insane fishtailing

[randbo]

ok i absolutely cannot get off the ground.
the plane fishtails like crazy
there seems to be no feedback to the a s d keys and i cannot help but overcorrect.
i have never gotten off the ground.
this is INSANE.

[StarOfAfrica2]

If you just want to get off the ground, use auto takeoff for now.  Go to the training arena and ask for someone to help you out.  There are several little tricks to make it easier.  

Usin the keyboard for rudder inputs is rough, especially for the fine control  you need on takeoff.  I would at the very least use the "combat trim" feature to help with rudder trim while you are taking off (Alt + X), and some models have the locking tail wheel.  You pull back on the stick as you start moving, and it locks the tailwheel so you dont have that bad fishtail problem.

[Vudak]

Originally posted by randbo
ok i absolutely cannot get off the ground.
the plane fishtails like crazy
there seems to be no feedback to the a s d keys and i cannot help but overcorrect.
i have never gotten off the ground.
this is INSANE.

Just a few quick questions to help everyone help you:

1.  Are you using a joystick or just the keyboard/mouse?

2.  What plane in particular is fishtailing so badly/ or are all of them?

SA2's comment on auto takeoff might be the best option for the time being.  To enable it you have to bring up your clipboard ( Esc ), go to Setup, then Preferences, then Flight, and make sure auto takeoff is checked.  Then just choose which runway to take off from and sit back while the game takes off for you.

[Furball]

Originally posted by randbo
i need to buy a joystick with rudder

[xtyger]

Just remember: When you use Auto Takeoff, once you move the joystick a certain amount, you go back to manual control. Doesn't matter much once you're just about off the ground, though.

[TequilaChaser]

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
 I would at the very least use the "combat trim" feature to help with rudder trim while you are taking off (Alt + X), and some models have the locking tail wheel.  You pull back on the stick as you start moving, and it locks the tailwheel so you dont have that bad fishtail problem.

SA2 did not have his early morning brew of Espresso yet, he meant combat Trim Ctrl-X   to turn it on and off, Alt-X is auto climb  

WAKE UP  SA2, caught ya sleeping

[Bad31st]

One trick that has helped me with manual take- offs is to slowly advance the throttle - that way you can more easily counter the effects of the torque generated by the propeller turning.

If you aren't sure exactly how much rudder use the auto take off feature again slowly advancing the throttle as you work your way down the runway and watch the rudder indicator as you accelerate.

hope this helps.

*edit*
Also if you don't already have one, I highly recomend getting a joystick with throttle and rudder control - even a cheap ( $30 or $40 USD) logitec twisty stick is better than going without imo.

[SkyWolf]

Originally posted by Bad31st
One trick that has helped me with manual take- offs is to slowly advance the throttle - that way you can more easily counter the effects of the torque generated by the propeller turning.

If you aren't sure exactly how much rudder use the auto take off feature again slowly advancing the throttle as you work your way down the runway and watch the rudder indicator as you accelerate.

hope this helps.

*edit*
Also if you don't already have one, I highly recomend getting a joystick with throttle and rudder control - even a cheap ( $30 or $40 USD) logitec twisty stick is better than going without imo.

If you are going to buy cheap I'd buy Saitek. Not the best maybe... butter better than Logitech. Friend of mine who's a sales rep says all of those end up going back.

[Drano]

Originally posted by randbo
ok i absolutely cannot get off the ground.
the plane fishtails like crazy
there seems to be no feedback to the a s d keys and i cannot help but overcorrect.
i have never gotten off the ground.
this is INSANE.

Problem is your tailwheel isn't locked and is able to swivel all over. Most of the planes will tend to swing one way or another as you roll out on takeoff. You can counter the swing--a bit anyway--by applying full back stick pressure until you get over about 80 mph as you roll down the runway. Pulling full back on the stick locks the tailwheel.

Give that a try if you don't want to use autotakeoff.

     Drano

[StarOfAfrica2]

Originally posted by TequilaChaser
SA2 did not have his early morning brew of Espresso yet, he meant combat Trim Ctrl-X   to turn it on and off, Alt-X is auto climb  

WAKE UP  SA2, caught ya sleeping

My coffee maker is broke at work.  Ugh!

[OOZ662]

Originally posted by TequilaChaser
SA2 did not have his early morning brew of Espresso yet, he meant combat Trim Ctrl-X   to turn it on and off, Alt-X is auto climb  

WAKE UP  SA2, caught ya sleeping

Technically, he's right you know. We don't have autopilot per se, but auto trim. So Alt-X is a combat trim setting.

[fuzeman]

Originally posted by OOZ662
Technically, he's right you know. We don't have autopilot per se, but auto trim. So Alt-X is a combat trim setting.

The game maker calls them auto-pilots so in my book we have auto-pilots.

[TequilaChaser]

Originally posted by OOZ662
Technically, he's right you know. We don't have autopilot per se, but auto trim. So Alt-X is a combat trim setting.

ok OOZ662, when you are on the runway next time before taking off or throttling up, just for a giggle & auger. tap your stick to undo auto-takeoff  then hit the Alt-X command ( for auto climb ) and watch yourself  gain alt

let me know how it turned out

[OOZ662]

Originally posted by fuze
The game maker calls them auto-pilots so in my book we have auto-pilots.

Actually, it was HT that I saw talking to a newb about how we don't have autopilot, but an autotrim that uses the trim tabs IIRC.

[SD67]

I've had good results tapping the brakes to keep on line.
I'm going to invest in a set of pedals.
It's much like taxiing a taildragger in real life I think.