Problem with autopilot

[kattes]

First of all, I don't think it's a bug, it's more likely me not understanding something. Anyhow, almost every time I use autopilot (intentionally or just by mistake trying to accelerate the game speed) the whole aircraft goes nuts after that (or sometimes even during the autopilot flight) and when I exit the autopilot it has trimmed the aircratf to a great downward spin or something else like that, that is nearly impossible to correct in tight fight. I've tried it with the basic a key, or the alt + numbers, but i tend to always get the same effect. And it seems, if the autopilot flies straight (wich is something it rarely does) the problem is less likely to appear. But quite often it just goes nuts during the autopilot, and doesn't fly straight at all, so it doesn't really help with my problem.So what is it that I don't understand about it? To me it seems this kinda autopilot would get the pilot dead pretty quickly in real life..

 

Thanks in advance for all the help!

[EricJ]

The thing is that the Autopilot automatically sets your trim of your aircraft, so when you disengage it, it's at that "setting" and therefore the plane acts at it's last trim setting. If you hit CTRL + T (except for the Su-25T) it will reset the trim and you will be able to fly like you're supposed to. The Su-25T you have to manually reset it, and if you look at Pg. 15 in the Lock On 1.1 manual, you'll see no. 20, which is your trim indicator. When your aircraft is at neutral trim, all three green lights will show. Any modification to your trim the light will go out until you reset it.

[Ironhand]

...it's more likely me not understanding something. Anyhow, almost every time I use autopilot...the whole aircraft goes nuts after that...

Here is what the autopilot (A key=Route Following Mode) does. It follows both the altitude and COURSE LINE you are supposed to be on while flying from waypoint A to waypoint B. So, if you are below your assigned altitude, the nose will pitch up as the AP takes you to the assigned altitude. If you are 100 feet below where you should be, the change will be far less drastic than if you are 1000 feet below.

 

If you are to the right or left of your assigned course, the AP will fly right or left to intercept the course line you should be on. If you are well outside of your assigned course and altitude, when you you engage the AP, the alterations can be fairly drastic.

 

When you disengage the AP, you inherit the trim settings present at that time. So (as EricJ says), if you disengage the AP before you are on your assigned course at your assigned altitude, you will remain trimmed for what the AP was doing at the time and you are guaranteed to be out of trim for level flight. Just follow his instructions for returning trim to neutral and retrim as necessary from there.

 

If you simply want to remain on your present course (assuming no wind), press the "H" key instead of "A". That engages Barometric Altitude Hold. You'll maintain your present altitude but still be able to easily make minor course changes. Just press the key again to disengage it. I use Barometric Hold far more often than the Route Following mode of the AP. In fact, I reserve it almost exclusively for certain weapons applications in the T-bird.

 

Rich

[kattes]

Thanks

 

Thank you both! It's nice to get the solution with the reason so now it makes sense too. Thanks for your time.