wrmiller19

I must confess in that I've been cheating: I'm using about 20% rudder assist on takeoff and landings. Auto rudder is off, but I'm still pretty shaky on the TOs and landings. It'll get better. :)

DCS world did a update this morning, and I can no longer click on anything in the P-51 cockpit with my mouse? Is this a bug, or am I missing a configuration setting somewhere?

Having flown a few more times (still in training/solo mode) I find that there are some significant differences in this as compared to A2A. I do like the engine sounds of the A2A slightly better, and the fact that if you throttle back too far can have you fouling the plugs and having to 'clear her out' so to speak. Complete with smoke coming out the exhaust. On the other hand, I like the fact that I don't have to worry about fouling the motor/plugs on this one when trying to land. Just one less thing. :) I notice a crisper response to control inputs in this sim. Like that! And then there's the ability to actually strafe a building and actually put some lead into it! :D In the A2A camp, I like the ability to go into the hanger and check on the status of various systems and see if I'm stressing the motor too hard. If I do though, I can always do a complete overhaul to set things right again. Something like this would be kinda cool here. Overall, I foresee myself flying both in the future. DCS for when I want to blow things up, and A2A for when I want to fly in the civilian world. Especially when they get the civilian version done so I can do cross-country and IFR in a P-51. Now I'm gonna go blow things up... :D

Well, it wasn't pretty. I already had it in sim mode, but yup, auto rudder was on. So...I turned it off to see if I could handle this thing w/o the 'puter's help. Ok, first off, I didn't crash on take off or landing. Probably luck, as the end of both were pretty ugly. I fully expect to screw up in the future. Her nose was pointing everywhere but down the runway at the last during take off, but I managed to get her off the ground. The landing was rather surprising: I touched down ok, (pretty smooth actually), afraid to touch the brakes yet, when all of a sudden, the nose starts going left. I ended up nose pointed past 90 deg. left of the runway. Quite embarrassing actually, but I did NOT bend any sheet metal. I know...RTFM :book: Thanks for all the support and encouragement guys. Looks like I'll be flying this P-51 for quite some time. Heck, I haven't even gotten out of solo training yet, which is the only lesson I've tried. I suppose I should take the instructor supervised lessons before I hurt myself...

Ohhh...yea. :doh:

Wow! OK, briefly scanned the manual (pretty much the same as A2As), and tried a solo training mission after getting my X52 controls set. I found the takeoff to be easier (no offense guys!) than the A2A, with less 'walking the rudder pedals' required. Once clean and trimmed I think this girl is more responsive to input than the A2A. I think I had this stupid grin on my face the whole time I was up. Did a short stint around the airport and and river (wasn't about to mess with those power lines!!!) and landed. Piece of cake. Except for when I tried hitting the toe brakes (too early?) and promptly put her on her nose, mangling a beautiful prop and doing who knows how much more damage. :cry: I'm hooked! :D Sorry for banging her up guys. Maybe I should soften the toe brakes a tad?

Trying to buy the P-51 software, but the download section doesn't show it?!?! Edit: Nevermind, followed the link in the received email and it took me to the right place. NOTE: following the link from the 'purchased' web page doesn't take you to the P-61 download page. FYI...

Thanks guys! I will download the manual, promise. :) Oh, and I've already discovered first hand what different loadings do to handling: The look on my face was probably priceless the first time I took off with the fuselage tank full!

Cool! Yea, I was kinda disappointed when I loaded my guns and some rockets, only to find I couldn't use them! :huh: Will buy it tonight when I get home from work! :D

Please don't laugh, but I have spent most of my flight sim time in Falcon 4 (free falcon) and FSX flying the Accu-Sim P-51. I have a decent system, Alienware, with Saitek stick/throttle quadrant/rudder, and IR 5 head tracking. So...everything I'm reading says how more realistic this sim is (read difficult?) and am a little anxious about spending the money for the P-51 if I can't fly her. I did have some difficulties with the Accu-Sim at first, but after 3 hours or so feel fairly comfortable in it. I am kinda proud of the fact that I have never crashed her, although I'm fairly certain I damaged the landing gear a time or two... :cry: I guess the basic question is: How big of a step up is this bird? Should I save my money and stick with the suck-and-blows? (former Marine avionics NCOIC for CH-53 squadron...sorry)