The compass is calibrated backwards.

[beet1e]

I don’t know why, but in Aces High (and in Warbirds) the compass is calibrated backwards! The only game I have seen where it’s correct is IL2.

Why do I think it’s backwards in AH? Well consider this:  The round ball on which the heading calibrations are made (which I will refer to as the compass rose) floats in a liquid – some sort of alcohol I believe. Within the compass rose, there is some ferrous material which has magnetic properties. Apart from changes to its position caused by aircraft movement, it always comes to rest in the same position relative to the earth or, more to the point, relative to Magnetic North.

Imagine you’re sitting in the cockpit, on the ground, facing North. The letter N would be visible on the compass rose. Note that this letter N is calibrated on the south side of the compass rose. That’s because when you the pilot are facing North, you are seated a couple of feet south of the compass. The compass rose should always come to rest with that letter N on the south side of the compass. The letter S will be round the other side, on the north side of the compass rose.

Now let’s suppose you taxi forward on the runway and turn right 90 degrees. This would result in the aircraft facing East. The compass rose would still be aligned with Magnetic North, but now the letter E would be visible to the pilot, who is now sitting just west of the compass. The letter N should still be facing south, which in this scenario would be to the right of the compass rose relative to the pilot, and the letter S would be on the left. Thus, in making that 90 degree turn to the right, the calibrations should appear to move from left to right, relative to the aircraft.

Now go to Aces High offline and try it for yourself! You will find that the compass rose rotates the other way. Facing East, the letter N is on the north side, and the letter S on the south side. This is wrong.

Why is the compass in AH set up like this?  Is a “sim thing” to help newbies? Note that I refer only to the compass, and not the direction indicator, which seems fine.

gameplay ID = beet1e

[miko2d]

That is a special security feature intended to confuse possible terrorists who may use AH to learn/practice their flying skills.

 miko

[funkedup]

It's one of the great mysteries of the world of flight sims.

 

Why is the compass in AH set up like this?

The answer, like the answer to the great riddle "Why was the F4U-1C one of the first planes modeled in AH?" is probably "Because Hitech likes it that way."  

[beet1e]

funked - LOL!  I was dreading having got my facts wrong, because I knew you would read my post  

OK, funked - here's another one for you.  Have you noticed the manifold pressure gauge readins?  On the F4U it's 50 inches at 100% (no wep) - I guess that supercharger packs a punch. But... when you stop the engine, the reading remains at the bottom of the scale. I would have expected it to rise to the ambient pressure, ie a nominal 29" give or take an inch or three.  Very nitpicking, please ignore!

AH is Great!

[Blue Mako]

Originally posted by Uncle Scrmbl:
I don’t know why, but in Aces High (and in Warbirds) the compass is calibrated backwards!

Yup, we discussed this in the bugs forum not that long ago.  Basically, the compass was modelled this way as a gameplay concession.  It throws off a few of the RL pilots but most don't notice it...  No real biggie IMO.  

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[BenDover]

err...who realy cares,c'mon, put your hands, don't be shy......

[Durr]

It doesnt really confuse me even though Im used to it being the other way around.  In real life we hardly use the wet compass anyway, preferring the much more stable RMI. Most flights, the only time I look at the wet compass is to verify the gyro is correct and slaved during the instrument checklist.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Made me smile too, it's a classic. I guess it's because it's more intuitive for first timer pilots.

[Toad]

Well, if you want it to turn the right way, you probably want the lead/lag modeled along with the acceleration errors, right?

There's a reason a "whiskey" compass is relegated to "standby" duty now. They have built in errors that are traps for the unwary... and sometimes the wary.    

[ 11-29-2001: Message edited by: Toad ]