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Dave Eckert's Stearman-Question Fellas
- Thread starter PilatusTurbo
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PilatusTurbo
members+, Fighter Fanatic
Not a bad idea, Tom. However, I forgot to mention that in the original post that I did check that one. 
:ernae:
:ernae:
I've got no trouble turning this one on the ground. :mixedsmi: What a great plane with love for detail and what a great scenery that goes with it. The love of detail he put in his scenery is incredible!
Cees
Cees
<<Is it possible for a tinkerer with limited ability (like myself ) to implement this fix? >>
Yes.
Two different easy to use, but difficult to fully understand and configure, freeware air file editors are available from e.g.,
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/hsors/fsairfile.html
For this simple task Air Ed 1.52 is your best bet. The page says you need an updated aired.ini, but you won't to simply edit propwash effects. Leave all the files as they are and wherever you install the aired152 folder. Simply double click the supplied AirEd.exe, then navigate to and open the air file you are using. Then find and expand Record 1101.
Look down the long list of FD data fields in REC 1101 for Cn_dT Yaw Moment
What I believe to be the latest official version of the Stearman FD (FS04 PT-17 Ver 1.1.6 Apr 05) has this set to 0.002.
Look in REC 1 of the air file after you open it. If you are using a different air file the solution is 'likely' to be identical, but of course a different (unauthorised?) air file could have many problems.
Consider increasing the value incrementally until you can yaw the tail with fully deflected rudder into 'modest' propwash at very low taxi IAS with the stick held forward to unload the tail. If you overcook the value you will induce wild yaw authority at high thrust making co-ordinated turns in climbing flight and aerobatics harder to control; so only increase the value by just enough to solve the ground handling problem. Try increments of 0.005 and test each time.
If you define a personal key combination in FS9 (options/controls/assignemnts/Reload user aircraft) which causes air file reload you can then use that key combinbation after each edit and test each increment until you have just adequate yaw authority during very slow taxi. There 'should' be a higher value which makes differential braking irrelevant.
As you know the tailwheel animation may not behave as it would in real life whatever you code in the dynamics. Since the real Stearman had tailwheel steering (with disconnect to castor at unknown angle) I suggest that you implement that capability using no more than 45 degrees max in contact point.0 rather than implementing castoring and no tailwheel steering during your tests.
However......
Nothing you do will change the MDL tailwheel presence, so consider making point.0 a type 3 contact point = steel tipped skid.
point.0= 3, -17.3, 0, -6.2, 1200, 0, 0.3, max angle, 0.250, 2.5, 0.85, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
Test whether defining it as a steel skid with both 0 and then 180 as max angle makes the dynamics behave more like a castoring tailwheel than actually defining the friction of that aft contact point as a rubber tyre.
The real Stearman had main wheel brakes. I still do not know if they could be applied differentially as delivered. That is not a given at the relevant date.
Remember the rear contact point has more friction with both cockpits occupied and yawing will require more RPM causing a larger turning circle. You should test on both grass and dirt, not just hard surfaces. Use MS default BGLs, not third party ones, during all FD ground handling tests.
Finally to all readers, please remember that many reported FD errors do not exist and the real problem is faulty user technique or expectation. Inexperienced tinkering with air files usually does more harm than good. The only reason I replied to this thread was that I believed the original question related to my original September 2003 FS9 update FD for this FS8 aircraft. I do not endorse generic air file tinkering by anyone who does not understand flight dyanamics.
FSAviator
Yes.
Two different easy to use, but difficult to fully understand and configure, freeware air file editors are available from e.g.,
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/hsors/fsairfile.html
For this simple task Air Ed 1.52 is your best bet. The page says you need an updated aired.ini, but you won't to simply edit propwash effects. Leave all the files as they are and wherever you install the aired152 folder. Simply double click the supplied AirEd.exe, then navigate to and open the air file you are using. Then find and expand Record 1101.
Look down the long list of FD data fields in REC 1101 for Cn_dT Yaw Moment
What I believe to be the latest official version of the Stearman FD (FS04 PT-17 Ver 1.1.6 Apr 05) has this set to 0.002.
Look in REC 1 of the air file after you open it. If you are using a different air file the solution is 'likely' to be identical, but of course a different (unauthorised?) air file could have many problems.
Consider increasing the value incrementally until you can yaw the tail with fully deflected rudder into 'modest' propwash at very low taxi IAS with the stick held forward to unload the tail. If you overcook the value you will induce wild yaw authority at high thrust making co-ordinated turns in climbing flight and aerobatics harder to control; so only increase the value by just enough to solve the ground handling problem. Try increments of 0.005 and test each time.
If you define a personal key combination in FS9 (options/controls/assignemnts/Reload user aircraft) which causes air file reload you can then use that key combinbation after each edit and test each increment until you have just adequate yaw authority during very slow taxi. There 'should' be a higher value which makes differential braking irrelevant.
As you know the tailwheel animation may not behave as it would in real life whatever you code in the dynamics. Since the real Stearman had tailwheel steering (with disconnect to castor at unknown angle) I suggest that you implement that capability using no more than 45 degrees max in contact point.0 rather than implementing castoring and no tailwheel steering during your tests.
However......
Nothing you do will change the MDL tailwheel presence, so consider making point.0 a type 3 contact point = steel tipped skid.
point.0= 3, -17.3, 0, -6.2, 1200, 0, 0.3, max angle, 0.250, 2.5, 0.85, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0
Test whether defining it as a steel skid with both 0 and then 180 as max angle makes the dynamics behave more like a castoring tailwheel than actually defining the friction of that aft contact point as a rubber tyre.
The real Stearman had main wheel brakes. I still do not know if they could be applied differentially as delivered. That is not a given at the relevant date.
Remember the rear contact point has more friction with both cockpits occupied and yawing will require more RPM causing a larger turning circle. You should test on both grass and dirt, not just hard surfaces. Use MS default BGLs, not third party ones, during all FD ground handling tests.
Finally to all readers, please remember that many reported FD errors do not exist and the real problem is faulty user technique or expectation. Inexperienced tinkering with air files usually does more harm than good. The only reason I replied to this thread was that I believed the original question related to my original September 2003 FS9 update FD for this FS8 aircraft. I do not endorse generic air file tinkering by anyone who does not understand flight dyanamics.
FSAviator
PilatusTurbo
members+, Fighter Fanatic
Thanks for the direction on it, Z. I'll attempt to do what you're suggesting.
I do always try to remember to hopefully save a copy of the files I start messing with, just incase I do cause more harm than good. :d
However, what's really odd, is I have read a little bit on the cfg file itself, and these modifications have never been this difficult. My simple changes such as lights, effects, or even ground handling have never messed anything up, or been met by such difficulty.
Nothing at all against the plane; I agree with all the nice things said here about the ship. :ernae:
I do always try to remember to hopefully save a copy of the files I start messing with, just incase I do cause more harm than good. :d
However, what's really odd, is I have read a little bit on the cfg file itself, and these modifications have never been this difficult. My simple changes such as lights, effects, or even ground handling have never messed anything up, or been met by such difficulty.
Nothing at all against the plane; I agree with all the nice things said here about the ship. :ernae:
PilatusTurbo
members+, Fighter Fanatic
Zmike,
I had to fiddle with AirEd to get it to save the changes, but good lord!!! What a difference, the values you suggested changing, make! I can't believe it. Now my Stearman will pivot without a single instant of questioning!
Thank you good sir, for both your patience in explaining, and the patience for the slower ones like me to get it right. :ernae:
I had to fiddle with AirEd to get it to save the changes, but good lord!!! What a difference, the values you suggested changing, make! I can't believe it. Now my Stearman will pivot without a single instant of questioning!
Thank you good sir, for both your patience in explaining, and the patience for the slower ones like me to get it right. :ernae:
PilatusTurbo
members+, Fighter Fanatic
I still can't believe this. With the mods you suggested, Z, it will castor freely set at 180, and pivot on a DIME. I changed the value to .003 and she does exactly what I wanted. And the model is even set up to show the free castoring wheel-- something I want out of every taildragger.
My Stearman hours are about to jump through the roof in the coming week. Aside of test flying Milton's new Grizzly, this is all I'm gonna fly.
Thanks again Zmike. Without your help, I would never have gotten this one flying in my fleet again. :ernae:
My Stearman hours are about to jump through the roof in the coming week. Aside of test flying Milton's new Grizzly, this is all I'm gonna fly.
Thanks again Zmike. Without your help, I would never have gotten this one flying in my fleet again. :ernae: