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I would like to know better how to fly this extraordinary aircraft in an optimal way. Specially the management of throttle, RPM and condition levers. It’s got a very large yellow zone, and normally I don’t fly on this zone, but this aircraft seems to be designed to fly very confortable in that zone, is it?
I’ve looked in the internet documents that explain the best way to fly this wonderful aircraft, but I haven’t found any.
From what I understand, the original wings to fuselage structure was not modified or recertified, so it retains the caution range (yellow arc/range) of the original Wilga. Within the caution range, you have to be careful to not make any abrupt control movements, and avoid turbulence, as any abrupt changes can exceed the structural integrity and break the aircraft. It can also wear things out faster over time. So you can fly in the caution range, just make sure the air is smooth and you don’t fly crazy.
For flight, I just pull the prop lever back a hair and leave it at that. It has a 156kt cruise speed, so I think it is safe to ignore the caution range except if in bad weather or high winds.
Take off is a blast. High idle, neutral trim, 2 clicks flaps unless on a very short field, full back on the stick before it starts rolling, full throttle and hold on.
I’ve been practicing my landings today because I’ve ground looped this plane more than any other I’ve ever flown. That 1000hp just makes it a monster. I don’t know if this is optimal or not, but what is working best for me so far is low idle, +20% elevator trim, full flaps, stick and throttle adjustments to maintain the needed rate of descent while keeping a slightly nose up attitude. It is probably possible to do this with throttle and trim, but I’ve been preferring to fly it in. It doesn’t give a stall warning until ~36kts, so I try to keep it 40-45ish prior to flare. Done correctly, even without reverse thrust it will stop more or less on a dime this way and maintain the needed rudder authority on the ground.
No idea if this helps or not, but I figure I can’t be the only one who was doing donuts much of the time while trying to land it.
The trim controls are all on the stick in this plane. Elevator and rudder are on what looks like a 4 way hat and ailerons are on what looks like a toggle. If you hover the cursor over the relevant trim control, it will pop up the current trim expressed in degrees. +/-15 degrees maximum on elevator. If there is an indicator besides this or the msfs overlay, I haven’t seen it.
That might be a viable workaround, but I refuse to use tool tips as it’s clutter and should be entirely unnecessary, anyway. The trim indicator is a necessary piece of equipment that should be modeled.
I’m so glad I found your recommendation for takeoff. I was trying to take off as if it was a normal prop plane - with this one if you don’t pull back hard on the stick during the acceleration you’ll veer off the runway no matter what you do with the rudder.
I have found what works for me on takeoff - flaps to TO setting, hold the toe brakes (or parking brake would work, I guess), stick all the way back, full throttle while holding the brakes - the plane will really want to go - then just let off the brakes (keeping stick back) and you will airborne in a heartbeat. It’s a blast. As soon as I’m in the air I back off the throttle and level off. Works great every time. Landing is still a work in progress! I’ll try the tip from HLRBubba given earlier (much thanks, by the way)
I’m not a pilot and before 2020 hadn’t loaded up a flight sim since I was a teenager, so I tend to leave tool tips on until I’ve familiarized myself with a given plane. Or, in the case of Draco X, until they give us a proper way to see trim settings.
As an aside, do you happen to know if the lack of a tailwheel lock is an oversight in the model or if the plane itself didn’t have one?
I hope it helps. Like I said above, I have no idea if that is optimal or not, but I do think it is a good starting point- at least when landing in calm weather. I have been experimenting with less trim/lower flaps when landing into a strong headwind since this plane seems to love to float.
It would be helpful to see some real performance tables for Draco X, but I wonder if that data even exists outside of Mr. Patey’s head.
