Differential Braking

[Sam Breese]

I absolutely h8 differential braking because I haven't got any rudder peddals. Just bought a ford - tri motor and I cant taxi in it

does anyone know how to deactivate it and make tail-draggers taxi like a conventional aircraft?

[Covoxer]

AFAIK, there's no way to do this. You may only redefine controls putting differential brakes to the arrow keys, this way maybe easier to taxi.

[Anastasios]

you can use your differential brakes by using F11 and F12

Tasos.

[Sam Breese]

Help's a bit, think i'll save up and get some rudder pedals!!

[flameout]

Here are some instructions for the default DC-3 tail dragger that I use. It may work on your other taildraggers too:

Backup your DC3 aircraft.cfg file !!

Open your DC3 aircraft.cfg file (notepad works well) and find the “contact points” section.

If it has not been altered, the first line should read

point.0=1, -56.00, 0.0, -2.3, 1200.0, 0, 0.60, 180.0, 0.200, 2.5, 0.695, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0

Comment this line out by adding two / marks in front of it,

Example:

//point.0=1, -56.00, 0.0, -2.3, 1200.0, 0, 0.60, 180.0, 0.200, 2.5, 0.695, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0

Cut and paste the following BEFORE point.0

point.0=1, -56.00, 0.0, -2.3, 1200.0, 0, 0.60, 60.0, 0.200, 2.5, 0.695, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0

What we have done is to change the seventh variable number from 180.0 to 60.0. (Variable numbers are separated by a comma)

This should allow the tail wheel to be steerable (not visually). Works fine on my DC3’s and from what I can tell, it may work on other tail
draggers whose contact point first entry is the same as the DC3. Just remember, we are only changing the seventh variable.


I simply changed the 180.0 to 60.0 in all my DC3 's

Regards,

flameout

[Covoxer]

flameout

, aren't you losing a bit of relism this way?

[kingfisher-blue]

Have recently been flying a lot with the Douglas DC3 and I had quite a problem with steering when trying to taxi down for take off and after
landing. I use Saitex X45 joystick and have now got quite good at taxi, I simply apply rudder and then apply brakes, applying brakes in
small increments leads to a wider turn but if you apply them for a longer period you get a much tighter turn, just be prepared to apply the
opposite rudder and then brakes when you want to straighten up. I started with practicing to taxi while using external view but can now
manage to taxi round while viewing from inside the cockpit quite easily. It just takes a bit of practice Keep trying you will get there.

[scandahl]

Is'nt the correct way to taxi the DC-3 to use differential power instead of brakes?

Cheers
David

[Anastasios]

there is also this thing with the wheel in the rear. you can lock it and unlock it or something. I don't know it exaclty anymore. When you
unlock it you can steer with it I believe.
forgive if i'm wrong, just something i thought i remembered when flying the dc-3.

Tasos.

[scandahl]

Yep, that's right. Actually I'm not sure about the default DC-3, but the MAAM dc-3 has a tailwheel lock. It's nearly impossible to turn without
releasing it. However, it's usefull when going straight.

Cheers,
David

[Allard]

The tailwheel on the DC-3 is of the free-casting type, so you can't steer it, as in real life. The tailwheel can be locked to keep it straight during
takeoff and landings. Without the lock, a gust of wind againts the tailsection could blow the aircraft off course.
As far as I know, turning the DC-3 is mostly done by differential braking, assisted by differential power. The rudder is ineffective at low speed, so
quite useless while taxiing. I believe the rudder becomes effective near Vr.

Cheers,
Allard.