Hi Mx!

Different aircraft respond differently to rudder input whle taxying..

Heaver aircraft take more "push" to get turning, and tend to want to
keep turning, more than light ones, especially twins with engines out
on the wings. (kind of a "flywheel" effect...)

In some, the nose wheel steering is connected to the rudder pedals
with springs (Cessna 172) so the steering input feels vague and
differential braking is used to assist tight turns. On others (Piper
Cherokee) the steering is hooked direct and is very positive. You have
to be careful to get the rudder centered before you allow the nose
wheel to touch when you are holding rudder in a crosswind landing.

and...

.....for the record..I find your questions here to be reasonable and
the (correct) answers posted will be of some value to You and the
many who lurk here..

I am having some difficulty understanding why some here find it
necessary to chastize you for being a "sim" pilot. I know some local
"sim" pilots who would love to do the real thing, but are unable for
various reasons.

If that is your circumstance, I hope it is temporary, and you may
experience the thrill of piloting a real aircraft someday.

I am a pilot, have lots of hours in sims, and I am fortunate to have a
clean medical and my own plane, - at this time in my life.

It has not always been so, and there will be a time again when it is
not so.....

Ignore the rants, there are some here that will answer your question
properly and correctly..

....and... just so there is no confusion.... very hot brakes don't stop
very well.... and 16 Knots is WAY to fast to taxi any aircraft!

Cheers!

Dave




On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 02:59:21 +0100, Mxsmanic
wrote:

Is it better to use just the rudder or differential braking to turn on
taxiways? I understand that steering mechanisms vary considerably
from one aircraft to another, but I'm still curious. In this case,
I'm wondering about a Baron 58, the aircraft I fly in my sim (most of
the time).

I note when taxiing that the aircraft seems to oversteer, especially
as speed increases. That is, I'll move the rudder to straighten out
on the centerline of the taxiway, but the aircraft still continues to
drift slightly in the turn and overshoots the centerline. Is this the
way the real aircraft works? If so, what causes it? I should think
that if the rudder pedals turn the nose wheel directly, it would be
hard to overshoot unless the nose wheel actually skids or something
(?). This isn't happening at high speed, it's like 16 knots or so (or
does that count as high taxiway speed?).