Am I cheating by using flight director in flight?

[Honest989]

It makes control of the beastie a wee bit easier, but I find it annoying when you want to spin on the spot or move around a bit. Thing is though, I'm not sure if it's 'realistic' to use it as extensively as I do

[crazysundog]

That is what the FlightDirector is for... Not cheating at all.

 

I use it almost all the time; (except when I want to use Turn on Target mode, or on longer flights when I'm using full autopilot.)

[GGTharos]

The flight director is what you should use if you don't want autopilot influence :) (as opposed to shutting the channels off)

[hitman]

Yes. Yes it is cheating.

[Outlawed]

I wouldn't call it cheating. It's using the equipment on your aircraft.

[Kula66]

The flight director is what you should use if you don't want autopilot influence :) (as opposed to shutting the channels off)

 

So, to use auto-hover sound the director be engaged or not? Auto-hover never seems to work for me ... the thing just drifts off, usually backwards

 

BTW The producers notes are a great help - any chance of a few more on basic flight?

Edited December 1, 2008 by Kula66

[Stalintc]

So, to use auto-hover sound the director be engaged or not? Auto-hover never seems to work for me ... the thing just drifts off, usually backwards

 

From my experience so far make sure that the flight director is off when you engage auto hover, also make sure you are as close to a perfect hover as possible otherwise the auto hover will have trouble correcting itself to keep you steady, and you will find the KA-50 may behave erratically.

 

Personally when flying I have got a habit of using the flight director coupled with trimming to keep a nice smooth flight. Whereas before I was keeping the trim button depressed during manuvers which then made it very difficult to fire weapons on the move. Flight director as far as I can see from reading and playing with it allows you to keep your trim setting whilst giving you the freedom to fly the helicopter without fighting the autopilot.

 

Of course it is prudent to disengage the flight director when going into stable flight or a cruise and let the autopilot channels keep you steady, since of course there are many other things in the cockpit that need fiddling with on the way to the target ;)

[Kula66]

Thanks Stalintc - back to basics. I'm a little confused with the relationship between the director, AP channels and AP. Normally I'd fly the the 3 channels on (to smooth out my control inputs), AP off and the director on, but when I want the AP to help, route flying or hover I first turn the director off?

[DarkWanderer]

Normally I'd fly the the 3 channels on (to smooth out my control inputs), AP off and the director on

Ahem...

[Boberro]

Yes. Yes it is cheating.

 

:D

[nemises]

I fly with Director off and 3 channels (sometimes 4) on, using the press and hold Trim method.

Works well for me...I do turn on director on for sensitive rocket work though.

 

As regards to auto hover, this may help.

 

Manually get to a speed of less thatn 15 KPH in any direction , and stabalise your rate of climb / descent with the collective at that speed (remember, you'll need to add collective as you slow down as you loose lift coming to a hover).

 

If you are within 300 mtrs of the ground, make sure your altitiude hold is in radar mode, other wise, if above 300 mtrs make sure it is in barometric.

 

When you engage auto hover, all 4 AP channels will come on, and the aircraft will attempt to cancel out any movement..if you are drifting too fast in any direction, it can get out of whack badly so make sure you are less than about 15 kph as above.

 

Once it has begun to stabalise, and you approach a speed of 0 KPH , press the trim button. This will reset the center of your autohover, and allow the chopper to get to a hover faster, than trying to re-find the spot you initially set when you turned it on.

Keep pressing (and releasing) the trim button as you require untill all lateral movement is zeroed.

Next, press the collective brake ("F") .. this will reset the goal height of the altitude hold channel to your current altitude (either radar or barometric depending on your preferred setting).

The AP will then attempt to hold this altitude. If you are still drifing up or down (commonly), then add or remove a little collective to counter, and press the Collective brake again. Repeat until fully stable in both altitude and lateral motion.

 

The whole process can take 15 or 20 seconds from the time you first engage hover mode, but the end result (a fully stable and predicatable hover) is worth the wait.

 

Dont forget to turn of hover hold BEFORE starting to move again though, else your trim will get all screwed up.

 

If you need to Gain or Lose altitude during an auto hover, add (or remove) some collective, and reset the collective brake at regular intervals (say every second or so). If you dont, you will be fighting with the altitude hold channel the whole way.

The Helo will start to move laterally if you add or remove collective (rotor pitch etc..), so make sure to press and release the trim button during any changes in height also to counter those movements out.

 

Following that simple procedure will have you stable over any spot at any height, and able to go heads down with with Auto Turn to Target AP on with a high degree of confidence.

Edited December 1, 2008 by nemises

[DanKurt]

Excellent break down of achieving a stable hover, Nemesis ;)

This process finally dawned on me last night after many hours of practise just wish this had of been posted earlier!

[Acedy]

If you need to Gain or Lose altitude during an auto hover, add (or remove) some collective, and reset the collective brake at regular intervals (say every second or so). If you dont, you will be fighting with the altitude hold channel the whole way.

 

The safest and easiest way to lose altitude while in hover mode is by holding the ROUTE/DESCENT switch in the DESCENT position. The autopilot will continue to descent with a rate of 2 m/s as long as you hold that switch (until you reach 4m AGL). The rate may seem to be slow, but it prevents that you accidentally enter vortex ring state.

[Kula66]

Thanks all, I'll try out some ideas tonight!

[Maverick-GER-]

I

 

If you need to Gain or Lose altitude during an auto hover, add (or remove) some collective, and reset the collective brake at regular intervals (say every second or so). If you dont, you will be fighting with the altitude hold channel the whole way.

 

Just keep the collective brake pressed until you are at the desired altiude

and then release it. Just like you would with the trim.

[Blacknemisis]

Man that was a great break down of Auto Hover nemisis. Thanks im gonna try it now!

[nemises]

Just keep the collective brake pressed until you are at the desired altiude

and then release it. Just like you would with the trim.

 

Ah, great!..of course obvious, but I hadnt thought ot it...looks like I must map collective brake to hotas afterall! , thanks Mav!