Flamin_Squirrel

Aha, thank you!

I'm currently reading The Carrier Landing Pattern for Naval Aviators. In it, the author refers to an "S-3 pattern". The context means I'm pretty sure they're not referring to the aircraft! So what on earth are they on about, because I've no idea?! :helpsmilie:

Aww. I'm having the F-14 cockpit prescribed as part of my treatment for being a HUD cripple :D

Well, no. You need 11,000ft.lbs of asymmetry before you need lateral trim, so it's quite possible the reason the RW pilots never saw it is because they were never mad enough to load all their stores on one wing!

Depends on how much asymmetry, according to NATOPS. If there's only a limited amount, you need not bother. Above this, prior trimming required.

Range varies massively depending on your speed, altitude etc. If you want some headline figures you might as well go to Wikipedia.

Weight alone is only part of the story; distance from the centre of the aircraft also influences the resulting moment.

Payload carrying capability, speed, range, radome size, as a guess to start off.

With extreme difficulty. It looks like I'll have to totally dismantle the throttle if I ever want to fix the slop in the right throttle. I suspect if Thrustmaster ever get their act together, I might eventually have to get their F18 throttle to replace this one. They might produce plastic tat, but at least it generally works.

I think you've missed off another group: those who'd be interested in buying, but gave up waiting. :music_whistling: I've had my VKB stick for a while and didn't wait too long to get it so I'm happy, but I've also got friends who ordered last year and are still waiting...

This is where I put mine: https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2457424 Hopefully it'll give you an idea of what to look for if you're not in the UK. That said, it's not sealed, so dusting will be required eventually. For this I use a wide, very soft, paint brush, like the one pictured below. Works very well.

You do realise how big the F14 is right? :D

Yes, that's what I'm talking about too. Approaches should be made at a shallow, constant angle, not too dissimilar to a fixed wing aircraft. Your speed should gradually reduce towards the end of the approach so that your ground speed reaches 0 at the same time you enter ground effect, or there about. If you're getting into VRS your approach is probably too steep, or you're slowing down too early, or both. Also something that's rarely mentioned in VRS discussion is the importance of wind direction. You're far more likely to enter VRS landing downwind than upwind, so know where the wind is coming from and land into it

A preview image of me waiting for VKB to release the F14 grip:

No, better to be watching your airspeed. Keep your speed up so you retain effective transitional lift and you're safe from VRS.

No I've taken the side off, I can actually see the problem.

??? If you get into VRS adding power will make things worse, so I'm not sure why you'd think that's an issue. Also, necropost!

Very clean, nice. Part of the reason I go for weathering is to cover up all my mistakes :lol: How did you do such a good job with the vertical stab decals? The transparent part of the skull and crossbones left a horrible white sheen on mine. I had to very carefully respray over it to fix it.

I am sorry I missed your earlier question about problems. I can't remember what I had in mind at the time. However there's one problem in particular I've noticed since, and I'm not sure if it's always been there or it's a developing issue: The throttle moves the position sensor via a gear arrangement, and there's some slop in the right throttle gear assembly. The result is the right throttle always lags behind the left a little. The only place I really notice is on the gauges rather than any controllability issues - I fly fine with it as is - but for the price this isn't something I should have to put up with. That may have been for the best. While I'm by no means sitting here ruing the day I bought the throttle, having lived with it for a year or so, I couldn't recommend it now either.

Nice, I like the effect you got on the canopy.

It's a great kit. Here's my attempt:

Yes, non-reversible hydraulic controls. Feedback comes from centring springs, bob-weights, and also eddy current dampers. So plenty of interesting forces to model if they so wished.

Just a bit more info: you're limited to 20 degrees with a 4bar scan; you can scan 40 degrees left/right with a 2bar.