Rudder vs Nose Wheel Steering – How Does the Transition Work During Takeoff and Landing ?
Hey everyone!
Here’s a topic I feel doesn’t get enough attention: the difference between the rudder and the nose wheel steering, especially how the control transition happens during takeoff and landing phases.
Most pilots (virtual or real) know they both help keep the aircraft aligned, but when exactly does control switch from one to the other? And how does Infinite Flight simulate this?
• Rudder vs Nose Wheel – What’s the. Difference?
System Main Role When It’s Used Controlled By (IRL)
Nose Wheel Steering : directs the aircraft on the ground taxi, early takeoff roll, late landing Tiller or linked pedals.
Rudder : Controls yaw via aerodynamic surfaces Takeoff (above ~80kt), flight, early landing Rudder pedals only
• Takeoff – When Does the Rudder Take Over?
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During taxi and early takeoff roll (below ~40–60 kt), nose wheel steering is used to maintain runway alignment.
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As speed increases (around 80 kt), the rudder becomes aerodynamically effective.
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At that point, the rudder takes over for directional control—especially important with crosswinds.
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Nose wheel input becomes minimal or unused to prevent instability.
• Landing – How About the Reverse?
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During flare and initial touchdown, rudder keeps the aircraft aligned with the runway.
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As the aircraft slows below 60 kt, the rudder becomes less effective.
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Nose wheel steering gradually takes over, allowing the pilot to taxi safely.
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Brakes are used in conjunction to stop the aircraft in a straight line.
• How Infinite Flight Handles It
In Infinite Flight, both systems (rudder and nose gear steering) are combined into one control. The rudder slider or cockpit pedal.
There’s no separate tiller system like in MSFS or X-Plane.
At low speeds, the slider also controls the nose wheel.
At high speeds, it transitions to controlling the rudder.
While simplified, it works well for most players — but isn’t fully realistic.
• Feature Suggestion?
What if Infinite Flight introduced a separate nose wheel tiller?
It would allow more realistic ground handling, especially for larger aircraft that use tillers instead of pedals to steer on the ground.
Moreover, I don’t find it realistic that the nose wheel is moving during the flight control check while the plane is stationary, this should be remedied.
I’d like to propose a new system that would bring more realism to ground handling in Infinite Flight: a smart and automatic transition between nose wheel steering (tiller) and rudder, depending on the aircraft’s speed.
The Concept
In real life, pilots use the tiller to steer the aircraft during low-speed ground operations, and the rudder becomes active at higher speeds during takeoff and landing. However, in Infinite Flight, both controls are combined into one slider, which limits realism. My idea is to introduce an automatic behavior switch, based on airspeed, that changes how the rudder slider behaves depending on whether you’re taxiing or taking off/landing.
How It Would Work
From 0 to around 40 knots, the rudder slider would control only the nose wheel steering, allowing precise turns while taxiing.
Between 40 and 80 knots, both tiller and rudder could respond together in a smooth transition phase.
Above 80 knots, the system would gradually disable nose wheel steering, and the rudder becomes the primary control, just like in real-world takeoff runs.
On landing, the system would work in reverse: rudder first, then tiller as the aircraft slows down on the runway.
Control System
This could be done without adding any new buttons. The same rudder slider would adapt its function depending on the speed of the aircraft. For those who want full manual control, an optional toggle in the settings could allow switching between automatic and manual mode.
Why It Matters
This feature would:
Bring a much more realistic experience during taxi, takeoff, and landing.
Avoid unrealistic rudder deflection while taxiing.
Help pilots better manage directional control in different flight phases without needing extra interface elements.
Be intuitive and clean for both beginners and experienced users.
In Summary
This system would make Infinite Flight ground handling far more realistic, without making the interface more complex. One slider, smart behavior, better immersion. I believe this kind of innovation fits the vision Infinite Flight is heading toward.
What About Aircraft Without a Tiller?
Not all aircraft have a separate tiller. Many small aircraft and business jets rely only on the rudder pedals for both ground and flight control.
How it works:
The rudder pedals are mechanically or hydraulically linked to the nose wheel.
At low speeds on the ground, pedal input turns the nose wheel.
At higher speeds, the same pedals control the rudder aerodynamically in flight.
The steering angle is limited (usually 10–20°), so turns are wider compared to airliners.
Examples:
Cessna 172, 208
Cirrus SR22
Beechcraft Bonanza
Embraer Phenom 300
Cessna Citation CJ4
Light military jets
Realistic in Infinite Flight:
For these types of aircraft, Infinite Flight’s combined rudder/nosewheel control is actually accurate, since a tiller isn’t used in real life for them.
Let me know your thoughts and feedback.
- I think this will improve our flight experience !
- I think it is not useful !
