Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolf_Rider
Cessna's are a stable aircraft though, while WWII warbirds weren't, they're unstable.
The difference, if I understand correctly, is a stable aircraft will pretty much find its own level flight (for instance, after a wind gust, speed change etc), ie it will return to trimmed flight of its own accord, whereas an unstable aircraft will continue porpoise about getting more away from level flight (trimmed flight) with each porpoise
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Divergent oscillation would be deemed an unacceptable trait in any aircraft - having 'flown the phugoid' myself it needs all sorts of negative conditions (flap/undercarriage etc.) to provoke and is part of assessing an aircraft type's fitness to fly.
The old BE2s were so inherently stable as to be dangerous for exactly the opposite reason - called the 'clutching hand' by the poor sods that had to fly them.
My experience with the latest patch is the aircraft feels resonably 'real' - I had to apply some rudder trim to the Hurri which I'd never had to do before, but once set it was 'hands-off' stable.