Rookie question about rudder use

[Luft1942]

Am I supposed to use rudder at the start of a turn and once the turn is started let off the rudder or keep using it? The only time I've really been using rudder is to adjust my aim and get guns on target but I know that can't be the only good use for it. I always find using rudder is kinda weird as in it makes my plane jerk even if I apply slight pressure to it. Not a violent jerk but it definitely let's me know I'm using it.

 

I don't have rudder pedals unfortunately and I don't have the room for a set under my desk but eventually I would like to get a pair.

[Potenz]

marble in the middle

[Luft1942]

I think I know what you're talking about but I'm not sure what it's called. It's like the bubble in between the two lines correct and I need to keep in between the lines as much as possible?

[Riderocket]

marble in the middle

While doing some practice flights in a Cessna 172 the instructor told me to keep it in the middle because it makes the plane fly more straight and that avoids getting sick.

 

Where as if the plane is side slipping, it has a funny effect on your bubbles too.

[LaagPursuit]

"Step on the ball". (Doesn't work as well if using twist rudder).

 

Try playing with sensitivity settings for rudder to make it jerk less.

 

With fighters you shouldn't need much rudder at all in typical turn. It's mostly needed for takeoff/landing and aiming.

[andyw248]

You can easily find out when to use the rudder. Try these:

• Fly a single engine fighter horizontally at different speeds (e.g. 300, 400, 500 kph). You will need different amounts of rudder to keep the ball centered. This is due to the various forces caused by the propeller, engine, slipstream, etc.
• Extend gear and flaps, and use engine power to keep your altitude while flying close to stall speed (e.g. 150 kph). You will need some amount of rudder to keep the ball centered. Same forces at work.
• Fly some of the basic aerobatic maneuvers, such as chandelles and wingovers / lazy eights; see how applying rudder helps keeping the ball centered.

Now, in real life you will almost never stare at the ball while flying. You will always look out of the windshield and try to apply rudder instinctively. A good way to check how you did is to record your flight, and then watch the playback to see where the ball was during your maneuvers.

 

Oh, and one more: approach an airstrip at high speed (e.g. 550 - 600 kph) for a low pass; observe what kind of rudder you need to keep the ball centered.

Edited September 7, 2016 by andyw248

[simplyjames]

One thing that helped me the most was to always ease in and ease out when applying rudder. That keeps the wobbles down.

I personally rudder at the start of a sharp turn however I'm not sure how bad that is as far as energy bleed.  Aside from that I try and keep my foot on the ball as others have stated.

[6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann]

The Reason you need Rudder at all in the air and while manouvering is Adverse Yaw

 

What happens is: When you want to initiate a turn using only Ailerons (Moving your Stick left or right) you're asking the Outer wing to create more lift (upward forcce) than the Inner wing. 

Imagine it like a system of pulleys. I made a quick Draft. It's an equilibrium, create more Lift, you automatically get more drag. Create more lift on only one side, you get more drag on only one side.

 

 

 

So the Center of Drag shifts outside of the turn, meaning your Aircraft naturally wants to Pivot around that point.

Like this:

 

 

 

In a turn this means that your nose points Outside the turn, exposing the entire side of the Airframe to the Airflow, creating a ton of Parasitic Drag as well as making you more prone to Stalls and Spins.  

You counter this using Positive Rudder. So, especially during manouvers you always have to coordinate with rudder. 

 

 

This Video shows what happens when the Pilot doesn't properly Coordinate Rudders and Ailerons. 

 

Action at 9:50

 

Edited September 7, 2016 by 6./ZG26_Klaus_Mann

[Luft1942]

You can easily find out when to use the rudder. Try these:

 

• Fly a single engine fighter horizontally at different speeds (e.g. 300, 400, 500 kph). You will need different amounts of rudder to keep the ball centered. This is due to the various forces caused by the propeller, engine, slipstream, etc.
• Extend gear and flaps, and use engine power to keep your altitude while flying close to stall speed (e.g. 150 kph). You will need some amount of rudder to keep the ball centered. Same forces at work.
• Fly some of the basic aerobatic maneuvers, such as chandelles and wingovers / lazy eights; see how applying rudder helps keeping the ball centered.

Now, in real life you will almost never stare at the ball while flying. You will always look out of the windshield and try to apply rudder instinctively. A good way to check how you did is to record your flight, and then watch the playback to see where the ball was during your maneuvers.

 

Oh, and one more: approach an airstrip at high speed (e.g. 550 - 600 kph) for a low pass; observe what kind of rudder you need to keep the ball centered.

Thanks for the tips! I will try these when I get home from work today. I forgot to mention I use rudder when taking off and landing but to counter torque I apply slight right aileron. Should I be using rudder to counter the torque instead?

[dirty_harry]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J_8Cs7BtGj8 i managed to land today half wing gone and only using rudder pedals and elevator. Rough landing but pilot was safe. Was wings of liberty server