F-14A throttle curve

[Reflected]

I'm surprised how different the TF30s feel compared to the GE110s.

 

I expected it to spool up and down slower, that's fine. I'm not talking about how fast it responds to throttle movement.

 

What feels really strange is that there is a jump in power at around 40%ish. Here's what I mean: I'm parked on the ground. 

20% nothing...wait 5 sec

30% nothing...wait 5 sec

35% nothing...wait 5 sec

37% nothing...wait 5 sec

40% I start rolling, but  way too fast!

 

the 40% is just off the top of my head, but there is a very sudden jump in power, and it's next to impossible to taxi slow. The same goes for AAR and landings. if I reduce power below this magical number I fall out of the sky. If I don't ,it has no effect and I go high. It's as if someone set a huge curve into the throttle response.

 

Is it just me or do you guys feel this too? I'm also curious whether it's realistic like this, and why? Or maybe not, and it just needs fine tuning?

 

Cheers,

[Gunslinger22]

I certainly concur when it comes to Taxing in the A, seems like it’s glued to the ground then once you get above 40% it rolls incredibly fast to where keeping up a consistent low speed on the ground is harder than AAR. 

[Nodak]

What are the nozzle indicators showing?  That could account for the sudden thrust boost.

[Cocker]

Greg, what's the curve you are using? I had to modify mine to get as close as possible to 1:1 to avoid this.

[Reflected]

21 minutes ago, Cocker said:

Greg, what's the curve you are using? I had to modify mine to get as close as possible to 1:1 to avoid this.

That's my point, I'm not using any curve. it's 1:1. But it feels like someone set it all the way up. Close to being binary with a sudden jump in the middle. And I mean the effect. The throttle levers are moving smoothly.

[Cocker]

What's the throttle you are using?

 

But yeah I concur, there is something like a "surge" around the middle somewhere.

[Reflected]

Warthog hotas

[Cocker]

Same here, with a shaved AB detent. Here's what I'm using, let me know if this helps:

 

[Nealius]

I experience the same. In formation and landing I don't have issues, but when taxiing, especially when taxiing up to the catapult, the thing lurches forward and is impossible to taxi with a controlled speed.

[Uxi]

Hmm can't say I really noticed a difference with my Virpil MongoosT50CM (v3) from F-14A to B. I had to invert my axis, though. 

 

And I had to add a curve to light the AB after my 3d printed detents, but that was only noticeable at top end and after having the F-14B for awhile. 

 

[Mr. Big.Biggs]

F14B also feels like its stuck to the ground Until you over power it then it rolls way fast.  In thought i had the parking brake on at first then looked outside to see if I rolled over chocks. 

[Uxi]

I'm always modulating throttles when taxiing, so maybe just used to it.

[captain_dalan]

I use a -6 curve, but that's mostly to emulate the real thing's travel time, especially in burner. Even before the curve though, she was jumpy on the ground. I think it has more to do with friction then anything else.

[Biggus]

I've noticed this and just assumed it was how it was meant to be.  It has a huge amount of thrust at very low fuel flows above a certain point compared with the B, and the throttle is much less linear.  A very short range of travel seems to go from 1500pph to 4500pph.

[Tmi]

1 hour ago, Biggus said:

I've noticed this and just assumed it was how it was meant to be.  It has a huge amount of thrust at very low fuel flows above a certain point compared with the B, and the throttle is much less linear.  A very short range of travel seems to go from 1500pph to 4500pph.

This is my experience as well. I'm really struggling to get on speed with the -A because of this.

 

Feels like there is a weird curve at low rpm. I move the throttle 5mm forward and the fuel flow jumps from 3000pph to 4000pph.

 

I'm using the WinWing throttle, linear, no curves with AB @ 80%.

 

I have read the stories and i know the TF30 was a difficult engine. Just suprised that it's this difficult..

[RustBelt]

9 hours ago, Uxi said:

Hmm can't say I really noticed a difference with my Virpil MongoosT50CM (v3) from F-14A to B. I had to invert my axis, though. 

 

And I had to add a curve to light the AB after my 3d printed detents, but that was only noticeable at top end and after having the F-14B for awhile. 

 

That's not an engine problem, it's a wheel friction problem. All taxying is a kludge to make their ancient core code cooperate with the carrier deck and by extension, the land. 

Most flight sims are modeled with ground interface just being an incredibly weird kind of flying that's full of half solutions and fudged physics. 

[Reflected]

10 minutes ago, RustBelt said:

That's not an engine problem, it's a wheel friction problem. All taxying is a kludge to make their ancient core code cooperate with the carrier deck and by extension, the land. 

Most flight sims are modeled with ground interface just being an incredibly weird kind of flying that's full of half solutions and fudged physics. 

 

You think so? That may be, but I feel the same during AAR and landings too - not sure if it's just a "feeling"

[Wildwind]

Well, we know historically that the TF-30's don't behave well at low throttle settings.  Could be that this is just a manifestation of that behavior?

 

By that I mean, is the "surge" that you're seeing at a certain throttle setting a reflection of the fact that the engine just doesn't perform very well below that setting?

[Tmi]

9 hours ago, Wildwind said:

Well, we know historically that the TF-30's don't behave well at low throttle settings.  Could be that this is just a manifestation of that behavior?

 

By that I mean, is the "surge" that you're seeing at a certain throttle setting a reflection of the fact that the engine just doesn't perform very well below that setting?

Yes, that is most likely the case and i just need to git gud. Still, i'm really suprised about the "exponential" feel of the throttle at lower rpm.

 

I thought the biggest problem with the engines would have been those dreaded compressor stalls, but i haven't had a single stall since the release of the -A.

 

Constantly struggling with AAR and getting on speed AoA though. Never thought i'd say this, but the -B feels pretty easy after flying the -A.