WestWind Airlines

On approach into KORD yesterday in the new MD-81.  Everything was going well until I started adding flaps.  The nose pitched wildly downward, yet my airspeed fell and my altitude stayed the same.  Has anyone had similar problems with this aircraft?  BTW, I was able to land, but I think we might want to have the landing gear checked out.

Matt M.
WWA 1887
AHM KDEN

I 100% agre with you - I've had the exact same problems and broken two landing gear sections on both flights I tried with that particular aircraft. Seems impossible to flare with this aircraft at full flaps too (floatation).

I think the flaps have  too much of an effect on the aircraft - mabye giving too much lift - I don't know - need someone who understands FSX coding to make the aircraft 'handle' better. (or explain why it does what it does)

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I have not had any problems.  This configuration (landing gear and wings set way back on the fuselage) does handle differently than you may be accustomed to.  I'm no expert in this area, but I do have a quite a few hours in the FS-9 DC9-10F and the FS-2000 MD-80. They are similar. When you hop into one of these after flying a CRJ/ERJ or a B-737/Airbus 320 it takes some getting used to.  Maybe Kim can shed some light on the real world characteristics before anyone goes to messing around with the flight dynamics.

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Bob S.
Senior Command Captain
E.V.P. Scenery

Matt, were you using Activesky following a heavy?  Activesky will also deal you some windshear.

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Scott Williams
WWA 1404
Senior Command Captain KBOS
Commercial ASMEL Instrument
CFI #1876545

In trying to locate the problem, I did a little testing.  Both hand flying and with the autopilot on I was able to duplicate the same problem.  As soon as I went full flaps, the airplane did a nose dive but did not lose altitude at a rapid pace (only 500-800 fpm). 

 I don't believe this is a problem with not being used to the aircraft.  However, I still have a few more troubleshooting ideas.  I will post periodically throughout the week with my testing and see if we can pinpoint a problem.  For all I know it is just FSX being FSX.

 Thanks for the replies so far. 

Matt M.
WWA 1887
AHM KDEN

BTW, I was not using ActiveSky at the time.