Yeah - essentially what you're talking about is the fundamental point
of trim devices on modern aircraft.

Neutral position is a bit of a 'bad' term here, because unlike a
simulator's joystick, there is no defined "Central" location for a
yoke. Yes, of course wing's level is fairly 'central', but for rudder
and elevator, there is quite a bit of play as to where 'neutral' is
(where neutral is fundamentally defined as the point at which the
controls naturally go when you apply no force to them).

The "neutral point" described above is is set by your trimming
mechanisms. In my PA-28-140, I have 3 mechanisms to trim the plane - I
have the pitch trim handle, I have a rudder trim mechanism (which
actually just manipulates the pedals) and I have the ability to control
my fuel burn on one side or the other to trim for roll.

This is one of the areas where flying a real plane is fundamentally
different than flying with a computer joystick. with a computer
joystick, there is always a "center point", and trim is simulated by
having the aircraft turn to one side or the other while the joystick is
in the center point. In a real aircraft, the physical point where the
control's center themselves varies based on trim, but AOA effect of
having the controls at any given point is usually the same. (I.E,
having the yoke 3" out from the panel will try to move the aircraft
towards the same AOA, regardless if this is 'trimmed as neutral' and I
can take my hand off, or the aircraft is trimmed for another speed and
the yoke is pushing against my hand).

Also note that this is all very delibrate- The anti-servo tab on a
PA-28's tail is explicitly designed to provide this very type of
tactile feedback - that's its whole point.


On Nov 7, 3:18 pm, Mxsmanic wrote:
In a typical small GA aircraft, do the controls have a natural
tendency to return exactly to their neutral positions when you aren't
holding them and when you are on the ground? Do they have a tendency
to return to exactly neutral in flight if you release them in level
flight?

The reason I ask is that sometimes the controls I use in simulation
don't snap back to exactly neutral when I release them, and I'm trying
to determine whether this is more realistic or less realistic with
respect to a real aircaft.

I suppose it depends on the aircraft, but what is the usual case? And
if you happen to know how it behaves specifically on a Baron or an
A36, I'd be particularly interested to know that.

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