by Oswald » Tue Aug 07, 2018 11:21 pm
After some more flights with the Q400 I'd like to report again.
Fuel consumption appears to be valid and reliable. It is really nice to fly the aircraft, the autopilot seems to do what it is supposed to (I use the version with the last changes to Autofllight done by Josh a week and a half ago).
I am still puzzling over an issue in flight behaviour: In cruise flight the aircraft has a slightly positive Angle of Attack (2-3°). During stable approach with and without AP with slow speed (130 kias), full flaps and gear out it has a higher AoA. For flare and a smooth touchdown I need a very high AoA, something like 10-20°, otherwise I'd crash. This way landings can be very smooth, but the tail of the aircraft is nearly scratching on the runway.
Having checked cockpit views of real Q400 approaches, these do not behave like that, during stable approach I see a slightly negative AoA and during flare much less positive.
Do I have a problem with flying / handling the plane, or is there still something to be done in FDM? Does anyone else actually fly the Q400 and could report his/her experience, as well?
Anyway this is a really fine aircraft, fun to fly, for me good for airliner training, thank you to developers and maintainers!
Oswald