Extra EA-500/pitch control

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Extra EA-500.

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Elevator hinge moment model

The Extra 500 model features an elevator hinge moment model. It calculates the moment around the elevator hinge axis due to:

• Elevator deflection
• (local) angle of attack
• elevator geometry
• the static moment, including g-effects
• the downspring in the control system
• the elevator trim tab
• and of course the pilot force

The last one can be:

• The pilot
• the autopilot (pitch servo)
• or zero (due to the pilot letting go or a control system failure)

Elevator control modes

Direct elevator control mode

Extra500 trim panel; indication to trim nose down

The direct elevator control mode is what you will find on most Flightgear aircraft: your control input is directly translated to an elevator position. This will give you a relative accurate position of the elevator (and yoke) dependent on aircraft weight, configuration, centre of gravity and airspeed. Of course you will not be able to feel the force acting on the pilot. As the function of trim is to reduce the pilot force to zero, on most models trimming is completely useless. Therefore the Extra500 model features a panel which will indicate the direction and magnitude the pilot has to act on the yoke to keep the yoke where it is. Giving you a realistic idea where to trim too. The trim panel can be toggled on/off in the Extra500 - configuration dialog.

This control mode works very well for all of you using the mouse for control. The disadvantage is for joystick users: you will never be able to let go of the joystick as trimming reduces the pilot forces (which you don't feel), but does not change the position of the yoke (= the position of the joystick).

Force elevator control mode

Extra500 trim panel; force pitch control active

Therefore the Extra500 model features a second pitch control mode. It controls the pilot force, not the yoke position. So when your joystick is centered, no pilot force is acting on the yoke (as if you would have let go). Moving the joystick forward is pushing, backwards is pulling. You can use the elevator trim to reduce the force needed and thus get into a stable flight attitude with your joystick centered. The elevator (and yoke) position is calculated by the elevator hinge moment model.

Practical use

You can toggle between the above control modes by pressing CTRL+f. Make sure you are trimmed out when changing mode from 'direct' to 'force' mode or you will be pitching up or down like hell.