HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET USED TO THEM? I FEEL LIKE A 2 WEEK NOOB!
There are some exercise that you can do and one of the favorites that I found useful when training students in real aircraft is this: Start out rolling from straight and level to 30 degrees bank left, then immediately roll back to the right to a 30 degree bank angle, then back to level flight. Repeat that several times and you will see an improvement in your coordinating of aileron and rudder inputs. Observe your "needle and ball" indicator on your instrument panel to see if you are staying in coordinated flight. If your turn to the left shows the "ball" outside of the two vertical lines to the right, then you are skidding in the turn. A slight rudder pressure on the "ball" will correct this. "Stepping" on the ball is an old saying by a lot of instructors, if the ball is outside to the right, a little right rudder, if outside of the vertical lines to the left, a little left rudder. If you have a "ball" to the left, in a left turn, you are slipping in the turn. Both skidding and slipping in the turns will decay your airspeed prematurely, giving your opponent an advantage. One of the problems that you are going to have is with full power and slow speeds, such as climbing turns or chasing an opponent straight up. If you will notice the next time you get someone in a straight ahead climb, watch his vertical stab and you will notice that in American aircraft, his vertical stab will be slightly offset to the right of his line of flight. The reason? Not compensating for engine torque and "P" factor as he is climbing and slowing down. One of the problems with this computer generated game is the lack of feel! That's why you have instruments, to assist in the correct amount of control inputs to keep the aircraft in coordinated flight. One of the best "sticks" in this game is Pand and Greebo, both of whom know and understand the importance of coordinated flight when dog fighting an opponent. Observe what both do in dog fighting and you will always see that vertical stab in line with their selected line of flight.
I have had the opposite problem, after a career in flying, 22,344 hrs total time, I always flew aircraft with rudder pedals! Then I came into this game about a 1 and 1/2 years ago and started having to fly with a "twisty" stick, a X-52 and I have struggled with it constantly, and have worn a pair of holes in the wall behind my cockpit setup. applying pressure with my feet because of years of flying with rudder pedals! So I have finally given up and ordered me a set of rudder pedals also, and will be glad when they get here. If you need any futher help, you are in my squad and will be glad to assist you in getting used to them with some training exercises.
