Autopilot

[captflyby]

Can we bind autopilot functions to the keyboard?

[bolek]

Yes and no... Autopilot disconnect is already bound to 'A'. Other autopilot functions are controlled through UFC. You can bind individual UFC buttons but that's not the same as binding autopilot functions. Each press of the UFC button does what it does depending on the current UFC mode (page) and the same will be true of your keyboard bindings.

 

AFAIK, there is no way to bind autopilot functions only.

[captflyby]

Yes and no... Autopilot disconnect is already bound to 'A'. Other autopilot functions are controlled through UFC. You can bind individual UFC buttons but that's not the same as binding autopilot functions. Each press of the UFC button does what it does depending on the current UFC mode (page) and the same will be true of your keyboard bindings.

 

AFAIK, there is no way to bind autopilot functions only.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I should have explained myself.

 

 

During flight, I find it difficult to take my hand off the joystick, to use the mouse, to click on functions of the autopilot. Plane wanders. By the time you have the autopilot function you wish to use clicked, the plane is no longer in the position you wish for the autopilot to hold. Bad set up.

 

 

I use voice attack. In the Mirage - I have it set to just say "altitude hold" and on it comes to hold altitude where I want it.

 

 

I cannot do that in the hornet, or at least don't know how to, because there are no keyboard commands for these functions.

 

 

 

I was just wondering if there were functions, I just didn't know where to find them.

[Rudel_chw]

During flight, I find it difficult to take my hand off the joystick, to use the mouse, to click on functions of the autopilot. Plane wanders.

 

 

As far as I've seen, there is only an AP Disengage (on the paddle switch) .. what I do is to use the trimmer hat to place the aircraft on a steady path, and only then reach out for the mouse.

[bolek]

I use voice attack. In the Mirage - I have it set to just say "altitude hold" and on it comes to hold altitude where I want it.

 

I cannot do that in the hornet, or at least don't know how to, because there are no keyboard commands for these functions.

 

I was just wondering if there were functions, I just didn't know where to find them.

 

As I said, you can only bind UFC buttons like "UFC Function Selector Pushbutton - A/P" or "UFC Option Select Pushbutton 1" etc.

 

You cannot bind RALT or BALT etc. because these are not commands in the sim.

 

But if you bind UFC buttons you will be able to use them for other UFC functions too (e.g. TACAN setup).

[donkeyrider]

I find the hornet is pretty stable so using the autopilot is quite straightforward.

 

I also use the mouse with my left hand so I can keep my right hand on the joystick.

[corvinus]

 

During flight, I find it difficult to take my hand off the joystick, to use the mouse, to click on functions of the autopilot. Plane wanders. By the time you have the autopilot function you wish to use clicked, the plane is no longer in the position you wish for the autopilot to hold. Bad set up..

 

This is exactly why I connected a second mouse and placed it at the left of the throttle. This way you can use the UFC without taking your hand of the stick. Works for me, but a shortcut would still be nice.

[Papa Spardy]

I see this sort of problem pop up on the forums from time to time, where people don't seem to be able to take their hands off the stick to press buttons in cockpit without the hornet going off course or altitude. The reason I bring this up is I find the the hornet just flys where you point it. I literally fly with f10 because I'm trying to learn the Caucasus map in mutiplayer right now and when I finally find the city and go back to F1 I'm still on said course.

[hornblower793]

If I find the plane drifting slightly while using the mouse I just temporarily move left hand from throttle to stick to hold course - not really an issue in this plane though since, as others have said, it just holds true if trimmed

[Forest Rat]

This may or may not work for you, but I use a modifier + hat for my autopilot. I hit Mod+Hat Down to set the UFC on AP mode, then mod+hat left/up/right to go through whatever modes you want.

 

Modifier + Hat Down = "UFC Function Selector Pushbutton - A/P"

Modifier + Had Left = "UFC Option Select Pushbutton 2"

Modifier + Had Up = "UFC Option Select Pushbutton 1"

Modifier + Had Right = "UFC Option Select Pushbutton 3"

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

I see this sort of problem pop up on the forums from time to time, where people don't seem to be able to take their hands off the stick to press buttons in cockpit without the hornet going off course or altitude. The reason I bring this up is I find the the hornet just flys where you point it. I literally fly with f10 because I'm trying to learn the Caucasus map in mutiplayer right now and when I finally find the city and go back to F1 I'm still on said course.

yeah, try flying straight with assymetric loads, for example after your first bomb run, or adjusting speed so your wingman can catch up... more actual usage of the aircraft rather than flying from A to B. ;)

[Papa Spardy]

The tools are there, use them. set trim after dropping ordnance. atc set at 350. Problem solved

[fitness88]

With Saitek software I can create a macro which will click on the AP button then any of the other A/P modes I select.

[Demongornot]

I usually put my right hand on the mouse and my left hand from the throttle to the joystick, using a screen with the A10 or more recently with a VR headset, last time I flown the Hornet I did this and I never had issues doing it with any airplane/helicopter, throttle often require less work than joystick even for helicopter (except in low altitude or close formation flight and such of course), so switching hand isn't a huge issue, pilot on Airbus have their stick on the left while most being probably right handed.

Another solution is to create a macro which will push all the buttons on the cockpit for whatever you plan to do (here, to engage autopilot), most Joy's software have macros.

[Alphamale]

This may or may not work for you, but I use a modifier + hat for my autopilot. I hit Mod+Hat Down to set the UFC on AP mode, then mod+hat left/up/right to go through whatever modes you want.

 

Modifier + Hat Down = "UFC Function Selector Pushbutton - A/P"

Modifier + Had Left = "UFC Option Select Pushbutton 2"

Modifier + Had Up = "UFC Option Select Pushbutton 1"

Modifier + Had Right = "UFC Option Select Pushbutton 3"

 

Is your modifier set through the game controls or thru your stick software?

[Forest Rat]

Is your modifier set through the game controls or thru your stick software?

I configure my modifiers within the DCS keybind screen. There's a button to set modifiers in the bottom-left corner, I believe.

[joca133]

Pardon my ignorance, but since UFC shortcuts are available, couldn’t you do a similar macro with Voice Attack to push those buttons for you in a particular order? I am not sure if this works, especially since I havent seen shortcuts for the a/p panel in bottom of hud, but maybe possible?