DC-8 Autopilot

[Fitch93 0]

Hello all, Is there a guide somewhere that explains how to use the DC-8 Autopilot? Specifically, How to use the Autothrottles, How to use the Pitch Trim Hold, How to use Alt Hold. The Handbook is very lacking in this regards. Any help is appreciated.

[dutchman2 0]

Hello all, Is there a guide somewhere that explains how to use the DC-8 Autopilot?Specifically, How to use the Autothrottles, How to use the Pitch Trim Hold, How to use Alt Hold. The Handbook is very lacking in this regards. Any help is appreciated.

[dutchman2 0]

Sorry about the extra entry above. Hit the wrong button I guess. Not having this particular DC-8 sim, and presuming it is close to real, I can just give you general advice.The first thing you have to remember is the DC-8 is a child of the late Fifties and early Sixties. She generally does not have any of the fancy FMC / Auto-Throttle equipment you find on the L1011 or DC-10. You have to almost "fly" the autopilot. Its not just a case of select one thing, because you have to ballance everthing and make sometimes several different adjustments to the autopilot and/or throttles to get the results you want. Some of the modern ones will do a default vertical rate when changing altitude and then adjust the throttles to maintain a previously set airspeed. This lady will not do that.Pitch/Trim hold is either through the elevator trim button on the yoke or setting the Vertical Speed wheel to the desired vertical speed. Which by the way is also adjusted through the Mach or Airspeed hold - the left hand rotary selector on the AP. This adjusts pitch/vertical speed to maintain the selected speed. But, there is no selectable airspeed where you dial in an airspeed and the autopilot or auto throttle takes care of things for you. Altitude Hold is basically just keeping the Vertical Speed wheel centered. The altitude acquisition is not selectable, you fly to within about 500 feet of your desired altitude and start reducing vertical speed to try to smoothly acquire the desired altitude. Then as I said above, keep the Vertical Speed wheel centered.Hope this helps.