A question about rudders

[Clone155]

When ever I use the rudder the plane goes the way it is supposed to go, but when I let go, even slowly, the plane goes the other way were I once was again. It is kind of like leaning to the left or right but have to go back where you were. Is this normal? Because in other flight games I play this does not happen. Does this happen to any one else?

[Krusty]

Think of it this way... you stomp a rudder, it's pushing your nose sideways into the wind. Aims you sideways, but you fly forward along a tangent.

So when you let go, the air along your fuselage and flight surfaces is "self correcting" to a small extent. You don't end up exactly back the way you used to be. It's somewhere between your original course and what you were facing on full rudder, and the final heading depends on how hard you used the rudder and for how long (and at what speed).

[Clone155]

Think of it this way... you stomp a rudder, it's pushing your nose sideways into the wind. Aims you sideways, but you fly forward along a tangent.

So when you let go, the air along your fuselage and flight surfaces is "self correcting" to a small extent. You don't end up exactly back the way you used to be. It's somewhere between your original course and what you were facing on full rudder, and the final heading depends on how hard you used the rudder and for how long (and at what speed).

Phwew! I thought it was just me.

[Messiah]

When ever I use the rudder the plane goes the way it is supposed to go, but when I let go, even slowly, the plane goes the other way were I once was again. It is kind of like leaning to the left or right but have to go back where you were. Is this normal? Because in other flight games I play this does not happen. Does this happen to any one else?

What games were those?  Star Wars?

[Clone155]

What games were those?  Star Wars?

 Not computer games, but PS games. Like Ace Combat or Blazing angels. I suppose they are not modeled very well though

[Krusty]

No, they are not.

No console "flight sim" is ever even remotely close. More like arcade shooters.

[BnZs]

Um, if you input rudder while otherwise remaining wings level, (which probably requires abit of cross-controlling, most planes tend to roll in the direction of rudder input) that doesn't effect your course all that much. You are effectively in a forward slip, the nose is yawed wide from the actual course of the airplane. (Remember, a plane turns *primarily* because when it is banked part of the wing's lift that was previously only supporting it against the vertical pull of gravity is now being used horizontally to alter its course.) And yes, the fuselage and vertical stab combined constitute a rather large area which tend to resist yawing forces and "snap" you back more or less straight when you let go of any rudder input. And, if you have CT on, your rudder trim is being automatically constantly adjusted to fly straight.

[BnZs]

Not computer games, but PS games. Like Ace Combat or Blazing angels. I suppose they are not modeled very well though

Ah, the flight dynamics of AHII will be much better modeled than those two. Or just about anything out there.

I know there is a lot of talk about this being a "game" rather than a "sim", but judging by the diagram of all the points they measure for lift/drag...in that regard it is a "sim", and a good one!

[Krusty]

The rudder does actually change your heading, depending on how long and hard you hold it down. You do "snap back" but not all the way.

[BnZs]

The rudder does actually change your heading, depending on how long and hard you hold it down. You do "snap back" but not all the way.

It changes your course a bit, but not very quickly or efficiently...that is why the Wright Bros. had success emulating the example of the buzzards for course changes, where others had failed trying to emulate the example of ships...

[Serenity]

Not computer games, but PS games. Like Ace Combat or Blazing angels. I suppose they are not modeled very well though

Which Ace Combat? 2, 4, and 5 all behave the same way as Aces High on advanced control mode.

[OOZ662]

Which Ace Combat? 2, 4, and 5 all behave the same way as Aces High on advanced control mode.

Err...no, they don't. All of them after and including 2 (2, 3, 4SS, 5BW, 0, X, 6) have the "Advanced Control Mode" which introduced "rudder," but there is no snap-back effect at all. In those games, wings level and full rudder is an effective way of making a slow turn. Not so in AHII (or real life).

[Serenity]

Err...no, they don't. All of them after and including 2 (2, 3, 4SS, 5BW, 0, X, 6) have the "Advanced Control Mode" which introduced "rudder," but there is no snap-back effect at all. In those games, wings level and full rudder is an effective way of making a slow turn. Not so in AHII (or real life).

Um... then I guess I got a defective one, because mine DOES snap back. Not as quickly as in AH, so maybe not snap. More like drift back at an accelerated pace!

[OOZ662]

I've honestly never encountered that in my years of obsessive play with those games. I always use the rudder to pull sweeping shots on armor and such due to the ability to sweep the fire and run away at the odd angle created when the button's let go.

On a couple of them, it seems like there's a snap-back effect when in reality the camera is moving back to the correct position, if you use 3rd Person.

[Serenity]

I've honestly never encountered that in my years of obsessive play with those games. I always use the rudder to pull sweeping shots on armor and such due to the ability to sweep the fire and run away at the odd angle created when the button's let go.

On a couple of them, it seems like there's a snap-back effect when in reality the camera is moving back to the correct position, if you use 3rd Person.

It's much more noticeable on #2, but the nose does swing back to the front. I remember when I first bought it, it was always confusing me as to why it did that. I had the same question the OP did, until I started flying in Real Life. Then it made sense, lol.