Black bar in righthand corner

[hreich]

What's that used for?

[RagnarDa]

It's apparently the control inputs of the autopilot and it mirrors the same displays on the center console between the pilots seats. Don't know what the are other than that.

[AlphaOneSix]

It indicates the position of each of the minor cylinders in each hydraulic actuator. :P

 

Anyway...edit...

 

If the indicators are moving, that means the autopilot is making inputs. The amount of input is proportional to the amount of deflection of the white bars.

 

"H" is the heading channel (Направление = heading)

"K" is the roll channel (Крен = roll)

"T" is the pitch channel (Тангажа = pitch)

"B" is the altitude channel (Высота = altitude)

 

The heading channel should probably be left off unless you're specifically trying to hold a heading without pedal inputs (e.g. long, straight and level flying).

 

The altitude channel is pressure altitude hold only, there is no radar altitude hold. Like the heading channel, unless you're specifically trying to hold altitude without making collective adjustments (e.g. long, straight and level flying), then it's best to just leave it off.

 

The roll and pitch channels operate simultaneously. They are either both on or both off. Unlike the heading and altitude channels, which can be turned off by pushing the associated red buttons on the autopilot panel, the roll and pitch channels are only turned off using the autopilot disconnect button on the cyclic.

Edited September 5, 2013 by AlphaOneSix

[hreich]

Thx

[ff4life4]

Is there any detailed information as to how the AFCS functions?

[AlphaOneSix]

Not documented in English yet, as far as I know. It's basically SAS (stability augmentation system)

[ff4life4]

Got it, so it doesn't work like the Ka-50 where it was an "attitude" hold type function when you trimmed.

 

More like the Ka-50 with autopilot channels and FD on?

[xxJohnxx]

In the Mi-17 manual, provided with the DCS Mi-8 is some information about the autopilot.

 

You can find said manual here: DCS World\Mods\aircrafts\Mi-8MTV2\Doc

[AlphaOneSix]

Got it, so it doesn't work like the Ka-50 where it was an "attitude" hold type function when you trimmed.

 

More like the Ka-50 with autopilot channels and FD on?

 

I don't know exactly how it is going to pan out in-game. It does do attitude hold, however. In the real aircraft, it will try to hold the aircraft's pitch and roll attitude (assuming for the moment only the pitch/roll channels are engaged) unless the controls are interfered with (i.e. moved by the pilot) or if the trim button is pressed.

[ff4life4]

Hmm... now I'm intrigued. You mentioned that it will hold attitude unless controls are interfered with. So it will not fight you like the autopilot does on Ka-50...

 

Also I thought I read from a post on the forum that was giving details on the flight control system, that the cyclic trim button has no connection with the autopilot?

 

I apologize for playing 20 questions, I won't be able to fly it until tomorrow and I'm just curious :). I didn't like the system on the Ka-50 hence I always flew with FD on. The Huey was my favorite system, the autopilot was you :)... and the bar on the rotor head.

[AlphaOneSix]

Hmm... now I'm intrigued. You mentioned that it will hold attitude unless controls are interfered with. So it will not fight you like the autopilot does on Ka-50...

 

I do not know how the real Ka-50 works, I only know how it is presented in-game. I make a lot of assumptions about the operation of the Ka-50 based on my Mi-17 experience.

 

I do know how the Mi-8/17 works, the autopilot included.

 

Consider that there are two control systems capable of affecting the movement of the helicopter: the pilot and the autopilot. With the autopilot off, the pilot has to make all control inputs (obviously). With the autopilot on, both the autopilot and the pilot provide control inputs to the hydraulic servos. If the pilot does not move the controls (again let's just assume only pitch and roll for the moment) then the autopilot will attempt to hold the helicopter's attitude within it's control authority of 20%. If the white bar on the trim indicator (the "black bar in the right corner" and also on the center console above the autopilot panel) for a channel deflects fully to one side or the other (or rolls all the way, or goes up or down all the way), it's at the limit of its control authority.

 

If the pilot moves the cyclic (for this, let's assume just roll channel, but the pitch channel is the same in this regard) left or right, a signal is generated by a feedback transducer in the flight controls that, in essence, tells the autopilot that the pilot moved the controls and by how much. In other words, if you don't touch the controls in level flight, and the aircraft starts rolling left, the autopilot will counteract that roll and try to level the aircraft. However, if you move the cyclic to the left to start the roll, the autopilot gets basically two signals...one from a gyro that tells it that the aircraft is rolling, and another from a feedback transducer that tells it that the pilot moved the cyclic. The two signals (assuming no turbulence) will be equal but opposite and cancel each other out. In this way, the autopilot will not interfere when the pilot moves the controls (this does not apply to the yaw or altitude channel, they are slightly different).

 

Also I thought I read from a post on the forum that was giving details on the flight control system, that the cyclic trim button has no connection with the autopilot?

 

Okay, it doesn't. I'm just so used to pressing the trimmer when I move the controls that it's second nature for me to connect the two.

[ff4life4]

AlphaOneSix...

 

Thank you so much for your help. I think I have a good understanding now.. Can't to try this weekend!

[Chops]

Are key commands available to toggle the "black bar" on or off? I did not see anything listed in the Controller Options menu.

[eurofor]

Are key commands available to toggle the "black bar" on or off? I did not see anything listed in the Controller Options menu.

 

RCtrl+Enter

[dahui]

RCtrl+Enter

 

 

no, thats the control indicator... not the "Black Bar" :)

 

i would like also how to toggle it on and off... :)

[Devrim]

RCtrl+Enter controls both of them at the same time.

 

That's why if you don't want to see AutoPilot controls when hit RControl+Enter, open ...\DCS World\Mods\aircrafts\Mi-8MTV2\Cockpit\Scripts\ControlsIndicator\ControlsIndicator_page.lua, erase or disable line #255 and the rest.

[Suchacz]

...

A16, thx for the info :thumbup: