Simviation Forum - Real problems with tailwheel

Jul 19^th, 2008 at 2:41pm

FsNovice Offline
Colonel
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
Portishead

Gender:
Posts: 979

I've been trying in the last few days to get the hand of taildraggers, more specifically the DC3 in Fs2004. I can fly it and take off and land all ok, allowing the wheel to hold off ok until the speed drops before letting the back down, but my real problem is this - I can't get it to taxi very well, i have experimented with differentiated braking and rudder input and joystick movements, but it just doesnt seem to be turning quite enough. This is all a bit of an issue, as i want to get flying it on vatsim but if i keep getting stuck on the runway its going to cause some issue Wink

What am i/could i be doing wrong and how do these things taxi?

Cheers

When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return – Leonardo da Vinci.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #1 - Jul 19^th, 2008 at 4:05pm

Splinter562 Offline
Colonel
Tampa, FL

Gender:
Posts: 217

The DC-3's tailwheel locks for takeoff and landing. You need to unlock it so that it is free castering for taxi. Shift + G, I think.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #2 - Jul 20^th, 2008 at 5:57pm

beaky Offline
Global Moderator
Uhhhh.... yup!
Newark, NJ USA

Gender:
Posts: 14187

Splinter is correct; make sure you unlock the tailwheel after landing and lock it before takeoff. It;' impossible to taxi with the tailwheel locked. It's the handle underneath the throttle quadrant.

Also, I'm not sure about the default MSFS DC-3 (been a while since i flew it) but real DC-3s do NOT have a steerable tailwheel, so rudder input will not help when taxiing. In RL or with better models like the MAAM-sim DC-3, pilots use primarily differential power, and just a little differential braking.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #3 - Jul 30^th, 2008 at 4:52pm

Boss_BlueAngels Offline
Colonel
I fly airplanes upside
down for fun.
Snohomish

Gender:
Posts: 696

Not sure if this is true in the simulator, but in RL holding the stick back will help give a bit more tail wheel authority as it add more weight back there due to the elevator pushing down.

The day is always better when you're flying upside down.&&&&www.fight2flyphoto.com&&&&Canon RebelXT&&Canon 18-55mm&&Sigma 10-20mm F/4-6.3&&Sigma 100-300mm F/4-6.3&&Sigma 50-500mm F/4-6.3

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #4 - Jul 30^th, 2008 at 11:39pm

Splinter562 Offline
Colonel
Tampa, FL

Gender:
Posts: 217

Boss_BlueAngels wrote on Jul 30^th, 2008 at 4:52pm:

Not sure if this is true in the simulator, but in RL holding the stick back will help give a bit more tail wheel authority as it add more weight back there due to the elevator pushing down.

That is true if you've got a steerable tailwheel. I think that the gear model in FSX is good enough that you should see the same effect. (If not I'd do it anyway just to avoid developing bad habits).

Since the DC-3 is a free-castering tailwheel, aft elevator isn't going to give you more authority.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #5 - Jul 31^st, 2008 at 8:52am

DaveSims Offline
Colonel
Clear Lake, Iowa

Gender:
Posts: 2453

Splinter562 wrote on Jul 30^th, 2008 at 11:39pm:

Boss_BlueAngels wrote on Jul 30^th, 2008 at 4:52pm:

Not sure if this is true in the simulator, but in RL holding the stick back will help give a bit more tail wheel authority as it add more weight back there due to the elevator pushing down.

That is true if you've got a steerable tailwheel. I think that the gear model in FSX is good enough that you should see the same effect. (If not I'd do it anyway just to avoid developing bad habits).

Since the DC-3 is a free-castering tailwheel, aft elevator isn't going to give you more authority.

On some warbirds you must push the stick forward to unlock the tailwheel, such at the P-51. Pulling back locks it.

Dave

www.flymcw.com

Back to top

IP Logged

	Search the archive: