VC10 autopilot

[forthbridge]

HI Guys,

With thanks to Ian, I installed the older cabfile - unfortunately without any success. At 250knots and 5000AGL, the A/C takes about 1.2-1.3 deg of tail pitch to hold altitude (which is does nicely). When I move the Datum up to climb at 100' the tail pitch drops to 0.7 then climbs to 1.3 - and the aircraft descends. Resetting alt hold (or using datum at zero) the aircraft will stabilze. Dialling in 500' on the datum drops the pitch to 0.4degrees, then it climbs to 1.5 - but the aircraft descends.

[DanKH]

You haven't by any change activated auto throttle at the same time have you...? It really sounds a strange behaviour.

Like if she's trying to accomplish both VS and speed at the same time.... maybe the Learjet A/P (underneath the "real" one) is teasing you....

I must admit that I have never heard of such behaviour in the VC10... and I've flown a couple of flights...

Except when I tried in FSX, but as you know those problems has now been solved.

Hmm... back in the box then....

Now the only thing I can think about is to actually reinstall the whole shebang back to "prior" 15APR version....

I have all the files from David's site available so just shout....

[nigelb]

By coincidence I flew the VC10 a few days ago and discovered the autopilot did not like FSNAV. Even with FSNAV set to not use the autothrottle, the speed numbers on the autopilot would bounce between 180kts and 250 (or 300 kts above 10,000 ft)
One of the bugs on the airspeed indicator was also gyrating back and forth. This was with Autothrottle turned OFF. When landing with speed below 180kts, I tried the autothrottle and found I could not adjust the values at all. I visited DM's site and downloaded the panel again and discovered the .cab file had been updated. My original was April 8th and the newer one was April 15th. Installed the newer cab file and that fixed everything! The original autopilot works perectly, and if I am lazy, I can use the Lear A/P to control airspeed.

I mention this because I have FS9 so the update must have effected FS9 as well as FSX. Using the authentic A/P and not using FSNAV at all, i have no trouble maintaing altitude or making minor pitch adjustments via the datum knob.

N²

[forthbridge]

HI Guys

I've just made my standard 'air display' flight at Leuchars in the David's 1-11 as follows:

Climb straight out to 5000AGL, (departing east) then position for a run in from the east at 500AGL at 140kts, followed by a 90 (I do overfly St Andrews :flying: ) then 180 degree turn, run in at 200 feet from the east at 190 knots, and climbing exit with a 20 degree left turn. All accomplished (bar the takeoff) with the autopilot. Absolutely precise.
*EDIT - the point being that this was flyable in the VC10 using the autopilot, alt hold and Datum adjust...

Back to the VC10 - I think I will strip her out and reinstall everything again to try once more before I think about older files.

I get know issue with the speed as Nigel mentions - another mystery?

I don't run FSNAv - all I have installed at the moment is FSScreen (not running at present). I only use the VC10 autothrottles when on an approach to hold VAT - otherwise it's always off and it's manual throttles.

[speedbird591]

HI Guys,

With thanks to Ian, I installed the older cabfile - unfortunately without any success. At 250knots and 5000AGL, the A/C takes about 1.2-1.3 deg of tail pitch to hold altitude (which is does nicely). When I move the Datum up to climb at 100' the tail pitch drops to 0.7 then climbs to 1.3 - and the aircraft descends. Resetting alt hold (or using datum at zero) the aircraft will stabilze. Dialling in 500' on the datum drops the pitch to 0.4degrees, then it climbs to 1.5 - but the aircraft descends.

Jim - I've just flown for half an hour in G-ARVB at 250kias/5000ft in autopilot with that CAB file and I can't replicate your problem. I even climbed and descended with the datum adjust knob at 1000 fpm and it did so smoothly without any 'hunting'. The tail pitch only moved slightly (0.5 level to 1.2 climb).

It's a mystery to me, I'm afraid.

Ian :-(

[forthbridge]

HI Ian,

Just tried again with a reinstall - just the same. Every time I use the Datum, pitch drops then climbs, initiating a descent. I'll need to try using the standard AP or use the pichwheel only - thanks for all the help guys ;-)

[Garry Russell]

HI Tonks

TBH I think it is not realised that the older stuff especially has to be worked at

Blimey if it was that easy even I could do it, when in reality, I know I couldn't STUPID

I was on the jumpseat of an F.27 once and was amazang as the autopilot constantly fought the girls behind with the trolly and other movement meaning it was tending to roller coaster a bit on the height line with the constant CG changes

Garry

[Hot_Charlie]

I had no idea just how real Flight Sim is... this all sounds like a day at work!!!

That's assuming at least one of the autopilots works in the first place!

[speedbird591]

I had no idea just how real Flight Sim is... this all sounds like a day at work!!!

That's assuming at least one of the autopilots works in the first place!

What wouldn't you boys give for a 'pause' button, eh? When it's all going wrong, imagine pressing a button, going off and making a cup of tea, kicking the cat and then restarting the flight with a different aircraft!

It sounds perfect, but remember we don't get paid to do it so they make it easier for us

Ian

[forthbridge]

I had no idea just how real Flight Sim is... this all sounds like a day at work!!!

That's assuming at least one of the autopilots works in the first place!

What wouldn't you boys give for a 'pause' button, eh? When it's all going wrong, imagine pressing a button, going off and making a cup of tea, kicking the cat and then restarting the flight with a different aircraft!

It sounds perfect, but remember we don't get paid to do it so they make it easier for us

Ian

Or, if you feel like a pint or nine, how about the Slew command? Must be space on the panel for a 'Y' key.....