What is the difference between the legacy and modern flight model specifically?

If you use the legacy model with full realism, how different is it from the modern model, which appears to be un-modifiable. I assume the legacy they are referring to is the FSX model. How has the modern model changed the flight characteristics? Does this affect the things like auto-rudder or other automatic features?
Is one really better than the other? Does the model affect rate of climb or max air speed. I read about the 1000 points of light :thinking:, but does this really mean any different feel to the planes?

4 Likes

I like how this post is made 3 days ago and still hasn’t got a proper answer.

As far as i know the legacy flight model is indeed fsx, may be even also with some further improvements.

Also the legacy model should not be used because the default aircraft are unable to fly properly. There’s many topics from people experiencing control problems only to figure out later they where using the legacy model instead of modern. After swtiching to modern all of their problems were solved.

The biggest question here is not “what is the difference between the two” but “why are we able to choose between two flight models, from wich one of them doesn’t even work”

Also it’s so frustrating that they didn’t even bother to add some detailed information about the flight models ingame. It’s like, here’s two options. We’re not gonna say what they are and what they do. Oh and one isn’t working but you have to figure out yourself wich one.

Edit: i just read now that you’re using the legacy flight model. Don’t you have any trouble with controling the aircraft. Lot’s of people (including me) are having problems with the aircraft just banking left or right for no reason or aircraft unable to take off in because it go’s either full left or full right. Also the aircraft seem to fly very unstable like they’re in constant heavy turbulence.

6 Likes

Thanks for a least a try at answering my question. Now I’m using the modern model, but I wonder if certain plane should use the old model ,or why is it even there?

2 Likes

I don’t know actually. I tried to switch to legacy in almost all aircraft and everytime the aircraft becomes unstable and wobbly.

Maybe they’ve put in the legacy model to make it easier to transfer 3rd party aircraft over to the new sim. Still it shouldn’t be as an available option in the game options. They could’ve implemented in the sdk only and find a way to automatically use it when a 3rd party developer want you to use it.

There’s so much confusion around this that is’s just silly and somewhat embarrising they just let us figure it out ourselfs.

Also, that they included this option for 3rd party developers (as we asume that’s the case) this is only making me think more that the whole sim was developed more as a moneymaking machine than an actual next gen flight sim. If they wanted to do things properly they should’ve just ditched the entire legacy flight models and let the 3rd party developers cope with the fact that they just need to completely rebuild their products suited for a ‘next gen’ sim instead of just port aircraft over and make easy money out of it.

5 Likes

The legacy model is based on the center of gravity, and a just a few forces are calculated (lift and drag on each wing, for example). It’s a simplified model, which made some behaviour nearly impossible to render (like spins, or asymetric stalls).
The modern model is much more complex, and for example, lift and drag are calculated on hundreds of points on the wings, but also or the plane’s cell.
The behaviour of the plane is much more realistic with the modern model. I don’t know why they kept legacy.

5 Likes

Performance perhaps

But this doesn’t explain why some aircraft are almost impossible to fly in legacy mode. If it was just a simpeler flight model then you’d expect it to be more stable and more on rails like the fsx model was. Maybe it can’t deal with the enviroment they created but then it would be an even bigger question of why they’ve put it in there.

Anyway, lot’s of topics of people flying with the ‘wrong’ flight model and blaming asobo for making a bad sim. (I’ve had this experienced myself first time flying in alpha, where legacy was somehow default for me
 Found out prety quick fortunately) While a little explenation about these options would prevent all this. So unnecessary.

1 Like

:man_facepalming:t5:

Dude i was wondering why


1 Like

Wow! This (or something like it) should be pinned! I’ve had the game since release and have been trying to figure out why certain aircraft are so incredibly unstable. I had completely given up on the SR22, Twin Star, and Icon (among others), because they were such a handful to fly. Other aircraft had unpredictable ground handling characteristics that I just dealt with. Before I started flying for the airlines, I had a ton of time in TBMs, King Airs, CJs, and Cirrus aircraft and they weren’t handling anything like I remember. I thought to myself, “■■■■, either Microsoft went way overboard on the difficulty/realism settings or the airlines have turned me into an awful stick.” Two weeks later and I stumble on this post. Check my settings and sure enough I’m on “Legacy”. Swapped it over to “Modern” and things are so much better - I can’t even describe the improvement.

I agree with the previous replies - there’s no reason legacy should be an option. If you’re aircraft is flying like garbage or it feels like you’re trying to balance on a pin - check which flight model you’re on!

2 Likes

haha, i thought the same thing. Been out of the sim world for awhile.

Legacy model is probably in for when people port across aircraft from FSX or other 3rd party Devs that don’t have the same amount of calculations needed like the new aircraft.

1 Like

Are people really getting Legacy as the default model
?

Legacy mode is really just intended to be a bridge to make it easier for airplane developers to port existing content to the new sim.

In any other situation, it should not be used.

1 Like

Glad we straightened this out. Modern model is the one to use.

1 Like

I’m not a very smart man, so I’m sure I selected it as I was going through flight model/ realism settings when I launched the game for the first time.

2 Likes

It’s for use with ported over legacy planes i believe