streering diamond not resetting after trim is set

[razorseal]

I've watched a few videos regarding flying the KA50 (I would say the hardest thing for me to fly right now because I can't figure out the AP/TRIM system).

 

I remember when I used to fly 1.2.5, the steering diamond did indeed reset to the new heading when I used the trim function... I started flying again, and I noticed that I can't get the steering diamond to reset to the new heading after I use the trim button.

 

any help in this matter?

[Raptor9]

IIRC, the diamond only resets with trim if there is no active waypoint selected on the PVI. If there is, it will indicate the heading to that waypoint. Another thing to try is the DH/DT switch on the Autopilot panel. Try switching between the two modes or the middle position to see the results.

 

I personally like the middle position on the DH/DT switch. When you enable the En-route mode (without task), it will maintain your current airspeed, and update the airspeed hold when you release the trimmer. The downside is you get just zeros on the PVI readout.

 

But I digress.

[Flagrum]

IIRC, the diamond only resets with trim if there is no active waypoint selected on the PVI. If there is, it will indicate the heading to that waypoint. Another thing to try is the DH/DT switch on the Autopilot panel. Try switching between the two modes or the middle position to see the results.

 

I personally like the middle position on the DH/DT switch. When you enable the En-route mode (without task), it will maintain your current airspeed, and update the airspeed hold when you release the trimmer. The downside is you get just zeros on the PVI readout.

 

But I digress.

Uhm, but the DH/DT switch is only a 2 position switch?

[Raptor9]

Uhm, but the DH/DT switch is only a 2 position switch?

 

The switch actually has three physical positions, try it out. :)

[Flagrum]

The switch actually has three physical positions, try it out. :)

Indeed ... but it is not documented in the manual as far as I could see?

 

And while playing around with it, I still fail to see the difference between

 

• route mode on + dh/dt middle position and
  
• route mode off
  

[Raptor9]

Indeed ... but it is not documented in the manual as far as I could see?

 

And while playing around with it, I still fail to see the difference between

 

• 
  
• route mode on + dh/dt middle position and
  
• route mode off
  

 

If you turn on route mode with the DH/DT switch in the middle position, it will hold your airspeed instead of your attitude. You'll see your airspeed ladder in the HUD switch formats when you do this and you'll see the aircraft adjust pitch attitude to hold that airspeed. If you hold the trimmer, adjust your speed, and then release it, it will try to hold that new airspeed. The only difference from normal route mode is it won't try to turn towards the next waypoint.

 

With route mode off, the autopilot channels will just hold your attitude, which indirectly helps hold an airspeed, but you'll have to fine tune it manually.

 

Not trying to get into another of those discussions on what the "correct" way to fly is. Those drive me nuts. It's just another trick and whatever suits your individual style of flying is fine. I will caveat this by admitting I haven't flown DCS since the last two updates (long-term business trip), so maybe something has changed in the Shark.

[Flagrum]

If you turn on route mode with the DH/DT switch in the middle position, it will hold your airspeed instead of your attitude. You'll see your airspeed ladder in the HUD switch formats when you do this and you'll see the aircraft adjust pitch attitude to hold that airspeed. If you hold the trimmer, adjust your speed, and then release it, it will try to hold that new airspeed. The only difference from normal route mode is it won't try to turn towards the next waypoint.

 

With route mode off, the autopilot channels will just hold your attitude, which indirectly helps hold an airspeed, but you'll have to fine tune it manually.

 

Not trying to get into another of those discussions on what the "correct" way to fly is. Those drive me nuts. It's just another trick and whatever suits your individual style of flying is fine. I will caveat this by admitting I haven't flown DCS since the last two updates (long-term business trip), so maybe something has changed in the Shark.

This is why I love DCS so much - no matter what, you can learn something new every single day! :o)

 

I will experiment a bit more with this, now that I know what to look after. Thanks!

[Fishbreath]

Route mode on+DH/DT middle position is functionally equivalent to route mode on+no waypoint or other POI selected on PVI-800.

[Suchacz]

If you turn on route mode with the DH/DT switch in the middle position, it will hold your airspeed instead of your attitude.

Oh... :huh:

 

IMHO

- DH stands for desired heading - route mode leads you directly to the selected waypoint

- DT stands for desired track - route mode first hits the line between selected waypoint and previous one and then leads you to the selected waypoint

 

but I can be wrong, I havent been flying BS for ages...

Edited March 3, 2014 by Suchacz

[Raptor9]

Oh... :huh:

 

IMHO

- DH stands for desired heading - route mode leads you directly to the selected waypoint

- DT stands for desired track - route mode first hits the line between selected waypoint and previous one and then leads you to the selected waypoint

 

but I can be wrong, I havent been flying BS for ages...

 

You are absolutely correct. However, as discussed in the above posts, if you put the switch in the middle position so that neither DH or DT are selected...

[Suchacz]

You are absolutely correct. However, as discussed in the above posts, if you put the switch in the middle position so that neither DH or DT are selected...

You made me to sit in the Shark again :D

[BitMaster]

Actually, the combat area is usually so tight and targets not further away than 20-30min flight time in demanding terrain... I usually fly without en-route.

 

The faster and lower you fly the less usable the en-route mode also becomes. You would eventually fly into a slope because the auto-pilot system won't be able to pull up fast enough.

The Doppler Radar seems to not look far enough ahead to start compensating early enough.

 

That said, it works great in flat land or at higher altitudes but when going to combat I rather trust my hand-eye combo :)

 

...and yes, when you have a SteerPoint/Waypoint set in PVI, the steering diamond will stay on that selected course and not react to your trim button.

 

The biggest challenge in the Ka is to have none of the systems activated when you shouldn't. Forgetting to have "this" or "that" active can truly spoil your move until you get behind what is fighting your input, be it FD, "Q" "R"...never forget what you engaged a minute before and fly coordinated in your brain.

 

Nonetheless, I am gonna fumble with what u guys said above ;)

 

Bit

Edited March 4, 2014 by BitMaster

[Raptor9]

Yeah agree, these are all neat tricks and all, but their usefulness in a combat area, let alone a mountainous region, is limited. You'd spend more time managing the automation than looking outside for threats.

 

But it's still fun to experiment and flip random switches. :joystick: