DGIII Manual reentry

[BuzzLightyear]

Sorry if this has been asked before......

I have no problem using the auto pilot for reentry. However, when I attempt to duplicate the menouver manually, I
get to a point where the RCS can no longer keep me at 40*. I get the aerodynamic snap down of the nose, and burn
up. I'm doing everything the same as the autopilot, with a 40* AOA and -0.70* slope. Am I doomed to use the auto
pilot? Never to accomplish the feat with my own two hands?

Oh Yea....
HAIL PROBE:wor:

Buzz

[DocHoliday]

Hm. A few notes:
- check the switch for the RCS settings. It would probably help to set it to ATM AUTO, so you can use the aero
surfaces when the air is thick enough. That might prevent the snap.
- tried maximum TRIM?
- possibly autopilot is using HIGHER RCS bursts than are available in manual mode. I do remember reading that you
can freely set your RCS thrusters using code. That's why ascent autopilots are so smooooth Not just the 100% and
10% (with CTRL) as used in manual mode. Not sure if they can go beyong 100% normal thrust, but it is conceivable.

Hope you use a joystick, can't imagine doing it with kbd alone. I suck at reentries, never tried it manually with DG3,
so respect

[reekchaa]

Once you've tried Manual, you'll never go back.  
Yeah, I'd guess that you just need to switch aero surfaces to keep your pitch, as RCS ain't powerful E-nuff.
Nothing funner than surfing through the atmosphere like an airplane... making a sine-wave pattern from the
depths of maximum-heat to the tops of the thinning air without pulling-out. Manual...it just FEELS better.  

[DocHoliday]

reekchaa wrote:
Once you've tried Manual, you'll never go back.  

riiiiight

Yeah, I'd guess that you just need to switch aero surfaces to keep your pitch, as RCS ain't powerful E-nuff.
Nothing funner than surfing through the atmosphere like an airplane... making a sine-wave pattern from the
depths of maximum-heat to the tops of the thinning air without pulling-out. Manual...it just FEELS better.  

Heh, if you have a joystick. I only sport a keyboard and I would not for long if I subjected it to constant pitch
adjustments as I imagine would ensue

[BuzzLightyear]

Yup, using a joystick, wingman extreme digi 3d. It's the RCS, the pro104spec40 uses a LOT more fuel to keep AOA up,
and I don't like messing with the code, RCS never seems the same after I mess with it, usaully it's worse. At that AOA
and speed, trim and the control surfaces just don't work to compensate.
I guess I'm stuck with the autopilot for now, I'll deal... Thanx for the advice!

HAIL PROBE

Buzz

[reekchaa]

DocHoliday wrote:
Heh, if you have a joystick. I only sport a keyboard and I would not for long if I subjected it to constant pitch
adjustments as I imagine would ensue

Actually, I just use Keyboard Too! -  TRIM control was MY big 'WOOHOO' discovery to avoid constant pitch-Key entry.
(INSERT/DELETE on cursorpad)

So  Buzz... even with SHIP CTRL set to ON, or PITCH, you still get this 'aerodynamic snap down of the nose' ???
At 40*+ stall-slope I just fall faster, and can pull up all the way to vertical with aero surfaces alone.  Have you gone
outside, just behind the DG3 to watch & make sure your ailerons are working correctly to your joystick input?
Maybe analog input really IS dead.  

[BuzzLightyear]

it seems part of the problem is you can't use RCS and control surfaces at the same time. If I switch control surfaces
to "ON" when I feel the RCS slipping, the nose snaps right to the horizon, and I burn up. With full trim, and RCS, it
only prolongs the inevitabe, death. *sigh* I guess I'll try upping the RCS thrust in the config...


:wor:HAIL PROBE:wor:

Buzz

[reekchaa]

If you don't come in shallow enough, you'll burn no matter what, too.  
Keep an eye on your computer displays (enter 'D2' & 'D3' on keyboard) to watch your re-entry angle & heat display.  
If you slow down TOO much from orbit, and your re-entry angle is greater than around 1.5*, you'll probably be unable
to pull out before getting too deep in the atmosphere and burning.
 ...But that's the fun part... finding the limits to what the DG3 can absorb and radiating it out creatively.