Final approach (flaps?) problem
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Hi! Yesterday I tried the updated Arrow III. Everything went well, except that when on final approach the plane started banking unpredictably. No autopilot engaged. I managed to land anyway and thought that it could have been wind gusts (unlikely because of using the broken clouds preset, but still) or just my own ineptitude, though I haven't had these kinds of problems with the Arrow III before and my speed was not too low.
Then I bought the Turbo Arrow and took it (the IV) for a flight Canberra - Melbourne this morning. Again everything went well until final approach. Again wild banks, no AP engaged, speed not too low. This time I ended up in a smoking crater.
In both flights I had flown mostly on AP, but if my controls were way off that should have been obvious during takeoff before engaging AP, right?
Come to think of it, the problems may have started when lowering flaps. But only first stage and not flying too fast.
So, my question: has anyone else had similar problems since recent patches? Or is it - as usual - my own control settings and skills that are lacking?
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Update: I've now done a few practice runs with both planes. My problems may have been the results of overcompensating with ailerons combined with poor rudder authority at low speed. I could sort of reproduce it, and also do better landings without the problems.
It still feels to me like the behaviour at approach speeds has been tweaked, but it's not in any recent patch notes so I guess I'm imagining it.
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What approach speed are you using? If you are too slow the reduced control authority (particularly the ailerons - and the elevator on the T-tail) can be a problem.
EDIT: Also on the Arrow it is a good idea to keep some power on throughout the rollout to keep enough control authority
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@jshrew98 said in Final approach (flaps?) problem:
@dan-t I'm experiencing the same.
Interesting that there are two of us. We could of course be imagining things both of us, but it really feels way more unstable now - I've not had any more crashes but it behaves the same.
I have no idea which is the more realistic behavior. It certainly makes landings more... exciting? Before, I could more or less throw the aircraft in the general direction of the airport and be fine. Now much more care is necessary.