High speed vertical attack causes control surface lock up.

[swareiam]

I have noticed several times now since the new 2.10 update a control surface lock up problem. It seems as I am approaching my opponent at high speed and high angle of attack my control surfaces lock up, but only after I fire my first burst. It leaves the aircraft dead stick for up to ten second or I hit the ground, which even comes first. Even if I am dead on aim it still seems to lock up. It only seems to apply when I am going into a vertical attack. At low altitude I fly the Seafire MKII. I thought it may have been a problem with that model. But, then I noticed it happening with the P-51 at low altitude as well. It is a extreme problem when there is a huge FURBALL. This is because you know their is someone trailing you. Has anyone else experience this problem? Just interested to know...

Cheers:aok

[NHawk]

It's called compression.

When an aircraft is in a high speed dive, the airflow over the wings of the aircraft can actually exceed the speed of sound. This transonic airflow creates a shockwave and a barrier that disrupts the flow of air over the control surfaces. This causes a dramatic loss in control efficiency and is known as compression.

To counter compression, speed must be reduced. Increasing drag and decreasing thrust will slow the plane. Once the aircraft slows, control will be regained.

In other words, you're diving to fast.

If you're losing control at slow speed, well.. you're just going to slow.

[Krusty]

Originally posted by NHawk
When an aircraft is in a high speed dive, the airflow over the wings of the aircraft can actually exceed the speed of sound.

Er.. no, it can't. Not on any WW2 aircraft, anyways.

However, NHawk is right. It's called compression. you're going so fast that it requires more force to move your control surfaces than you can humanly apply to your aircraft. Note the "Trim Elevator Up" key is "I" on the keyboard. If you're nose down and compress, trim your nose UP with elevator trim. Once you come out of the dive you can slow down enough to regain control.

Also, throttle back when you dive, to prevent this. It usually only happens at VERY high speeds. Some aircraft are affected at lower speeds (p38s, 109s) but for the most part it just means you're going too fast.

[swareiam]

Originally posted by NHawk
It's called compression.

Yep, I am very familiar with compressibility, which this is not. The lock up occurs going up while your aircraft is starting to decelerate. Compressibilty generally occurs going down and increasing in speed. This is nothing like compressibility. There is control up until the point where the weapons are discharged and the lock up occurs.

Cheers:aok

[NHawk]

Originally posted by swareiam
Yep, I am very familiar with compressibility, which this is not. The lock up occurs going up while your aircraft is starting to decelerate. Compressibilty generally occurs going down and increasing in speed. This is nothing like compressibility. There is control up until the point where the weapons are discharged and the lock up occurs.

Cheers:aok

I'd say film it and send it in.

[swareiam]

Originally posted by NHawk
I'd say film it and send it in.

I really don't think there is anything to record. A frontal view of the aircraft seemingly stalling, rolling over and heading for the ground. I can audio record myself saying "WHAT THE $%$@", but that's about it. I suppose that anything you want is worth making the effort for.

Cheers:aok

[Krusty]

HTC can read a film with a better film viewer. They can pick it apart and figure out exactly what's happening in the code. Stuff we can't see in our film viewer. Can't hurt to send one in.

[swareiam]

Originally posted by Krusty
HTC can read a film with a better film viewer. They can pick it apart and figure out exactly what's happening in the code. Stuff we can't see in our film viewer. Can't hurt to send one in.

No, your right. It could actually fix a very remote bug of some sort. I'll make the film and send it in.

Thanks...

Cheers:aok

[zlehmann]

could be a joystick problem, something crossed so when your trigger is pressed it messes your controls up.

[swareiam]

Originally posted by zlehmann
could be a joystick problem, something crossed so when your trigger is pressed it messes your controls up.

That is possible. But it didn't start until I installed the 2.10 update.

Cheers:aok

[zlehmann]

do you use any controller profile software? something that sets your joystick buttons to map them to your keyboard buttons? sometimes those will mess things up cuz youll push a button you have mapped to your bombs on the joystick in the game, but your profiler will have it mapped to your flaps or something.

[swareiam]

Originally posted by zlehmann
do you use any controller profile software? something that sets your joystick buttons to map them to your keyboard buttons? sometimes those will mess things up cuz youll push a button you have mapped to your bombs on the joystick in the game, but your profiler will have it mapped to your flaps or something.

Hmmm, The answer to the question is yes.  I use a CH Products CombatStick. The only problem with that theory is in any other configuration i.e stright and level flight or combat in a horizontal plane, it works just fine. To top that off, this anomaly doesn't happen consistently. Every now and then, but usually in the thick of combat.

Cheers:aok

[zlehmann]

sounds like a short in the stick to me. once a certain threshold on the stick being pulled back is reached it shorts out and nullifies the single your stick is sending.

i know the Z axis on my stick is all messed up and if i try to rudder left i get all sorts of weird anomolies with the axis readings.

see if you can fly around using the mouse or a spare stick to see if it keeps happening. thats the only real way to find out for sure if its a software or hardware issue.

[Murdr]

Originally posted by NHawk
When an aircraft is in a high speed dive, the airflow over the wings of the aircraft can actually exceed the speed of sound.

Originally posted by Krusty
Er.. no, it can't. Not on any WW2 aircraft, anyways.

Nothing wrong with NHawks description of what happens with the airflow at critical mach.

[swareiam]

Originally posted by Murdr
Nothing wrong with NHawks description of what happens with the airflow at critical mach.

You're right. I believe what Krusty is trying to say is that WWII aircraft that had compressibility issues for example the P-38, reached the compressibility envelope well before mach speeds.

Cheers:aok