Taxiing the Amphib

[rgerdes]

Is it correct that the amphib must be taxied using differential brakes, or is my setup borked?

[Danno]

There's a slight steer angle but yes, differential braking is needed. Of course, the steer angle can be easily changed by editing the config file.

[rgerdes]

What do I have to change in the config file?>
Thanks,
Bob

[Danno]

In the amphib folder, open aircraft.cfg. Find these two lines in the [Contact_Points] section.

Current...

point.0 = 4, 0.00, 4.80, -8.60, 2200, 0, 0.5, 0.0, 0.6, 2.5, 0.60, 0.0, 0.0, 3, 0, 0
point.1 = 4, 0.00, -4.80, -8.60, 2200, 0, 0.5, 0.0, 0.6, 2.5, 0.60, 0.0, 0.0, 2, 0, 0


Replace with this ...

point.0 = 4, 0.00, 4.80, -8.60, 2200, 0, 0.5, 30, 0.6, 2.5, 0.60, 0.0, 0.0, 3, 0, 0
point.1 = 4, 0.00, -4.80, -8.60, 2200, 0, 0.5, 30, 0.6, 2.5, 0.60, 0.0, 0.0, 2, 0, 0


You can edit to your liking by changing that value of 30 (in the bottom set) to a higher or lower number. Generally, a value between 25 and 40 should give you noticeable and predictable steering.

[Danno]

Oops... My mistake. I changed the contact points on the floats in my post above, not the wheels. You are looking for Contact Points 6 and 7.

Current...

point.6 = 1, 0.616, -4.80, -9.0, 1600, 0, 0.716, 180, 0.06, 2.0, 0.75, 3.0, 5.0, 0, 152, 180
point.7 = 1, 0.616, 4.80, -9.0, 1600, 0, 0.716, 180, 0.06, 2.0, 0.75, 3.0, 5.0, 0, 152, 180


Change to ...

point.6 = 1, 0.616, -4.80, -9.0, 1600, 0, 0.716, 30, 0.06, 2.0, 0.75, 3.0, 5.0, 0, 152, 180
point.7 = 1, 0.616, 4.80, -9.0, 1600, 0, 0.716, 30, 0.06, 2.0, 0.75, 3.0, 5.0, 0, 152, 180


Change the value of 180 to a lower number. I have 30 in the revised example here. However, I personally find a steer angle of 30 too exaggerated for an amphib. I don't think any would steer that tight. A lower number such as 20 or even 10 is a bit closer to 'believable' but use whatever value you are comfortable with.

(Leave Contact Points 0 and 1 from my previous post in their original state.)

[rgerdes]

that's better - I'll play around with it.
Curious if real life beavers are steered with diff. brakes?
I've never flown one but have 40+ years riding in the passenger seat and never noticed a pilot having that much trouble doing a 180 on the runway.
Thanks,
Bob

[Fliger747]

Real Amphib Beavers are steered by rudder and diff brakes. The complication and weight to add nose wheel steering to a Amphib Beaver would be considerable, for little advantage. You might notice there is no visible nose steering apparatus on our plane.

[Handie]

Hello,

Thank you for all this, it's easier to lead the Beaver

Would there be a tweak of the same kind so that the Beaver amphibian can take off a little faster?
There, at the moment, it only accepts to take off all at the end of the runway, I'm always afraid that he can not do it before the end of the track ...
My old Beaver (Aerosoft) taking off very quickly and so I could use it even on short runways.

[Danno]

That's a more difficult chore while still keeping the Beaver somewhat realistic. For example, there is little effort involved in increating static thrust mimicking a horsepower boost but that's not ideal. You'd be cruising far too fast (and burning more fuel unless you adjust the fuel flow scalar). The result you may be looking for is a liftoff speed less than what you're currently getting, not just getting to that speed quicker. But that would include adjusting several elements of the package. For now, I would suggest keeping minimal payload onboard and take off into a stiff wind.

[Handie]

Thanks for the information, although with Google translation, I did not understand everything.
I will remove the front passenger.

[Handie]

Without passenger, it is unfortunately always the same, only for the float.