Help with when and how to adjust trim settings

[Pajeezy]

This seemed like the right place to post this, but let me know if it's not.

 

Okay, so let's say I'm a novice pilot. Now, I have a good idea as to what trim does. However, I need some help on when and how to use it, and what effect it will give me (I'm guessing more stable flight so that the airplane isn't constantly swaying around). Does it have to be adjusted often throughout flight? Or only for speed changes? Altitude? Any and all info/tips would be appreciated.

[9.JG27 DavidRed]

well i would put it this way....trim is only working if you've reached a "stable" flight...it will stabilize your plane in attitude at certain speed.

so everytime youve reached your desired attitude+speed, trim the plane to stabilze it, so you dont have to "fight" against your controls.

[Pajeezy]

What about during combat? Say I'm trimmed for my speed and altitude for the steerpoint, but then I veer off in the A-10 and dive for ground targets. Is there any trim involved at this point? Or only at stable flight? If not, what do I do about the trim then?

[9.JG27 DavidRed]

well, if you dive, obviously you will gain speed....so i would say it really depends on how long your dive will last...if you dive a couple of thousands feet, i would definitely trim the plane!if its only a matter of say 50ft, and targets are close already, i would probably just try to counter the increased lift with the stick...but again, im no RL A10 pilot, but this is the basic priniciple for every plane...it of course depends on your controls you have in front of your pc...if you have a good hotas, where trimming isnt much effort, and doesnt disturb your focus on more important things, then try to trim...if you dont have buttons available, and have for example push keyboard strokes and therefore maybe even leave your hand from your stick, i would avoid it...

[Eihort]

First, focus on flying the plane, and getting it to do what you want.

 

If you're in relatively stable flight, and you're tired of having to apply pressure to the stick just to keep it straight, trim it out.

 

If other things are going on and you don't have time to care, don't worry about it. Just focus on making the plane do what you want it to.

[Rabble]

trim is your friend

 

I found trim was more of a constant effort in WW2 prop AC, take up a P-47 in IL-2 to see what I mean. You get that huge prop spinning on the front of that enormous radial, and it puts out a lot of torque. Large wing and tail surfaces are more affected by the wind, etc.

As long as both engines are at the same output, that’s not the case with an A-10 but you still have to contend with load balance, air resistance between the loads on each wing and wind is a factor to push you sideways or lift one wing more than the other.

As was said above, if it’s convenient to use, once you start using it, it’ll become second nature and you’ll tweak it a lot. I’ve got pitch and roll trim controls on the hat under my index finger on the X65 throttle and rudder trim and airbrakes on the one under my middle finger. Use them all a fair bit.

It can help you get the nose into position rolling in on an attack, or make it a lot easier to do air-to-air refueling. It will ease the strain of constantly applying pressure to the controls, but it also makes the plane fly more efficiently (and faster), using it in a turn can bring you around just a bit quicker (haven’t tested this last bit in an A-10, but it definitely helped turn quicker in WW2 AC).

For dive bombing, I tend to set the trim for say 230kts as I make the approach, then when I retard the throttle to get to around 200kts or below before rolling in, the nose will drop making it a better flow to put it on target. Can even add one or two clicks on the way down, it’ll change the attitude without pushing forward on the stick.

Do it gently, one click at a time in the direction you need.

I usually start by getting on course at altitude and speed, then adjust pitch , then roll, then rudder (if needed) last, just remember to set the rudder dial back to center if you want to hit the button to revert to TO trim or it won’t light up.

For AA refueling, I stabilize and trim before the pre-contact position, with the AC set as it will be when I move forward. Trim will be different after taking the GUN/Pac to safe, and changes when you open the nose fuel door. Trim for straight and level and you hardly have to touch the stick when you ease forward.