New ground friction module from Peter Dowson

[jacques]

On another site today, I ran across this LUA for the newest version of FSUIPC that addresses the problematic friction issues in FSX. As an example, last week I did a flight where taxiing to the runway required an average of 40% thrust. Today, i duplicated the flight and taxied with idle power to the end of the runway, with occasional thrust inputs for beginning the taxi, for turns and to maintain speed as it gradually decayed. The LUA also addresses the directional stability issues on takeoff. I think we can all agree that FSX appeared to have sidewall tire resistance and rolling resistance reversed. I haven't yet tried this with a strong crosswind but others have posted good results.

The following instructions are for an unregistered copy of FSUIPC:

1. Download the latest FSUIPC version 4.853 here: http://www.schiratti.com/dowson

2. Download the update to this version of FSUIPC here: http://fsuipc.simflight.com/beta/FSUIPC4859m.zip
Unpack and drop the downloaded module into the Modules folder for FSX, this updates 4.853 to 4.859.

3. Download the latest LUA plugins from here: http://fsuipc.simflight.com/beta/Lua_Plugins_10Dec.zip
Unpack the folder and copy or drag the LUA called DynamicFriction.lua into your Modules folder for FSX.

Start FSX and approve the changes on the start screen. Go fly...be sure to put on the parking brake: 2 or 4 engine turbines will creep forward without the parking brake when the engines are running.
Instructions for a registered version may be different.

[edit]
Just as a side note, I haven't played with this too much as of yet, but it appears promising enough to encourage others to try it to see what they think!

[nwadc10]

Thanks for this post, the friction problem has bugged me for years. I just installed the lua per your instructions and will test soon.

There are many LUA's in that zip file, do you know anything about what the other files do?

[jacques]

Justin, I have no idea. I was so excited by the possibility of having the friction issue addressed I didn't even think to track down what the others were meant to do!

[SAM TAUWFER]

Hi guys,

you know where i can get he fs9 versin for this?

[Bodo Mueller]

Hey Sam,

since long time ago, for FS9 there is an unofficial modified sim1.dll available with a lower ground friction setting for taxi. I use it since it was "released".

Good to hear that Pete Dowson took care of that matter for FSX, as there was nobody who offered a similar modified sim1.dll for FSX yet.

[Volker Jacob]

Works also perfectly in P3D!

[SAM TAUWFER]

Hey Sam,

since long time ago, for FS9 there is an unofficial modified sim1.dll available with a lower ground friction setting for taxi. I use it since it was "released".

Good to hear that Pete Dowson took care of that matter for FSX, as there was nobody who offered a similar modified sim1.dll for FSX yet.

Question is where can i get it?

[jacques]

Sam,
Search for "sim1.dll friction" and lots of posts about this pop up. Don't know which of the links will still work, but I'm fairly certain at least one of them will.

[jcwaugh747]

It is good to see that this has been addressed, in the real world you have to use brakes extensively when rolling, to keep the plane from getting too fast. On the classics, the combination of braking a lot and a long taxi could easily lead to a brake overheat. Not something likely to occur if you had to use 40 percent power to taxi....lol

[jacques]

No doubt, John! This happened to me at Gibraltar. So while I'm taxiing at 40% thrust, the entire time I'm wondering, "okay, when am I going to break loose and go shooting off into the bay?"

[khelm]

well I installed it as per the directions (I think) and I was never prompted for accepting the changes... So far no change from what I can tell. I moved the friction file to the modules folder, and FSUIPC shows december 2010 for the version.

Any ideas?

[jacques]

It doesn't seem to me that you have the latest version of FSUIPC4. It should be Sept 6 2012. FSUIPC4. version 4.853. The download link in the post should take you directly to the correct version. Also, please note that this sequence is for an unregistered version of FSUIPC. It will work for registered versions as well, but the sequence and process may differ. When you finish the three steps your version will then be 4.859.

[Bodo Mueller]

Hi,

does this ground friction fix works for unregistered FSUIPC also? I have no reg key for FSUIPC 4.x as I do not use FSX frequently.

[PKlijnstra]

The following instructions are for an unregistered copy of FSUIPC:

The quote says it all

[Bodo Mueller]

Yes, but it doesn't work for me. The aircraft does not roll by itself without brakes set.