XCub Take-off Problem

[Emka]

Hi guys,

I could really use your help ... when trying to take off on a short field with the XCub, I always run out of runway. But according to the XCub‘s specs the plane should lift off after a really short time/runway. However when I fly it, it takes forever to gain enough speed to lift off. I have tried first flaps, full power and nose down - no success. I have tried second flaps, full power and gentle pull back - no success. Real XCub videos recommend these two methods, but for me they don’t seem to work. With the Savage Cub they work fine, btw. So, could you give me some advice as to what I’m doing wrong?

[Spikenard]

brakes/parking brake stuck on? I've had no issues with it. Won't come up as quick as the Shock Ultra but still should come up pretty darn quick

[Spikenard]

Just tried at a field at 1000'. Leaned out a little was making just a few rpm under 2300. Static takeoff, full-power on the brakes, no flaps with only a little nose-up trim, it lifted off on its own around 50kts without touching the yoke at all. Tried again at KTEX (a bit over 9000') and while I had to lean it a lot more, made about 2200 RPM on the ground full throttle on the brakes. Static takeoff with no flaps it came off the ground with no yoke input about 70 knots. Although I forgot to give it a little nose-up trim so it was at the default TO trim. What's it making for power for you before the takeoff? Doesn't seem to be a brake issue unless your brakes are only partially activated. I couldn't make it roll at all with the parking brake or full brakes. I'd check and make sure it's making power. It should not be taking that long to come up to speed and should take off easily even with no flaps on takeoff

[Maki Nishikino]

Something you might be interested in...

https://www.bushleaguelegends.com/addons/msfs/msfs-mods

[Emka]

Thank you guys!
I‘m testing it on Davidson‘s Strip 45AA, which is about 600ft long. CubCrafters claims best takeoff is 170ft, so there should be ample room for takeoff. With the Vanilla XCub I regularly crash into the lake behind the runway, which means 600ft are not enough. With the mod installed (thanks for the advice, Maki!) I can lift off at roughly 80% of the runway. So definitely an improvement but the. XCub is still outperformed by the meager Savage Cub, which I can lift off at roughly 30% of the runway. Can anyone try their skill on 45AA and post their results? I‘d be really curious to see what you can pull off.

[Maki Nishikino]

Did you adjust the weight at all?

[Emka]

Originally posted by Maki Nishikino:

Did you adjust the weight at all?

I left it at the preset settings as I thought them to be realistic. Aren’t they?

[Sandhill]

Originally posted by Maki Nishikino:

Something you might be interested in...

https://www.bushleaguelegends.com/addons/msfs/msfs-mods

NICE!!! Have you tried and liked?

[Maki Nishikino]

Originally posted by Sandhill:

Originally posted by Maki Nishikino:

Something you might be interested in...

https://www.bushleaguelegends.com/addons/msfs/msfs-mods

NICE!!! Have you tried and liked?

Yeah, I like it. :)

[Sandhill]

And to the OP, yes 45AA is quite a challenge, at least with default loading. The only success I had (mixed with several failures) involved taking the plane to the END of the runway (a bit more fussy to do under power than it would be just pushing the thing), as near as being in the water as I could get, and running a bit up the incline on the right side of the runway for some vertical acceleration and a few feet more above the water.
I didn't try it starting from the other end of the runway...perhaps FS just starts you off in entirely wrong position?
Edit: a bit of experimentation, I do ok, not great, taking off N rather than S, 23 degrees of flap

[Spikenard]

W&B is screwed up for the aircraft anyway. The xcub is designed (per cubcrafters) so the CG moves forward as you use fuel. In MSFS if you remove fuel the CG moves aft.

I also think 45AA might be a little shorter in the sim than it should be. Something wonky about that water.

Worst case, switch to the Shock Ultra :D Zero problems landing there and then taking back off without turning around. I haven't tried but I think you might be able to take off and land right away with it :D Ridiculously low speeds with full flaps and default loading

I tried three times with the Xcub at 45AA and couldn't do it without some jankiness like sandhill described above. Have to use the hill like it's a ramp on a russian aircraft carrier :)

[Maki Nishikino]

First try too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI2R2fZTbc4

[Emka]

Thanks for trying 45AA out!
Helps a lot to see that your results are similar to mine. Without the mod I can also only barely pull it off - having to use all the ground available. With the mod it looks similar to Maki‘s takeoff in the video though. What makes me think the XCub is not really well simulated is that the low-powered Savage Cub pulls off a much shorter takeoff. And - even more disappointing - by using all the ground roll I can get, I can even pull off a standard C172 here. I think the difference between the XCub and the Cessna should be quite noticeable in reality. But the mod helps a lot - thanks for sharing!

[Maki Nishikino]

You're welcome! ^_^

[Spikenard]

Originally posted by Maki Nishikino:

First try too! :azuki:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI2R2fZTbc4

Well, of course you made it using a mod .... Now try it stock.

[Maki Nishikino]

Originally posted by Spikenard:

Well, of course you made it using a mod .... Now try it stock.

Sure, will try it later but I think I already know what will happen. xD

Very curious about the conditions set regarding this 170ft takeoff roll proclaimed by CubCrafters, quite a number of variables in play and I have a feeling they're highly in favor for great aircraft performance.

EDIT: Found this on an AOPA article...

"With flaps down and moderate braking, its landing roll is just 173 feet, and its takeoff roll is 282 feet."