Trimming issues?

[DrDetroit]

Hi guys, gals,

I noticed that the Viper seems to need a lot of trimming while flying straight and level, at least for me.  Even then, the nose will slowly go up or down, or roll slowly left right, regardless of trim settings.  Anybody else have this issue? Might be my curves are set with sensitivity too high or something.

I decided to check with you fine folks about this issue, as I just watched a vid where a F-16 pilot explains that he almost never used the trim hat, except maybe a little yaw during takeoff/landing, but never vertical trim.

Anyhow, just wondering about this issue.

Thanks and good day!

DrDetroit

 

Edited Thursday at 08:26 PM by DrDetroit

[Scotch75]

That shouldn't be the case. The F-16 self trims to 1G in pitch. So you set your attitude, hold, the FCS should trim. Lateral trim is required with asymmetric loads (also having the TGP installed will have an effect).
You should check with other axis/button conflictions using the RCTRL ENTER pop-up.
Cheers!


Sent from my SM-G998B using Tapatalk

[DrDetroit]

Yea, after checking my loadout, I had forgotten that the targeting pod was installed, that seemed to throw things out of wack.  It wasn't really bad, but enough that it was a pain in the butt when not in AP.

Thanks for the help @Scotch75!

Edited Thursday at 10:20 PM by DrDetroit

[RyanR]

Other thought: the autopilot stays on with moderate stick input. Lots of new Viper people (myself included) instinctively start trimming when they're actually fighting the AP.

Other than that, the F-16 just needs roll compensation for asymmetric load.

-Ryan

[RogueSpecterGaming]

5 hours ago, DrDetroit said:

Hi guys, gals,

I noticed that the Viper seems to need a lot of trimming while flying straight and level, at least for me.  Even then, the nose will slowly go up or down, or roll slowly left right, regardless of trim settings.  Anybody else have this issue? Might be my curves are set with sensitivity too high or something.

I decided to check with you fine folks about this issue, as I just watched a vid where a F-16 pilot explains that he almost never used the trim hat, except maybe a little yaw during takeoff/landing, but never vertical trim.

Anyhow, just wondering about this issue.

Thanks and good day!

DrDetroit

 

As you increase speed or decrease speed the nose will act according going up or down. 

 

For roll trim, pretty much what others have said. 

[Pavlin_33]

On 8/8/2025 at 4:40 AM, RogueSpecterGaming said:

As you increase speed or decrease speed the nose will act according going up or down. 

Why is that?

[rob10]

7 hours ago, Pavlin_33 said:

Why is that?

More (or less) lift generated with change in speed.

[Czar66]

Keep in mind you guys, with any TGP installed, the Viper needs a bit of rudder trim out of neutral if you're after a perfectly steady trimmed plane. Not mandatory.

I found myself going after trimming roll all the time up high and a bit of rudder trim resolved the unwanted yaw/roll. (it is really tiny)

[Pavlin_33]

1 hour ago, rob10 said:

More (or less) lift generated with change in speed.

So increase/decrease in lift causes a pitching moment to develop?

[RogueSpecterGaming]

4 hours ago, Pavlin_33 said:

So increase/decrease in lift causes a pitching moment to develop?

Yes. That is how aerodynamics works. That is the core basics of how generating lift works. Increase speed to increase lift, and decrease speed to decrease lift. That is why losing engine power makes the plane/jet slow which then makes it fall out of the sky.