Stearman brake problem

[jandjfrench]

Hi,

I thought I'd check the forum before investigating thoroughly but I can't seem to get the Stearman brakes to work. Anyone else experience this?

Jim F.

[rockinrobin]

I noticed the same thing...toe brakes don't seem to have any affect. However, the "Parking Brake" button on my Saitek yoke does apply brakes.

[BoromirX]

Yes, same thing here.

[ReggieF5421]

In my experience with the beta, and many similar aircraft in FS2004 and FSX, that type of plane relies more on aerodynamic braking when landing. The toe brakes are very weak compared to aircraft like the C-172.

After you get slow enough to drop the tail, keep the elevator (stick) full aft to slow the plane and increase the ground drag.

[loki]

Also check the game settings. One of them deals with the braking effects of the Stearman.

[fxsttcb]

I can flip mine over forward, yes, with the brakes, if I'm not careful...Don

[loki]

I did that "accidentally" too. Then I discovered there are achievements for crashing...

[fxsttcb]

Then I discovered there are achievements for crashing... Here's one of mine from the Beta. When the video driver "stopped working" the flying just kept on trucking. When it finally recovered, I found an added achievement. LOL
121400

[jomni]

The brakes work for me. In fact if I brake hard when going too fast, the plane flips over.

[tgibson_new]

Toe brakes on pedals don't work (yet). Keyboard or button on yoke will work OK.

[rockinrobin]

And yet, the toe brakes work fine on the Icon?

[jandjfrench]

Hi,

Just to update: I still can't get the brakes to work with my Saitek joystick. All of my braking is ineffectual. On both the Stearman and the Icon the only real way I can sense much effect at all is by the mild screetch when almost stopped using the keyboard. I programmed the brakes to the period. I messed with that brake behavior setting but it doesn't seem to have much effect.

Jim F.

[cool7]

I couldn't get the Stearman to stop on dirt for the life of me, but on the big paved runways it was no issue. She is a fun plane to fly I must admit.

[quantumleap]

Like others I see no real braking effect when you use toe brakes by just applying them in one motion. If you however 'pulse' them, then they build in effectiveness. This would indicate that there is no 'repeat' applied to the toe brakes when you have then depressed like there would be if you use the keyboard shortcut, nor is there any proportional application of brakes dependent on toe brake position. I have tried some experiments with the entries in the Standard.xml file under each users Controls folder to try and address this, but with no luck so far.

Jeff

[Ken Rogers]

The brakes have very little effect for me in ALL aircraft. I am using the parking brake as a temporary solution (SHIFT-X). It works very well. Without it, I cannot land on short runways at all.

I should also mention, I am thrilled with Microsoft Flight. I used to be a hardcore simmer, with FS2004 and PMDG, all IFR flying. They've done a very good job at making flying appealing to the mainstream crowd.

Ken

[benEggleston16]

I just trusted the brakes were being applied, just the removal of the 'flag' (the little red tag in the corner of FSX and other FS versions saying BRAKES) was one of many changes in the new sim: so how should I know in the new sim if they brakes are applied?

[benEggleston16]

I should also mention, I am thrilled with Microsoft Flight. I used to be a hardcore simmer, with FS2004 and PMDG, all IFR flying. They've done a very good job at making flying appealing to the mainstream crowd.

Ken

That's nice to hear. Most people said there would be NO simmers migrating to FLIGHT. Have you read 'my ~ thoughts' thread? Do you agree?

[jandjfrench]

Hi,

Brake problem solved. There's an article on the Avsim Flight forum having to do with implementing differential braking with a joystick. My concern was with normal braking but I adopted the solution I found there to my situation. After assigning a joystick key to brakes do this:
First, locate and open with notepad the Standard.xml file located here: ..\Users\yourusername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Flight\Players\A31CB2FEA2F1CDF1\Career\Controls. (In the Players folder the Sub-folders name will vary)
Next, locate the section that applies to your joystick brakes and edit the section so it looks like this:
<Down>
<EventName>Brakes.Increment</EventName>
<Repeat>32.000000</Repeat>
</Down>

Probably a good idea to backup the file first.
Refer to the posts at Avsim if more info is needed. My concern was that the brakes would lockup, but once the button is released they let go.

Jim F.

[Ken Rogers]

I can't find that particular thread. I've found some of your other ones.

I totally get why Microsoft made these changes. They have realized that their market could be larger by making the concept a little more 'mainstream'. They don't just want the aviation junkies anymore. They want everybody. While their software has always included worldwide scenery and 30 different aircraft types, Microsoft has figured out that most users aren't interested in flying a Boeing 777 from Mumbai to London. The majority of players only fly the Cessna, never venturing too far from their home airport. They have figured out who their target audience must be. Let the hardcore flight simulation enthusiasts go and buy X-Plane. Most flight enthusiasts will likely use Microsoft Flight because of its simplicity.

[jandjfrench]

Hi,

Here's the Avsim link:

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/364422-brakes-not-working-on-joystick-buttons/ (http://forum.avsim.net/topic/364422-brakes-not-working-on-joystick-buttons/)

Regarding Microsoft's rationale: my guess is that the direction taken will be based on user interest to a large degree. I've come across several references to helicopters so we know they're in the works. Island hopping via small airliners in Hawaii is very common so I see that as a likelihood. It appears a solid foundation has been built and could be expanded in any number of directions.
My present take on Flight is this: Even though I can run the program at fairly high settings it makes me want to upgrade my computer to make it run better. And that's as good as it gets.

Jim F.