Idea Transcript
Trim? Jamie_Rishel
Jun '15
What is the Trim control for and how do you use it. In never touch it.
Jun 2015 1 / 14 Jun 2015
What is Trim for? Landing Questions Can Someone Please Explain to me the Trim?
CameronM
Jun '15
Trim is used to reduce pressure needed to use the elevators or ailerons. That's how I understand.
Boeing707
Jun '15 Nov 2015
Trim tab Trim tabs are small surfaces connected to the trailing edge of a larger control surface on a boat or aircraft, used to control the trim of the controls, i.e. to counteract hydro- or aerodynamic forces and stabilise the boat or aircraft in a particular desired attitude without the need for the operator to constantly apply a control force. This is done by adjusting the angle of the tab relative to the larger surface. Changing the setting of a trim tab adjusts the neutral or resting position of a co...
Best, Boeing707
hwdale
Jun '15
Normally trim is used once you have established an attitude with the plane, climbing, descending or at cruise altitude. Any change in power settings will change the trim settings. If I were the developers of IF I would eliminate the trim button since there is no need to reduce back pressure on an iPad and add an FMS button as an option on the flight planning page.
Brandon_Frank
Jun '15
Trim should definitely not be removed from IF. Trim is a vital part of any aircraft, and having it in the flight sim drastically increases its realism. Additionally, trim is very helpful for in flight cruising as well as approaching for landing. Try to use trim more often and you'll definitely see the use of it. The higher percentage of trim, the more your nose will pitch up.
hwdale
Jun '15
Doesn't the VS on the autopilot accomplish the same thing? If trim will allow the nose to pitch up more I can see where it will make the flare much easier. I am having problems raising the nose enough on landing to keep it from hitting on the nose wheel first.
Brandon_Frank
Jun '15
VS uses a number of systems to control altitude such as throttle and ailerons... I usually use trim to help with the flare, i have it at about 80% right before touch down, and bump it up to 100 right at the flare. That's not the realistic protocol, but it makes for really smooth landings. I do see your case for less need with autopilot, but it comes in handy for other planes like jets.
Clipper747PA
Jun '15
In IF, trim only works for the elevator. In the real world you also are able to trim the rudder (e.g. in case of engine failures) and the aileron. to trim an aircraft simply means, that the aircraft is balanced and keeps the attitude that it currently flies. As said before, for take off, the aircraft also has to be trimmed. in IF you trim the aircraft nose up, to ease up the effort to steer, meaning to tilt the ipad at a given take off weight. The heavier the plane, the more you need to trim up, in order to reduce the tilt effort neccessary for pitching up. if you become more experieneced, you will appreciate the trim "wheel". by the way: In the real big airliner world, boeing aircraft are still trimmed manually. Airbusses have a system, that trims the airrcraft automatically, meaning you move the stick and the aircraft will maintain the attitude. what's better?- There is no right. or wrong, its simply a question, which philosphhy a constructor follows. happy landings, Clipper 747PA
hwdale
Jun '15
Brandon I tried bumping the trim up to 80% - 100% on the 172 just to see what happens. It pulls the nose up so high the plane stalls and goes into a spin. What planes are you using that much trim? I am still experimenting with using trim to get the nose higher on landing but haven't found the optimum amount for the 172. Do you have any suggestions?
Alexei Regular
Aug '15
Between 10-20% of positive trim is enough in most cases. This really depends on many factors - the type of airplane and its natural centre of gravity, how it's loaded (e.g. if there's more weight in the nose due to cargo/passenger distribution, for example - in IF you can simulate cargo, at least), and so on. -80 you'd rarely use, I would imagine, unless it's an extreme scenario. I usually use between 5-10% under general-use conditions to help with take-offs and landings.
Thomas_Hense
Aug '15
Trim is very effective when using a joystick or a yoke that is fixed in place, as it is on a real aircraft. A properly trimmed aircraft allows the pilot to to fly a plane with only on a couple fingers on the joystick or even hands free for a bit, making adjustment here and there. But using the trim in IF is not like using the trim when flying on a yoke, joystick or a radio controller, because no matter where your trim is set, you are still tilting your device in order to maintain the attitude you want. Because of this, I use the so called "Auto" HDG and VS to set my trim levels to get the desired effect. If you want to experience the effect trim has in IF, you need to place your device on a flat surface and adjust the trim and speed until your plane maintains the attitude you want without holding on to the device.
Prowhiz
Nov '15
I hadn't found much use for the trim in IF until recently. I don't use it during takeoff (VS takes care of that) or flight but I use it when landing. With the trim set to about 10% it is easier to land with the main gear first before dropping the nose gear. Instead of landing nose-first.
Thomas_Hense
Nov '15
It is very effective in removing the "nose bump/dip" when engaging and disengaging the auto VS since it sets the elevators in a new default position.
Prowhiz Oh that's so true. I hadn't thought of that.
Nov '15