should pop back on as soon as you level out. I just tried it. ATC gave me a heading of 234. I waited for the instructor to disengage auto pilot, jabbed the stick forward to compensate for the nose up that happens when coming out of auto, rolled a few degrees to the left staying within 100ft of established altitude. Leveled off at about 232 and auto popped back on before I could shift back to the right the 2 degrees. As for already being off alignment for approach. Try staying at 8-10 degrees nose down on the decent and maintaining 240 knots (min throttle plus about 40% speed break should do) during the dive. Start to gently pull out of your dive at about 3200 feet and slowly return to level flight as you creep to 2500 feet. Not saying these are the only ways to hit the triggers, but it worked for me. I have a saved track file but it is too big to attach to the forum. If you still have trouble with it shoot me a PM and I can try e-mailing it to you or some other option. Maybe watching it will help you see where you are out-of-bounding a trigger or something.

Runway numbers are the first 2 digits of the runway heading. Runway 13 is a heading of 130 (or very close). The opposite end of runway 13 would be runway 31, or heading 310. 130 + 180 degrees = 310 This is also useful for when you need to abort approach and "go around". Slow turn to the heading opposite your approach to gain distance from the runway at an optimal heading to turn back onto approach when you're ready. (For training of course. Realistically you should contact ATC for a heading to re-enter your pattern, but if you're just practicing your approach alignment and touchdown process then the 180 concept works well.)

Hi Selayan. Yes, you are correct, when ATC gives you a heading instruction it is expected that you will turn to that heading immediately. If you find yourself lost or obviously off course you can always ask ATC for another heading using the "I'm lost" radio option (if I remember correctly). Once you touch down you will recieve instructions to take a taxi-way and park. Instructor "Samuel L. Jackson" will tell you there is a crew chief moving to your parking space now. Try to scan the parking area and you should see a soldier running out to the middle of the tarmac (he is your "crew chief"... even though he is an infantryman). Basically your designated parking space is right in front of the Batumi terminal. You should park facing the direction that you landed with the crew chief slightly to the left of your plane's nose. There is another infantryman standing next to a vehicle, don't mistake him for your crew chief. Your crew chief will be out in the middle all by himself. Hope this helps. BTW, I have a used X52 Pro if you're interested. Just let me know.

http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip To dip the knob. Something more durable than just paint.

If the screws are 8/32 (which they look to be) then the knob might be sized smallish enough to work for you. Plasticoat or rubber dip the knob in black and you might be good to go. http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/CLH0/5066.oap?ck=Search_N0212_-1_-1&pt=N0212&ppt=C0335