I'm getting back to FSX after being gone for over a year. I left because my old rig couldn't handle FSX after the addons (My Traffic, EFBFSX, ASX, etc.).Now I'm having difficulties in setting-up the autopilot, I have a flight plan loaded, I activate the altitude hold at the altitude requested, what other button(s) do I need to activate for the plane to fly the flight plan? The autopilot layout is different in most of the the planes. I'm primarily flying to stock Cessna and the stock Learjet at this time to get up to speed. I had no difficulty two years ago, but now I'm getting a mental-block, maybe it's age. :( Any help for the flight-plan autopilot sequence (buttons to activate) for the Cessna & Learject will be greatly appreciated./s/ Tony Piech

Sure I can help.For the Cessna, if following an FSX flight plan (or a GPS course) you'll need the NAV/GPS switch to be set to GPS. On the autopilot, you'll need the AP and NAV buttons engaged. IF you want it to track out from a VOR radial or track inbound on an ILS, that switch should be set to NAV.Same thing goes for the Lear45. Make sure the AP master is on, and NAV mode is selected, and of course GPS mode is set

Ryan,Thanks so much for your illustrated response, this should get me up and flying the waypoints as I remembered doing a few years ago. /s/ Tony

The biggest liberty FSX makes in the default planes is you must always have the VOR LOC button engaged (along with the GPS or NAV mode) to track whatever mode you are using.In the real world, VOR LOC is for VOR, LOCALIZER tracking and is independent of the GPS, or FMC.It's both a small detail for those who do not know any different, but a major one if you are used to more realistic addons where you never engage VOR LOC unless on approach (ILS), or doing VOR navigation tracking inbound (or outbound) radials.

Ummm, there is no VOR LOC button in these planes. I think the Airbus and Boeing have it, but not in these two and the other GA aircraft. It's the NAV button FSX uses in order to track an LNAV course or a VOR course on most default models.

NM.

Ummm, there is no VOR LOC button in these planes. I think the Airbus and Boeing have it, but not in these two and the other GA aircraft. It's the NAV button FSX uses in order to track an LNAV course or a VOR course on most default models.

Typical GA autopilots like the Bendix/King KAP 140 have a "NAV" mode button. In NAV, the autopilot gets its course deviation signal from VOR, LOC, RNAV, or GPS as fitted to the aircraft. In the default Cessna 172, there is a Bendix/King KI 208A fitted. Bendix supplies two variations: KI 208 does not have GPS capability but KI 208A does, based on the external GPS/NAV switch/annunciator.scott s..

While we're on the subject of FSX default aircraft, I have a question. Very often, when disingauging the autopilot for the final approach, the plane seems to immediately pitch waaaaaaaaaaay up and climb at an abnormal rate. Is this something to do with the trim setting? It's kind of annoying to be descending at 400fpm and then climb like a Saturn V rocket.

That sounds like trim to me. It could also be that you are soaring on a thermal, or that your center of gravity has shifted because of fuel consumed. Jeff ShylukSenior Staff ReviewerAVSIM

While we're on the subject of FSX default aircraft, I have a question. Very often, when disingauging the autopilot for the final approach, the plane seems to immediately pitch waaaaaaaaaaay up and climb at an abnormal rate. Is this something to do with the trim setting? It's kind of annoying to be descending at 400fpm and then climb like a Saturn V rocket.

Also, make sure your VS (Vertical Speed) isn't set to +900 FPM, or similar.

While we're on the subject of FSX default aircraft, I have a question. Very often, when disingauging the autopilot for the final approach, the plane seems to immediately pitch waaaaaaaaaaay up and climb at an abnormal rate. Is this something to do with the trim setting? It's kind of annoying to be descending at 400fpm and then climb like a Saturn V rocket.

Ron,Make sure you are at the proper altitude (and vertical velocity/descent rate if applicable) as well as having the aircraft configured correctly for the location on the approach you are at when you engage the autopilot. This also helps to prevent the oscillations that can occur as the autopilot initially settles the aircraft onto the proper altitude and/or vertical velocity required for whatever point you are at in the approach when you engage it. This is the concept that others are pointing out to you, of which trim and avionics settings are certainly a part of. :( Happy Holidays All! :(