HELP!
I know this subject has come up before but I couldn’t figure out how to deal with this.
Sometimes I have a devil of a time with fishtailing on takeoffs with the default DC-3 in fs2024. I think it is with both the standard and the 'retrofit" models.
I think that I have allowed for the torque effect and other realism settings and I’m usually able to handle the pull of aircraft to the right or left while picking up speed down the runway. I TRY to use small rudder & wheel corrections.
Is it standard procedure to have the tailwheel locked during takeoff? With or without that, sometimes the aircraft pulls sharply to the right or left and nothing I do can change it until it’s too late!
I’m on the Xbox platform so I can’t modify the flight characteristics.
pete in San Leandro, CA
Additional info:
Happening at KSFO. Wind issues?
Less of a problem across the bay at KOAK.
pete
Don’t lock tail wheel unless very windy but make sure it is pointing straight down the runway if you use it and it is not at 90 deg to plane after turning onto runway
Add in some rudder trim if needed
Open cowl flaps and slow smooth throttle forward to 30 manifold press to allow superchargers to kick in, then smooth forward throttle
Back pressure on the yoke until you have rudder authority. (happens pretty quickly) Allow tail wheel to lift off the ground. Heavy rudder use then to counter torque and P-factor to the left by using R rudder
Until at 80 to 84kts - lift off
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Dang, I took off visually reading this one, just like that Pilotfirst9999..yep 
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Thank you VERY much for this. I think the “back pressure on the yoke” part is making a difference. I did go ahead and edit the response curve on the rudder for a more subtle response.
As I said before, the worst problems were at KSFO and perhaps a significant crosswind was making any P-factor or torque into a much worse problem. I think with every restart the same thing usually happened. Nothing like this across the bay at Oakland Airport.
Once the a/c started to veer there seemed to be nothing I could do to stop it. Or perhaps what I was doing was just making it worse?
Can the tail wheel just start slipping or sliding rather than guiding the tail?
pete
About 1/2 Flaps will also keep your ground handling to a minimum. This aircraft is like a heavy feather. The tail wants to fly before reaching speed. The back pressure and release on the E stick is key as Pilotfirst mentioned. Rudder is a learning curve on this and the Beech 18 with crosswinds. Great aircraft, but a Rudder learning tool like few others have. Stick with it and you’ll get it. I slicked a few tires, planted it hard a few times learning myself 
. Landing is slow with full flaps, given the mass of this thing, she loves 3 point touchdowns, but that rudder is easy to overshoot on takeoff because you won’t think it’s going to work and then you over apply. I used a weather preset with stiff crosswinds til I found that groove. It’s one of my favorites now with a big twin, but will definitely check your rudder skills every time you fly her. Let her fly when airspeed is reached. She’s not a tail high down the runway forever type bird. It’s not so much the tailwheel with this one. It will only get you pointed in the right direction for the most part. It’s the combination and timing of the things mentioned above by PF9999. Good luck
The tail wheel on this really just drags rather than guides unless locked. But if locked it can add to the problems unless it is exactly pointing straight down the runway. Don’t be disheartened if it bombs a few times. We all start with a new plane making mistakes. Enjoy her. 
Fantastic, thank you! I love the DC3 ever since FS2004 and I’ve been trying to fly this on and off for ages and gave up. 
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Otherwise remember folks to use normal crosswind actions with her as well, she is still subject to those despite the torque etc effects of the props. 
Oh, dear. I spoke too soon!
All the wise advice here that I’m trying to follow has still NOT prevented a sudden, severe turning to the right on the 28L at KSFO. Nothing I can do to straighten out.
I wonder if ANYBODY ELSE could please check this?
Perhaps this is happening to me AFTER the tail rises, as I get to 40-50 kts. BTW, aircraft weights is ~21K. I don’t think adding flaps helped with this.
I tried one other tail-dragger, the Texan (WWII trainer) without a problem. The more modern Dash 7 had no problems.
FS2024 weather just says 4kts, at a mild crosswind angle I think.
I have Realism Settings for Torque and P-factor at ~70%. I might try turning this off completely to see what happens.
BTW, I’m not completely new to the DC-3. I’ve been flying it all over the world in fs2024 (and FSX before).
Again, I don’t it happens right across the Bay at KOAK!
Could KSFO possibly have some sort of glitch/error?
pete
I am with you. I have flown DC3 in previous sims, but I am in trouble in FS24.
I know this is embarrassing, but I have problems during the take off roll. I have only HOTAS, no pedals. I try to use the rudder (to the right) but there is no runway wide enough for me to stay on it. I always end to the left of the runway before I am airborne. If I am able to take off, things get easier.
What the problem might be?
Not advisable in your real DC3 to use brakes on takeoff but in the sim I map the left and right brakes to the same controller buttons (triggers) as the rudder peddles so when I apply rudder I also get some braking. Seems to help with those xwind takeoffs. The DC3 seems to still have plenty of acceleration. And just a tip to help with your landings, that red placards in the cockpit that says whatever you do don’t set the parking brake in flight, you can disregard that nothing bad will happen. Think of it as an auto brake max setting in an airliner. The quicker you get stopped the less chance of ending up in the bushes.
Not sure whats going on for you at KSFO, 28L but I have just had a normal T/O in the DC3. With 10 deg of flaps but not much of a x-wind and more of a tail/x at 70deg. Still, it should be pushing left.
Hmm. This is odd.
I have no trouble with landings, I don’t THINK I have such difficulty anywhere else.
No real problem till 40-50 kts (tail up I think).
I’ll do more testing.
As another poster mentioned, I also am not using pedals for rudder and brakes. I’ve got the Velocity One yoke and use left and right finger triggers. I could make sure there are no possible conflicts in their assignments but I’ve been fine elsewhere I believe.
BTW, you have mentioned Cowl flaps open on Takeoffs. What’s the sequence thereafter?
I think I know to put them on “Trail” for Cruise?
pete in san leandro, ca.
What about Climbs, Descent, Approach and Landings?
Cowl flaps must be used according to your engine/cylinder temps and outside air temp - which all naturally differs depending where you are flying and your altitude.
with respect to what?…. “What about Climbs, Descent, Approach and Landings?”
If you refer to cowls, taxi, T/O and climb will be open generally, unless you are in freezing temps and cylinders are cool.
Trail for cruise
If you, again are temp dependant in descent keep checking, and then landing and taxi again open cowls, there’s not much airflow anymore once landing.
A lot of work to do so plan all phases carefully.
Try locking the tail wheel with a hotas but make sure it is straight down runway. try trimming slightly nose down to prevent her from pitching up too soon but ensure you have allowed the supercharger to click in by checking manifold pressure over 40”hg, high RPM for T/O but remember, slow throttle application all the way before letting brakes off and then full throttle.
Twist your stick to the R or use the bumpers behind the throttle as well - (im just assuming it’s a thrustmaster here)
If you don’t need flaps leave them at 0. Bit of back pressure to keep tail on the ground until around 40 to 50 kts, let the tail lift but keep her level by stick at neutral and at 80 to 84 kts lift off, she will tend to lift on her own so don’t be snatching at a lift off. If you have a x wind from the left - R aileron down slightly.
I read somewhere that iRL she is a beast like this so this behaviour is quite realistic. Just practice it will come good.
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Thank you, @Pilotfirst9999 ! That is just what I needed. I owe you one.
Thank you, again for more detail and more suggestions here. I will try them but I also want to do more tests like reducing or eliminating Torque and P-factor settings.
I have to admit that I was wrong about airports, as I now find a severe turn/veer off the runway occurs elsewhere, NOT just at SFO.
I need to test more WHERE in my Takeoffs the problem can appear.
At this moment I think it MIGHT be soon after the tail lifts.
I think I can handle the a/c at lower speeds with the tail wheel on the ground. It’s not easy ‘iRL’ as you have pointed out but I can practice more and more with the plane at 20-30kts.
I’m just surprised at how impossible it becomes to control the sudden veer off the runway. The plane seems to want to make a wide circle, 180deg turn.
I’ll have to try testing for exactly what speeds this happens and how to hold the plane straight with the tail up (if that’s my problem area).
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I am following your advice more carefully now.
Thru repeated tests I have determined where my struggles lie. For me the WHOLE deal is controlling the plane as the tail lifts.
Practice over and over, just as one would want to do in real life. That’s the way one learns to control this ‘beast’ as you call it! Tail wheel unlocked but I’ll practice with both ways.
Getting a little better now with experience of WHEN the plane with start to veer left, then right. Learning how to not over correct. Maybe a little R or L brake application?
We’ll see.
DC3’s (albeit turbo retrofits) still operating to this day: Douglas DC-3 (twin-piston) (DC3) ✈ Aircraft Type - FlightAware
Thanks again.
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