Thought from a noob...Trim is your friend

[cichlidfan]

I finally had a chance to really spend some time in the air and quickly discovered how great a little trimming is. I think this should be one of the first things to get a handle on...it makes life a lot easier when trying to adapt to a new plane (and a new stick too)...especially if you are a terrible pilot like I am.

 

I am surprised it is not mentioned it the very first training mission about handling. Particullarly since the plane seems quite a bit more sensitive with nothing hanging on the wings.

[Bahger]

Yup, it's not a fly-by-wire airplabe and the flight model is good enough that a realistic amount of attention has to be paid to trimming. On ILS approaches, for example, trimming for airspeed and pitch really lessens the workload.

[bluepilot76]

I have never flown an A-10 in real life, but even in a Cessna, if the trim is a bit wrong and you are trying to hold an attitude, you will know about it. It takes quite a lot of strength. If going around, you better be ready because it can take all your strength if you havent got the trim right. I think it was pretty much the first thing I was introduced to on my first flying lesson. Years of flying sims prior to that hadnt really prepared me for how important it was. Mind you those sims werent very good in those days.

[PlainSight]

Trimming is so important, i always map two joystick (logi 3D pro) buttons next to the hat for pitch trim, just like on the real stick. Setting it comes right after trigger buttons.

[bradleyjs]

Yep, as a RL pilot (which I haven't flown in years ... arrrgghhhh) - Trim is an essential part of basic flight.

 

I have the TM:Warthog HOTAS and have the Pinky switch + Trim Hat combined for Trim operations... Works good for as I trim the A/C during the entire flight to maintain the flight params.

 

When you expend ammo/fuel and/or change airspeed it requires the A/C to be trimmed again and again.. Just like in RL!!!

[bluepilot76]

Has something been changed in the rudder trim? Recently, shortly after take off the nose of the A-10 swings 10 degrees or so to the side. "Bit of a cross wind" I think, but then it seemed to be on the same side on the reciprocal heading. I thought maybe my stores were causing it so tried a little bit of rudder trim with the knob on the left. although apparently curing the yaw (flight vector now in middle of hud), it created a continual change in heading. as if the plane was turning very slowly around its Z axis. I havent seen a plane where you can actually do a flat turn like that since Fighter Bomber on my Atari 512. I was only 6 or something then, but I knew that wasnt right. Anyway I'm sure the A-10 didnt do that in the previous release. It seems wrong to me now.

[ErichVon]

In single engine propeller planes the torque of the engine will necessitate the need to counter the other way with some rudders and aileron, especially at takeoff with a two wheeler tail dragger.

 

I do not know if it is the same with two turbofans spinning at high rpm, both spinning in the same direction.

 

Once up off the runway, gear up and flaps up, 1st thing I do is get trimmed up before even considering the autopilot. And as in real life, it is always dynamic as to speed, altitude, weight, wind, change in center of balance as to the weapon and gas load.

 

The problem I have is my CH Fighterstick is too high sitting on the desk, velcroed to it. Adjusting the trim buttons is not as easy in my setup as a real life simulator or the real jet would be. I would like it between my legs but the Pro Pedals rudders on the floor do not make it very practical to do, at least for me. Maybe somebody has figured out a good simpit setup.

 

The FC game I experienced a pretty strong crosswind in one of the sorties. I crashed on takeoff several times before realizing it was crosswind related. And therefore compensated for it.

 

Erich

 

Has something been changed in the rudder trim? Recently, shortly after take off the nose of the A-10 swings 10 degrees or so to the side. "Bit of a cross wind" I think, but then it seemed to be on the same side on the reciprocal heading. I thought maybe my stores were causing it so tried a little bit of rudder trim with the knob on the left. although apparently curing the yaw (flight vector now in middle of hud), it created a continual change in heading. as if the plane was turning very slowly around its Z axis. I havent seen a plane where you can actually do a flat turn like that since Fighter Bomber on my Atari 512. I was only 6 or something then, but I knew that wasnt right. Anyway I'm sure the A-10 didnt do that in the previous release. It seems wrong to me now.