DogTailRed2
04-30-2011, 10:33 AM
Hi,
I've been flying COD since it came out and having fun mastering how to handle aircraft especially in the pattern for landing. I'm finding flying the pattern especially difficult which seems to boil down to three things. Engine Sound, Control Lag and Flight Model.
When flying the pattern especially landing an aircraft like the Spitfire we use feel, sound, the view around our aircraft and our instruments. Okay so we don't have feeling in the sim. We compensate visually and through sound. The sounds for the Spitfire in COD lack a defined power range and urgency. I can't judge the power setting just by listening so I'm more reliant on visual confirmation via my gauges. This problem is compounded when combined with control lag which means I start to induce PIO. A lurching, wallowing feeling of being out of control where I start to fight the aircraft. A small change in power setting has no discern-able difference to power so I overcompensate. Too fast, too slow, wallowing. It's really a wild ride.
The third factor is the flight model. It just doesn't feel like I'm flying a thorough-bred fighter but more like a lumbering, underpowered transport. If I open the throttle to go-around for example I have to check the RPM and Air Speed gauges to see that something is actually happening. There is no roar from that big Merlin.
If I can make a comparison with FSX and the Real Air and beautiful A2A Spitfires. With these aircraft I can fly the pattern quite easily as the aircraft are more responsive. I can hear the different moods of the engine as I adjust the throttle. Curved approaches are the norm. I've also got more visual cues externally to aid my judgment of altitude. So I fly looking out of the cockpit without relying so much on instruments. I can hear the wheels as they lock down or thump into the wheel wells. Also when gear and flaps down the aircraft settles into a defined behavior. 120knots, -500 fpm, dirty on finals at about 500feet means I can fly down to the runway, power off and three point. I just can't feel that `groove` in COD - well, not yet.
I hope the COD team can improve these areas as it will add much realism to the sim. That feeling of entering the pattern after an engagement, perhaps in a damaged aircraft, and making a perfect curved approach and delicate touchdown. Rather than having the feeling that piling into the runway is more dangerous than engaging 20+ 109's. The roar of the Merlin at Scramble and the purr during cruise.
All the best,
Dog.
I've been flying COD since it came out and having fun mastering how to handle aircraft especially in the pattern for landing. I'm finding flying the pattern especially difficult which seems to boil down to three things. Engine Sound, Control Lag and Flight Model.
When flying the pattern especially landing an aircraft like the Spitfire we use feel, sound, the view around our aircraft and our instruments. Okay so we don't have feeling in the sim. We compensate visually and through sound. The sounds for the Spitfire in COD lack a defined power range and urgency. I can't judge the power setting just by listening so I'm more reliant on visual confirmation via my gauges. This problem is compounded when combined with control lag which means I start to induce PIO. A lurching, wallowing feeling of being out of control where I start to fight the aircraft. A small change in power setting has no discern-able difference to power so I overcompensate. Too fast, too slow, wallowing. It's really a wild ride.
The third factor is the flight model. It just doesn't feel like I'm flying a thorough-bred fighter but more like a lumbering, underpowered transport. If I open the throttle to go-around for example I have to check the RPM and Air Speed gauges to see that something is actually happening. There is no roar from that big Merlin.
If I can make a comparison with FSX and the Real Air and beautiful A2A Spitfires. With these aircraft I can fly the pattern quite easily as the aircraft are more responsive. I can hear the different moods of the engine as I adjust the throttle. Curved approaches are the norm. I've also got more visual cues externally to aid my judgment of altitude. So I fly looking out of the cockpit without relying so much on instruments. I can hear the wheels as they lock down or thump into the wheel wells. Also when gear and flaps down the aircraft settles into a defined behavior. 120knots, -500 fpm, dirty on finals at about 500feet means I can fly down to the runway, power off and three point. I just can't feel that `groove` in COD - well, not yet.
I hope the COD team can improve these areas as it will add much realism to the sim. That feeling of entering the pattern after an engagement, perhaps in a damaged aircraft, and making a perfect curved approach and delicate touchdown. Rather than having the feeling that piling into the runway is more dangerous than engaging 20+ 109's. The roar of the Merlin at Scramble and the purr during cruise.
All the best,
Dog.