It seems that when adjusting elevator trim (usually with the
number pad) that it is very hard to achieve trim. The keys seem too sensitive, resulting in see-sawing up and down. Is there some setting that can adjust this?

Buttons or stick; I've never seen a problem with insensetive trim; except for addon aircraft. Something to consider: When trimming an aircraft in flight; the trim is only half the equation. The other half is throttle settings; something most people forget or don't realize. Most flight sim players I know use trim in this fashion: Take off with full throttle, keep throttle full thoughout the flight, throttle back only when landing.
Under these conditions, trim doesn't work very well. Reason: Once you bring your aircraft to level flight and set your trim, since your throttle's at max, it'll continue to accellerate. More speed, more lift, the 'plane climbs.
Plane climbs, loses speed, lift drops, plane descends. Usually at just about the time the player has the plane trimmed to the new level.
Use trim in this fashion; You'll find it much easier to achieve hands-off flight. Use the simplified acronym PAT. Power, Attitude, Trim. Step 1: Once you've reached cruise altitude, set your throttle so you're flying straight and level at a given speed. (It's the throttle, not the elevators, that determines a 'plane's trim.)
Let's use the example of a c-172. You've taken off at a comfortable 55kts, climbed to 1000agl and are heading for another airport. Throttle back to 100kts. (Power.) Use the elevators to keep the VSI at 0. (Attitude) Once the aircraft is flying comfortably at 100kts, (this should take all of 5 seconds), trim to hands-off flight. (Trim)
Practice that, and practice in the 172 - even in the sim-world it's the ideal trainer aircraft.

EA - Sorry; that's not what I meant. Throttle and trim must be used together; in the way I described above. Set power, attitude; then trim out. Trimming to a descent for instance: From level; back off the throttle to descent power. The aircraft will begin to descend. Use the elevators (very sparingly) to regulate the descent, then trim to hands-off configuration. Moving back to level; instead of PAT use APT: Bring the 'plane to level attitude, increase to cruise power, then retrim. Climbing, use APT again.
It's the effective combination of your 'plane's attitude, power and trim that gives easy, hands off flight. As for the autopilot, it has its own ways of doing things. Ignore it. In 16 years of flying; I've never used one yet.
Cheers!

That is odd - it isn't a flying issue; most likely it's something going on with the sim, so I can't be of any help. The only time I've seen that so far is if I screw up and turn the 737's AP on before takeoff; though I doubt that's your problem. (lol) Hopefully, someone who understands FS9 will be able to help better.

I am using a Logitech Wingman Attack2 and sometimes a CH
USB yoke and USB pedals. Both have similar problems. Very hard to even out the trim. A couple of 7 keys and it dives, a couple of 1 keys and it climbs. One keystroke doesn't seem to make a change. Now in the Cub, each keystroke seems to result in 1% change. What really is throwing me for a loop is that if you restart the app., it still seems to trim each plane nose down before you even take off.

No, I use the yoke or the Wingman, but not plugged in at the same time.
Thanks,
Mike

I wasnt shure if all that pluged in would cause a problem or not.i was just trying to think of anything there that might be a trouble maker for you.but the only thing that i can think of that would make the trim manually move is if the auto pilot is switched on.you can check that out.and if thats not the problem then i would go ahead and contact microsoft and see if they can help.as i have run out of ideas as to what it might be.

In a real airplane the trim is used mainly to take pressure off the controls. It's seldom possible to fly hands free unless the air is completely calm which I've not seen much. Once you reach cruising altitude you put the plane nose level and then adjust the trim so that you don't have to either push or pull on the yoke to maintain level flight. You'll still have to make slight adjustments though. Gusting winds and thermals will always be moving the plane around some. It's just like in a car. Not often can you just turn loose of the wheel for a long time. You are always making small adjustments for things like wind and bumps in the road.

Technically once you set the trim, if you maintain the same speed and aircraft configuration (flaps, gear etc.) you should be able to deflect the nose either up or down and the plane should return to the level flight within a certain number of oscillations. This is determined in the testing phase of the airplane design and reflects the aircraft's stability. A plane that only oscillates a time or two and returns to stable level flight is considered more stable than one that takes more time to reach level flight once again.

In the flight sim world this is a lot harder to attain. Programming constraints limit the effectiveness of the trim control. In a real plane the trim is limitless, meanin that it's not controlled by notches but can be set infinitely fine until real level flight is achieved. In a program however you can't do this. You have a numeric value which controls the trim position. Sometimes a notch nose up is up too much and a notch down is too much down trim.

I've found that the trim in all the MS flight sims is a lot harder to dial in exactly like you can in a real airplane. It's just the nature of the digital medium we are flying through. You can however adust your sensitivity some. This will help but not cure the trim problem in the sim. You just need to find a point where you reach the medium that feels comfortable. Too much sensitivity and the trim becomes too coarse too little and you spend half the flight trying to dial it in.

Either way I doubt you'll always be able to fly the plane hands free. It doesn't work that way in the real world and it doesn't work well in the sim. For that I'd suggest using the auto pilot. You should however be able to find a trim that may leave some to be desired but works well enough.

Hello, Paddlefoot,
We still do not know if you are trimmed ok now...
As you can see, a lot of help from your interesting post, even professional. But you have an unanswered question.
I made some tests, and checked my trims. 
The answer to your question relating on keyboard trimming is to adjust the delay repeat slider to the left in the keyboard settings.
Go to Start/Settings/Keyboard/Speed/...and adjust to your liking.
To my amazement, many people do not bother to make this adjustment, but I find it essential. Most of the real aircrafts do not have the trims on the stick, so it makes sense to use the keys on the keyboard for this function, like you do.
Please try it and let us know.
I use a microsoft sidewinder precision 2 and have the repeat slider in settings/ assignemnts set at 50% for elevator up and down trim.
Another good training tip is to watch the plane from outside view, like radio controlled. You have to display the numbers by pressing shift/z, and enjoy something we cannot do in the real world.
I am now going to check the tutorials in FS9. They were quite good in FS2002.
Have a good trim    Beaunuage/Nicecloud

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Ok, I think I'll also have to reinstall fs9. My FS9 is out of trim. There is a strange bug it seems...
Did you fly the lessons? they are  incredible. Imagine if we had this in the seventies. No one would have believed this.
I could anyway try the default flight of FS9 in seattle. It took off like the real thing, flaps 10, without changing the trim. One thing I must say is that the planes I fly, incidentally this Skylane also, have a new airfile. That is why they fly so well.
My 737 also has the airfile altered.
However I think the default cessna is doing rather good. You can also reduce the fuel load.
Regarding your question. Yes a plane is trimmed for take off, usually slightly up because we are going into climb and the speed is lower than cruise. When you push to level, the speed increases, hence the trim has to be readjusted down.
I still remember my checklist flying gliders In 1971.
Airbrakes closed/cockpit closed/Altimeter set 0/ Trim forward/Seatbelt closed.
In this case, the trim was set forward because the glider being towed was going to match the speed of the towing plane. This speed being too fast, if you hadn't trimmed down the glider, you soon found yourself coldsweating pushing the stick into the instrument panel and jigsawing like hell up and down behind the towing plane. Once free, you had to bring the trim in it's normal position.
I enjoy myself very much. FS9 is great, let's trim

nicecloud

Hello paddlefoot,

You should normally be able to fly hands off or with only some slight input. By that I mean pressure, not even a milimeter? just a slight gentle pressure will do.
Another tip : I have my hand resting on the base of the stick or table. This gives me precision control. My forearm doesn't move, only my fingers holding the stick and it's only a push or holding pressure. The other hand is on the throttle in the same manner, always anticipating what I expect the plane will do. If I feel I have to pressure down or up. I trim or adjust throttle.
Keep trying, it makes me nervous. Wish I could show you.
Is it possible you send me your config file. I could check it out if you are ok. I'm just thinking about this. Remember to read the good advices given by other members on trimming.
One more thing :
Look at your vertical speed indicator and try to adjust your flight. Pwer/elevator so that the needle indicates O.
The first thing an aerobatic pilot will do is check for straight level flight, straight inverted flight, straight vertical flight before attempting any maneuver.
Get a friend who is a pilot if you have, or go and hire a cessna for one hour with an instructor. It will be unvaluable, much more than spend money on too many sceneries going obsolete anyway soon...

Nicecloud

Re-install did not help. Any plane still requires trim nose up
considerably to even take off. When you start up FS9 or switch planes, shouldn't trim be set to sort of a neutral position? There seems to be very little null between nose up and nose down. Maybe the Wingman Attack 2 has a problem? The CH
yoke seems to do better.
Thanks for all the advice guys,
Mike