Fw 190 D-9 - Take Off Easy/Okay/Hard?

[Flagrum]

How difficult is it to take off with the Dora? Following the forums and according to my personal experiences, it can be a bit ... difficult. How was your learning curve, how many failed attempts did you have until you could take off with her somewhat reliably?

Edited August 19, 2014 by Flagrum

[Friedric]

Curve was high for me but now no problem

[VIMANAMAN]

As tricky as the any tail dragger for me. (although helped by noticing the assists were on)

 

It's mainly in the rudder, and modern aircraft don't require anything like as much rudder input.

 

Experienced WW2 pilots had take off and landing accidents all too frequently - the 'swing' was all too frequent, from what I've read.

[flare2000x]

Got it second try . . . Wasn't that hard. Easier to learn than the Spitfire in CloD!

Edited August 20, 2014 by flare2000x

[Flagrum]

I'm not going to take part in the poll mostly because I have gotten this plane off the ground. Many times. But it is at best a 50/50 proposition for me. But the times that I have gotten it off the ground I have to say that I just do not care for this plane. Why? I can't really say. I just don't really like it all that much.

I have been ridiculed for my opinions on it's takeoff issues but I don't really care. On my module, the tail wheel will absolutely not lock no matter what I do. The plane pulls uncontrollably to the left, again...it does not matter what I do to remedy it. But the take off isn't really the issue with me. I just don't care for the plane itself. I suppose that it is a personal preference. So I'm not whining, nor am I complaining. I love all of the other modules that I own from DCS. The Dora is the first and probably only that I do not care for and most probably won't fly very often. I just do not enjoy the Dora.

That is basically what I made the last option for... :o)

 

I am hestiating to say here that I am sorry to hear that - if you are okay with it, why should I be sorry about it? On the other hand, I consider myself not even a WWII aircraft buff but so far I have surprisingly lots of fun just flying and cruising around in the Dora. The "feel" of the massive engine somehow impresses me.

 

And just to post here something ... substancial - my take offs became more reliable (while still far from perfect) when I made it a habbit to release the tail wheel lock relatively early (around 100 kph). Keeping the stick longer in your lap causes the aircraft to produce too much lift early on and thus making the steering difficult as the aircraft gets lighter on the wheels. And being too light on the wheels can even cause it to take off waaaay too early and the torque throws you off the runway.

The rudder has already enough authority due to the airspeed that small corrections (if then even necessary anymore) are way more precise to do than with the brakes. I really use the brakes only for the initial line up on the runway and then for the first 50-100 meters if necessary. Just very small and tiny taps on the brake - as the aircraft tends to oversteer a bit anyways.

This way the aircraft first lifts its tail and while I maintain a neutral stick position, if eventually takes off all on it's own.

Edited August 20, 2014 by Flagrum

[PE_Tigar]

My success rate went to 5:1 (at least) as soon as I turned off the takeoff assistance. The one thing I still have to work on is releasing the stick from full aft position at a precise time. What also helps is applying full power early on.

[Dirty Rotten Flieger]

Took me about 5 or 6 goes to get it. I kept trying to lift the tail off early,and roll on the main wheels before lift off but every time lost control of the rudder...

Once I started to hold the stick back to lock the tail wheel till just before lift off, it was fine. Also I don't use full power. More like 2700 rpm. 3000rpm at the most

[upupandaway]

I failed once or twice maybe. Takeoff is easier compared to landings for me. I have developed a rough technique, but I found it a little hard to overcome the habits that were acquired in the Mustang.

[WinterH]

I don't even remember how many failed attempts I did, around 15-20 may be. Then I looked at options, saw take off assist was at 100, just to experiment with it I took it all the way down to 4-5. Then I took off fine at my first attempt and most of my attempts that follow.

[Krupi]

Took me about 5 or 6 goes to get it. I kept trying to lift the tail off early,and roll on the main wheels before lift off but every time lost control of the rudder...

Once I started to hold the stick back to lock the tail wheel till just before lift off, it was fine. Also I don't use full power. More like 2700 rpm. 3000rpm at the most

 

You really should use full power (3250 rpm) as it was meant for take off.

[Eponsky_bot]

1 - I could take off immediately without problems

 

[Anatoli-Kagari9]

You're a glider pilot, that's all I can guess :-)

 

Excellent flying!

 

(Glider pilot because we love to land in the taxiway by the end of the day :-)

[Siegfried]

Take off and landing at very first try (making S along the runway, of course). Then I had practicing to take off with stick neutral, full power punch and tail wheel turned 90º (after turn stop for runway align) without problems, only controling with rudder. 100km/h stick half way forward and little bit right for correct roll to left in take off.

 

At next day I was practicing landing without flaps and 0º trim simulating electrical failure. 10-15 try and I managed land in less than half runway 2 times.

 

Learn P51 was very more tricky for me but it helped me to control Dora.

 

G940 and saitek pedals. Zero takeoff assist.

[Anatoli-Kagari9]

Now, for some additional adrenaline, try your takeoffs with a x-wind component, from 9 o'clock or 3 o'clock of not less than, say... 8 m/s.... :) and discover an additional level of detail this simulation provides regarding slipstream effects at higher crosswind components!

 

Be prepared to crash again, even if you already mastered your takeoffs :-)

 

If you find it weird, look here...

[Lange_666]

Take-offs: Over 70. Can take-off now but it's not 100% a garantee on succes. Only started working if i pushed the throttle to max directly instead of increasing it smoothly (and i tried smooth throttle up A LOT...LOL).

Landings: Still trying to get down in one piece, managed it once without crashing so far but with a lot of drifting. The landing itself is not that much of a problem, not much bouncing or whatever, it's just keeping it not going into drift mode that is the problem after the landing because once i touch the grass beside the runway sideways, it's over...

[DieHard]

How difficult is it to take off with the Dora? Following the forums and according to my personal experiences, it can be a bit ... difficult. How was your learning curve, how many failed attempts did you have until you could take off with her somewhat reliably?

 

I did not adjust using Axis Tune. My setup is stock setup "out-of-the-box", no cheats, the Special checkboxes are unchecked.

 

Was airborne on 3rd attempt.

 

Landed it 3-point on 2nd try.

 

My first attempts were not drop-dead beautiful and I still need to fine tune and do it better, eventually.

 

Having gone through flying the DCS Mustang from the early beta was a very valuable experience doing the process, that has prepared myself for the Dora, I am sure.

 

How difficult?

 

Must be kind of difficult due to how many people are complaining.

 

I flew Aces High (http://www.hitechcreations.com) for 5 years, so I do have that experience. The DCS Dora is harder than theirs.

 

Trim tabs would be a nice cheat. I mean it is just a game, right?

 

Ugh! I mean a sim... :lol:

Edited August 20, 2014 by DieHard

[mjolner]

For take off like many others once I figured out the technique it actually became easy. I apply brakes, throttle to 2500+ RPM and release brakes and try to track her straight with right ruddder. I can take off safely 100% now with this method, it may not always be pretty but I get her in the air.

 

As for landing, well thats a work in progress for me. I only have maybe 2 or 3 hours of sim time with the Dora so I still have some training flights ahead.

[LeadTurn_SD]

Takeoff and landing in the Dora (like the Mustang) takes close attention, timely control input, and anticipation.

 

I'm still a "work in progress". I get up and down safely more often than not now, but if I let my concentration slip it isn't pretty... which is as it should be I think.

 

Best wishes.