Suggestion/Idea: AP standby option

[bkthunder]

From the manual:

"The Mirage 2000C autopilot is designed to be used in most phases of flight thanks the AP standby command; It is a long vertical paddle behind the stick that puts the autopilot in standby, memorizing the current modes, allowing the pilot to easily change the aircraft attitude and re-engage the auto-pilot by releasing the paddle. The paddle is naturally pressed when the pilot holds the stick."

 

I suppose most of the sticks we use lack such paddle (at least mine does), making it really hard to fly the Mirage with the Autopilot, as it is supposed to be flown. 

I tired assigning a button on the stick but it's just not very convenient to keep my thumb or pinky on a button while flying, so I have an idea: 

put an option in the special options tab (user choice), that with the AP activated, it will put it in standby when the stick is moved, and then restore the active state when the stick is centered again. This can better simulate what happens in the real plane when the pilot grips the stick he "naturally/automatically" presses the paddle. 

 

What do you think?

[myHelljumper]

Hi, while this is not a bad idea, this is not the way to do it. if the plane is not trimmed it's not going to work well.

What we are thinking about is a toggle button as it would be much easier to use.

Thanks for the suggestion tho :). 

[El Chapo]

"Pinky switch" on US sticks is what's the closest from that paddle. I thinks it works quite well. 

But you have to get rid of the habit of pressing it when switching plane... 

[Galinette]

On Virpils you can use the trigger « guard » or the paddle for this 

[some1]

I created a separate command for paddle press and release, so I can map it to two spare buttons on my joystick grip. It doesn't make the autopilot activate automatically when I release the stick, but the airplane flies very stable anyway, so it's not a big issue. 

   {category = _('HOTAS'), name = _('Autopilot Standby Mode DOWN'),                down = iCommandPlaneAutopilotOverrideOn            },
   {category = _('HOTAS'), name = _('Autopilot Standby Mode UP'),                    down = iCommandPlaneAutopilotOverrideOff            },

 

[Galinette]

7 hours ago, m4ti140 said:

On virpil sticks the fixed trigger is actually supposed to be just that, it's even labelled as AP override because that's what it's for in Su-27 family of aircraft (weapon triggers are foldable instead). But now that the trigger is 2 stage that's kinda down the drain.

First stage isn't very useful, so you could keep it for AP if it suits best your needs.
But, there is also the movable trigger that can be well suited for AP override, it's even somewhat stable in the down position.

Or, add an axis 2 button on the big paddle and use it for AP override

Plenty of choices on the virpil

Edited November 22, 2021 by Kercheiz