Post by Tom Goodrick on Oct 9, 2009 21:07:46 GMT -5
There are three different autopilots available for use in FS9. I use all three in various panels. I prefer to build them into the panels just as I always build the GPS map into the panels because that is how it is done today in real aircraft. Popups don't work for essential panel indicators. most pilots today consider the autopilot to be an essential piece of equipment in the cockpit, especially if you fly short-handed as we generally do in FS.
For iinfo on the deep, dark secrets of how the autopilots do what they do, see my article in FS Piloting Procedures / Understanding the Autopilot. Here I will just deal with what's on the autopilot head and what equipment must be available with it.
In any installation of an autopilot, make sure you also install the NAV / GPS switch. You can copy this from many panels. It is essential in enabling you to use the autopilot to fly a GPS course on one hand (In GPS position) and to fly an ILS on the other (in NAV position). (Microsoft did not work out the logic very well for the name of this switch. The NAV refers to using NAV radios like VORs and ILS. It misses the fact many of us navigate today by GPS.)
The Bendix-King Autopilot is the simplest and works best with small aircraft. It is normally available in FS as the bottom item in the pop-up radio stack. It must be used with a Directional Gyro or "Horizontal Situation Indicator" which incorporates an extra pointer for ADF, VOR and Localizer. The "bug" that determines the heading the autopilot will fly in HDG mode is on the directional gyro. It is moved by clicking on a knob to the lower right of the directional gyro.
There are six control buttons on the autopilot head (the part you see on the panel):
AP turns the unit ON and OFF.
HDG sets Heading mode in which you tell the autopilot what heading to fly and it turns the aircraft to that heading and maintains the heading. You set the heading usung the bug on the directional gyro. This works well and I use it most of the time.
NAV mode makes the autopilot fly a course you have loaded as a Flight Plan. It will fly to each of the waypoints you have set in the plan. A neat feature is that it will fly a true track on that heading, compensating for wind which it knows from the GPS navigator. You don't get this in HDG mode.
APR mode is approach mode. I don't use this. The autopilot will intercept the ILS if pointed within 30 degrees of the proper course and will descend along the glideslope. You must operate the gear and flaps on the approach. I don't trust this mode and never use it.
REV mode will track properly a VOR course or ILS from the reverse direction. I sledom use it.
ALT mode will climb to an altitude and then level and hold that altitude. It will also descend to an altitude and then level and hold it. You must enter the altitude using the mouse to click digits in the window and must manage the power during climb and descent. I use this all the time.
There are two other buttons labled "up" and "down" that seem to have no function. All other buttons light to show when they are ON.
Using ATC the initial heading is always the runway heading and they give you an initial altitude to which you are cleared. Set these into the autopilot before takeoff. If not using ATC you still should pick and set an initial altitude and heading. It can be difficult to do once you are in the early stages of climbing.
YOU SHOULD NEVER TURN ON THE AUTOPILOT BELOW 400 FT.
You may need some altitude to handle surprises.
I often use flight plans and then switch to NAV mode to fly them after the takeoff and initial climb. I will usually ride down with the autopilot until in the vicinity of the airport where i switch to HDG mode. I switch off the autopilot before starting an approach.
Here is the code I discovered today that is handy for placing the autopilot on a panel. You can do it the same as you would place any gauge but then you cannot raise it above anypart of the 2D panel. This way it can sit on the upper edge of the glareshield. It can also dissappear when you don't need it.
[Window06]
BACKGROUND_COLOR=2,2,2
size_mm=156,44
window_pos= 0.62, 0.26
visible=1
ident=AutoPilot
gauge00=Bendix_King_Radio!Bendix-King Radio AP, 0, 0
The key here is the window_pos command line which works with X and Y in decimal fractions of the 2D panel screen dimension. You can work these out with a little trial and error.
For iinfo on the deep, dark secrets of how the autopilots do what they do, see my article in FS Piloting Procedures / Understanding the Autopilot. Here I will just deal with what's on the autopilot head and what equipment must be available with it.
In any installation of an autopilot, make sure you also install the NAV / GPS switch. You can copy this from many panels. It is essential in enabling you to use the autopilot to fly a GPS course on one hand (In GPS position) and to fly an ILS on the other (in NAV position). (Microsoft did not work out the logic very well for the name of this switch. The NAV refers to using NAV radios like VORs and ILS. It misses the fact many of us navigate today by GPS.)
The Bendix-King Autopilot is the simplest and works best with small aircraft. It is normally available in FS as the bottom item in the pop-up radio stack. It must be used with a Directional Gyro or "Horizontal Situation Indicator" which incorporates an extra pointer for ADF, VOR and Localizer. The "bug" that determines the heading the autopilot will fly in HDG mode is on the directional gyro. It is moved by clicking on a knob to the lower right of the directional gyro.
There are six control buttons on the autopilot head (the part you see on the panel):
AP turns the unit ON and OFF.
HDG sets Heading mode in which you tell the autopilot what heading to fly and it turns the aircraft to that heading and maintains the heading. You set the heading usung the bug on the directional gyro. This works well and I use it most of the time.
NAV mode makes the autopilot fly a course you have loaded as a Flight Plan. It will fly to each of the waypoints you have set in the plan. A neat feature is that it will fly a true track on that heading, compensating for wind which it knows from the GPS navigator. You don't get this in HDG mode.
APR mode is approach mode. I don't use this. The autopilot will intercept the ILS if pointed within 30 degrees of the proper course and will descend along the glideslope. You must operate the gear and flaps on the approach. I don't trust this mode and never use it.
REV mode will track properly a VOR course or ILS from the reverse direction. I sledom use it.
ALT mode will climb to an altitude and then level and hold that altitude. It will also descend to an altitude and then level and hold it. You must enter the altitude using the mouse to click digits in the window and must manage the power during climb and descent. I use this all the time.
There are two other buttons labled "up" and "down" that seem to have no function. All other buttons light to show when they are ON.
Using ATC the initial heading is always the runway heading and they give you an initial altitude to which you are cleared. Set these into the autopilot before takeoff. If not using ATC you still should pick and set an initial altitude and heading. It can be difficult to do once you are in the early stages of climbing.
YOU SHOULD NEVER TURN ON THE AUTOPILOT BELOW 400 FT.
You may need some altitude to handle surprises.
I often use flight plans and then switch to NAV mode to fly them after the takeoff and initial climb. I will usually ride down with the autopilot until in the vicinity of the airport where i switch to HDG mode. I switch off the autopilot before starting an approach.
Here is the code I discovered today that is handy for placing the autopilot on a panel. You can do it the same as you would place any gauge but then you cannot raise it above anypart of the 2D panel. This way it can sit on the upper edge of the glareshield. It can also dissappear when you don't need it.
[Window06]
BACKGROUND_COLOR=2,2,2
size_mm=156,44
window_pos= 0.62, 0.26
visible=1
ident=AutoPilot
gauge00=Bendix_King_Radio!Bendix-King Radio AP, 0, 0
The key here is the window_pos command line which works with X and Y in decimal fractions of the 2D panel screen dimension. You can work these out with a little trial and error.