Need Autopilot for SkyUnlimited P-38

[whitney17]

Hi,

Ever since it came out for FS 9, the SU P-38 has been one of my favorite planes to fly. However, when SkyUnlimited released version 3.1 for FSX they didn't include an autopilot for it, as they had for all previous versions. Even though I've brought this to their attention a few times over the last year and a half, they have not fixed the problem.

Is there a way to add an autopilot to the FSX SU P-38? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Joe

[Walter]

If you just want to hit Z and be off on autopilot, you need to edit the Aircraft.cfg.

First, take an autopilot from any plane that has one that you like. You do this by copying the [Autopilot] portion from the Aircraft.cfg of the plane with the autopilot.

Second, paste the copied [Autopilot] portion into the P-38's [Autopilot] spot in the Aircraft.cfg. If there is no [Autopilot] spot, just paste the copied [Autopilot] portion onto the end of the P-38's Aircraft.cfg.

Regards,

Walter

[medic]

If useing an auto pilot from another aircraft check the panel folder of the aircraft that you are useing as a donar for your auto pilot for a gauges cab, if a gauges cab is present you will have to copy the gages cab over to the panel folder of the aircraft you are adding the autopilot to.

The default 737-800 would be a good choice as there is a nav/gps switch included, you may also have to edit your aircraft config to enable an autopilot and the vertical speed settings for the autopilot this is a trial and error thing about 500 ft a minute would be a fair starting point.

As you said in your post there is no autopilot with the aircraft so I assume that there is no GPS either if this is so you may want to consider adding a GPS as well, this is a straigt foward proceadure of copying and the GPS from any default aircraft and pasteing it into your panel cofig and editing the window numbers. Before editing always back up your original first.


Here is an example of a panel configeration to add an Autopilot and GPS, the GPS gauge is already in the default FSX gauges folder so there is no need to copy this over.

Windowxx=Autopilot
Windowxx=GPS


[Windowxx]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=444,86
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=8
visible=0
ident=AutoPilot
window_size= 0.500, 0.140
window_pos= 0, 0.000

gauge00==B737_800!autopilot, 0,0,444,86

[Windowxx]
size_mm=456,378
window_size=0.5
position=8
BACKGROUND_COLOR=0,0,0
VISIBLE=0
ident=GPS_PANEL

gauge00=fs9gps!gps_500, 0,0


Aircraft config

[autopilot]
autopilot_available=1
flight_director_available=1
default_vertical_speed=500

Start with 500 ft/min and and adjust as reqired for best performance.

[napamule]

Well Walter and Medic are both correct. Just want to add: When you have a (autopilot) section in cfg you can use 'Z' (AP on/off toggle) THEN press 'Ctrl+Z' (hold present Alt) and your aircraft pitch trim will be 'auto' set by AP and you will be flying level (at prsent alt, rounded off to nearest 100 ft). Just 'Set It-And Forget It'. :jump:

I use this all the time. Even with aircraft that have Autopilot. Saves a step or two. The object is not to do vertical climb/desent, but just to 'set for level (trimed) flight'. Press 'Ctrl+Z' and then 'Z' and AP is off and you can hand fly. Too easy.
Chuck B
Napamule

[whitney17]

Thanks for the suggestions everybody.

Joe