Hey everybody,I just installed FS2004 and I have a problem when I switch off the Autopilot. For Example when I'm on final approach and when I switch off the ALT button or the whole autopilot my plane goes into the air like a rocket !!! I know that you have to trim to the center but I never had this problem in FS2002 !!!I already switched Autorudder off in FS2004Does anybody know what's wrong ?? can I download a patch or fix for this problem ???Regard,Dimitri

The question has been brought up numerous times before. In nearly all cases, it's a matter of not trimming the plane before turning the auto-pilot on. The plane needs to be trimmed for climb, descent, or level flight, or the auto-pilot might be fighting it.The trim "centered" does not mean the plane is in a trimmed condition. Because there isn't a strong feeback in simulated controls for out of trim conditions, trimming is often ignored. I trim by what I see on the screen with the planes nose & horizon.L.Adamson

Hey,Thanks for your respons.But I have some few questions:I never trim the aircraft before I turn the AP on, ofcourse I rotate the aircraft from the runway and when I'm in the air I turn on the AP on. When I put the AP off the aircraft on final approach for example the aircraft the aircraft goes up up in the air like a rocket !!! so horribleI never had this problem in FS2002, but I have this problem in FS2004, very strange. Can you solve this problem in the FS2004 settings ?Regards,Dimitri

I think he just said you HAVE to trim BEFORE you turn on the AP and because you didn't do so is the reason why you are having your problems. Although that brings up a related question. Doesn't the AP trim the aircraft? I know I have often heard of a quick cheat to trim your plane in level flight was to turn on the AP, let it trim the plane for you and then turn it off to fly manually. I know that obviously is not a good habit but it is still something I have heard, mainly to help out new FS pilots. But the only way this could work was if the AP does trim.

A few auto-pilot's that I'm familiar with for smaller aircraft such as general aviation, work as follows:No trim functionWarning lights/buzzer/voice for out of trim conditionA servo that senses out of trim conditions & re-trimsMy experience with simulated aircraft, is that if it's trimmed before the auto-pilot is turned on, the plane won't excessivly pitch when it's turned off. L.Adamson

Hey,Thanks for your reply.So after take off I have to trim the A/C until it is centured, and after that I have to turn on the Autopilot ?? and than the problem should be solved ???thanks for your help.Regards,Dimitri

My guess is that some forward pressure is being exerted on the controls while the autopilot is engaged. Either you are doing it unconsciously, or your controller is out of calibration.The autopilot adds "up" trim to counteract the pressure. When you release the autopilot, the plane is out of trim.Try calibrating your controller. Then make sure you are not pushing on the stick while the autopilot is engaged.

For climb or descent, you're actually pitching the aircraft for airspeed & preferred climb/descent angle. The trim knob itself may or may not be centered at all. The idea is trim out any stick forces (spring forces for simulating) to maintain the rate of climb & airspeed. As mentioned, if you're pulling or pushing the stick & the plane moves up or down on the horizon, at whatever angle, when releasing pressure, then add some up or down trim as required.I have trim buttons on my joystick & instinctively always keep the plane in trim. It's as though I can "feel" it, although it's really what I interperate from what I see on the screen in addition to my sticks centering spring.

Hey guys,Thanks for all the tipsbut I don't use a joystick but a keyboard. I don't know if that makes a difference ??Regards,Dimitri

Dimitri,I wish you luck. I put a post on here a while ago about EXACTLY the same problem, and still haven't sussed out how to fix it.I think because we don't use a joystick, this problem will be very hard to fix. I'm landing now with the AP on all the way onto the runway, which doesn't thrill me...Be watching with interest...Tim

Hey Tim,Yeah It's horrible !!!!But I know I you can fix the problem sometimes...before you turn off the AP you have to trim the plane till it's centered, if you turn off the AP than the plane doesn't do strange anymore.But sometimes this works......Does anybody have any suggestions ?Regards,Dimitri

I'd be very interested too as I do NOT have this problem!! I don't touch the trim at all before setting the AP, and have no problem when disengaging the AP!!

Hey,are you using FS2004 ?Because since this week I have FS2004, and only in FS2004 I have this problem !!! In FS2002 I never had this problem.Regards,Dimitri

I've got around a lot of these control type problems by ALWAYS pressing keypad `5` when starting a sim session (that's keypad 5 with numlock off - the default for recentring control surfaces).Don't know why this works, but it also cures jitters on runways when starting the t/o run. Although FS Force, which I use with an FF2 joystick, actually solves most of these problems with trim, it only works with force feedback sticks.Allcott