Flying a Traffic Pattern

[SRB]

I’ve been trying to fly an https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airfield_traffic_pattern around the KSC but cannot keep the https://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Gull on a steady flight path no mater what-can someone please give some advice?

[OHara]

KSP aircraft are heavier in terms of tonnes than the real aircraft they resemble, so need to fly the pattern faster, so need a larger pattern.   I suggest putting the downwind leg at least one runway-length away, and using a 500m ASL pattern altitude.  The base leg should be just beyond the transition from grassland to low hills west of the runway.

The Gull with gear up will fly level at 70m/s on 1/3 throttle.  There is a strong interaction between pitch and airspeed, and the Juno engine is slow to respond, so you do need to use pitch to control airspeed.  Set the throttle higher or lower than 1/3 depending on where you want to be in altitude in the next 30s.

Turning will lose either altitude or airspeed, unless you compensate with throttle.  Probably turning downwind you'll still be hunting for pattern altitude, so it will be messy anyway.  If you turn to base, and then final, at constant airspeed, the turns will start you on your descent.

[Pecan]

Trim and fine controls - alt-WASD and capslock on PC.  If it flies, it can be trimmed to fly a stable path.

[SRB]

1 hour ago, Pecan said:

Trim and fine controls - alt-WASD and capslock on PC.  If it flies, it can be trimmed to fly a stable path.

Thanks.

I got the Analogue Comtrol Continued mod, so hopefully that will help me control planes better.