Rocket attacks and autopilot

[sonic]

Hi,

 

I have a question about the autopilot modes witch are engaged when making a rocket attack.

 

I tried using only Pith dampener, Bank dampener and Lateral dampener modes. With this buttons pressed on the autopilot panel i find it very difficult to align on target and make a successfull rocket pass.

 

When i engage the flight director mode it becomes easier to align on target. Aircraft stop sliding and i can aim better.

 

Is it normal autopilot behavior? What autopilot buttons are supposed to be engaged when making rocket attacks? Do real pilots use the Flight director mode too?

[Zorrin]

Flight director mode means you can choose your headings etc etc but the autopilot's damping systems are still active.

 

So yes, when doing rocket or strafe attacks make sure the Flight Director is switched on. Otherwise you are fighting the autopilot and trying to attack...

[Focha]

I would assume that if you are making an attack run on the target you should not use the AP... but that just my common sense talking. Why would you use AP in an attack run with rockets? It is obvious to me that if you have those AP modes engaged it will be very difficult to align with anything because you are forcing AP and AP is forcing the aircraft to maintain the trim assigned. So my advice is, if you are not in a hover search with Shkval and attack targets with Vikhr do not use AP to make attack runs. Personally I only use AP in cruise or in hover when I am searching and attack targets from a hover other than that I don´t use it. And it´s better if you have to avoid SAMs to not have AP on.

 

Best regards and hope I helped you.

[AlphaOneSix]

If you don't want to fight the autopilot, press the trimmer button and hold it, it's that simple. In this way, you can (and should) leave the AP on at all times.

[Maverick-GER-]

Well if i see that right both ways = same result,

if you engage the flight director mode your autopilot stabilisation is still active but no "direct autopilot input"

and it is the same with keeping the trimmer button pressed or am i wrong?

 

My way of doing it was the one alphaonesix was posting and it works pretty good (well still have to aim a bit better but thats a thing of practice...)

but i can image flight director would work the same way

[Focha]

If you don't want to fight the autopilot, press the trimmer button and hold it, it's that simple. In this way, you can (and should) leave the AP on at all times.

 

But then you have to press it all the time! I don´t understand why are you saying to fight with AP on? Is it because if you need to do something with the left hand you leave the cyclic where it is and he will fly alone?

 

Regards.

[AlphaOneSix]

But then you have to press it all the time!

 

Just like in real life. ED made themselves a dandy simulation, they did!

[Maverick-GER-]

But then you have to press it all the time!

And? You should be using it all the time anyhow, and its a button on your joystick ( cyclic stick) anyhow so where is the problem?

I don´t understand why are you saying to fight with AP on? Is it because if you need to do something with the left hand you leave the cyclic where it is and he will fly alone?

Because as stated in several posts and a lot of times , Bank Hold, Pitch and Heading Hold should be engaged all the time except in emergency situations, if systems were damaged.

Completely without Autopilot its no flight it is rather a fight to get the kamov fly where or better how you want it to fly.

With autopilot on but trimmer button pressed you can turn however you want too but the helicopter gets at least stabilized by the autopilot, So it wont make any wild movements on you!

 

Another thing the autopilot is good for is, once you lined up with your helicopter towards the target and aim on the ground in front of the target you can release the trimmer button and just wait for the right second to pull the trigger

Edited November 26, 2008 by Maverick-GER-

[EvilBivol-1]

My recommendation would be to use Flight Director mode anytime you know you will need to perform significant manual maneuvering. Rocket and cannon strafing attacks and most other times you are in close proximity to the enemy, use the Flight Director mode.

 

This may not work well for everyone.

[GGTharos]

I actually did have a situation last night where the DNS failed and I was actually forced to disengage the stabilizers because the bloody thing was now attempting to murder me. One heck of a simulation :D

[sonic]

Thanks for all your replies!

 

So there seems to be two ways to make straffing attacks :

 

- use the flight director mode to align

OR

- keep the trim button pressed untill you align on target. Release trim button so the autopilot will keep you in line with your target.

 

I will try the trim method tonight :) Thanks again for your anwers.

[Maverick-GER-]

or keep the trim button pressed all the time...

[sonic]

I just tried the "trim button pressed method" and it works good plus it makes wonders when making a constant turn : i now have free time to observe the field instead of concentrating on the turn itself!

[therion_prime]

Hmm... I always switch off the heading dampener autopilot blue button thingy. Works for me ... :dunno:

[Bucic]

I actually did have a situation last night where the DNS failed and I was actually forced to disengage the stabilizers because the bloody thing was now attempting to murder me. One heck of a simulation :D

 

:D

[mjolner]

Damn, some of you guys are actually firing weapons already. Skillz I say Skillz. I'm not even out of ground school yet.

[DiabloSP]

Got a question here: (i'm sure it's answered on the manual, but I haven't finished reading yet...)

 

Is it the same thing... activating director mode, and pushing the trim button?

 

Maybe it is me, but I -feel- the trim button disengages all assistance and dampening on the controls, while the flight director only disengages assistance, but keeps the controls a bit dampened and thus the helicopter keeps its attitude easier.

 

Is that right or am I dreaming?

 

I tend to engange flight director mode when I want to maneuver hard. That, and the everpresent trim button, make for a pleasant flight.

[sonic]

Based on my impressions (not on the manual) it feels like the same thing

[Maverick-GER-]

based on what i read in the forums :

It is the same thing according to autopilot.

For engaging targets i prefer using holding the trim button down, since the director mode clutters up the hud too much for my taste =)

[Zorrin]

But the Flight Director doesn't clutter the HUD when you have weapons selected. And surely at the point where you are attacking it's easier to have the Flight Director engaged because this means you have an extra finger/thumb available for other controls.

 

You can of course utilise trim with the flight director as the trimmer merely "remembers" where you left the cyclic.

[Maverick-GER-]

well a good hotas profile helps a lot ... i can still do all the actions i need with only my pinky finger pulling the trimmer =)

And it is easier / faster to just pull that than engaging and disengaging the flight director =)

but thats i guess a question of personal likes and dislikes

[McVittees]

I don't have pedals so I find holding down the trimmer while twisting for rudder a real problem while using any other button on the cyclic. For this reason I prefer using the flight director mode and occasional taps of the trim button when it gets hot.

Edited November 27, 2008 by McVittees