AAR in Su-33

[Spartanjackwar]

I'm trying to learn air-to-air refueling. So far, I've spent 12 hours on this and still cannot manage it. I am able to use the autothrust to match the tanker's speed, but I struggle with hitting the basket with the probe. Additionally, when I have achieved contact, I suddenly get thrown around by the basket. That causes me to break contact. Any suggestions for what I should be doing?

[Troll Norris]

First of all, do not hurry. Take the formation flight first. Match the speed, altitude and trim it as precisely as possible. Then start slowly closing. If you are still not ale to stabilise the aircraft, you may adjust the axis curves to make the stick less sensitive at the center. (e.g. set curve to value 30)

[Spartanjackwar]

Thanks for the response! I found that trimming was something I was neglecting, as my tanker kept turning when it hit the waypoints. I didn't touch the curves on the input, but I did use the refueling autopilot and autothrust autopilot to help match formation.

Once I was in formation, I used the trim to match any motion of the tanker and just kept my eye on the wing as I refueled. It's still quite hard to accomplish, but I can at least get contact with the tanker consistently. I believe it's mostly practice after that.

[Xoho]

Don't use autothrust, it pulses back and forth and isn't accurate enough. At first just try flying formation next to the tanker, get used to holding a stable sight picture (how the other plane looks when at a certain position) and maintaining it. Unless you're rejoining from directly behind, once you get close enough to judge distance, don't you dare look at your HUD or instruments (Unless at night, but baby steps). It's the biggest mistake I've seen beginners make, and made myself until someone taught me this.
If you're in a turn, anyone outside of that turn will be going faster to maintain formation, and anyone inside will be going slower. It's easier and safer to just keep your eyes on the lead aircraft and judge the rate at which you're overtaking or falling behind. And adjust accordingly. You will be constantly moving your controls to maintain this sight picture, so try to use small and gentle movements.
Also, newton's third law applies here, if you start falling back, throttle up until you see a difference, then throttle back down even before you're even again. This last part changes depending on the aircraft, due to lag time when engines spool up and down again.

I find it easier to trim slightly nose down, so I always keep a bit o back pressure on my stick. However, I also have a nice and accurate joystick (T16000M). Just trying to fly formation and always pushing yourself will make refueling and flying in general much easier for you. Also, relax. If it's stressing you out because it's difficult a lot of people (myself included) tend to try and choke your joystick into submission. This tends to make your movements less smooth and more jerky. Also, you're trying to intimidate an inanimate object, so there's that.

Perfect practice results in satisfactory performances under pressure.