Tutorial video for trim during hover and flight.

[Sryan]

Hey everybody.

 

The Gazelle has been out for a few days now. I've already seen a few instructional videos pop up however not a single one yet that has mentioned how to properly trim the Gazelle. While this is one of my first real tutorial videos I thought I'd fill the gap and make a video about what I have learned the past week. Hopefully it will help my fellow new pilots and the pilots who will be joining our ranks when the Gazelle gets released for the Caucasus map! I briefly tap into PIO and excessive bank as well and how to prevent it from killing you during your first few hours in the Gazelle. Since this is my first video and I am not a real pilot I welcome all criticism and feedback. Thanks! I personally prefer reading largely over listening. So all instructions are printed on the screen instead of having to try and listen what I have to say.

 

[Mt5_Roie]

Very nice! Enjoy watching your videos.

[wolle]

Thanks for the video, great video, but I am not sure I completely figured out what the correct "helicopter mode" trimming method is (or what you used). Is it to hold down the T button, move the cyclic into the desired position, then release the T button. I am asking because the "helicopter mode" trimming just hasn't worked for me in the Gazelle so far. The way I've been doing it is the move the cyclic into the desired position, then momentarily depressing the T key. For example I start off in level flight, move my cyclic into a 10 degree down attitude, then momentarilypress T, then release the stick back to center. But the chopper will not maintain a 10 degree nose down attitude but go back to level flight. Another thing I noticed that when I momentarily press T then the hat trim will not work any more, if I press T momentarily again, the hat trim works again, another T press hat doesn't work, and so on?

 

I just don't seem to be able to fidure the "helicopter trim" mode out in the Gazelle:helpsmilie:

[Sryan]

Thanks for the video, great video, but I am not sure I completely figured out what the correct "helicopter mode" trimming method is (or what you used). Is it to hold down the T button, move the cyclic into the desired position, then release the T button. I am asking because the "helicopter mode" trimming just hasn't worked for me in the Gazelle so far. The way I've been doing it is the move the cyclic into the desired position, then momentarily depressing the T key. For example I start off in level flight, move my cyclic into a 10 degree down attitude, then momentarilypress T, then release the stick back to center. But the chopper will not maintain a 10 degree nose down attitude but go back to level flight. Another thing I noticed that when I momentarily press T then the hat trim will not work any more, if I press T momentarily again, the hat trim works again, another T press hat doesn't work, and so on?

 

I just don't seem to be able to fidure the "helicopter trim" mode out in the Gazelle:helpsmilie:

 

Hello Wolle,

 

Thanks for asking questions! I will try to answer them as best as I can, while using some understandable language. I hope it's all technically correct what I am saying but this is my understanding of it. There are two seperate trim systems. They are independant, however both are at their best when used in conjunction with the other. I'd describe the normal "T" trimmer as the 'raw' trim. I find it good for trimming a large amount of cyclic. Par example from hover all the way to fast forward flight. I'd then use the Hat Trimmer as 'fine' trim. Applying mild corrections to the attitude of the chopper. The fine trim is bound to the position of the raw trim but there's a major limitation. There's a limit on the maximum amount of deflection the fine trim can achieve. You could see I used this maximum deflection in order to do the lefthand turn in my video. If you change the position of the raw trim, it inherits the position of the fine trim as well. So you may still be facing the same limition as you where before. I personally press the raw trim button and then drag it to the position I want it to be in.

 

So if you want a pitch angle of 10 degrees. Press T, move the stick forward. Release T. Then start using the trim hat to precisely achieve 10 degrees.

 

I have been experimenting furiously for the last 15 minutes. but using the T trim does never inhibit the fine trim from moving in what I think should be a valid direction to move in. You might want to double check, the fine trim is slow after all. If the problem persists I recommend you make a post in the bugs section.

Edited May 2, 2016 by Sryan

[wolle]

Hi Syrian,

 

Thanks for the explanations, they have cleared things up a little for me. To illustrate the problem I have with raw trim I attached an example track. Close to the end of the track I attempt to trim 15 degrees nose down. After a period of wild oscillations the ship ends up being nearly on a level flight, rather than 15 down. What am I doing wrong? Thanks, Wolle

attempt to trim nose down.trk

[LcSummers]

Thank you Sryan.

 

Nice vid, learned a lot.

My question was what keys i have to assign but you have already answered it.:thumbup:

[T0x1s]

I'm having problem with the trim. Whenever I press "T" or another button assigned to trim it does not make the same sound as in the video at 1:55 but just a regular "button sound" and I see that on the joystick in the chopper its the "magnetic brake button" that is pressed

 

EDIT: I did a new mission with engines already started and now its working but I just cant see what I do wrong in my manual startup. Whats all the steps in startup for the trimmer? :)

Edited May 3, 2016 by T0x1s

[Sryan]

I'm having problem with the trim. Whenever I press "T" or another button assigned to trim it does not make the same sound as in the video at 1:55 but just a regular "button sound" and I see that on the joystick in the chopper its the "magnetic brake button" that is pressed

 

EDIT: I did a new mission with engines already started and now its working but I just cant see what I do wrong in my manual startup. Whats all the steps in startup for the trimmer? :)

 

Please check the positions of the following switches. They should emulate the settings I have. The physical pressing of the magnetic brake button is no issue.

 

 

 

[Sryan]

Hi Syrian,

 

Thanks for the explanations, they have cleared things up a little for me. To illustrate the problem I have with raw trim I attached an example track. Close to the end of the track I attempt to trim 15 degrees nose down. After a period of wild oscillations the ship ends up being nearly on a level flight, rather than 15 down. What am I doing wrong? Thanks, Wolle

 

Just watched your track. It's important to realise that the trim in the Gazelle does not work like it does in the Ka-50 Hokum. In that helicopter, the trim and autopilot are coupled. And releasing the trim at a certain attitude causes the autopilot to attempt to maintain that attitude. The Gazelle is not that 'high-tech'. The autopilot does not communicate with the trim like that. Trimming the gazelle merely causes it to hold the cyclic stick for you in a certain way. You should expect activity in the pitch angle as your speed changes or when you manipulate the collective. Corrections must be made using the 'fine' Trim Hat trim.

[wolle]

Just watched your track. It's important to realise that the trim in the Gazelle does not work like it does in the Ka-50 Hokum. In that helicopter, the trim and autopilot are coupled. And releasing the trim at a certain attitude causes the autopilot to attempt to maintain that attitude. The Gazelle is not that 'high-tech'. The autopilot does not communicate with the trim like that. Trimming the gazelle merely causes it to hold the cyclic stick for you in a certain way. You should expect activity in the pitch angle as your speed changes or when you manipulate the collective. Corrections must be made using the 'fine' Trim Hat trim.

 

Hi Sryan,

 

Thanks for the explanation. I agree with you that the speed will change forcing the heli into a new attitude. Now we are ready to get to my real point. They need to implement the raw trimmer just as for the Huey and Mi-8 (which are also low tech). The pilot trims, then the sim ignores the stick position until then pilot had time to recenter the stick (for non-FFB users). As it is now, the pilot trims, the trim position and stick position add up, the helicopter gets wildly out of control, and by the time it has settled down the flight parameters have changed so much thatit has nothing to do with the trim input any more (and trim has become useless). That's the main point I am trying to make (here and in other threads).

[Sryan]

Hi Sryan,

 

Thanks for the explanation. I agree with you that the speed will change forcing the heli into a new attitude. Now we are ready to get to my real point. They need to implement the raw trimmer just as for the Huey and Mi-8 (which are also low tech). The pilot trims, then the sim ignores the stick position until then pilot had time to recenter the stick (for non-FFB users). As it is now, the pilot trims, the trim position and stick position add up, the helicopter gets wildly out of control, and by the time it has settled down the flight parameters have changed so much thatit has nothing to do with the trim input any more (and trim has become useless). That's the main point I am trying to make (here and in other threads).

 

I understand now. It is called "Central Position Trimmer Mode" and is toggable in the special options menu for the Mi-8, Ka-50 and Huey. The SA342 does not have this option. I'd recommend making a post about it in the Enhancement thread and asking for that specific feature. I personaly don't use it. I just expect the controls spike as I release trim. Reason being the central position trimmer mode can cause unresponsiveness if you did not perfectly centralized the controls.

[T0x1s]

Thanks for the help. It was just a single step I forgot in the start up. All fixed now :D

[flyingscotsman]

Excellent tutorial thank, helps a lot.....on my 3rd gazelle

[Carabassa]

Thank you for the video.

[Sryan]

Thanks for the kind words guys!