Locking the tailwheel and runways?

[ATAG_Dutch]

Originally Posted by Sternjaeger

on large taildraggers u MUST lock your tailwheel to improve your direction stability, otherwise you'll go trimming grass on the sides of the runway. There are different kinds of tailwheel: the Mustang has a steerable mechanism that was activated when u pushed the stick forward (so that you could actually use it only during taxiing), otherwise it would stay in semi-locked position (with only 6 degrees of movement on each side); the Corsair doesn't have a steerable tailwheel, but it's lockable as well.
The rule is that your tailwheel must be locked at all times apart from when you need to steer on the ground during taxiing.

This is an interesting debate. I know I've said it before somewhere, but I never use tailwheel lock unless taking off from a busy carrier, and even then find it a bit awkward when the tail lifts so it no longer functions.
I find it much better to leave it unlocked so you have full rudder control from the word go.
Maybe it's simply a matter of taste and control style.

Originally Posted by Dutch_851

This is an interesting debate. I know I've said it before somewhere, but I never use tailwheel lock unless taking off from a busy carrier, and even then find it a bit awkward when the tail lifts so it no longer functions.
I find it much better to leave it unlocked so you have full rudder control from the word go.
Maybe it's simply a matter of taste and control style.

This is due to the limitation of the game engine in the reproduction of torque, in real life you wouldn't be able to take off with such big pistons without locking the tailwheel.
The standard procedure before take off is to apply rudder trim as well, and despite that you'll still need to fiddle with the rudder as soon as your tail lifts and speed and power increase.

Torque plays a major role in the handling characteristic of a plane: last time I flew with a friend's T-6 he showed me how the plane can actually torque itself out of a looping when reaching the apex, and the same happens on all powerful propeller planes.

[ATAG_Dutch]

Originally Posted by Sternjaeger

This is due to the limitation of the game engine in the reproduction of torque, in real life you wouldn't be able to take off with such big pistons without locking the tailwheel.
The standard procedure before take off is to apply rudder trim as well, and despite that you'll still need to fiddle with the rudder as soon as your tail lifts and speed and power increase.

Yeah, I was talking from a lazy in-game perspective!

Originally Posted by Dutch_851

Yeah, I was talking from a lazy in-game perspective!

yeah, it's just that my head is jammed with procedures procedures procedures and even if it's manageable I wouldn't do it in the sim. It's like driving your car and trying to keep your door open: it's feasible, but makes things just a bit trickier