#3234583 - 03/15/11 03:30 AM
Re: hows auto-pilot work?
[Re: Magnum]
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,893
GrayGhost
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,893
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Autopilot requires EAC to be engaged. Select AP mode, then LAAP E/D.
Check the manual for details.
--
44th VFW
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#3234587 - 03/15/11 03:34 AM
Re: hows auto-pilot work?
[Re: Magnum]
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,405
kramer
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Posts: 5,405
Ohio
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the default keyboard settings: in Game Mode 1 is set to LAAP Engage/Disengage whereas in Sim Mode A is set to LAAP Engage/Disengage.so if you are playing in sim mode you need to hit the A key to turn the autopilot on, or reset it to be the 1 key. the autopilot is on the LASTE panel just below the throttle.  Page 136 of the Flight Manual:
3. Autopilot Select Switch. Located along the right side of the panel is a three position switch that allows you to select the active autopilot mode. These autopilot modes form the Low Altitude Autopilot (LAAP) system. The three selections are:
PATH (top position). This mode will attempt to keep the aircraft on its current flight path, represented by the total velocity vector symbol on the HUD. This mode will not engage with a bank angle greater than 10-degrees.
ALT/HDG (middle position). This mode will attempt to maintain the barometric altitude and heading of the aircraft when the mode was activated. This mode will not engage with a bank angle greater than 10-degrees.
ALT (down position). When this mode is engaged, the autopilot will attempt to maintain current bank angle and barometric altitude.
Note: The A-10C does not include a route autopilot system that automatically flies the aircraft to a steerpoint or along a loaded flight plan.
Once an autopilot mode is selected, you must press the Autopilot Engage button to activate the mode. You may also press the autopilot engage/disengage left throttle button.
If a control input is commanded while in autopilot, the active autopilot mode will automatically disengage and a WARNING, AUTOPILOT; message will be heard. You can also disengage autopilot by pressing the Autopilot Engage/Disengage button or left throttle button.
4. Autopilot Engage/Disengage Button. To the left of the LAAP mode switch is the Autopilot Engage/Disengage button. This button will enable, if conditions are suitable, the selected autopilot mode if no mode is active. If however an autopilot mode is active, pressing this button will disable autopilot.
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#3234621 - 03/15/11 06:24 AM
Re: hows auto-pilot work?
[Re: Magnum]
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 87
glebILC
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 87
Colorado
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I think they assume everyone uses the clickable cockpit, not that everyone uses a HOTAS.
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#3234648 - 03/15/11 07:43 AM
Re: hows auto-pilot work?
[Re: Magnum]
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 202
Ryujin
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Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 202
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Btw, LCTRL+LSHIFT+E turns EAC on/off if you don't want to reach around the throttles to get at it (which I find extremely awkward when the engines are idling). I also agree with the "manual for HOTAS users" theory, learning all the weapons/optics switches was a pain for my X52 setup as I had to leave a lot on the keyboard, all that 'TMS forward short' lingo get's confusing when you don't have HOTAS and have to keep in mind which keys correspond to which parts of each switch.
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#3234720 - 03/15/11 12:08 PM
Re: hows auto-pilot work?
[Re: Magnum]
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,121
sascha
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Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,121
Munich, Germany
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You have to be somewhat level for it to work. Yup.. took me ages to figure that one out. Even when I got the nose level and steady, the AP would always disengage once I let go of the stick. Took me a while to figure out that this was the (physical) stick centering itself when I let go of it. Simple workaround is to let go of the stick with all but thumb and index-finger, thereby uncovering the FF-sensor which in turn switches off FF temporarily. I also agree with the "manual for HOTAS users" theory, learning all the weapons/optics switches was a pain for my X52 setup as I had to leave a lot on the keyboard, all that 'TMS forward short' lingo get's confusing when you don't have HOTAS and have to keep in mind which keys correspond to which parts of each switch. I work around this problem with an annotaded version of the HOTAS-layout from the manual. You can find it HERE. I printed that out and added the corresponding keyboard-commands next to the HOTAS-commands. It's not perfect, but it seems to work rather well for me.
Last edited by sascha; 03/15/11 12:15 PM.
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#3234942 - 03/15/11 04:36 PM
Re: hows auto-pilot work?
[Re: Magnum]
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
- Ice
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16,082
Philippines / North East UK
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I find autopilot to be a great help, so much so that I miss it terribly when AAA fire knocks it out of commission, or if my EAC acts up all of a sudden.
ALT is useful for orbiting, ALT/HDG is like cruise-control, and PATH is useful for those really long, boring climbs. I find I use ALT a lot. For all of them to work, the aircraft must meet certain parameters. The basic of which is that EAC is functioning. Next, the aircraft must be straight and level (or as close to it, +/0 5 degrees IIRC) for ALT/HDG to work, or a level climb for PATH. ALT is great because it can bank the aircraft 30-60 degrees and keep it there and still keep altitude --- the catch is that you have to be on a level flight turn and on max power. If for any reason the aircraft cannot compensate to keep bank/altitude, like if you are very slow, it will come out of autopilot.
- Ice
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#3236170 - 03/16/11 11:10 PM
Re: hows auto-pilot work?
[Re: Magnum]
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 62
El_Roto
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 62
Kenosha, WI (Brrrr!)
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ALT is incredibly useful when trying to find a ground object that you don't want to get near: put your 'Hog in a bank about ten miles out and let your TGP go to work!
ALT/HDG is my saviour during Mav runs. Without it I'd be unable to get a good "solution" on more than one target per pass, if that! As stated above, you really notice it when the AP is gone.
Life is simple: As you get older, your toys get bigger.
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Exodus
by RedOneAlpha. 04/18/24 05:46 PM
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