Trimming tips for the Tomcat

[Wrightie]

Can anyone give me any tips for how to better trim the Tomcat please?

 

I managed to get the hang on it with the Hornet but the Tomcat... i can not get it. I'm either nose up or nose down. Just can't seem to get it right.

 

Anyone got any pearls of wisdom they can pass on please?

[SKIPPY 7-7]

The tomcat doesn't have anywhere near the fly-by-wire level of technology the hornet has. It doesn't auto maintain 1G flight like the hornet can. The cat has very big elevons which are as large as the wings of an A4 Skyhawk, which mean trim inputs are very sensitive/effective. Don't chase your verticle speed indicator either. Use DLC when landing.

[Victory205]

When you get close to the desired trim, fine tune by clicking on the trim button, don't hold it. Trimming is a simple skill that has been forgotten in the FBW world.

 

Additionally, I found a quirk in my Warthog Stick. I had to set the UP, UR and UL positions to nose down, and the DN, DL and DR positions to nose up trim. The coolie hat required too precise of an input and I often would not get the trim response that I intended. This expanded the target, so to speak, and works far better.

 

The other aspect is that trim changes as wings move, with DLC input, speed brake extension, flap extension, etc. Normal stuff.

[Deano87]

Additionally, I found a quirk in my Warthog Stick. I had to set the UP, UR and UL positions to nose down, and the DN, DL and DR positions to nose up trim. The coolie hat required too precise of an input and I often would not get the trim response that I intended. This expanded the target, so to speak, and works far better.

 

This is a really good idea. Nice tip. :D:thumbup:

[Wrightie]

Thanks for the tips. I'm still struggling but have improved. Like the Hornet practice makes perfect. Cheers all

[Baz000]

When you get close to the desired trim, fine tune by clicking on the trim button, don't hold it. Trimming is a simple skill that has been forgotten in the FBW world.

 

Additionally, I found a quirk in my Warthog Stick. I had to set the UP, UR and UL positions to nose down, and the DN, DL and DR positions to nose up trim. The coolie hat required too precise of an input and I often would not get the trim response that I intended. This expanded the target, so to speak, and works far better.

 

The other aspect is that trim changes as wings move, with DLC input, speed brake extension, flap extension, etc. Normal stuff.

 

I'm not quite following by how you mean you setup your Warthog Stick, I'm just not understanding what you mean by the quirk you found.

 

On my stick the coolie hat is controlling trim, but I too find that I am missing my targeted trim I want.

[Nealius]

In a similar vain, since it's not really possible to trim for hands-free level flight, what visual cues should we use to maintain level flight? The horizon in relation to the canopy frame is constantly changing based on speed/altitude/etc. and staring at the VVI is less than desirable. At the moment I've been cruising in TO HUD mode so I get the VVI ladder on the left and I'd like to free myself from that crutch, but I find level flight in non-FBW jets to be more difficult than flying level in props like the Mustang, Spitfire, or even Bf109.

[Hamilton]

I'm not quite following by how you mean you setup your Warthog Stick, I'm just not understanding what you mean by the quirk you found.

 

On my stick the coolie hat is controlling trim, but I too find that I am missing my targeted trim I want.

 

 

I didn´t understand that too.

[Victory205]

He uses 8 position hat switch for trim, possibly without detents to distinguish what he actually press. So for example, when he wants to trim down, instead of hitting up, he accidentally press up-right or up-left, and nothing happens because those directions were unbidden in controls menu. He then decided to bind all three positions (up, up-left and up-right) as trim down function so even if he miss down direction it will still trim down correctly. Same for trim up.

 

There you go. Thanks for explaining so I don't have to!

 

The positions on the eight way hat switch are unforgiving, so I'm cheating.

[Baz000]

Oh, now I understand

[Hamilton]

He uses 8 position hat switch for trim, possibly without detents to distinguish what he actually press. So for example, when he wants to trim down, instead of hitting up, he accidentally press up-right or up-left, and nothing happens because those directions were unbidden in controls menu. He then decided to bind all three positions (up, up-left and up-right) as trim down function so even if he miss down direction it will still trim down correctly. Same for trim up.

 

Thanks 4c=Nikola, actually I understood what he did I just didn´t know that it was possible to assign three commands to a same action on the joystick.

 

I have TM Warthog since 2013 and I never knew it was possible, despite having gone through the same situation that Victory205 mentioned. I tried here and it works.

 

Thanks guys, it was very helpful. :thumbup: