Horizons Does Flight Assist OFF work on planets? Seemed very dodgy when I tried it.

[VR andysonofbob]

I have just tried to have a planet session with FA off and it really didn't behave like it should have.

I assumed zero glide just vectoring with the thrusters. It was very stop starty. One minute up then jumping down, very unnatural.

Is this a bug?

 

[Brother Sabathius]

Without FA, gravity will pull you down and you'll need to manually compensate with upward thrust. The higher the G, the worse it will be.

 

[VR andysonofbob]

Sure but it was behaving very strangely. Off on off on. I should be able to find a point where my nose it pointing upwards but with constant thrust I still move forward. Working out the vector.

I will try again. It could well be me sucking! Hope so!

 

[777Driver]

Sure but it was behaving very strangely. Off on off on. I should be able to find a point where my nose it pointing upwards but with constant thrust I still move forward. Working out the vector.

I will try again. It could well be me sucking! Hope so!

Definitely working as it should. I'm flying with it off 99% of the time, only comes on when I'm landing on high G worlds.

 

[VR andysonofbob]

OK, thanks!

I am on the starter world (1.something G) and I have my throttle to the max. It really doesn't seem to behave like it should. Different from any flight sim. I appreciate I am in a vacuum but even so...

What am I doing wrong?

edit

I have just watched a YouTube clip. It looks like I am treating the main thrusters wrong. I need to be using up down left and right more. The throttle is odd, should I reconfigure to something more digital?

 

[777Driver]

OK, thanks!

I am on the starter world (1.something G) and I have my throttle to the max. It really doesn't seem to behave like it should. Different from any flight sim. I appreciate I am in a vacuum but even so...

What am I doing wrong?

Hard to tell what you are doing wrong without a video showing you flying. Are you experienced with flying with assist off in a zero G environment? I'll go through the basics

Flight assist on - Provides thruster compensation, any roll/pitch/yaw/vertical and lateral input is automatically stabilized once the commander releases control inputs, pretty much like a basic autopilot or command wheel steering. Your throttle controls SPEED when flight assist is on

Flight Assist off - Provides zero thruster compensation, it does however provide minimal assistance (in pitch) Roll/Yaw/vertical and lateral input requires an exact opposite force to stabilize the ship. Your throttle controls THRUST when flight assist is off.

Only difference on planets is the vertical thrust compensation. FA-ON the ship will maintain altitude and hover, with FA-OFF you need to manually apply vertical thrust to maintain position.

 

[VR andysonofbob]

I think I am getting confused with thrust and speed.

Could you, say, pump thrust up to its max then leave the throttle at the mid/ neutral point and the control the ship with up down left etc.

What is the point of the thrust? Is it just another but more powerful jet like the up down left etc?

 

[777Driver]

I think I am getting confused with thrust and speed.

Could you, say, pump thrust up to its max then leave the throttle at the mid/ neutral point and the control the ship with up down left etc.

What is the point of the thrust? Is it just another but more powerful jet like the up down left etc?

With flight assist on your throttle position commands a 'Speed' using the main thrusters. With flight assist off your throttle position commands a thrust output using the main thrusters.

Here's an example using my Python at it's current weight -

Flight assist on 25% throttle - The ship will accelerate and maintain a speed of 52 m/s (thrust will vary to achieve that speed)

Flight assist off 25% throttle - The ship will accelerate to 52 m/s and continue slowly accelerating at 25% thrust until it reaches it's maximum speed limit.

FA-OFF you set a specific thrust setting using the throttle, the ship will accelerate accordingly. FA-ON you set a specific speed using the throttle, the computers adjust the appropriate amount of thrust to maintain your requested speed.

Edit - your best bet is to have a search on youtube, much easier to understand when watching it in action.

Cheers

 

[znôrt]

I think I am getting confused with thrust and speed.
What is the point of the thrust? Is it just another but more powerful jet like the up down left etc?

with flight assist on, the ship will allways try to match your current speed to what your thruster (throttle) is set to. meaning 'with fa-on you control the speed'. if you set the throttle to zero, your speed will be zero and your ship will be stationary, even in gravity.

with fa off you simply apply thrust, no correction is made and you ship will move wherever the thrust pushes it forward. meaning 'with fa-off you only control thrust'. if you set the throttle to zero your ship will just keep moving, and will fall in gravity. it appears this is wat is happening to you.

 

[[VR] Frank_G]

It works quite well, so it seems...

[video=youtube;KUbV3Zq62BA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUbV3Zq62BA[/video]

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

The question is, what ship are you flying? A fully loaded Lakon Type 7 reacts different than an Imperial Eagle.

I found it very helpful, to bind the vertical thrusters to an analog on my X-55. I can actually set a constant upthrust, when using [flight assist off], while being able to fine tune the amount of thrust very precisely. Also nice vor landing.

 

[VR andysonofbob]

Thanks! I can't wait!

That video was awesome and I have the same setup!

I notice for the most part the dude's throttle was min/max, with adjustments using up down left right.
Do people use specific curves? Did that dude in the video?

Thanks

 

[VR andysonofbob]

LOVING IT

It clicked. It is tricky but I think I have sussed. Haven't tried combat yet but I will soon.

Loving flying around in my Startwinder.

Question:
What is the cheapest ship with the best field of view allowing you to look down?

 

[Globusdiablo]

Edit: Ninja'd.

Isinona rocks.

 

[[VR] Frank_G]

LOVING IT

It clicked. It is tricky but I think I have sussed. Haven't tried combat yet but I will soon.

Loving flying around in my Startwinder.

Question:
What is the cheapest ship with the best field of view allowing you to look down?

The Asp Scout will be your ship of choice. Its not fast, but maneuverable and durable. For that type of flying one of the best choices. You could also try the Keelback.

 

[VR andysonofbob]

So loving FA off. Is there anyway to make this default?

Asp Scout is a bit of a jump for me! But not way out there.

So awesome! Going to try a wee bit of combat in the viper! Scary because I am Ironmanning it...

Any FA combat tips?