747X - Autopilot Problems

[jt_williams 291]

I have been unable to complete a flight with the PMDG 747X under autopilot control. It has been a very frustrating experience. I have used the FS9 version for several years and have had no problems at all. I have installed the latest version of the 747X after uninstalling the initial release and deleting the simobjects folders. I have input a flight plan into the FMC and performed the initialization and setup. Sometimes when the autopilot is engaged it begins proper VNAV and LNAV tracking and sometimes it does not. The fight typically ends when the auto pilot initiates a turn at an increasing rate and bank angle that actually takes it away from the magenta course line and eventually results in an autopilot disconnect. At that point I am unable to resume flight under autopilot control. I am using Active Sky and I use a MS force feedback pro2 controller with the forces turned off.Any suggestions.Jeff Williams

[jt_williams 291]

I am posting a follow-up to this message as I am still having problems. I have been able to complete some flights successfully using FMC and autopilot but I continue to experience problems. Today I attempted a flight from KPDX to PANC. Takeoff was OK and autopilot (LNAV & VNAV) was activated at 1500 AGL. The aircraft proceeded to change course to departure waypoint (CROWN I think). As the aircraft approached CROWN it initiated a turn to the next waypoint HQM. The turn was very steep and I got "bank angle" audible warning. The turn continued well beyond the required track until it became a 360 degree turn at an increasing bank angle. I finally had to disconnect the autopilot to recover. I have no idea what the problem is.Jeff Williams

[Guest Coco]

Hello Jeff,i

[Guest Coco]

i had simular problems, but fixed now. it was a matter of the conroller.here is something from the pmdg ops"My A/P disconnectsOccasional occurence onlyThis might be related to the MSFS weather loading. If you are near critical flight altitudes and MSFS loads extreme weather changes- you might see the autopilot disconnect as the airplane exceeds a high/low speed parameter. (Do a search on WEATHER in this forum and you'll find a more detailed explanation of what MSFS is doing to cause this misery....)Frequent/repeated occurenceIf your A/P disconnects happen very frequently, here is a quick trouble shooting test:1) Put yourself in flight in a scenario where this is happening frequently and predictably.2) Unplug your joystick. (We are assuming it's a USB device here....)If it stops- then it's "spiking" coming from your controller causing the autopilot to think you are yanking the controls to take the airplane back from the autopilot. (This is correct behavior- but it's being triggered in a manner you don't want...)To fix this:Pull up your Windows Control Panel, and look at GAME CONTROLLERS.Now click on PROPERTIES.Do you see ANY flickering from your joystick? That's what is causing the problem.... Recalibrate and see if it goes away. Also- if your joystick allows- you can try setting larger a NULL ZONE."