Revert to neutral position when releasing NumPad keys...

[farhan3201]

Hi, I've been playing FSX for a few weeks now, and first of all, IT'S AMAZING! But I would really like to know if it's possible that when I'm flying, if I press either 8 or 2 on the NumPad (because I'm broke and I can't afford a joystick, please don't judge...) to pitch up, or 4 and 6, to bank, is it possible that when I release the NumPad key, it slowly reverts back to the neutral position, as if I'm not touching any of the controls. Is it in the settings, or is there any addons, plugins, mods, etc, that are available? I would greatly appreciate it if we stick to freeware, but if there are literally no options, I guess we have no choice but to go with payware, BUT I STILL WANT FREEWARE! Anyway, I hope I was clear about what I wrote, and please respond as quick as possible!:confused::confused::confused:

 

 

 

 

Thanks,

farhan3201 aka Shawki

[PhantomTweak]

Try hitting numpad 5. That centers all the control surfaces...

Is that what you want?

Pat☺

[mabe5454]

farhan3201,

 

Are you sure you want to give up the "I wanna neutral NOW/STOP! Key-5"? You might be coming from other(s) in-game controls. You will get use to it, just give it time. Without K-5, a 360 degree bank becomes a nightmare between K-4 and K-6 under your idea and neutral positions will be 100% under your responsibility at all times.

 

Cheers,

[farhan3201]

To PhantomTweak- When I do that, it doesn't center the elevators; I want to center/neutralize the elevator so I can check if my trim is working properly, and stuff like that...

 

To mabe5454- I don't really want it for banking, but for pitch.

[napamule2]

You can fly any airplane with key presses (no joystick). Takes a little practice and knowing which keys do what. Here is a sequence of keys (in order) that will allow you to take off, holding heading, climb, level off and fly cruise. The second group will allow you to turn around and head back to runway you took off from and land.

(1). Ctrl+. (set parking brake), Ctrl+E (start engine), Shift+H (pitot heat), F6 (extend flaps incrementally), Z (activate AP), Alt+H (heading hold), F3 (hold to increase throttle, (or F4 for full throttle), '.' (brakes release), Num 1 (up pitch trim), G (raise gear), F5 (retract flaps), Num 7 (down pitch trim), F2 (decrease throttle), Ctrl+Z (alt hold at present alt).

 

(2). Ctrl+Z (deactivate alt hold), Ctrl+H (deactivate heading hold), Z (deactivate AP), Num 0 (rudder, yaw left), Num 5 (center), Num Enter (rudder, yaw right). Then F2, Num 1/7, F6 as required. Don't forget G (extend gear). Num 1 for nose up + F2/F3 as needed.

 

It would be a lot easier to do with a USB twist grip joystick, of course. I tried this sequences with the C172 and took off and landed. Wasn't pretty but I did it. Airbus? I didn't try that (yet) but I doubt it. Prove me wrong. Make a Youtube video. Maybe someone will mail you one they no longer use. Have fun.

Chuck B

Napamule

[farhan3201]

napamule2, what I'm trying to explain that I need it mainly for trim, because I need to neutralize the control, so it doesn't climb or descend, then I could determine if my trim was working... I know, it's really hard to understand this....

[rebuilder86]

the truth is, trim actually moves the control column by applying force to the elevator through the trim tab. So if microsoft were to enable you to centre the elevator (and the control column) when you hit the centre key, the trim would in effect be overridden by that centering of the yoke and elevator, which would result in a missmatch of the axis and the aerodynamic force being calculated.

 

If you are flying along straight and level holding the yoke in a certain position, slightly out of trim, and you simply center the elevator (equivalent of hitting the center key) your airplane would not continue to fly straight in that configuration. applying trim (either way) would do either of the following:

a. if the yoke is left alone, it would change attitude,

b. if the yoke is held in position, you would feel the force of the trim tab acting on the elevator through the control column.

 

For this reason, it makes no sense for microsoft to program a centre elevator key.

 

 

When we use FSX with a joystick, in combination with trim, we are not controlling the actual angle of the elevator, we are simply controlling the pressure exerted by the simulated pilot. If i set the trim for full nose down, i will have to pull back on the joystick to tell the simulator that i am applying backwards pressure. In the real world this would equate to pulling the yoke back to the position at which was before the trim was moved. This force is simulated only on the joystick, and not replicated through the visual control column in FSX. This is a limitation of the games 3D modelling, which just takes the position of the x/y axis of the game controller, and inputs it into the modelling of the yoke column.

 

I hope this makes sense.

 

Bottom line, get a joystick, if you cant afford one, nag beg, steal (jks) or borrow until you have one.

 

For now, try to imagine that the up and down arrows (or numpad if you are using that) are simply changing the energy the pilot is putting in to the control column, statically. u set the strength of his muscle, and leave it until you touch the key again.

[rishabk97]

F6 (extend flaps incrementally)...

 

...F6 as required

F7.

[Mark Hurst]

is it possible that when I release the NumPad key, it slowly reverts back to the neutral position, as if I'm not touching any of the controls. Is it in the settings, or is there any addons, plugins, mods, etc, that are available?

 

It would be fairly straightforward to do this with a Lua program (assuming you have some programming experience). You would need to set up an event handler that detects the elevator moving away from the centre and a timer function to move it incrementally back to centre. The devil is in the detail. But you would need FSUIPC to do this, so not freeware.

[farhan3201]

OK, thanks for all your help everyone, I get it, guess I'll have to get a joystick, once I have enough money. I want one so damn bad, but once again thanks!

[andyjohnston]

I've been a keyboard flier since the days of FS-2000 when playing too much caused pain in my hand.

 

There is no way to do what you are asking. Pressing 5 centers the ailerons and rudder, but if it were to center the elevators as well, your aircraft would pitch uncontrollably.