Nice vid! I fly a real L-5 in a Vintage club and can say that this model on X-plane is very difficult to taxi vs the real plane. Take off/landings are much easier in the real one. Other things that are a bit off on the X-plane: the landing light is actually on a servo and drops down when you turn it on. The flaps (on the E model anyways) only have 3 notches, up, 35 and 45 degrees. Our E model has drooped ailerons that you can crank down, those combined with 45deg of flaps will land this beast on a dime! Thanks for the vid!

The best solution to correct the lack of stability of this aircraft is to move the center of gravity more to the center and add a little load to the overall weight. By doing that, it can take off and land normally like any other plane. The values that I use at takeoff are: center of gravity 18.8 centimeters (my Xplane is in Spanish), payload 100 Kilos, total internal fuel 24 kilos distributed in 12 kilos in each tank.

Great video and enjoyed watching it. You have put in a lot of effort in this video. I do have a scanned L-5 pilot's checklist. Speeds & operating limits do vary as compared to the civilian Stinson 108 checklist. Let me know if you want a copy. As a long time L-5 owner, couple of very minor issues. The instruments aren't all correct for an L-5 and the airspeed indicator should have markings down to 30 mph. There was never a locking tailwheel, so when taking off be sure to keep the control stick full back until 30 mph then slowly raise it to minimize the torque and P-factors. Cannot raise the tail quickly like you can in a Piper Cub or the L-5 will depart to the left side of the runway. Stinson L-5's are easy to taxi but need to S-turn due to not being able to see over the nose. When starting, don't pump the throttle but use the primer (this could cause a fire if the engine back fires). Flaps- one notch is required on takeoff and the 2nd notch is usually used for landing, except for strong x-winds. The video shows a flap handle in the rear cockpit but this did not exist. An interesting sidenote is that there are no brakes in the rear cockpit. This makes checking out a new L-5 pilot somewhat difficult if the need for brakes arise. On landing, flaps can be deployed only at less than 100mph. First notch at around 95mph and the second notch at 80mph. By using some engine power and full flaps, a normal 3 degree approach can be flown if desired. Anyways keep up the great work and commentary! One correction request: On the steep landing approach, you mentioned using landing at 60 -80 knots. Should be mph not knots.

Not an L-5 pilot, but I am a Tailwheel pilot irl. Quick tip for your takeoffs: as you power up, give slight forward pressure on the stick to get your tail up and keep you main gear on the ground to help keep centerline. Then at rotate speed release the pressure and you should just float away.

Great vid, many thanks. It was just what I needed

That was a very good video. I have actually flown this aircraft on X-Plane and for real as well as a 1946 Aeronca Champ. Both are great planes and fun to fly. I wish X-Plane had the Aeronca Champ

Wonderful tips! Thank you.

Thanks for the helpful and interesting video. This one will take more practice, but I'm getting better.

Great tutorial. I had great difficulty at first keeping the Stinson from ground looping. After mastering the De Havilland Beaver, I carried those techniques over to the Stinson and they behave very similarly. From what I'ver heard, both the Stinson L-5 and the Beaver are actually harder to take off and land on the simulator than real life. Oh, and the tailwheel lock and unlock tip was excellent. Thanks for this tutorial.

Great tutorial, lots of useful information in here for the Stinson and other taildraggers.

Best tutorial, lock the tail a good trick! Thank you!

Comments in the order the things I noticed as they appear in the video: (1) The L-5 does not have rudder trim, only the Stinson 108-3 has rudder trim. (2) Max gross weight is 2250# per the FAA type certificate data sheet (3) The overhead switch box is not modeled after an authentic, original one. Nor is the instrument panel. (4) The real L-5 does not have a manual tailwheel lock but an internal detent centers it within 10 degrees and breaks to free castering with a sideload, such as occurs with differential braking. It would be nice if X-plane could simulate that accurately. (5) Standard takeoff flap setting is 1 notch (30 degrees) per the flight manual. (6) For better directional control on takeoff, add right rudder as you power up, but as soon as you raise the tail you will need to relax that a bit or the gyroscopic force of the propeller will cause a swerve. At that point, most people over-control. As you lift off, add in right rudder pressure again to avoid drifting off the runway centerline. (7) The airspeed indicator on an authentic L-5 is calibrated in MPH, not Knots. Normal approach is 60-70 mph (8) For a less steep approach, while learning the sim, don't use full flaps. Remember, when landing, pitch controls airspeed, power controls the descent rate. Trim for the desired speed. (9) While the X-plane sim is pretty good, the handling does not quite mirror the actual aircraft, especially on landing because it doesn't model the physics of the cantilevered gear legs spreading. or the operation of the tailwheel. (10) Historically, the real 42-98186 was not marked D*6C (14th Liaison squadron) in WWII. A period photo indicates that it bore no fuselage marking other than the star. The tail numbers were also orange-yellow, not white. By regulation, the upper invasion stripes were removed by August 1944. (11) For more info, contact James Gray who runs the Stinson L-5 owners association at www.sentinelclub.org. He can provide any technical or historical information about the L-5 and is the best source of accurate information. All in all, however, a thumbs up on the sim of this neat airplane and the video presentation.

Cool 👍

didn't crash but i ran off the runway at CO47 (wonderful air strip) then ran off the runway at KEGE on landing in VR. 1st takeoff and landing and didn't watch this yet, i do have basic flight experience but a 182 is way heavier than a L5

Why didn't I think to look above my head for the battery switch...figured the rest out on my own lol >_> I do enjoy flying this one though. It's fun to tour around big city skyscrapers and such

Subscribed. Yes, it is squirrely, which is why it has a penchant for heading for the trees, it's natural habitat. Think I've managed to fly this rodent successfully only once. Also, during the video you said that you would discuss the history of the aircraft at the end of the video? Or am I wrong?

Static takeoff is the best way to get this plane off the ground. Lined up, lock tailwheel, hold brakes, full back stick, full throttle, RPM stabilized, release brakes, light foot jabs on pedals for centerline, 40mph IAS slowly release back pressure, 60mph rotate gently don't yank it off, airborne! have fun flyboys!