I consider trim to be the most important control on the plane. I learned to
fly in a $250 used hang glider-the original Rogallo "you-stall-you-die"
design. I didn't realize how out of balance it was until I took it on the
first soaring flight. After a half hour my arms were cramped and it was
really difficult to control. My second hang glider flew hands off and the
entire flying experience in it just didn't compare to that first glider. I
spent 5 1/2 hours over Mt. Greylock one time.

I got into an ultralight next, and that was also out of trim with no means
to adjust it in flight. If I let go of the stick, it would start going down
and to the right. Again, my arm would cramp after about 45 minutes and I
always felt I was balanced on the point of a pin and one moments inattention
would have me falling off.

My Tripaver has the trim handle overhead. It is a crank style rather than a
wheel, but at this point I don't even have to look for it. My hand goes
right to it and the inputs are automatic. Trim wheels are the same. Just
trim out the control pressure and you're along for the ride. I once flew
from Block Island to Barnes in Westfield-about 85 miles-without ever
touching the yoke (after takeoff) until I flared for landing. At one point I
noticed I had lost 100'. My front seat passenger was leaning forward looking
out the window. I had him sit back and we came right back to altitude, where
I kept the altimeter pinned on my desired altitude for the entire flight.

Trimming is much less distracting and effortless that constantly monitoring
and correcting your airspeed and altitude. One of the biggest problems
people have when landing is not trimming the plane for approach speed and
attitude. When you have to grip the yoke and maintain pressure on it all the
way in, it makes it harder to use the fine touch it takes to make a nice,
gentle touchdown.

The only time you need to visually check the trim setting is for takeoff.
While flying, it is set by feel. One thing that might make this more
apparent to you is a feedback controller. I used to use the Force Feedback
controller and it made simming a lot more realistic.

mike

"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
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What I see in the literature seems to vary between warnings against
spending too much trim or flying with trim tabs, and not ever trimming
the aircraft at all. So how much and when should I trim?