A aviation & planes forum. AviationBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AviationBanter forum » rec.aviation newsgroups » Piloting
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

How much do you trim?



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #1  
Old October 9th 06, 09:05 AM posted to rec.aviation.piloting,rec.aviation.student
Mxsmanic
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 9,169
Default How much do you trim?

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?

I understand trim to be a convenience, so that a pilot doesn't have to
constantly maintain force against the controls for long periods. Thus
it should never be dangerous not to trim, except insofar as it can be
tiring to hold an untrimmed aircraft in a given attitude for long
periods.

The thing I wonder about is the possible distraction of trimming the
aircraft. It looks like trim controls are often in spots like the
pedestal or throttle quadrant, where presumably one must direct one's
attention in order to adjust trim. It's hard to imagine doing this
during critical phases of flight such as take-off or landing, and yet
I read recommendations for trim in both cases. Where do you draw the
line between trimming unnecessarily and not trimming enough? How
often do you actually reach for the trim controls?

Also, it seems that most trim is pitch trim. I don't see much mention
of aileron or rudder trim. Do you use it? Do you ever trim out
P-factor or torque effects? I turned both back on in my sim and
adjusted them to where the vendor says they should be to match the
real aircraft, and I find them irritating, but not overwhelming (the
vendor has apparently set the most realistic factors at 50% instead of
100%, so that masochists can increase their effects beyond real life
if desired).

Another problem I have: How do you remember where you set the trim?
I know you can look, and I know that you can guess if the aircraft is
behaving strangely, but how do you keep track of where you last set
the trim? Each time I set it I tend to forget about it until some
important moment when I'm already busy with other things.

Also, I presume that most autopilots use trim for pitch control. If
you shut off the autopilot, does the trim remain whereever the A/P set
it? If so, do you change it? Is it hard to remember that the A/P has
probably changed it?

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.
 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Making a pitch trim indicator for a Glasair [email protected] Home Built 5 September 13th 06 02:30 AM
Cherokee Electric Pitch Trim Jonathan Goodish Owning 4 November 18th 04 02:43 AM
A very basic question Ramapriya Piloting 45 November 9th 04 01:57 PM
Ramifications of Cherokee Trim Jackcrew Failure Bob Chilcoat Owning 18 June 9th 04 02:48 AM
Lance vx. 6/300 Bridgadoon Owning 27 September 28th 03 08:20 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:38 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2025 AviationBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.