I got my simulator and really like it. I am having a problem getting on final approach and landing. The plane gets real touchy and usually crashes if I just don't go around. I can fly the circuit and even do some sloppy aerobatics. Can and have landed in the grass and across the runway. Is it me or are these little units just touchy. I do believe this unit will teach me a lot and I do like it. Give me some input there , professionals and I will appreciate it. I will be looking and thanks. gphil

I am having the exact same problem. Hope someone will sound off. I'm all ears!

Hmm, which plane and field does the basic version fly? I'd like to try it out. Which are you flying?

Think there are thirty some types even helos.   I usually fly the trainer type, cannnot remember name think it is a Nexstar fuel and also the electric version.   I have tried  three of the slower ones with the same results.  The jets just go out of sight lol (me)  But on the serious side the above described actions happen.   Like I say can fly the circuits , figure eights etc.   Cannot land to save my rear.   I have tried just a slow glide but  turn to final and all heck breaks loose.  At least I can get provicient in airwork.   gphil

Oh, and several  different fields, tried three so far.  If you need the names I will copy down later and send.  gphil

No matter what version of RF it is, the point is to set up the landing properly and then do the approach.

If this is one of the RF sims that has a mode that has an instructor, let the "instructor" fly the plane and watch closely as "he" makes the approach. Watch the background so that when you emulate the action of landing the plane, your actions mimmic the location "in the sky" as closely as the virtual instructor did it. Keep an eye on the control sticks on the transmitter (again, if this model of RF shows the transmitter) and remember the basics.... use the throttle to extend your landing and the elevator to control your airspeed. More throttle to extend, less to shorten, then slight elevator movements to flair and slow the plane to land.

Keep it simple and try as best as you can to emulate the virtual instructor's actions.

CGr.

Thanks, I will try that.   I do know I have set the base leg way out and slow.  On the turn to final, the plane will not roll wings level so I can fly a long final etc.   I know it is mostly me so I will keep at it.  Lets say the left wing is down , turning , I have held almost full back stick, rolling back wings level but the plane will just not react.  Hard to explain.  gphil</p>

I think the nexstar is the easy one that is included on the free version. It is one that is used for the demo in the landing trainer. Make sure wind is 0 and dual rate switch is down. If you've "landed" in the grass and on any other part it may not be landing where you want , but keep practising. Pretty soon you'll be able to put it down right where you want. I'm no expert , but it sounds like you may be trying to fly too slow.

The plane getting real touchy is the confusing part. I'm going to do some and see if I can help you.

thanks loads fellas ,,,,,,surrounded by pros.........   gphil

It took me a whole lot of practice with the basic version to get good landings on the runway.

Give it some time. It might also be helpful to have someone who is experienced come over and spend just a few minutes with you.

With basic, I found it hard to keep orientation as to where the runway was relative to the plane when trying to set up the base leg. There is a field mostly grass with a paved runway that was easiest.

I eventually got the full version, which does a better job of zooming and positioning vantage points so you can see the plane and runway on base leg. I've lent the basic one out to a friend who is interested in flying.

I have tried landing from each end etc.   When on base leg, you cannot see the runway for a while then the nose is down and in a turn ......hard to recover.  Practice ..    I do fly a real model but  no landings yet.    I tried the Gee B  but it was way too quick, Yak too.  I have to stay with the learning elec and others.   I tried the Harrier and wheels up then a puff of smoke on the horizon.   Funny ans heck.  Love this hobby.   gphil

If the plane is becoming unresponsive and just dropping to the ground, you're stalling it because you're getting it too slow. When doing a landing approach, your primary controls are the throttle and rudder. All the ailerons are really for is to keep the wings level and the elevator maintains a flat attitude. If you feel the nose start to drop while you're approaching, your instinct is to pull back on the elevator. All that does is put the nose up which slows the plane down more, making the stall worse. Use your throttle to control the descent rate and the rudder to steer the plane and you'll be sticking them in no time. I also actually find landing to be easier in a little wind, maybe 5 mph on the sim. It gives you a little more control at really slow ground speeds so you can be more precise.

gphil

I'm not familiar with the basic version, but in V 3.5 you can change your view and keep the ground in your vision while you fly, so you can see the runway on approach. If you have a "view" tab at the top of your window click it... Go to "zoom type" and then "keep ground in view". Hope this will work on your version.

As for the landings keep practicing!

Ben

Sounds like your pc is not up to speed. Are all other programs closed?

Sounds like your pc may not be running fast enough. Do you meet the minimum requirements.

gphil,
Remember to keep the nose down while on final so that you maintain a slight down angle to the runway. As if the plane was coming down from a slight hill. Also,maintain a few notches of powerabove idle to maintain airspeed and stability.My technique is to pull the power back to idle, and then add a few notches of power. When the plane goes slow, it becomes unstable and will aerodynamically stall. Fly the plane to the runway with these few notches of power. As you get close to the ground (5 ft above the ground), reduce the power and level the planewitha slight bit of UP elevator.... just a touch! (This is the hardest part, and will require lots of practice to not 'balloon' the landing.) Ideally, by this time, the plane will be about two feet above the ground when you get it right. Reduce the power again, or reducethe power to idle. Before the plane gets too slow and stalls, let the wheels touch the ground to land the plane. Until you master this technique, you can expect to bounce the plane on the ground a couple of times, or even crash. The RESET button helps in these cases. Coordination will take some time to master.

You can also change the view of the plane so that you can see what you are doing with the plane from the perspective of a 'chase' plane (from the view of a plane that is following your plane). This will help you to get a better (and closer) view of what your plane is doing while you are at the controls. This viewpoint will help you quite a bit in learning to fly, and land!

One of the problems new pilots ALWAYS do is over-control the plane. You will need to learn that only small amounts of elevator and alireon movement are needed... not a lot! Learn to fly the plane smoothly and level ... don't jerk the plane around with sudden movements. Plan your landings. If things don't look good, immediately do a 'go-around'. Don't wait. Don't try to fix your landing if it is way off ... abort and go around early... especially when you are flying your R/C plane! They don't have RESET buttons!

I have found that the field of view in any simulator is so small that you cannot sense where the runway is until you are too close to the ground. You almost have to know how to fly RC to be able to learn how to fly the simulator.
My buddies and I fly at a field between Danielsville and Comer on HWY 98, and you are more than welcome to come and try your hand at landing your trainer. I have instructed RC flying for over 10 years and would be glad to offer my services for nuttin. I live in Carlton, so its really just down the road.
PM me if you would like to get together.
Bryan

As I said earlier, use the virtual instructor to get your points of reference to set up the landing. You cannot see the runway on the approach, but follow the path that the virtual instructor used as closely as you can. Keep the airspeed up so that youj don't stall it on approach. At some point, you will see the runway. If you are not lined up properly, add throttle and go around until you find that glide-slope that is lined up correctly.

This takes time to figure it out. You may take a few days of practice but eventually, as we all did, you will figure it out and your landings will get better and better.

CGr

Just keep it up and in a short time you will be starting to fly faster planes, Remember a lot of flying fields are grass so it is not a bad idea to practise on it. It took me a few days of practise to find the pavement to.

Real Flight 6 does not have a virtual instructor for landing.

Still trying to get a real controled landing in. Beginning to think the trim may be a factor. The flight controls seem well but the throttle trim may too low. Right now there is no such thing as a power off, dead stick , approach. If you throttle back to "o" uncontrollable crash happens. going to add a little higher idle and see what happens. Question, what does the switch on top left of controller do? I think it is control response maybe. The one on the right side operates flaps and gear. But as of right now, no way to line up on final high or low. Just will not happen. Gonna give it a week then who knows. This unit will allow me to see a second plane in flight and the controller. I do much better watching the little plane. Oh well . gphil

Could be your Pc resolution setting. Try changing that (lower the resultion). Or choose a field that has less trees,mountians etc. If the plane is handling fine up high, and gets jittery or touchy close to the ground, then its a PC issue. Graphics card basically not keeping up. I have have an older desk top with basic installed, and if I try to load a busy Airfield, I will notice frame skipping (slight) when taking off and landing. It will get worse when I activate smoke.

I believe you are talking about the dual rate switch. With a trainer, you would generally have about 75% of the control surface travel on low rate as you would have on high rate.

For landings you generally want low rate.

That sounds like you do not have the plane properly trimmed out. Get the plane high, fly level at half throttle. the plane should fly level and straight without any input with the elevator, rudder or ailerons, while at half throttle. Adjust trim as requried to acheive level straight half throttle, hands off flight. Once you do that, then landing and all the other flying should be easier,

As a beginner with a trainer, you want all flight activity on low rates until you learn what amount of input gives you what kind of response. You don't want to be spending your time fighting with over control.

If you want to know what things do, just taxi the plane so that it is "in front of you", set the throttle at minimum (and leave it there for this test) then move the sticks. You can see all control surfaces move as you move the sticks.

Then move the sticks and switch the switches. To see what one is dual rate, just push the aileron to full right or full left, then flip switches. One of them will make the aileron move either more or less, depending on where it is set at. Once you learn what switch it is, and what position the low rate is, then leave it there. The same switch controls both the aileron, elevator, and rudder.

CGr