I can't figure this trim thing out
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For the life of me I can’t figure out how to trim the F-16. I recently configured the trim switch on my Warthog. At first it was hard to even tell if I key stroke was working. But typically, I end up trimming too much. What’s the SOP that people use? Should I level out and release control of the stick and try to trim pitch and roll?
Also, is there ever a need to trim yaw? I’ve been flying the landing training mission and noticed on approach that when I point my nose to the runway the velocity vector is to the right. Is this a trim issue, or is BMS simulating a crosswind?
Thanks,
Blain -
If the velocity vector is to one side, its the wind pushing you and trim shouldn’t be used. Need to use the irl procedure which is crab and then fly into the runway. No kicking out the rudder or trims it will screw up the interconnects.
Did you map the stick trim or the thigh trim buttons? If you have the force sensing mod you use the trim as you relieve pressure from the stick. Same principle though maybe harder to imagine since the warthog is a displacement stick without varying levels of pressure. So basically press on the trim as you return the stick to the center at the same time.
Trim yaw if you get damage and need it. Or maybe get hung stores plus battle damage, and can’t maintain a straight heading with full stick and rudder as it is, or don’t want to get tired holding it like that all the way back home.
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Regarding landing in a crosswind. I usually put the nose on the runway and correct with rudder when I touch down. It’s worked so far. I only ended up off of the runway once.
Regarding trim, so I try to correct with the stick first, then adjust the trim, and release pressure on the stick to bring it back to center? I’m assuming that missions with symmetric loads I will not have to trim?
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You land the 16 just like any other jet, on AOA in the TDZ (500-1000 feet down runway from threshold). Initially aim for approx 11 degrees AOA with the 2.5 degree pitch ladder roughly on the threshold and not at idle power (shooting approx 80%) to preserve the ability to quickly spool up the turbine in the event of a go around. You never want to be idle and using speedbrakes to slow down on short final, manage airspeed.
As you begin the flare (I use 20-30 feet as a reference for when to begin), round out the AOA to approx 12-13 degrees and hold until touch down, then holding 13 AOA until approx 100 knots for aerobraking.
In general as mentioned above the trim is not used as much on the Viper because the FLCS trims automatically to 1 G per it’s control laws, so mostly its for counteracting asymmetric loading, than using it for small corrections on an approach. I tend to trim 0/0 unless required by stores.
Hope this helps, this is a very summarized description but should get you in the right direction.
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For the life of me I can’t figure out how to trim the F-16. I recently configured the trim switch on my Warthog. At first it was hard to even tell if I key stroke was working. But typically, I end up trimming too much. What’s the SOP that people use? Should I level out and release control of the stick and try to trim pitch and roll?
Also, is there ever a need to trim yaw? I’ve been flying the landing training mission and noticed on approach that when I point my nose to the runway the velocity vector is to the right. Is this a trim issue, or is BMS simulating a crosswind?
Thanks,
BlainI do the following - pull the throttle to idle and let the FPM fall into the bracket, then push the throttle up to center the FPM in the bracket. Then I stop watching the bracket and watch the Indexer, flying the throttle to keep the green on-speed indication lit (I approach and land on-speed…it’s a Navy thing). At this point I trim to null stick force in a manner which puts the gun cross at roughly 12 degrees in the HUD, hold that attitude, and modulate throttle for sink rate and to put the FPM on the numbers. I also like to land with my HUD caged (DRIFT CO - selected) to lower the effect you are seeing - which yes, is crosswind indication. Selecting DRIFT CO for landing helps keep the HUD more centered, but you still need to realize you are flying in a crosswind and compensate accordingly. Personally, I don’t like to trim for yaw when landing - I just use my rudder and hold in a correction…but you need to also remember to null your rudder crosswind correction prior to engaging NWS. I might consider using yaw trim if I’m coming home asymmetrically loaded and one wing is draggy…but not in general.