Auto-Hover without auto-rotation to the left?

[trimmermedal833]

I've been getting back into the Gazelle for the first time in a while, and I'm struggling to get the helicopter to engage and stay in auto-hover mode. I can get the auto-pilot to turn on (amber light) and get it within the required parameters. Once this occurs, the light will turn green, as it is supposed to. However, when I release my stick, the helicopter just falls to the left and disengages the auto-hover. How can I get it to stay in the auto-hover mode, as opposed to it rotating to the left and disengaging?

[jumphigh]

Auto-hover holds within the range of stick movements of a manual hover. So your static input needs to stay close to the holding point. You have to trim your stick if it returns to centre due to the spring load.

Edited March 26, 2024 by jumphigh

[skypickle]

is there any indicator on the dash that autohover is engaged? I can get into a stable hover (0 kts and steady altitude on the ipad in cockpit), press autohover but then when I move to copilot's seat, everything goes awry.

[Ramsay]

On 4/8/2024 at 5:16 PM, skypickle said:

is there any indicator on the dash that autohover is engaged?

Below the main panel starter and pump switches are the CVS (hover) and ALV (slave to sight) lamps which are yellow when armed and green once active/in parameters.

On 4/8/2024 at 5:16 PM, skypickle said:

... when I move to copilot's seat, everything goes awry.

The slaved autopilot will try to track the periscope/Viviane sight which moves with helicopter body unless ground stabilized
• for the L use the "Periscope Command Box" Stabilization toggle
• for the M, the Viviane sight will ground stabilize after it's first manual slew

Because of these issues, it's probably best to switch to the co-pilot seat first (with same control/axis settings as the pilot) and setup the Viviane/Periscope, before engaging the Hover and Slave modes.

AFAIK the current autopilot Hover and Slave modes are still WIP due to the Gazelle's new/more accurate flight model.

Gazelle L Autohover test, 2_9_3.trk

Edited April 28, 2024 by Ramsay
Mixed up ALV (slave to sight) and CVS (hover) abbreviations

[RealDCSpilot]

 CSV slaving after ground stabilization is the most important step in the procedure.

[skypickle]

Thank you for your insight and answers. I noticed that if I bind the cyclic and collective controls for the WSO, the aircraft is much more squirrely than if I leave the WSO controls unbound, yet they still work. I think there is some craziness going on with the control code with crosstalk of data from the WSO and Pilot.