How do you change parameters of planes?

[mysticplayer]

Just got my G4 and enjoy many of its functions. However, I find that some of the included planes are set up horridly from CG way too far forward, not enough elevator throw/control, rates too high or too slow, mixing is preset and not always ideal for my tastes, etc.

Some of the planes fly way faster then what I experience in real flight. Can I swap props?

Can the amount of the dual rates be adjusted?

I have tried looking in the modify aircraft screens and there is nothing I can do to make changes. Any help on how to do this would be appreciated.

Jerry

[phrank]

You should read through Doug's Physics tutorial (http://www.knifeedge.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17498).

Always good to see how others set up their planes.
Please share your AV's with us when you tweak them as you would expect them to fly.

[mysticplayer]

Happy to do so but will need some more help to upload/download :D

Will see if I can find the same screens as in the tutorial and muck about with the parameters.

Jerry

[mysticplayer]

Found the edit sections and started trying things out. Played with the GP 300Extra flat foamie that is part of G4.

Changed to scaling function from from 100% to 200 to 400 and found an amazing change in flight characteristics. The plane is much larger on the screen. Flies much slower in down lines and is amazingly aerobatic.

Sort of like a 2.5oz wing loading E3P plane that seems to hold constant speed through every manuever. I have left the setting at 300 for best flying characteristics. As I get better, will move back to 200. The orig 100% was way too twitchy/too easily stalled compared to my real world experiences.

Moved the CG (y value on airframe) to -2.00. Now the plane flies pretty much level upside down. needs just a hint of down elevator which is how I set up my normal foamies.

Playing with the dual rate/expo throws as the high rate is WAAAAYYYY too fast. All manner of twists and twirls are possible. Waterfalls are superb. The ground speed is quite slow, vertical is still unlimited, changes in all axis is still very responsive/fast/precise.

I still can't hover but that is just me. Harriers are very easy as is most everything else. Luckily, there is very little KE coupling so you can KE loop, KE harrier, circle around in KE, point rolls easily. Working on KE snaps.

A bit unrealistic but man it is sure easy and fun to fly. Been able to learn a whole bunch of new manuevers because it just hangs there. Very forgiving.

I have tried these settings on a couple of other 3D planes and they exhibit the same floaty characteristic. Some don't like going over 150% but that is a simple case of trial and error vs what you like in plane feel.

All benefited from moving the CG back.

The performance is so much fun, I may not go back to flying the real planes in the spring :D

Jerry

[pplace]

So the only change you made was to the scaling function?

All aircraft will drift from the more "realistic" settings when you scale the models up without changing any of the other more important parameters.

Like you mentioned....they get really float and slow, turn on a dime, etc. etc. etc. Not very realistic in my book.....but to each his own.

[opjose]

DHK wrote a wonderful long tutorial about plane physics.

Prior to that I posted this thread which towards the bottom talks about scaling up planes.

You may want to check it out...

CLICK ME! (http://www.knifeedge.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15009)