|
|
Post by VSL-Admin on Mar 27, 2017 9:42:35 GMT
Hi!
This is the support toppic for the VSKYLABS Phoenix.
Feel free to feedback in here!
JetManHuss.
|
|
|
|
Post by taildraggin68 on Mar 27, 2017 12:29:09 GMT
Hi, first off, as the Efox project, amazing modeling and texturing and thank you for bringing the Pheonix Motor Glider to x-plane. Just a few minutes in the airplane to verify function, but two questions: 1. Prop feather animation? It will feather but not stay in feathered position. It could be me doing something wrong. 2. Are the shorter wing tips available? Or plans to be? (No rush but curious) Thanks again for bringing this wonderful aircraft to XPlane and especially v11  edit: User manual ? or just documentation from the site? |
|
|
|
Post by VSL-Admin on Mar 27, 2017 12:51:15 GMT
Hi! Currently the prop feathers using or the switch-off or the feather handle. In the real Phoenix it is a two-position emergency handle (you cannot set the propeller pitch during flight), and I've designed it to act as a toggle handle, which means that the prop is feather or unfeathered. If you set in a glide, switch off the aircraft's engine, it will feather. You may use the handle to unfeather. Since it's a two-way switch, the animation is fast (instant), so you get to see the prop or feathered, or not... On the ground. Switch off the engine. Then hit the 'start' area in the switch for a brief moment. Now you can use the handle and see the prop pitching and feathers. (this is an emergency handle, and can be used in flight). Second question - short wing tips. Yes! it is scheduled as a future update! (right after the EuroFox tundra tires upcoming update). I'm working now on optimizations for the Phoenix for higher FPS. Update should be ready hopefully in 24 hours. Thanks for your feedback! |
|
|
|
Post by VSL-Admin on Mar 27, 2017 16:14:06 GMT
v002 was just released, featuring an optimization FIX for higher FPS performance.
The update was pushed automatically to all buyers.
|
|
|
|
Post by taildraggin68 on Mar 27, 2017 21:20:14 GMT
For v11 purposes, I did adjust the tire friction a bit as ground handling would produce ground loops which shouldn't be an issue on this craft. It was the .45 setting that I brought up to .65. Helped a lot. Still have to ease the throttle up, but can track the center line now. Also I brought the spec level down on internal files to between .5 and .7 depending on which one.
Loads of fun. Thank you thank you thank you
|
|
|
|
Post by pipergiallo on Mar 28, 2017 5:37:40 GMT
Hi, another masterpiece! Many thanks. I love the textures and the 3Dmodel, and the flight dynamics seem very realistic too. I have a question: why can I see the prop while it turns, instead the classic transparent circle? @taildrggin: How do you change the spec level on the files? I actually prefer some more reflective effect into the cockpit because a few parts are reflective, indeed, and I'd like to change them in other planes too, which is the way? As he says: Thank you thank you thank you |
|
|
|
Post by taildraggin68 on Mar 28, 2017 12:29:47 GMT
Ok, here are some findings with the prop feather. At least on my setup, when I shut down the engine to glide, the prop does not physically auto feather, ( may be simulated in xplane but animation doesn't change) but once engine is shut down, I can toggle the feather switch and the prop will feather. But it won't stay feathered. It varies in time staying feathered depending on airspeed from just a few seconds to a few minutes but won't stay feathered for duration of glide. Also of note is that with enough airspeed (minor acrobatic maneuvers) the prop will windmill. For reference, this is in v11 with the new prop physics so that may be the factor buggering it up.
Speed brakes seem effective but only to a point. I've only had two hours with a friend in a Phoenix, so I can't say with any accuracy, but seem a little low on effectiveness.
Just observations and not critique as I know the flight model will be tweaked.
Loving this MG, and can obtain some very nice soaring ( weather permitting) and it's a very believable simulation. Well done.
|
|
|
|
Post by VSL-Admin on Mar 28, 2017 13:00:10 GMT
...interesting.
You have to set the start-switch to off and then the engine stops and feathered. (also the animation, since it is biased to actual prop pitch). Anything different than that is not correct...
The prop should stay feathered also. Anything different than that is also not correct...
Feathered prop windmilling - since the blade's pitch is varying from root to tip, I may have to adjust the 'whole blade' pitch angle in the feathered mode, so the avarage will be more "absolute feathered". Interesting issue, by the way, is that X-Plane doesn't simulate the resistant cycles of a (switched off) reciprocating engine, therefore windmilling is like of a free rotating propeller. This fact makes the feathered position setting more challenging to adjust. I will fine tune it for the next upcoming updates.
Regarding the feather during switch-off (what you have described at first), I'll run another thorough "investigation" and take care of it soon.
Minor thing...in the real Phoenix, the feather handle is set to be totally alligned with the throttle when feathered (it's an emergency handle), so you will not be able to throttle up/start with the prop feathered. It is also scheduled to be engineered in the upcoming update.
It's great thing to have these conversations during the fine tuning process (it's part of my design concept as you know), so feel free to add any input (or criticism) you'll find right.
|
|
|
|
Post by taildraggin68 on Mar 28, 2017 13:51:16 GMT
Its actually close. The windmilling (once prop is no longer feathered) actually acts like there is resistance, not a free spin. Sort of a once over, a few seconds and a half turn etc. when feathered it vibrates and shakes like there is some pitch remaining but not enough to spin it. The longest it stayed feathered was five minutes, then automatically returned to unfeathered position.
The prop has yet to actually auto feather. Slow to 60, power to idle, turn off start switch, motor stops, prop stops, but no feather. With feather switch it will feather but not stay feathered. Just for clarification, I will work up a video and send it to you.
|
|
|
|
Post by VSL-Admin on Mar 28, 2017 14:16:22 GMT
OK...
When I fly it, and switch-off the engine, it feathers like it should be (only thing is that the handle moves also, and it shouldn't move, because it is not suppose to move, unless you use it).
I'm not seeing windmilling nor feather angle "bleed" in relation to time.
It seems that everything is working alright in both of my X-Plane 11 machines (Linux/Windows)...
(I've noticed the need for a tiny roll-trim tuning for gliding to get rid of the tiny left-roll tendency at slower airspeeds, with the engine switched off).
Are you using certain plugins or custom settings for aircraft systems (hardware/software)?
|
|
jhk
New Member
Posts: 5 
|
Post by jhk on Mar 28, 2017 14:39:21 GMT
I've tried the plane in XP11 (but not in XP10 as yet). I had a carb ice warning pop up, but there is no carb heat lever! There is on the Eurofox, so that warning is easily dealt with. X-Plane seems to give carb ice warnings pretty quickly with lowish revs, but we can live with that! However, the warning in the Phoenix was followed pretty quickly with a huge drop in power (as may be expected,I suppose), and you are stuck - apart from immediately increasing power dramatically. However, that's not an option if you are coming in to land. Do I just assign keys or buttons to carb heat, or can you put a lever in?
P.S. I assigned a button to toggle carb heat, and found that it moved the airflow and heater buttons in and out.
|
|
|
|
Post by VSL-Admin on Mar 28, 2017 15:22:39 GMT
I've tried the plane in XP11 (but not in XP10 as yet). I had a carb ice warning pop up, but there is no carb heat lever! There is on the Eurofox, so that warning is easily dealt with. X-Plane seems to give carb ice warnings pretty quickly with lowish revs, but we can live with that! However, the warning in the Phoenix was followed pretty quickly with a huge drop in power (as may be expected,I suppose), and you are stuck - apart from immediately increasing power dramatically. However, that's not an option if you are coming in to land. Do I just assign keys or buttons to carb heat, or can you put a lever in? Hi! Great question (!) This is an interesting thing. Read the following very carefully: A) In the Rotax 912 ULS version of the Phoenix U-15(the VSKYLABS Phoenix U-15), this is the checklist for dealing with carburetor icing: 7.7.2 Carburetor icing
Carburetor icing mostly occurs when getting into an area of ice formation.
The carburettor icing shows itself through a decrease in engine power and an increase of engine temperatures.
To recover the engine power, the following procedure is recommended:
1. Speed - 55 kts
2. Throttle - set for 1/3 power
3. If possible, leave the icing area
4. Gradually increase the engine power to cruise conditions
after 1-2 minutes.
If you fail to recover the engine power,
land at the nearest airfield (if possible) or depending on circumstance,
execute a precautionary landing according to 3.6.2B) In the Jabiru 2200 engine version of the Phoenix U-15 (85 hp), this is the checklist for dealing with carburetor icing: 7.7.2 Carburetor icing
Carburetor icing mostly occurs when getting into an area of humidity formation.
The carburettor icing shows itself through a decrease in engine power and an increase of engine temperatures.
To recover the engine power, the following procedure is recommended:
1. Apply carby heater system
2. Throttle - set for 1/3 power
3. If possible, leave the icing area, and use carby heat during flight
4. Gradually increase the engine power to cruise conditions
after 1-2 minutes.
If you fail to recover the engine power, land at the nearest airfield
(if possible) or depending on circumstance, execute a precautionary
landing according to 3.6.2
As you've noticed, the Rotax version doesn't feature 'carb heating' device. Rotax 912 didn't always have carburetor heating and many airplanes flying today with a Rotax doesn't have carburetor heating. I may include it in the upcoming update...but I have to test it a little more to decide if I'm going to that solution (I have thoughts to incorporate a carburetor heating system using one of the upper, unassigned push/pull knobs.) So, basically, there is no need to assign keys or buttons, not adding a lever in it, since such lever does not exist in the real U15 Rotax aircraft. Meanwhile you can try to check outside temperatures and try to keep out of icing conditions (I will investigate it thoroughly to see how and when X-Plane exactly decides to declare 'carburetor icing'...) I will add a note in the project's page regarding this issue soon. Thanks ** Movement of the airflow and heater is only animation...was part of the experiments for having it in the released version. I will fix it, thanks  |
|
|
|
Post by taildraggin68 on Mar 28, 2017 15:26:35 GMT
@jetman. Just xenviro but will disable to make sure.
Hardware is saitek, will create a new ini for it to make sure all is functioning.......that may be the source. Just thought of that, the prop lever may be conflicting. Will check in a few.
As far as carb ice in v11, I have reported and discussed that bug with Austin @lr and it will be fixed in 11.10. A quick fix is to make the engine injected and not carbureted in plane maker.
|
|
|
|
Post by VSL-Admin on Mar 28, 2017 15:34:04 GMT
Yea I considered that (injected) but wanted to be authentic...I love that 'struggle' situations in flight, going out of problematic phases (as the beginning of icing) with the real-life solutions, see if an emergency is developing and if I can get away with it... ...I will probably fix a carburetor heating to the plane in the upcoming update, as some real-world LSA owners are doing (adding the system to the existing engine). I still have to think about it... |
|
|
|
Post by taildraggin68 on Mar 28, 2017 15:45:23 GMT
No worries, the carb icing bug in v11 will get fixed, so that warning should behave better then. I don't mind the struggles either as here in Florida, the humidity presents that problem even with temps above freezing as fuel temps in the carb can be much lower than one expects, then add the abundant humidity, and whammo, your carb is freezing up  With regard to the prop, unless you just want to tweak, it is a hardware conflict and using the prop controller instead of the switch solves the problem |
|
