Enable AutoPilot More Quickly

[Slade]

Request:
Please make it easier and faster to turn on autopilot.

I want to press the AutoPilot keys to make my plane go straight or climb without all this crazy fuss of getting the orientation...just...almost there...just...almost...just. ..just right.  There!  Finally got it!

What do you think, is this a pretty reasonable request?  If not help me understand why we need to wait so long?

Thanks for considering. 

[The Fugitive]

What kind of trouble are you having? I just release the controls and hit the key and its on. I have pulled enough Gs to see some black out turning it on.

[Slade]

What kind of trouble are you having?

I've been flying I think for about a decade in this game.  It does seem to vary per plane.  Just takes too long.  Seems people can get used to anything.  Just plenty of room for improvement on this point is all. 

Sure if your plane is close to a state and orientation where the current settings are close to being autopilot OK its quick.  Otherwise it is a pain. 


Thanks for your post.

[Shamus]

The only time I experience auto pilot hunting is when the airspeed is too low.

[FLS]

If not help me understand why we need to wait so long?

Thanks for considering. 

When you set an auto pilot mode the flight model is responding to trim changes. That takes time. You wouldn't want auto pilot to override the flight model.

[redcatcherb412]

The only time I experience auto pilot hunting is when the airspeed is too low.

Have lost many a fully loaded TU2 turning it into a plow hitting autoclimb and too low in airspeed&altitude.

[RedBeard]

I suspect there are a number of factors that influence this.  One of which is whether or not combat trim is on.  Going from combat trim on to autopilot on seems to work rather quickly.  However, if combat trim is off and the plane is out of trim, then it may take a while for the autopilot to settle.

[hitech]

Your not describing your wish very well. Are you speaking of the time it takes for the pitch to steady out?

HiTech

[ImADot]

Slade,

Please describe your typical routine when engaging autopilot; what attitude is the plane flying, what trim settings, what airspeed, which autopilot mode are you selecting, etc.

I have never encountered any sluggishness when engaging the autopilot.

[lunatic1]

I have the autopilot function mapped to my throttle
 

[Slade]

Your not describing your wish very well. Are you speaking of the time it takes for the pitch to steady out?

1. First I ensure all my flaps are not deployed.
2. I press the X or or Alt-X keys to engage autopilot.

Sometimes it engages immediately.  MANY times it takes several tries having to get the plane to a state of relative "calmness" or stable flight before it actually engages autopilot. 

I do not condone making it "gamey" to engage it while the plane is at 500+ mph in a dive or similar.

Just quicker and less fidgeting with your plane, to get it just right, to have it turn on.

I hope that explanation is clearer.


Thanks for considering,

Slade 

[Ramesis]

Request:
Please make it easier and faster to turn on autopilot.

I want to press the AutoPilot keys to make my plane go straight or climb without all this crazy fuss of getting the orientation...just...almost there...just...almost...just. ..just right.  There!  Finally got it!

What do you think, is this a pretty reasonable request?  If not help me understand why we need to wait so long?

Thanks for considering. 

I have all 3 auto pilot modes programmed to buttons my stick/throttle 

[ImADot]

Slade,

Could it be that your keyboard is sensitive and you are inadvertently double-tapping the X key?

[RedBeard]

Since he is talking about flaps, I'm guessing that he has just taken off and wants to immediately engage autopilot climb mode without accelerating to the climb speed first.

[FLS]

1. First I ensure all my flaps are not deployed.
2. I press the X or or Alt-X keys to engage autopilot.

Sometimes it engages immediately.  MANY times it takes several tries having to get the plane to a state of relative "calmness" or stable flight before it actually engages autopilot. 

I do not condone making it "gamey" to engage it while the plane is at 500+ mph in a dive or similar.

Just quicker and less fidgeting with your plane, to get it just right, to have it turn on.

I hope that explanation is clearer.


Thanks for considering,

Slade 

Sounds like you may have a problem with your joystick. Any JS input after engaging auto-pilot will turn it off. Check for spiking.

X and Alt-X work right away for me. Shift X sometimes needs adjustment to get the angle I want.