Is is possible to trim a Feee

[JimAttrill 24]

No matter how many times I hit <ctl> 4 it still wants to roll right. After a sortie (without warp) my wrist is just about solid with the effort.

 

Sometimes I think what I need is a joystick with trim adjustments - do they make such a thing?

[PinkPanther 0]

Yes, CH joysticks have trim wheels. Don't use CH now but back when I did it was a handy feature to have.

 

http://www.chproducts.com/retail/index.html

[RAF_Louvert 101]

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Jim, I am running a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro stick with Saitek rudder pedals and I can trim out all the OFF planes to fly quite true and level.

 

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[Bullethead 12]

No matter how many times I hit <ctl> 4 it still wants to roll right. After a sortie (without warp) my wrist is just about solid with the effort.

 

Sometimes I think what I need is a joystick with trim adjustments - do they make such a thing?

 

I don't have any real trouble trimming the Fee to fly hands-off. You're right, she does take a lot of aileron trim to start with, but there's an easy way to do it. I've mapped the aileron and elevator trim commands to the #2 hat on my stick. As soon as I throttle up on my takeoff roll, I hold this hat over for about 3-4 seconds. I release it just before the tailskid lifts off the ground. This is usually enough trim to be in the ballpark once I'm airborne, only minor tweaks needed after that.

 

However, be advised that the Fee has a curious anomaly in its flight model that makes it retain angular momentum in the roll axis for a LONG time. Here's what I mean..... Suppose you're in a left turn, have gone far enough, so you apply right aileron until you're level, then release. But you'll only stay level a split second before starting to roll right at about the same rate with which you leveled your initial bank. So now you do left aileron to get back level and as soon as you release, you start rolling right agan, but this time slower than before. You generally have to repeat this process 3 or 4 times before the Fee settles back into level flight. And NOTE that this same thing happens if you start out turning to the right and level out with left aileron. Doesn't matter.

 

This can easily create the illusion that the Fee is out of trim. But as I say, it's just a weird thing. Once you've got the roll axis settled down, the thing will stay level until you turn again, provided you're trimmed out. Gusts don't even bother you--the plane will bank a bit in the gusts, then return to level flight without any input from you. There's the famous RAF stability for you. It's perfectly safe (apart from enemy activity) to leave the Fee trudging along while you leave the room to get another beer.

[Burning Beard 14]

I'm not sure if I mapped them or if they are default but I use the Arrow keys to trim elevator and ailerons.

 

Beard

[Maeran 20]

All the original query answered: What? you don't already keep sufficient beer in the cockpit? Tut. Have a word with the mess officer.

[JimAttrill 24]

However, be advised that the Fee has a curious anomaly in its flight model that makes it retain angular momentum in the roll axis for a LONG time. Here's what I mean..... Suppose you're in a left turn, have gone far enough, so you apply right aileron until you're level, then release. But you'll only stay level a split second before starting to roll right at about the same rate with which you leveled your initial bank. So now you do left aileron to get back level and as soon as you release, you start rolling right agan, but this time slower than before. You generally have to repeat this process 3 or 4 times before the Fee settles back into level flight. And NOTE that this same thing happens if you start out turning to the right and level out with left aileron. Doesn't matter.

 

I must say I have noticed this but put it down to my being a crap pilot and overcorrecting all the time I never know whether it is the aircraft, the wind or whether I have had a brandy too many I take it to offset the Castor Oil fumes haha (as advised in 'Goshawk Squadron') Well, that's my excuse anyway.

[JimAttrill 24]

Ok, after mapping the aileron and elevator trim to the arrow keys I have had a wonderful time with the Feee. After turning to get on track I just let go of the stick and it eventually sorts itself out. I have it set to climb a bit so if I leave all alone I eventually end up at a reasonable height. I even managed to shoot down a Roland CII (well my gunner did) and that makes a change. I got shot down by Archie, but lived to tell the tale somehow (am running Did). Yes, once trimmed I can go to the kitchen for a beer without any problems.

 

As you all may tell, I am a bit of a newbie to flight sims, having only previously flown WOG a loooooong time ago. But I have always liked WWI sims because they are so uncomplicated (that is not the same as 'simple') ie. there are no ecm, missiles, brakes, flaps and all that modern stuff to worry about. Ok, the aeroplanes have strange flying characteristics and almost no power so they stall easily and some are almost impossible to fly at all for me (DH2). But this is right, so I stick (so far) to planes like the Be2c and the Fe2b in the early years of the war. When I first joined this forum I didn't know what 'immersion' meant, but I know now. I always fly campaign and see how long I can keep my pilot alive. I have this hope of getting a pilot through the whole war. However, like in reality, I don't reckon I will manage it. Maybe I can take a few pilots through the same squadron though the war. This is what I love about OFF.

 

I know I am preaching to the converted but .....

[Rickitycrate 10]

If it's a Christmas Fee I'm sure can trim it. Some balls and lights, maybe an angel on your Lewis.