I won’t round any corners about this. There are a couple of areas in the flight model that are work-in-progress and this is one of them.
When the plane is loaded to its maximum payload, the CG is at 40% back, which is the maximum limit. Per the POH the plane should be trimmed nose-down for take off in this case. The trim indicator (image) has a range that goes from 0% to 75% down trim for takeoff, so this would fall toward the “very” down range to avoid excessive pitching up.
There are two issues here: one is the flight model. I assume (not the FD developer) that propwash and elevator effectiveness are too high and this caused the plane to tilt up from a standstill at full power. Regardless, we are looking into it.
The second issue, one that we can’t do much about, is the lack of a trim indication on the G1000. Neither the default G1000 nor any of the WT iterations support the “L” shaped area that is used on the Kodiak to indicate trim values. As a matter of fact, the default G1000 barely fits the fuel indications. The NXi mod can fit the aileron & rudder.
Neither of the two allows us to make space for the flap & elevator trim indications. I tried a two-column layout like the TBM’s G3000 and it doesn’t work. The “L” display is not supported either. Therefore, pitch trim and takeoff trim have no visible indicator -which can lead to such accidents.
WT are very pressed and I don’t know if they would be able to accomodate the layout extension. We have a hack in mind that can get the work done, but it will not look good in certain situations. Therefore, that’s a problem we will have to deal with after release, until the NXi or default G1000 are fleshed out.
Here’s the actual layout, put side-by-side with the best I’ve been able to do with the NXi. The default G1000 is impossible to get to that stage. You can also notice the T/O trim range on the real instrument.
What about a flat gauge displayed right on top of G1000 as a part of the cockpit interior not G1000 itself? Is that the solution you were looking at, which would not look great from certain angles (light reflections different from the rest of G1000 screen)?
It’s something all 3PD’s need to engage with as at some points the NXi will become the default G1000. I believe WT stated this would only happen when the NXi met or exceeded the specs. of the Asobo default G1000.
Yeah, I feel it’s hugely important for the success of the aircraft.
Now that the NXi is compatible with MilViz’ Porter, there is NO reason for me not to have it installed.
So if this aircraft has issues with NXi, it presents a hassle that I otherwise won’t have to deal with, which doesn’t bode well for me to want to have the aircraft - don’t take me wrong, it looks GREAT already and I’d LOVE to have it, but the Porter is also amazing and so are the advantages of the NXi over default G1000 - to the point of having a bearing on determining if the incoming payware aircraft are worth buying (TO ME)… So if it means taking an extra month to make sure the aircraft AT LEAST doesn’t suffer from loss of functionality with NXi, it seems like a worthy wait. That’s my two cents.
Simworks Studios says the Kodiak is going to be “closed out” next week. What does that mean? Finished with development, going to beta? Ready to be released? Sent to MS and then 2-3 weeks before it appears in the Marketplace? Or what?
Oh wow. I know it’s still in beta and all that, but I REALLY hope they fix the ground handling before release. A plane that pulls that hard on the ground would get me turning it into maintenance as something must be bent. Here’s what it should be like. So very little rudder needed on takeoff and none needed to hold a straight line on the ground while taxiing
We have video footage and comments from Daher specifically noting at least half travel on the right rudder during take off and full right rudder trim as standard.
Suggestion for you - have a look at the internal cockpit vids from Missionary Bush Pilot and watch his knees positioning during take off. The right knee is ALWAYS a lot lower / further forward than the left.
Just look at the amount of rudder he kicks in at 2:55, just as he powers up.
MBP also trims right to an extent before take-off and pushes the pedal further with his legs. This can be observed by watching the co-pilot side pedals move and his knees.
What I see at 0:04 and 3:09 is a left crossword (can see the truss in the back of the sock) at 3kts (one strip). Unless I missed something in it, the video confirms what we got from Daher.
Regarding the word “closed out”, I mean completed. A last testing cycle will follow and then release. As we are fine tuning, it is unlikely testing will take much so we are also preparing to ship it.
We are still aiming to get her out this month, but some logistics problems may delay it a bit again. At least it’s done.
Regarding stores, all arguments pertaining to the Marketplace are right. We will release elsewhere too.
Or what?