correct as-is FCS pointing inward and i cannot reset - have tried everything

[RootBeerTuna]

As the title says, i'm having trouble with my fcs systems, they're all pointing inward and downward, and i can't reset them no matter what i do, and no matter what cold and dark startup tutorial i follow. I'm posting from my phone so i will reply from my PC with a photo to show what i mean. 

Here is what I mean

I've tried getting help in a discord server, I've tried Reddit, all to no avail. Please, someone help. I'm running on the release version, not open beta. Maybe I should be running open beta instead? Though I'm still new to the sim so I don't know how to download and install that version. Guess I'll need to figure that out. 

Edited November 6, 2022 by RootBeerTuna

[Hulkbust44]

Everything is correct. Last thing you need is to press the T/O trim button.

[RootBeerTuna]

2 minutes ago, Hulkbust44 said:

Everything is correct. Last thing you need is to press the T/O trim button.

I've done that, also to no avail

[Hulkbust44]

I've done that, also to no avail

What are you trying to do? What I see is standard with WoW and flaps half.

[RootBeerTuna]

7 hours ago, Hulkbust44 said:

7 hours ago, RootBeerTuna said:

I've done that, also to no avail

What are you trying to do? What I see is standard with WoW and flaps half.

I'm trying to take-off. My flight control surfaces don't ever reset to 0 so when I'm actually running down the runway, I can't keep control of the aircraft, and I have no way of resetting the flight controls. It only resets to 0 in flaps Auto, but when I'm on the carrier I can't takeoff in flaps auto, and I know I'm not supposed to takeoff that way anyway. I've done the FCS Bit test, doesn't reset it, I've done the set takeoff trim, doesn't reset it, I've pushed the FCS Reset button, doesn't reset it, only thing that reset it one time was unfolding and locking my wings on the carrier, but that only worked one time, hasn't worked since. 

 

I hope you understand a bit more about what my issue is now as maybe I wasn't as clear earlier. No one has been able to help me and I'm at the point where I'm not enjoying the sim, I've spent hours trying to figure this out. I am a noob, but I'm following the cold and dark startup properly and it is still happening. Nothing I do fixes it. 

[dorianR666]

2 hours ago, RootBeerTuna said:

It only resets to 0 in flaps Auto

yes

[RootBeerTuna]

Just now, dorianR666 said:

yes

Yes but when i set my flaps back to half or full it just goes back to the way it is in the photo so I'm not able to takeoff again. 

[razo+r]

3 minutes ago, RootBeerTuna said:

Yes but when i set my flaps back to half or full it just goes back to the way it is in the photo so I'm not able to takeoff again. 

If you put flaps to half or full, obviously LEF and TEF as well as ailerons will go down, rudders will point inwards and if you hit take off trim, your stabs will also go down, so as it is supposed to.

You are not going to take off with all flight control surfaces at 0.

 

Otherwise I suggest you to upload a track of your issue.

[RootBeerTuna]

25 minutes ago, razo+r said:

If you put flaps to half or full, obviously LEF and TEF as well as ailerons will go down, rudders will point inwards and if you hit take off trim, your stabs will also go down, so as it is supposed to.

You are not going to take off with all flight control surfaces at 0.

 

Otherwise I suggest you to upload a track of your issue.

I know not everything is going to be zeroed, but not everything is going to be pointing inwards or downwards either. I push the FCS reset switch and then hit the takeoff trim button and it sets the takeoff trim, but the other numbers don't change. I'm trying one more thing right now, trying Open Beta just in case it was an issue, somehow, with the release version, so we'll see in a few minutes if it's any different. Chances are I'm doing something wrong because as I said, I am still a noob, but I've tried doing different cold and dark tutorials and I get the same damn result every time. 

[razo+r]

If you hit takeoff trim, only the stabs will change. Takeoff trim does not influence anything other, so not sure why you would expect it to change the other flight control surfaces aswell?

[Hulkbust44]

There is no 0 position, you don't want that. You take off with leading edge flaps down (LEFs), trailing edge flaps down (TEF), Ailerons down with the flaps, (AIL) and the rudders toed in.
And stabs at >12 of course.

So yeah, nothing should be 0.

[RootBeerTuna]

4 minutes ago, Hulkbust44 said:

There is no 0 position, you don't want that. You take off with leading edge flaps down (LEFs), trailing edge flaps down (TEF), Ailerons down with the flaps, (AIL) and the rudders toed in.
And stabs at >12 of course.

So yeah, nothing should be 0.

I'm aware, but it also shouldn't be set to where it's at in my photo. Where it's set at in my photo is causing me to crash on takeoff. And on the carrier I can't even launch, it won't let me. 

20 minutes ago, razo+r said:

If you hit takeoff trim, only the stabs will change. Takeoff trim does not influence anything other, so not sure why you would expect it to change the other flight control surfaces aswell?

I know that, I'm trying to include as much as detail about my startup sequence as possible to try to figure out what's missing or what I'm doing that's causing this. 

[Hulkbust44]

I'm aware, but it also shouldn't be set to where it's at in my photo. Where it's set at in my photo is causing me to crash on takeoff. And on the carrier I can't even launch, it won't let me. 

Ah, so the postions are absolutely correct, but they are frozen in postion because the FCS BIT switch wasn't put back down.

[RootBeerTuna]

20 minutes ago, Hulkbust44 said:

22 minutes ago, RootBeerTuna said:

I'm aware, but it also shouldn't be set to where it's at in my photo. Where it's set at in my photo is causing me to crash on takeoff. And on the carrier I can't even launch, it won't let me. 

Ah, so the postions are absolutely correct, but they are frozen in postion because the FCS BIT switch wasn't put back down.

Is that what it is? So if I push Y or make sure the FCS Bit switch on the right side is in the down position, it should work?

[Hulkbust44]

Is that what it is? So if I push Y or make sure the FCS Bit switch on the right side is in the down position, it should work?

Afaik pressing Y only brings the switch up, I'd left click it down.

[Phantom711]

vor 42 Minuten schrieb RootBeerTuna:

Is that what it is? So if I push Y or make sure the FCS Bit switch on the right side is in the down position, it should work?

Normally the FCS bit should only be UP as long as you press Y (or whichever button you have assigned for it).

Other than that, the flight controls on your picture show absolutely normal positions. Only your STAB should be 12 (or more for the cat shot depending on your weight.)

Edited November 6, 2022 by Phantom711

[RootBeerTuna]

2 hours ago, Phantom711 said:

Normally the FCS bit should only be UP as long as you press Y (or whichever button you have assigned for it).

Other than that, the flight controls on your picture show absolutely normal positions. Only your STAB should be 12 (or more for the cat shot depending on your weight.)

 

Does this illustrate it better? This is my flight controls, even on takeoff, so I can't keep it straight on takeoff, it rolls all over the place, no matter what input I do with my HOTAS. It was working fine up until about 36 hours ago and I don't know what the hell I did. Ever since it's been like this on every flight. 

3 hours ago, Hulkbust44 said:

3 hours ago, RootBeerTuna said:

Is that what it is? So if I push Y or make sure the FCS Bit switch on the right side is in the down position, it should work?

Afaik pressing Y only brings the switch up, I'd left click it down.

Oh, yeah, I should've been more clear, I tend to right click and hold on the switch to hold it up then I left click the FCS Test button, it works the same as holding Y to keep it held up. 

[razo+r]

At this point you should really upload a track because nothing looks wrong in that picture.

[Phantom711]

@RootBeerTuna

https://militarymachine.com/us-fighter-jet-images/fa-18-hornet-take-off-on-carrier/
 

Check out this picture!

Bottom line: the inward rudders are not your problem since that is absolutely normal!

Better check, if there is any other device, that commands any axis commands. DCS likes to auto-assign axis if you plug in a new device…no matter if that makes sense or not.

Edited November 6, 2022 by Phantom711

[RootBeerTuna]

7 minutes ago, Phantom711 said:

@RootBeerTuna

https://militarymachine.com/us-fighter-jet-images/fa-18-hornet-take-off-on-carrier/
 

Check out this picture!

Bottom line: the inward rudders are not your problem since that is absolutely normal!

Better check, if there is any other device, that commands any axis commands. DCS likes to auto-assign axis if you plug in a new device…no matter if that makes sense or not.

 

Odd, because when I'm lined up on the deck like that I literally cannot launch. I power up and nothing happens. I've had quite a few successful launches up until now and for some reason it's no longer working for me. Again, I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, I just can't figure it out in all the cold and darks that I've done. I'll try and figure out how to upload a track and do a fresh one in a little bit, though I'm taking a bit of a break because I'm extremely frustrated at this point. 

45 minutes ago, razo+r said:

At this point you should really upload a track because nothing looks wrong in that picture.

Hmm, I will do that in a bit because I'm a tad frustrated at this point, plus I need to figure out how to upload track files and what to do with them as I've never dealt with them before. 

[Phantom711]

vor 6 Minuten schrieb RootBeerTuna:

I power up and nothing happens. I've had quite a few successful launches up until now and for some reason it's no longer working for me.

Any other aspect that has changed since your last succesfull launch? 
Have you used the Supercarrier module before? Or have you not and are using it now? Are you using the launch bar correctly? Do you salute?

Edited November 6, 2022 by Phantom711

[Tholozor]

The rudders should turn inward when flaps are set to HALF or FULL. This creates additional down-force on the main landing gear and assists with nose-up attitude.

Airfield takeoffs should be performed with NWS engaged, which enters a low-gain mode as airspeed increases to prevent over-steer.

Verify your throttle axis has full range of motion. IIRC, the free carrier will not initiate launch when hooked up unless the throttle is at MIL power or greater. The Supercarrier crew should initiate launch after the Salute command is given.

[RootBeerTuna]

1 hour ago, Phantom711 said:

Any other aspect that has changed since your last succesfull launch? 
Have you used the Supercarrier module before? Or have you not and are using it now? Are you using the launch bar correctly? Do you salute?

 

No, nothing has changed AFAIK. Yes, I've used the SC module before, that's what I've launched off of, I've never launched from the free carrier I don't think. Yes, I believe I'm using the launch bar correctly and giving the salute correctly. 

 

5 minutes ago, Tholozor said:

The rudders should turn inward when flaps are set to HALF or FULL. This creates additional down-force on the main landing gear and assists with nose-up attitude.

Airfield takeoffs should be performed with NWS engaged, which enters a low-gain mode as airspeed increases to prevent over-steer.

Verify your throttle axis has full range of motion. IIRC, the free carrier will not initiate launch when hooked up unless the throttle is at MIL power or greater. The Supercarrier crew should initiate launch after the Salute command is given.

My throttle has full range of motion, I'm not using the free carrier, I'm using the SC, I bought the SC and F/A-18C at the same time so I could use them together. I am giving the salute command to launch, though I *may* have forgotten on just one of my launches, but that can't be the issue all the other launches, but I will try it to make sure. 

[Phantom711]

Ok…so let‘s see where we are at so far:

I think most here agree, that your problems during T/O are most likely not related to the FCS.

Field take-offs:

I assume you have successfully taxied to the runway, so you apparently know how to use nosewheel steering. Just make sure, you don’t keep the NWS button pressed since that will keep you in NWS HI mode and will certainly cause PIOs (pilot induced oscillations) due to oversteering.

 

CV cat launches (Supercarrier module):

Make sure you follow the procedure and hand signals of the deck crew!

-Taxi on the cat

-Spread wings

-Lower launch bar

-Taxi forward over the bridle (this takes a lot of thrust already. Almost MIL power in most cases.)

-throttle back to IDLE

-Raise launch bar again

-(flight control check)

-set T/O power

-salute

As I said…you are pretty much carried through this process by the signals of the deck crew. (Flight control check is not important for the DCS launch procedure and I am not even sure if it‘s made prior or after setting t/o-power in RL)

At the end, the solution to your problem will be something very simple, trust me! 

 

[RootBeerTuna]

1 hour ago, Phantom711 said:

Ok…so let‘s see where we are at so far:

I think most here agree, that your problems during T/O are most likely not related to the FCS.

Field take-offs:

I assume you have successfully taxied to the runway, so you apparently know how to use nosewheel steering. Just make sure, you don’t keep the NWS button pressed since that will keep you in NWS HI mode and will certainly cause PIOs (pilot induced oscillations) due to oversteering.

 

CV cat launches (Supercarrier module):

Make sure you follow the procedure and hand signals of the deck crew!

-Taxi on the cat

-Spread wings

-Lower launch bar

-Taxi forward over the bridle (this takes a lot of thrust already. Almost MIL power in most cases.)

-throttle back to IDLE

-Raise launch bar again

-(flight control check)

-set T/O power

-salute

As I said…you are pretty much carried through this process by the signals of the deck crew. (Flight control check is not important for the DCS launch procedure and I am not even sure if it‘s made prior or after setting t/o-power in RL)

At the end, the solution to your problem will be something very simple, trust me! 

 

Yeah like I said I'm a noob and the solution is probably something I've already tried. And lo and behold, it's working again. I think the CV issue was me forgetting the salute and not realizing it, because I just did 3 successful cat launches without issue, and 2 airfield launches without issue, so I don't know what I did differently in my flow this afternoon, but it's working again. I think I was just extremely frustrated with everything earlier and was overlooking something or doing something backwards or something and was messing up so now that I've come back with fresh eyes I'm doing it all right again. I want to thank everyone here for their patience with me, I greatly appreciate it.