Crosswind takeoff
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I know there are issues with ground handling and crosswind in MSFS, but with the Hawk I'm having particularly big problems with crosswind takeoff.
Today I took off from EGOV Valley AB, there was a firm crosswind, not sure what the magnitude was exactly due to live weather being enabled. I had to use full left rudder to keep the plane on the runway (never mind keeping it centered, I was all over the place).
According to the aircrew manual (part 2) there shouldn't be anything special about crosswind takeoffs:
"20. Crosswind Take-Off. In crosswind conditions there is no tendency for the aircraft to lean out of wind during the ground roll. Raise the nosewheel at 90 knots. Some into-wind aileron may be necessary at unstick to maintain wings level. On becoming airborne, centralize the rudder and control column and allow the aircraft to adopt a crabbed attitude."
Does anyone experience difficulties with crosswind takeoffs? Perhaps my technique is just poor, it is an MSFS limitation, flight model problem? Interested in your thoughts ...
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@corvus5624 I am going to put that one down to a limitation of the sim / ongoing updates to the core flight model. SU6 introduced some changes to the rotational stability in yaw of the fuselage, but we have not been given specifics of what and how, and as much of the core flight model does not have adjusters that are actual aerodynamic terms (control surface maxangle scalar, anyone?? 🤣) we are left guessing a) what they have actually done and b) how do we adjust for that, presuming we can work out the first bit.
The core flight model relies a lot on geometry, and we are only able to define the fuselage as a cylinder. If you look at the Hawk side-on, you can see where this may cause a problem.
SU7 apparently has further updates to the core flight model, so any major changes until that point are not a realistic proposition. However, point noted and if I can find a way around it it will find its way into an update.
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@delta558 It is a pity, the limitations of the sim that is, but it is hopeful that changes in the MSFS flight model are upcoming. Until then I will be swerving my way down the runway. :-)
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@corvus5624 Just take heart in the fact you're not the only one :beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes:
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I have a thread here from last week discussing pretty much what you state. The thing to remember is that the rudder has next to no authority below 50-60 kts and there is little time from 50-90 so things get really hectic.
The good news (for me at least) is that with a lot of practice I am now 95% confident of a decently straight roll and takeoff. The trick for me is to forget the rudder until airborne. I adjusted the curves on my toe-brakes so I could be granular applying and as soon as I roll I watch for the swing starting and compensate as gently as I can. Once I've started doing that it seems to settle and I normally get to 90 and lift then immediately switch my brain to rudder mode. Took a lot of practice but happy now.
Landings are still an issue for me but watching all the youtube vids closely I think a fair few also have the issue. My strategy is actually to land then kill the speed with both brakes applied pretty much as hard as I can. Not realistic but keeps me half way decent and once down at 10kts or so, the rudders give me nosewheel steering again. I think this one I'm stuck with until MS/Asobo fix ground handling.
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@b3lt3r Agree. I've started doing most of my directional control below 50-60 kts with the brakes (and rudder trim) and it works a lot better than when I tried to use the rudder. Sounds like we're using the same landing technique too, I just wish it worked on taildraggers where even gentle brake applications tend to leave you staring at the ground through a "you crashed" message :)
