Handling Characteristics

[jaccorn]

Bought DCS A10C some time ago but just started to have a play. I am disappointed with the flight characteristics due to the fact that as soon as I load the aircraft up above 2.5-3G's the stall warning sounds and the aircraft gets very mushy with an unpredictable wing drop. It handles like a Cessna 172. I have flown many aircraft and know this is not how it should behave. I have read through some threads on this forum and others have had similar issues but there were no clear solutions. Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has had noticed similar characteristics and found a solution.

[Eddie]

Altitude, aircraft weight, air temperature?

 

I have no issues pulling 5G with a combat load, nor do most other people, so I'm afraid it's down to you doing something incorrectly. The easiest way to see what that is, is for you to post a track showing this behaviour.

 

But, at a guess based on the normal errors made by those new to the Hog, you're pulling too hard on the stick.

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Learn to fly it? You're either too heavy, too slow or both. You can pull 9g without too much trouble if you satisfy the above criteria.

[steve_giraffe]

Bought DCS A10C some time ago but just started to have a play. I am disappointed with the flight characteristics due to the fact that as soon as I load the aircraft up above 2.5-3G's the stall warning sounds and the aircraft gets very mushy with an unpredictable wing drop. It handles like a Cessna 172. I have flown many aircraft and know this is not how it should behave. I have read through some threads on this forum and others have had similar issues but there were no clear solutions. Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has had noticed similar characteristics and found a solution.

 

I agree. Even on an easy quick mission I struggle to maintain any sort of speed above 230knots at full power. Annoying stall warnings and massive speed loss on level turns of 10deg of bank.

[WildBillKelsoe]

You have to fly it more to learn your envelope. This is not something you read in a manual and apply by the letter, because your stick differs from my stick and so on...

 

However, the best handling comes from under halfway stick travel.

[NoCarrier]

I agree. Even on an easy quick mission I struggle to maintain any sort of speed above 230knots at full power. Annoying stall warnings and massive speed loss on level turns of 10deg of bank.

1) The A-10 is not an F-16, or what have you. In my experience, doing 230 knots while hauling major iron is very reasonable.

 

2) Even then, I feel most of the default loadouts are a bit on the heavy side.

 

Just start up the airborne start free-flight mission and fly around a bit with the loadout, get a feel for how the bird handles, and then emergency jettison the whole shebang and note the difference. It's like night and day.

[Flamin_Squirrel]

I agree. Even on an easy quick mission I struggle to maintain any sort of speed above 230knots at full power. Annoying stall warnings and massive speed loss on level turns of 10deg of bank.

 

A10C max takeoff weight is 50,000; empty weight is ~25,000lbs. If you're closer to the former than the later, don't expect to be able to throw the plane around. It's not a fighter even when it is lightly loaded.

[NineLine]

Just push the button displayed below to improve handling...

[doright]

Just push the button displayed below to improve handling...

 

Easy Mode button?

[Sorin]

Also takeoff with 30% fuel.

[Eddie]

A few tips for those who are struggling.

 

1. Keep aircraft weight below 46,000lbs at takeoff.

 

2. Keep the drag index as low as possible, take only the weapons you NEED to accomplish your objective. Aim for a drag index of no more than 8.00 is practical. Consider for example that a single LAU-68/131 has the same drag as 6 Mk-82s/GBU-38s, or that 6 AGM-65Ds on LAU-88s and nothing else on the jet give you a drag index of nearly 6.0.

 

3. Drag has more impact on speed than weight, you may be way below MTOW, but a high drag index will leave you stuck at low speeds, with little energy to maneuver or defeat threats.

 

4. The higher you are, the lower your roll, pitch, and turn rate will be. Don't expect to be able to perform aggressive maneuvers at medium altitude.

 

 

Also takeoff with 30% fuel.

 

?

[Nealius]

I was about to say, Mavericks really hurt in the drag department, and so do TERs/MERs.

[Banditman99]

Jaccorn!

 

I too have flown many different aircraft. From ultralights to aircraft where you have to append "heavy" to the end of your callsign. A 172 behaves differently when it is at its max wt. compared to when it is light. Same with larger A/C.

 

Just a few days ago I ferried a heavy on a short 50 min flight. We climbed to 40000 feet in just 16 min.

Same A/C could take 35 mins to reach just 34000 when loaded...

Handlingwise it is very different at differing weights (Actually, it handles better at heavier weights!)

 

The first thing I look for in a flightsim is flight fidelity, and I feel this sim has just that...

One of the first things I try is a stall. If it can handle that, my interest is sparked...

I find that energy management is an important key to operating the A-10 in a hostile envirorment when heavily loaded. If I have a high energy level I can manouver more aggressive, with higher g-loads, than at a lower state.

 

I also suspect that most operate the A-10 in the game with more weight on the A/C than is done in real life...

 

I have never flown the real Warthog, so I couldn't say whether the the simulator is an exact copy of the real beast.

It most probably isn't, but then neither are the sims I get to be tested in every six months.(They are pretty close, though)

 

All in all I am very happy with the DCS series and look forward to my next sortie...

 

I hope you'll get your problems sorted, maybe we'll meet in a stall over Sochi one day...:thumbup:

 

Br

 

Bandiman

[Sorin]

Eddie, I have meant to adjust the fuel quantity on board before the mission. Less fuel, less weight, better flying.

It should be possible but I have never tried it.

[Harzach]

Easy Mode button?

 

I think things become significantly more difficult when it is pressed!

[Cake]

Learn to fly it? You're either too heavy, too slow or both. You can pull 9g without too much trouble if you satisfy the above criteria.

 

Hehe, very responsible to suggest a nugget go out and try to exceed design load limits. No trouble at all.:pilotfly:

[KLR Rico]

Sure, the A-10 can pull 9 g.... once! :D

[IonicRipper]

Don't forget: The A-10 is not a fighter. Its a tank with wings and a huge gun which just happens to have a twin turbofan jetpack strapped to its back which is just enough to keep it in the air. Its designed to have half a wing and half the tail ripped off and bring the pilot back without breaking a sweat.

 

Fighters = scalpel

A-10 = sledge hammer

[Nealius]

Hehe, very responsible to suggest a nugget go out and try to exceed design load limits. No trouble at all.

 

It's more fun than reading a manual....and the learning experience sticks for a while :)

[jaccorn]

The aircraft is clean but everyone is suggesting too heavy. This sounds reasonable as I have full thrust but am only achieving around the 230kts at sea level. Speed bleeding off very quickly in turns. 2.5-3G max then stall warning. I will reduce fuel load and recheck handling characteristics. Thanks to all who threw in their two bobs worth.

[Flamin_Squirrel]

Hehe, very responsible to suggest a nugget go out and try to exceed design load limits. No trouble at all.:pilotfly:

 

Hey, I said you could not not that you should!

[Giant2111]

Keep in mind, that nearly every system build in is tripled to keep the bird up in the air,...... lots of weight, as stated before.

I suggest, you should learn to trim the hog, smooth flying, don´t push her to hard, like the missus :) .

There is a freeflight mission with training loadout. This one was pretty handy for me, to learn trimming.

Cruising at around 290kts IAS should be possible, with throttle set to 75% rpm. Depends on the wind.

 

And Miss Hog is able to turn on a dime, no fighter could match, more like the Cessna. ;)

[Dejjvid]

230IAS is with 100% fuel and a shitload of weapons (MTOW).

 

Add this:

 

100% fuel

 

2x Aim9

1x TGP

2x AGM-65D

1x GBU-12

1x GBU-12

2x AGM-65D

1x ALQ-131 (JAMMER)

 

This is a "full" combat load. Putting on more weight is in most cases bad.

[Eddie]

It's not the weight that's the issue with that load, it's the drag from the LAU-88s and 4 mavs. Remember there are reasons that when LAU-88s are carried IRL, they don't carry much else with them.

 

LAU-88s are great, but they have disadvantages, just like everything else.

 

Switch that load to just 2 Mavs and you can easily carry 4 GBU-12/38 or even 2 TERs and 6 Mk-82s, along with a TGP, ECM, and AIM-9s and not feel like you're trying to fly a bus.

[Marklar]

Sure, the A-10 can pull 9 g.... once! :D

 

9G? My plane dismantled itself while pulling over 6G

 

 

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