New airplane issues in 1.04

[Stretch 10]

OK, so here's what I've found flying about in patch 1.04:

THE GOOD

It seems as if the analog throttle responds correctly now; in other words, at maximum throttle the Harrier drops very slowly, same as when using keyboard-mapped throttle.

THE BAD

Even a very slight decrease in throttle causes the Harrier to sink like a ton of bricks. Once you increase your sink rate there is virtually no arresting it; it's going to be a hard landing.

Also, it seems the new autorudder code completely changes hover maneuvering. The rudders are roll-linked in a hover, which means to rotate your Harrier left and right you have to bank, and you can't independently track left and right (with ailerons) nor independently rotate left and right (with rudder). You're limited to doing a combination of the two when working the stick, and the pedals are largely ineffective in hover.

QUICK FIX

BIS, please disable the new autorudder code when auto-hover is on.

DREAM FIX

BIS, please allow the option to permanently disable auto-rudder, with full manual independent rudder and aileron control.

AND AS LONG AS WE'RE DREAMING

... could you also throw in full manual thrust vector control? I think it would maximize the awesomeness of my Harrier. Especially since the thrust vectors take on a mind of their own once the wheels touch the ground. Also, Harriers are capable of taking off vertically under light loads; it would be great if you could simulate the loaded weight and its effect on thrust so that we could maybe even gain altitude in a hover when coming back from a mission with less than a full loadout.

Oh, and HPI's on the LHD.

OK, I'll stop.

Edited September 16, 2009 by Stretch

[Fireball 16]

OK, so here's what I've found flying about in patch 1.04:

THE GOOD

It seems as if the analog throttle responds correctly now; in other words, at maximum throttle the Harrier drops very slowly, same as when using keyboard-mapped throttle.

Nothing was fixed. It's always been like that and I can't see anything good in it, because it's directly connected with "THE BAD".

If you try and use the Harrier using the digital controls you can see that it is able to lift up and hover on place without problem.

The main problem is that they shouldn't divide the axis into 50% throttle and 50% braking, because you lose, de facto, 50% of the throttle range. That means, whenever you use analogue controls you only throttle the harrier up to 50% of it's engine power (for what I can see, correct me if I'm wrong).

The base issue behind this seems to be the limitation of mapping the full axis into only part of the physical analogue axis. It would work fine if they changed the behaviour to range between 0% throttle to 100% throttle, but then you possibly couldn't sink fast, if needed, since you need a "negative" throttle (i.e. key 'Y' by default) to lower the plane.

And while in non-hovering mode (and for other planes) you couldn't brake - but that could be remedied by air brakes that could be extended/retracted by an action (or button press for that matter).

Edited September 16, 2009 by Fireball

[Alex72 1]

Confirmed the autorudder while in hover. Tested JSF and Harrier. That should be removed and i think BIS will. Remember that even normal flight had autorudder so they might missed it. Not sure though ofcourse.

[MadCatChiken 10]

They should just get rid of any auto movement completely, or have it as an option. The only need for auto throttle and auto rudder is if you're using the keyboard, and i'm assuming the majority of people who use air alot, use joysticks of a controller or sort.

Edited September 16, 2009 by MadCatChiken

[Alex72 1]

I use both joy and keyb. And even when on keyb autorudder sucks noodles. Its not needed for keyb. It removes the control and throws you back and forth sideways and you have to fight it.

Not good. Need to be removed. Option not necessary i think. Wasnt in ArmA1 and it worked perfect there.

[Stretch 10]

If you try and use the Harrier using the digital controls you can see that it is able to lift up and hover on place without problem.

You sure? I just popped into the game and mapped the keyboard controls to my throttle. The Harrier accelerates and makes a short takeoff, but does not maintain altitude in a hover. It slowly bleeds altitude at ~ 1 ft. per second. Can you definitely maintain altitude or even gain it in a hover?

It can take off because, if you switch to external view and watch the thrust vectors, they roll back about 20-30 degrees when the wheels touch the ground. This allows the Harrier to accelerate to 60-70 kph before lifting off, with some lift under its wings. Once the rotation is complete, the ducts turn back to 90-degree vertical positions, and the Harrier will once again lose altitude in the hover.

---------- Post added at 04:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:44 PM ----------

The main problem is that they shouldn't divide the axis into 50% throttle and 50% braking, because you lose, de facto, 50% of the throttle range. That means, whenever you use analogue controls you only throttle the harrier up to 50% of it's engine power (for what I can see, correct me if I'm wrong).

I just tested the F-35 in analog throttle mode and it is able to hover, descend, and gain altitude just fine, as in digital throttle. (Note that I have throttle and brake assigned to two separate axes.)

[Gen. Lee Outrageous 10]

BIS, please allow the option to permanently disable auto-rudder, with full manual independent rudder and aileron control.

THIS!, PLEASE!

i'm tired of fighting the auto rudder when doing attack runs in aircraft, it provides no help at all.

[SFJackBauer 10]

DREAM FIX

BIS, please allow the option to permanently disable auto-rudder, with full manual independent rudder and aileron control.

Its not just a dream Fix. Its a must-have fix.

BI, just like you did an option to control mouse smoothing, please give a checkbox to disable auto-rudder. Thank you.