some troubles with takeoff and TO/GA switch

[buchhot]

Hi y'all there!
It sounds crazy but I got problems with the takeoff sometimes. It should be one of the easiest things to get the plane up. But sometimes the plane
just is not taking off even if all settings are correct (flaps 30, auto-break to rto). I pull back at about 140 knts (I am using the keyboard, not a
joystick) and sometimes nothing happens until I get to fast and flaps and gear got damaged.
The alternative to start with full engine power is to start with the TO/GA switch, but when I use this one the plane is taking off with more than 10
degrees (even if I try to steer down) and I always get a tailstrike and so the plane suffers some damage again.
The tailstrike is not penalised in standard fs2004, but in fspassengers it is.
Please gimme some hints I don't know what to do.
So to conclude my problems are:
(1) the plane sometimes just does not takeoff
(2) TO/GA always results in a tailstrike

I hope any of you hobby-pilots can help me out.

Many thanks in advance

Thomas Buchholz

[aristoteles]

If the aircraft is not overweighted, it could be due to some erroneous trim settings. Try to check the recommended trim setting given by the FMC once
you enter the Zero Fuel Weight and the MAC ( or Center of Gravity). BTW, what aircraft are you talking about?

[Joeflyer]

Which aircraft are you flying? Why flaps setting to 30?? 10-15 is about normal...depending on various conditions. Using a keyboard to
perform take-offs/landings or just general flying is the hardest thing you can do on the sim. Why not invest in a good flight control system
like Saitek X-52 or something a bit cheaper? You will eliminate many of your issues with a good joystick. Just don't try to "pull" the aircraft
off the runway while on take-off run. Have the proper flaps setting, know your V speeds for your aircraft, know which trim setting to use
(neutral to slightly aft) in order to get a smooth take-off with less effort on the "pull-back".

[Joshuah A. Wetzel]

Joeflyer wrote:
You will eliminate many of your issues with a good joystick.

Quite true! It's hard enough taking off without a joystick. Think of how hard it would be to land!

[Sovek]

I know my flight yoke improved my flying majorly over the keyboard. When I first started FS9 I, not having enough money (or rather, not willing to
spend $100) kept trying to pass the VFR checkride required to enter Altair Virtual Airlines and failed everytime on the keyboard. I tried 4 times,
first 3 I failed each and every one. It wasnt until I got my flight yoke that I passed (first proper flight with a yoke at that). yes, a flight yoke
makes all the diffrence.

[buchhot]

Joeflyer wrote:
Which aircraft are you flying? Why flaps setting to 30?? 10-15 is about normal...depending on various conditions. Using a keyboard to
perform take-offs/landings or just general flying is the hardest thing you can do on the sim. Why not invest in a good flight control system
like Saitek X-52 or something a bit cheaper? You will eliminate many of your issues with a good joystick. Just don't try to "pull" the aircraft
off the runway while on take-off run. Have the proper flaps setting, know your V speeds for your aircraft, know which trim setting to use
(neutral to slightly aft) in order to get a smooth take-off with less effort on the "pull-back".

Hi there!

Thank your for the plenty of answers in that short time.
I forgot to mention what aircraft I am flying. I am using the standard Boeing 737-400 which comes with FS2004. And I must correct myself, I do not
start with flaps set to 30, they are set to 5 when I am starting.
I guess you're right to afford a good joystick, I may do this.
I found out that when I got the AP active, even if there is no autopilot function set (just the main switch for AP), the program does not answer my
keystrokes on steering. If I turn it off for takeoff everything works fine and I can takeoff with a small angle to not get a tailstrike.
How can I get the trim to a neutral position, I do not have any digits in the 737-trim control (like the 747 has as far as I remember)?



Post Edited ( 08-03-06 16:49 )

[buchhot]

aristoteles wrote:
If the aircraft is not overweighted, it could be due to some erroneous trim settings. Try to check the recommended trim setting given by the FMC once
you enter the Zero Fuel Weight and the MAC ( or Center of Gravity). BTW, what aircraft are you talking about?

I am flying the standard Boeing 737-400 that comes with FS2004. I ain't got a possibility to open the game right now, 'cause I'm not at home, but
where can I see the FMC? Where can I enter these values (ZFW and MAC) and where do I get these values from. I guess I get these values on the
"boarding screen" when starting a new fspassengers-flight?
Sorry if these are may somehow dumb questions, but I'm a rookie ;-)

[highlander]

There's no FMC on the default aircraft.

For that level of detail, you'll need an add-on, like the PMDG Boeing 737NG series (highly recommended, I'm told, but I don't own it yet).

[buchhot]

highlander wrote:
There's no FMC on the default aircraft.

For that level of detail, you'll need an add-on, like the PMDG Boeing 737NG series (highly recommended, I'm told, but I don't own it yet).

tank you guys for the info :-)

[Joshuah A. Wetzel]

Any PMDG plane is highly recommended. I have the PMDG 747-400 and the 747-400F (Cargo). They are both fantastic! If you are thinking
about getting one, I would recommend the 747-400 Queen of the Skies, as I find the 747-400F harder to get the hang of.