Question for Thrustmaster F16 Viper TQS
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I have the Thrustmaster F16 Viper TQS Mission Pack.
I am happy with the product - it has worked very well for me - all axis and buttons work and are useful in flight.
I mapped the JMR switch to the AR Refueling door - that’s more useful to me in flight - and with some tape or switch covering i can find the switch without taking my eyes off the tanker.
I’ve been able to map a zoom in, HMCS off/om and NVG toggle all on the throttle - and this is really helpful.
An issue I am having is with setting and maintaining a speed. The forward a little bit on the throttle sets it increasing without stop - or at least stopping well beyond where I need it to.
This make formation flying and AAR difficult.
I’d like to know if any other pilot using this throttle is having a similar issue. Can you get the throttle to move up 1 knot, stop… give it another nudge forward and move it up another knot - or does it just runaway. What kind of fidelity are you experiencing?
I’'ve been trying several different technique to rule out user error, but it would be nice to know if anyone else has this issue.
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Yes, it can be done. Try adjusting the friction to what I call a Goldilocks adjustment. Not to tight, not to loose.
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@jcook keep eye on the fuel flow gauge… for AAR you want to be able to reliably increase/decrease by 100 lbs/hr … or less
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@skippermike
Fine adjusting a throttle with a short TQS arm is very hard, especially if it is a potmeter system.
With a longer arm on a light friction setting it completely different.
And watch videos how dynamic pilots are on the throttle in formation or tanker formation, constant adjustments, no fixed setting but a continue tiny adjustment. -
@RalphROV said in Question for Thrustmaster F16 Viper TQS:
@skippermike
Fine adjusting a throttle with a short TQS arm is very hard, especially if it is a potmeter system.
With a longer arm on a light friction setting it completely different.
And watch videos how dynamic pilots are on the throttle in formation or tanker formation, constant adjustments, no fixed setting but a continue tiny adjustment.Great point. When I learned to constantly move the throttle from watching RL videos I finally was able to tank and do formation easily. Trying to find right “the setting” was the biggest rookie mistake I ever made. I even saw people mark their throttles for tanking speed etc. Wind and jetwash will make a mockery of such things.
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@jcook ,
And for AAR when closing to contact position and when in contact, keep a very close eye on the director lights and your relative position to the tanker. As mentioned above, tiny, tiny tweaks on the throttle to keep or return to “Green&Green”. The jet does not respond instantaneously to changes in thrust. I am almost never below 299 or above 301 knots under the tanker ( unless I really dorked up the approach).You’ll really never find a “set it and forget it” throttle setting during AAR ‐ your jet is taking on thousands of pounds of fuel, very quickly. Unless compensated for, that will add weight and necessitate a change in thrust and/or pitch (tiny though they might be) in order to maintain contact with the tanker.
Keep practicing! I really enjoy tanking in BMS using the Viper TQS. Sooo much smoother than my old Cougar throttle with electrical pots…And in VR, the experience is even better (and IMHO) easier than in non-VR. YMMV. Practice often and you will become consistenty better. Easy does it on the stick and throttle. Tiny, tiny tweaks and watch the lights…
Then for a REAL challenge, get in an FA-18 and try basket refueling…
Regards,