When do you use flight director?

[muamshai]

Okies, I have read the theory but I am interested to know when you use it...in what situations? Do you use it when you are under attack so that autopilots won't fight you when you need to change the current parameters (alt, pitch, heading...) suddenly?

[PeterP]

Summary and good explanation of the different autopilot functions by IvanK:

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=36246&highlight=director

 

...

STABILITY AUGMENTATION & FLIGHT DIRECTOR

There are two methods used in the BS to provide stability augmentation Attitude Hold modes and full time damping. These are controlled by the 4 Auto pilot push buttons and are also affected by the Trimmer switch and FD switch.

 

There are 4 Autopilot pushbutton switches on the right panel. These switches labelled Pitch hold, Bank Hold, Alt hold and HDG hold are dual function switches. These switches control basic damping and attitude hold modes. With the switches OFF both damping and attitude hold are off. The helo is difficult to fly with no damping or attitude hold function. i.e. its raw control input with no AFCS modification.

 

The ON function of the switches is also affected by the Flight Director (FD) switch selection.

 

FD Switch OFF

With the FD Switch off and all 4 Push buttons on then Damping is active and attitude Hold modes are active. The Damping mode is running in the background to take out unwanted ...

Editing:

The different autopilots modes are too komplex when they work together. I can't give a simple answer like: "Use in situation X autopilot function Y."

You get a more specific answers "when" its suitable to use the FD in the follow-up posts of this link above- just shift them and stop if you see a red "director" -this a left over from the search function of this forum.

Edited May 6, 2009 by PeterP

[Kurtz]

Ive got FD button mapped onto one of my hats. I used to use it when i was under fire or simply engaging the enemy, but I think once you come to terms with the auto pilot and trim you probably wont use FD much, if at all for that matter. Its good when your learning to fly the KA50 more than anything else.

 

My thoughts anyhow :)

[MBot]

The first 30 minutes I owned the sim I played without FD, since then I am flying exclusively with it enabeled. To me it feels the most natural and easy way to control the helo. With some practise, even hovering with your head down in the TV display is easily done by hand.

[Zorg_DK]

I use it when I'm using rockets, unguided canon, formation flying and also when performing acrobatic maneuvers.

[HansRoaming]

I use it when I want to control the helicopter in a fast manner i.e. fly through the city, jinking etc and my focus is on flight or evasion. The autopilot and route following is used when my focus is on attack or something else so I can keep the blue side up and don't use the Ka 50 as a plough. :)

[nemises]

I never use it at all (or at least haven't found a need yet!) ..

I fly with the "push and hold trim" method, which I belive has a similar effect, though with the added benefit of actually trimming the aircraft when I release...

[JG14_Smil]

any time I manually turn.

[159th_Viper]

Never.

 

In the very beginning, prior to discovering and exploring the Marvel that is Trim, I tried, with mixed results.

 

Now if I revisit the FD, I'm left with the feeling of 'stuttered flight', for lack of a better expression. Just does not feel as natural and responsive.

[Nate--IRL--]

I never used The FD for a long time until I started to try Aerobatics, now it just feels so natural I hate having the autopilot interfering with the way I want to fly. Once you learn the trim positions required for the various parts of the flight envelope, the shark feels completely natural to fly. However I will use the attitude holds for long flights. I rarely use the route mode.

 

Nate

Edited May 6, 2009 by Nate--IRL--

[McVittees]

I didn't use the FD much before, but I have found that in situations where rapid heading changes are required it's use is essential. These times are for me: 1) when I'm doing a rockets run or close in guns run, 2) when taking evasive action and 3) when engaging AA targets and need point-and-shoot capability.

 

In the patch I think the yaw trim won't try to hold heading anymore, so I may not need to use the FD in some of these situations.

[ericinexile]

I use FD until I need Auto-hover or have a long enroute leg. Basically any time the automation is a help and not a hinderance will be when I disengage the Flight Director.

 

Smokin' Hole

[AlphaOneSix]

I never use it at all. I am not a pilot but I have flown helicopters on several occasions (AH-64A and Mi-17) and I find that leaving FD off and just trimming is very realistic.

[LastRifleRound]

Not to hijack the thread, as I feel the OP would love to know also.....What mode was Wags in when he made the producer's notes/tutorials? the fine yaw input leads me to believe he's in FD mode. You out there Wags? :music_whistling:

[slug88]

Not to hijack the thread, as I feel the OP would love to know also.....What mode was Wags in when he made the producer's notes/tutorials? the fine yaw input leads me to believe he's in FD mode. You out there Wags? :music_whistling:

 

It should be pretty easy to tell from the HUD symbology. It's been a while since I watched those videos, but I don't recall see the FD cues.

[ericinexile]

Wags' videos are flown with the FD off. But his flights aren't very impressive from a wrapping-the-helo-around-it's-envelope standpoint. The one really impressive "airshow" style video I've seen was flown with FD symbology on the HUD. So it really comes down to how you prefer to fly. Pretty much anything within a realistic combat environment can likely be flown just as well with the FD off. But the fun "video game" stuff like head-2-head helos are probably easier with the FD on. To me, DCS is a piece of entertainment software, not a Kamov training device. Therefore I fly it in a way that most entertains me. Should Kamov ever invite me to Russia for a recurrent sim ride, I'll be sure to keep the FD off.

 

Smokin' Hole

[LastRifleRound]

I just ask because his weapon delivery is smooth when it comes to cannon+rockets, and I want to acheive the same thing, as there's nothing more enjoyable for me when it comes to flying the Shark than blowing things up efficiently :thumbup:

[AlphaOneSix]

To me, DCS is a piece of entertainment software, not a Kamov training device. Therefore I fly it in a way that most entertains me.

 

Words to live by!

[ericinexile]

I just ask because his weapon delivery is smooth when it comes to cannon+rockets, and I want to acheive the same thing, as there's nothing more enjoyable for me when it comes to flying the Shark than blowing things up efficiently :thumbup:

 

That's where FD comes off, stabilized and trimmed at 10kph or less, and Autohover is engaged. Then you can concentrate on accurate delivery and leave the flying to the AP. It all works very well.

[nemises]

^^ you mean altitude hold, not authover I presume?

[GGTharos]

You don't need FD for this - in fact, it's probably counter-productive.

 

Do the following:

 

Line up your shot from beyond rocket range, and fly towards the launch point.

Be mostly lined up, so you only need little pedal corrections. Retrim if necessary.

Do not gain or lose altitude, or speed.

 

If you cannot achieve the above, you have not yet mastered flying the aircraft. It is not under your control ;)

 

Fire.

 

Watch rockets land where you want'em, while you turn away from target, still sporting a 2km separation ...

 

 

I just ask because his weapon delivery is smooth when it comes to cannon+rockets, and I want to acheive the same thing, as there's nothing more enjoyable for me when it comes to flying the Shark than blowing things up efficiently :thumbup:

[Frakin Toasters]

For me, flight-director is the little grey thumb-button on the X-52 cyclic, to the left of the lowermost hat-switch.

[ericinexile]

^^ you mean altitude hold, not authover I presume?

 

Actually I did mean Autohover. The "combat" I was envisioning was one whereby the pilot was employing ATGMs from a safe position. Other than that situation (one which calls for stability over maneuverability) I tend to keep the FD on.

 

Smokin' Hole

[AlphaOneSix]

For me' date=' flight-director is the little grey thumb-button on the X-52 cyclic, to the left of the lowermost hat-switch.[/quote']

 

Same here. :)

[crazysundog]

For me' date=' flight-director is the little grey thumb-button on the X-52 cyclic, to the left of the lowermost hat-switch.[/quote']

 

 

No, no, no, thats the trim button!! the FD button is the little blue one to the right of the lower Hat switch! :lol: