Darn Plane Won't Touch Down and STAY Down.

**pdmike** · 10-01-2006, 06:21 PM

I am coming down the glideslope on autopilot in the Lear. When I get about 400 ft. AGL, I disengage autopilot, auto throttle and IAS (which remains on even though you disengage autopilot, until you turn it off manually).

The plane is supposed to continue downward, gently descending toward the runway touchdown point. It does - but just before it touches down, it levels off and then gently begins to rise again. I have to force the sucker down and, even then, it constantly wants to keep rising.

I have had this problem before with the jet aircraft in FS. Can't remember how I solved it. It does not have anything to do with fuel, because the tanks are 90% full, which would mean an early descent, rather than a reluctance to descend - so that's not it.

I think I have something activated that shouldn't be activated.

Any thoughts on how to get the plane to touch down and STAY down?

Mike

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/Pict0282.jpg

**slarente** · 10-01-2006, 06:53 PM

Throttle down?

At what speed are you making your approach?

**pdmike** · 10-01-2006, 08:19 PM

Yeah - I know about the throttle problem. You can unintentionally have your throtte full open on your joystick and, when you turn AP off, you can't figure out why your plane continues to go so fast.

That's not the problem here. I have made sure the throttle is full off on the joystick. In fact, with the throttle turned off, both on the joystick and with the keyboard, the plane still reacts as I have indicated.

I am at landing speed (127k for the Lear) when I touch down.

Any other thoughts?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/Pict0282.jpg

**moth01** · 10-01-2006, 08:37 PM

Hi Mike,
I know whith my CH yoke, if the throttle is off, and I had just disconnected the autothrottle, the engne speed will not reduce. I must raise the throttle just a hair, then back to idle. I think this resets the signal to FS that you want to be at idle, and this cycling of the throttle cures that.

I have always had a problem slowing the Lear down, but careful attention to the speed will help.
Try cycling the throttle next time you discnnect the autothrottle. I think you know that disconnecting the AP will not affect the autothrottle.
Good luck,
Gary.

**pdmike** · 10-02-2006, 12:24 AM

Gary:

My joystick is a Logitech, Extreme 3D Pro. It has worked well for me with FS 2002 and I expect it to do the same with FS9.

In any event - I tried your suggestion, and I did get some better landings. I should tell you that I have downloaded several planes from WestWind (Virtual) Airlines and you know how it is with downloads. For example, I do not have any problem getting the default, FS9 737 to touch down and land properly. I did have a touch of a problem with the default Lear.

Anyway, I shut everything down and then I "pop" my throttle by opening it slightly and then closing it immediately. As you say, when I do that, it seems to solve the problem. I will continue to fool with it.

Thanks so much for taking the time to give me this advice.

Mike

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/Pict0282.jpg

**Tom Clayton** · 10-02-2006, 10:41 PM

When you deploy flaps and gear while the auto throttle is engaged, the throttles will increase to compensate. When you disengage, the throttles stay where they were untill the Sim gets a new signal from your stick. just get into the habit of moving the throttle slightly immediately after cutting out the autothrottle - it doesn't take much, just enough to alert the Sim that you're in control again. I generally leave my throttle lever just above idle while I have the AT engaged, then all I have to do is tap it down when I cut the AT off.

**pdmike** · 10-03-2006, 12:01 AM

>When you deploy flaps and gear while the auto throttle is
>engaged, the throttles will increase to compensate. When you
>disengage, the throttles stay where they were untill the Sim
>gets a new signal from your stick. just get into the habit of
>moving the throttle slightly immediately after cutting out the
>autothrottle - it doesn't take much, just enough to alert the
>Sim that you're in control again. I generally leave my
>throttle lever just above idle while I have the AT engaged,
>then all I have to do is tap it down when I cut the AT off.

Well, that's two of you who have said the same thing. I'm a believer. In fact, since I have employed this technique, the problem seems to have disappeared.

Thanks!

Mike

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/Pict0282.jpg

**angels355** · 10-03-2006, 03:26 AM

Hi again Mike,

Gary makes a good point, he's a good guy and a real pilot too.

I thought I would mention that, that floating effect just above the runway happens in real life also. That's called "ground effect" I believe, and has to do with how the air flows over the wing close to the ground. Very close to the ground the lifting capability of the wing increases significantly in efficiency. I think it was Chuck Yeager who was mentioning that he experienced this many times on those desert landing strips around Edwards AFB, he'd get down close to the ground wanting to land and just float and float.

Sometimes when I have that problem I'll touch the air brakes a little, however that can be really risky, because sometimes you can lose your lift too fast, and the plane will just slam down on the ground.

There was an old airliner that was a pain in the neck, I think it was the DC-8, where you had to make sure that you didn't bounce the plane on landing, because when the main landing gears touch down the automatic spoilers would deploy, so you'd bounce up, then the spoilers would deploy, then you'd come crashing down, slam, back into the pavement. Not very pleasant.

It just takes practice as to how to handle those things. The Learjet is one of the most pleasant planes to fly and land, even nicer are the Beechcraft King Airs.

When you're on approach, make sure that your elevator trim is set right for landing. There are some planes that are very tolerant of the trim setting, and then there are some that simply won't land right without the right trim. On my Fly!2K Lear 35A I give it a couple notches of up trim to land it and it comes down much nicer landing on the main gears instead of all three gears (nose wheel) at the same time. It's much more pleasant to get it just right. Some of the Phantom F4 II simulations really need some upward trim on landing. Each plane is different with a different temperament, just takes some practice and experimenting to get it right.

That's a nice joy stick, I'd like to get one also. Good luck.

**andyjohnston** · 10-03-2006, 11:20 AM

Another method would be to hit CTRL-Shift-F1 just as you come over the fence!

**j9viper** · 10-04-2006, 09:21 PM

Your probly flying the approach too fast. In the lear if you REF+anything your gonna keep right on flying.

The 35 lands itself by the way. Once you go to idle at about 50fr the reduction of thrust from the aft mounted engines brings the nose up just about perfectly. But that's the real plane.....FS lears are arcade versions that arent very realistic.