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Post by be77solo on Feb 20, 2017 19:13:35 GMT
Thanks for a nice update! Happy to report the off-airport landings no longer result in a stuck aircraft!
Really nice improvements to the panel as well. And like mentioned above, low speed handling felt a bit more refined.
Great work!
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Post by VSL-Admin on Feb 21, 2017 14:22:30 GMT
Thanks! There is more to come...soon.
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Post by scarleta on Feb 22, 2017 17:18:40 GMT
Very nice little plane. Cockpit is also beautifully recreated. I'd like to point out some "visual" issues (very apparent in Oculus Rift): - Attitude indicator's resolution seems not on par with rest of left part of dashboard (it's not that bad just looks 'softer' to me than adjacent gauges) - same goes for avionics, radio, autopilot - these have some buttons (avionics screen is perfect of course) with very poor resolution, very hard to read
BTW: dirty gauges are cool. Turned off avionics screen looks also very convincing.
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Post by VSL-Admin on Feb 22, 2017 17:33:51 GMT
Very nice little plane. Cockpit is also beautifully recreated. I'd like to point out some "visual" issues (very apparent in Oculus Rift): - Attitude indicator's resolution seems not on par with rest of left part of dashboard (it's not that bad just looks 'softer' to me than adjacent gauges) - same goes for avionics, radio, autopilot - these have some buttons (avionics screen is perfect of course) with very poor resolution, very hard to read BTW: dirty gauges are cool. Turned off avionics screen looks also very convincing. Hi scarleta! Thanks! Yes you are right; the textures and appearance of the entire panel and gauges was upgraded from version 001 to 002, leaving a few knobs/buttons and gauges with a lower resolution (it is noticeable when zooming in closely). These knobs will soon to be upgraded also to high-resolution textures, in the upcoming version 003 of the package. This project is *under development*, and it is shaping towards its mature phase and looks with these 'update steps'... Thanks again for your feedback!
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Post by pipergiallo on Feb 22, 2017 18:34:43 GMT
Nice to hear from you that everithing willl be at the same top notch quality, it's becoming one of the best, little plane around here! Thank you! I have flown others ultralights in my lessons very similar to the eurofox with the same engine (Rotax912), and the nose (so the stick) was really heavy during the flare (it also has a three blades prop), even a little bit more than in version 02. However it could fly well trimmed for all the time without any change in trim also during the landing, so, maybe it's a different behavior compared to the eurofox as I read that it needs quite a full trim up, but this in my opinion is an odd behavior and a little dangerous, becasue if one has to go around trim up does not help... No criticize at all, only with the purpose to better understand its flight dynamics and maybe to be of any help, because I like very much this little big airplane...
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Post by VSL-Admin on Feb 22, 2017 18:57:04 GMT
Nice to hear from you that everithing willl be at the same top notch quality, it's becoming one of the best, little plane around here! Thank you! I have flown others ultralights in my lessons very similar to the eurofox with the same engine (Rotax912), and the nose (so the stick) was really heavy during the flare (it also has a three blades prop), even a little bit more than in version 02. However it could fly well trimmed for all the time without any change in trim also during the landing, so, maybe it's a different behavior compared to the eurofox as I read that it needs quite a full trim up, but this in my opinion is an odd behavior and a little dangerous, becasue if one has to go around trim up does not help... No criticize at all, only with the purpose to better understand its flight dynamics and maybe to be of any help, because I like very much this little big airplane... Hi pipergiallo! Thanks for the feedback! In version 003, holding up the nose with full pitch input will not require extreme amount of pitch-trim-up setting. The fight dynamics model is also getting matured and being fine tuned these days, step by step... Oh...and not to worry about critics if needed - every feedback counts! Thanks mate
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Post by pipergiallo on Feb 22, 2017 19:24:08 GMT
Thank you! Very appreciated your effort and knowledge, and I see that it's already done the autogyro for XP11 as well, good, very good
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Post by eulereit on Feb 23, 2017 6:39:55 GMT
Hi eulereit, Thanks! Are you using the elevator trim? I've flight-tested the model and tuned it so if you are coming in for a landing and set the engine to idle prone to the flare, and then holding it up, the aircraft will touchdown in approximately 45-50 knots, as it should be in the real aircraft. This maneuver requires a proper setting of the elevator trim. The only suggestion I have for the moment is to check your trim settings (set it up with the joystick button or other key). While trimming look down to the trim handle between the seats and see if it moving up/down. Same goes to power-off stalls. Note that the aircraft in its current version is setup with a mid-forward c.g. so the use of trim is required. The reason is because the light aircraft is quite sensitive (in X-Plane) to pitch moments, and I wanted to ease up the pilot workload in straight and level cruise. Anyways, the flying characteristics of the aircraft are still prone to some changes, as the aircraft is getting "mature" (development wise) every day Yes, I had full nose up trip with throttle at idle. Granted I was approaching on the slow side (50 mph), but I couldn't flare or even get it to stall. I'll fiddle with some of the realism settings and see if that makes a difference. Thanks! Update: I was able to make good nose-high power-off landings by moving the CG forward 3 to 5 inches.
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Post by VSL-Admin on Feb 23, 2017 8:49:32 GMT
Hi eulereit, Thanks for your inputs! *Did you mean that you moved the CG backwards? (you wrote 'forward') Anyways, I am tuning the 'flare handling' as we speak. Here are a few words regarding the process:
Moving the cg backwards might be a solution, and sometimes the needed one, but it might cause the aircraft to have a lower longitudinal stability than the real aircraft, and with some unwanted behavior when flying, for example, in the high speed regime. So, having it feel "right" while landing, might cause you trimming issues when flying fast. In such cases, it is sometimes better to set the CG in a neutral position, sometimes on the forward side, having the aircraft to fly without "safety issues" in the high speed/low speed regimes. The "average" handling qualities now can be tuned to counter "problems" that mainly caused by the fact that the simulation is not the real-thing (such as 'hard to keep the nose up while flaring'). The more thorough solution would be to set up the flight dynamics model handling characteristics in separate to every airspeed regime (once a stable/"average" handling qualities had obtained - like in v002 of the EuroFOX). This can be done in the ingenious flight-dynamics-model architecture of X-Plane, and this is my next step in the VSKYLABS EuroFOX evolution. These days I'm flight testing the upcoming version v003 with the high definition handling settings and it feels really great. The v003 update is going to be released hopefully next week, and shortly after going to "V003", the tail version of the EuroFOX will be added to the package. Thanks again
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Post by VSL-Admin on Feb 23, 2017 14:03:18 GMT
OK...
The EuroFOX v003 is capable of using all of the elevator authority during flight, including the flare phase. It is possible to squeeze the stick upon touchdown, with full flaps, and to have success in keeping the nose up, upon the stall, without the use of pitch trim (you will need to apply higher pressure on the controls though). So, after deploying full flaps for landing, you can trim the aircraft to be a little nose heavy (more comfortable for some pilots), and while in the same trim level, you can squeeze the stick for a 'on the stall', nose up landing.
The EuroFOX v003 will be released soon (several hours to a few days)...
JetManHuss.
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Post by eulereit on Feb 23, 2017 20:09:18 GMT
Hi eulereit, *Did you mean that you moved the CG backwards? (you wrote 'forward') Yes, I meant backwards. Thanks!
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Post by VSL-Admin on Feb 23, 2017 22:29:07 GMT
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Post by VSL-Admin on Feb 24, 2017 16:21:24 GMT
Hi!
The package was updated to v003.
Here is the update log:
Update Log (20th Feb 2017, to version v003) - main issues:
Flight Dynamics Model tuneup: Important note: The VSKYLABS EuroFOX is now setup with a higher definition flight dynamics model. Many aspects were deeply analysed and modified. This phase (v003) is "experimental" right now, as flight testing proceed. If everything will prove to be solid and stable, it will be the "mature" flight dynamics model of the Tricycle EuroFOX.
Flare technique of keeping the nose high, without extreme pitch trim up, and touchdown at approximately 45 mph (with the nose slightly up) is now possible. It is still recommended to get stable in a final with a trimmed aircraft as a preparation for landing.
Stall characteristics of the aircraft might become more violent, if executed/occurred in extreme maneuvering. The aircraft is now less safe than the one in the previous versions, and like the real thing, you have to watch out from tight maneuvers when flying slow and un-coordinated.
Electrical System: X-Plane 11 version: Electrical system is now fixed, Battery/Magneto power is now working as it should be (X-Plane 11 has a slightly different electric system core from that of X-Plane 10).
Flaps and Trim are not electric (!) and can be operated with dead Battery and engine. Pilot functionality: Throttle operation: The throttle can now be operated with the mouse; press and hold the mouse button while on the throttle lever and set the mouse forward and backwards to adjust power.
Flaps operation: The Flaps can now be operated with the mouse; press and hold the mouse button while on the Flaps lever. If you "throw it" up or down, the flaps will go all the way to it's limits (up/maximum down). You don't have to wait, just "throw" it up/down). For fine and gradual operation of the flaps, press and hold the mouse button, and slowly move it up or down, to set it in a desired position.
Cockpit environment: Radio, IFF panels and buttons are now having a photo-real, high resolution textures.
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Post by taildraggin68 on Feb 24, 2017 16:51:19 GMT
Solid update, thanks. One thing, which may be an x-plane issue, when attempting engine out procedures, the engine continues to sound (even with all electrics, mags, and switch turned off). I would expect the prop to windmill until a slow enough airspeed is obtained, but if the engine is shut off, then the only sound should be the engine being turned over by the windmilling prop. Again, it may be an x-plane problem. Enjoying the E-fox immensely and looking forward to the Pheonix.
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Post by pipergiallo on Feb 24, 2017 21:26:52 GMT
Thanks, it's getting better and better! Landing is much more real! Please note that it seems to me that it's a little weird that it could climb at 60 mph like a rocket just after the takeoff , maybe the takeoff trim preset is too backward, and it's weird also that it needs left pedal during takeoff while it should need right pedal, it seems like there is no P factor at all... Why while priming with the choke the on-off fuel red switch on the left closes and opens? The panel and the placards are reflecting but the glasses aren't, do you plan to make them reflecting too?
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