|
|
Post by captrig on Apr 17, 2012 2:36:40 GMT -5
Any help on "sloppy" autoilot on DC-B? A/P rolls back 5-15 degrees on rolling out of a turn. Also will leave flight plan profile on long trips (PHNL/KSEA)/ at that point A/P will make left turns only. Frequently will not respond to pitch wheel without turning A/P power on/off.
I have seen the "sloppy" turn recovery when flying RW 727's back in the 80's.
Trig Johnston
Capt NWA (Ret.)
|
|
|
|
Post by Tom/CalClassic on Apr 23, 2012 16:16:12 GMT -5
Hi, Sorry, I did not see this earlier since it was in the special Jesse's forum. Welcome! The short answer is that what I have heard is that these AP's were quite tricky, and most pilots I've talked to either didn't use the AP at all, or if using it to make turns kept them very gentle. So I never bothered to make the response better.  Most manuals suggest making the turn manually, and THEN turning on the AP. I have created a "cheat mode" by clicking the green light (which turns yellow). Then bank mode is pilot controlled, while the pitch is still controlled. Yes, sometimes a recycle is necessary to reset things. Hope this helps, |
|
|
|
Post by Tom/CalClassic on Apr 23, 2012 16:19:00 GMT -5
PS. The real AP's did not have a graduated turn response to the TURN knob - you had to slowly increase the turn knob's deflection, then at the end of the turn gradually move it back to the center. Suddenly centering the knob during a steep turn is guaranteed to give you whiplash! |
|
|
|
Post by sunny9850 on Apr 23, 2012 17:02:40 GMT -5
One of the beautiful side effects of flying on a pc in this case is the mouse. Or more accurately the wheel, being used to roll into and out of a turn.
I usually roll in 5 "clicks" of turn right or left with the Connie's and then about 5 degrees before the desired heading roll the same 5 clicks back to center. How fast you roll the mouse wheel influences the way the airplane rolls in and out of the turn to some degree and your final heading.
Clicking the center position will set the AP back to wings level, but it's definitely a less than passenger friendly way to make the turn.
Cheers
Stefan
|
|
|
|
Post by Tom/CalClassic on Apr 23, 2012 17:54:52 GMT -5
Good tip - I keep forgetting about the wheel...
|
|
|
|
Post by Lockheed on Apr 23, 2012 18:59:14 GMT -5
Hi Trig,
Welcome to the Forum.
I flew DC-6s for a few thousand hours and don't really recall the A/P being terribly 'sloppy', but it's been a hundred years since !!! [More like 43 years !! Then it was on to the jets. Preferred the props though !!]
Anyway, apparently there's more current info on the RW ones, so I guess it's possible. Maybe "ours" were better ?!?!
Have fun.
UAL CAPT - Retired
|
|
|
|
Post by Tom/CalClassic on Apr 23, 2012 19:39:28 GMT -5
You're right they weren't "sloppy" - you just had to know how to handle them. I've changed my description. All the same, in their later years many pilots wouldn't rely on them. I think the maintenance was better early on.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wolfgang on Apr 24, 2012 9:24:25 GMT -5
Hi,
I use three clicks to turn left or right.
It's slow, but controlable.
On the DC's I had to go back to zero, 4° before reaching
my needed heading.
That means if I wish a resulting heading of 90° than I had
to click at 86° back to zero on a right turn.
On the Connies it is 2°...
Cheers
Wolfgang
|
|
|
|
Post by sunny9850 on Apr 25, 2012 11:28:00 GMT -5
That's because the Connie's are a better airplane Wolfgang ;D ;D ;D Stefan P.s. the above statement is purely an expression of my love for the Connie's and by no means a statement of fact  |
|
|
|
Post by Tom/CalClassic on Apr 25, 2012 13:04:05 GMT -5
Well, they did have powered controls, rather than aerodynamic tabs. I've never heard from anyone who flew both types which one was easier to control, but statements on the web go both ways...
|
|
|
|
Post by Lockheed on Apr 25, 2012 17:46:29 GMT -5
Well, I flew Connies [6 months], DC-6s [5 years], and DC-7s [just a few flights in training], but it was sooooo long ago I really don't recall that much difference in handling. They were all BIG TRUCKS, but no real handling problems that I remember. I liked the Connies better probably because of their "grace" !!
|
|
|
|
Post by jesse on Apr 26, 2012 15:54:13 GMT -5
When we dropped our C-97s and replaced them with the C-118, I found it to be a much easier aircraft to control, both with and without use of the autopilot. As for the C-121 Connies, I only had a couple of flights in the VR-12s assigned to MATS so I can't really comment on them. Never experienced any turn control problems on the C-118.
Jesse
|
|
|
|
Post by Wolfgang on Apr 26, 2012 19:45:43 GMT -5
Hi,
the above described from me, isn't meant better or less better.
I only want to show the differences, and what you have to do
to get good results.
I love it that they feel different.
The only problem I have with the Connies is, that they feel
too lightweight on the ground in my opinion.
I mostly fly heavy weighted and it seems too easy to get her
into rolling.
Cheers
Wolfgang
PS: Can someone me explain how to get an ground bump
for my force feedback on all Connies ?
In the aircraft.cfg's all is OK compared to the DC's, where I have
an ground bump force on my stick.
Something in the air file ? But I have looked and found nothing.
|
|
