Drunk Driving...or maybe Drunk Taxiing?

[kevchris]

As a long time simmer, I keep forgetting to ask this question and see if there is a solution out there. I use FSX with CH Products Yoke, Throttle Quadrant, and pedals, and have done so for a long time. One of my frustrations is that it is nearly impossible to taxi in a straight line! The aircraft wants to drift to the left or right and must be constantly corrected with pedal movements. I am not saying this is necessarily unrealistic, but the effect seems to be over exagerated. I am thinking that such issues may have something to do with the sensitivity settings on the pedals, but numerous experiments with same have not really solved the problem. Does anyone know a solution?

Thanks very much,

Kevin

[StringBean]

Taxiing in the sim is much harder than in a real plane.

Unfortunately any adjustments to the pedal sensitivities will affect flying as well as taxiing.

IMO planes weathervane way too much in the sim.

I also find most people have better success taxiing if they slow down.

Taxi speed should not be much faster than a walking pace.

peace,
the Bean

[kevchris]

The answer I expected. Thanks for letting me know.

Best regards,

Kevin

[mallcott]

Assuming nosewheel aircraft, apply nose-down elevator. Improves things appreciably.

If it's a tailwheel - they're all like that sir!

[kevchris]

I pretty much fly all airliners and was curious since in real life I have not noticed the pilot is all over the taxiway. Thanks for the responses - I will just live with it. I was just wondering if there were adjustments to the cfg. file that could be made.

[StringBean]

<snip>
...I was just wondering if there were adjustments to the cfg. file that could be made.

You could try editing the [Contact Points] section of the aircraft.cfg.

This is from the default B738...

//0 Class <0=none,1=wheel, 2=scrape, 3=float>
//1 Longitudinal Position (feet)
//2 Lateral Position (feet)
//3 Vertical Position (feet)
//4 Impact Damage Threshold (Feet Per Minute)
//5 Brake Map (0=None, 1=Left, 2=Right)
//6 Wheel Radius (feet)
//7 Steer Angle (degrees)
//8 Static Compression (feet) (0 if rigid)
//9 Max/Static Compression Ratio
//10 Damping Ratio (0=Undamped, 1=Critically Damped)
//11 Extension Time (seconds)
//12 Retraction Time (seconds)
//13 Sound Type
//14 Airspeed limit for retraction (KIAS)
//15 Airspeed that gear gets damage at (KIAS)

[contact_points]
point.0=1, 40.85, 0.00, -10.20, 1600, 0, 1.442, 55.92, 0.6, 2.5, 0.9, 4.0, 4.0, 0, 220.0, 250.0
point.1=1, -11.85, -9.38, -10.80, 1600, 1, 1.442, 0.00, 1.0, 2.5, 0.9, 6.9, 6.9, 2, 220.0, 250.0
point.2=1, -11.55, 9.38, -10.80, 1600, 2, 1.442, 0.00, 1.0, 2.5, 0.9, 7.1, 7.1, 3, 220.0, 250.0

The number I have highlighted is the Steer Angle or the maximum angle (positive and negative) that the wheel can pivot.

You can try decreasing that number.

At the cost of turning radius you will gain finer control of the steering since stepping fully on the pedal will turn the wheel less.

Backup the file before you make any edits in case you later wish to return to the original values.

peace,
the Bean