Yeah but let's assume we have a 55% possibility that the autopilot will be added...even if I consider it at 5% because I see no reason for having left it out intentionally otherwise.Assuming it will be added for the sake of Maule fidelity, it will come within lot of months and it will be also part of an add-on pack priced something around 15-20 $.IMO they have left it out intentionally because they want to push people to fly planes manually like MS is advertising here and there and the Maule will never have an autopilot. Maybe in 2013 when new planes will be released we will see the A/P but definitely not on the Maule.-

Just to be sure (as I don't own the Maule): the VC has an autopilot but it's inop, right? If that is so, I think MS has to add a working AP as an update for free. As much as I love MS Flight, I would not be happy if MS would put an inop AP in a plane and charge money for it later on to get it working. That would ###### me off and everyone else here too, I think. That's why I can't imagine that will happen. Then again, I've seen similar things happen in the past, so... we'll see.

Assuming it will be added for the sake of Maule fidelity, it will come within lot of months and it will be also part of an add-on pack priced something around 15-20 $.IMO they have left it out intentionally because they want to push people to fly planes manually like MS is advertising here and there and the Maule will never have an autopilot. Maybe in 2013 when new planes will be released we will see the A/P but definitely not on the Maule.

You're making a LOT of negative assumptions here.The FACT is that Flight was rushed out. It was suppose to be released this spring (Feb 29th is still winter in the northern hemisphere) AND the beta testing ended very suddenly (we never even tested the build in which 759 bugs were fixed).My guess is that there were perhaps a number of things that were originally intended to be added before Flight was released (including ATC). But when the release date was suddenly pushed ahead, the Flight Team had to drop everything and focus on just getting the released version as stable (and as optimized) as possible. Let's give them some time and see where this goes.

"We don't know if AP will ever be added to Flight (but I personally believe it will be)."".... well if there is no AP into Flight, all Flight topics will be closed because it is no more a flightsim software....

You're making a LOT of negative assumptions here.The FACT is that Flight was rushed out. It was suppose to be released this spring (Feb 29th is still winter in the northern hemisphere) AND the beta testing ended very suddenly (we never even tested the build in which 759 bugs were fixed).My guess is that there were perhaps a number of things that were originally intended to be added before Flight was released (including ATC). But when the release date was suddenly pushed ahead, the Flight Team had to drop everything and focus on just getting the released version as stable (and as optimized) as possible. Let's give them some time and see where this goes.

I like your optimism, I just hope you are right.Anyway even a optimist should consider the possibilities in between the negativity and positivity so it might happen that not all the features you have mentioned will be injected.We can wait some months to see, ok, but I am still convinced they left out the A/P intentionally to prevent people from non-experiencing the manual flight of a small plane that at the end is their first target. This is not wrong but there is too much forcing on this aspect anyway.-

Edited March 3, 201214 yr by Mark II

Heaven forbid anyone should actually learn how to fly first before using an autopilot! :lol

"We don't know if AP will ever be added to Flight (but I personally believe it will be)."".... well if there is no AP into Flight, all Flight topics will be closed because it is no more a flightsim software....

A flight simulator is a program or device that simulates flight. In the context of computer entertainment software, usually that is done in an interactive fashion so that the user can control the aircraft being simulated. I'm not sure why simulating an autopilot is required for something to be a flight simulator. For something to be a 'normal airline operations' simulator an autopilot simulation is definitely required, but for a flight simulator it is not.

With the over sensitive controls in Flight I could sure use an autopilot. I've even tried to null out the controler in the settings and it still flys weird to what the Maule does in FSX. Unless your flying an inherently unstable airplane I would think planes are supposed to .. well FLY... This one seems to weave all over the sky even with no wind.Pilots use autopilots when they are in the aircraft. , if the plane is suppose to have one Microsoft should put it in there. It is odd that they are Microsoft, they developed FSX? Right?? They have always had autopilots. I really wonder why that feature had to be left out. Very strange but I'm sure there was a reason.

.... well if there is no AP into Flight, all Flight topics will be closed because it is no more a flightsim software....

yeah this is quite a nutty statement.

Pilots use autopilots when they are in the aircraft.

Not True.Especially not true when you are instructing someone... they become the autopilot :LMAO:

if the plane is suppose to have one Microsoft should put it in there.

Could you please tell me which planes should have an autopilot? I'll make it easy by asking you to start with the released FLIGHT planes.

With the over sensitive controls in Flight I could sure use an autopilot.

There is actually some benefit here that you are failing to realize. Controls that are somewhat overly sensitive require you to be sharper at "your game". Fly a simulator (and FLIGHT is a form of simulator) that requires you to be sharp on the controls, and you will find great benefit in your proficiency in desired airspeed / heading / altitude control when it comes to hand flying a real plane.What the intent is here I have no clue... but... eh...

O... Ozzie where do I start. Sometimes I wonder why people like you come in to a forum just to try and say the complete alternate and be negative of what someone else is saying. This is how threads get closed down. Very Sad.. I suppose I should have just not posted "Im sure you will agree" but geeze... the comments you made are kinda goofy.YES pilots do use autopilots. What planet are you from? Who says we are instructing anyone here? I'm flying a game on computer...huh??This topic is talking about the Maule... Sooooo Ummmmm Which planes??? One plane the Maule.. Plane singular.. one.I am failing to realize how having a plane in a computer game with over sensitive controls can make me a better flight sim pilot? I have flown real planes more than once and helicopters and so that is not the point here. I understand how it feels to take off and land in a real GA aircraft and Heli... I also race cars... Its like saying playing Forza 4 will make me a better race car driver... yes I can memorize the tracks in a video game but ... .. There is nothing like the real thing and the cars do behave different on the track than in the game. Same with any flightsim game and real flying. What the intent is here I have no clue... but... eh... I agree... (sorry to be sarcastic just the mood your post put me in)

Sometimes I wonder why people like you come in to a forum just to try and say the complete alternate and be negative of what someone else is saying.

I am failing here to see how I can be accused of trying to say the complete 'opposite' of what someone else is saying... unless what they are saying is incorrect. You can fault me for correcting someone... sure. I tend to taking my knowledge of "Flight" seriously. It may come off as arrogance or "negative"... but I can assure you this is not the case.It comes from my love and passion for flying and wanting to share with others... "steel sharpening steel"... I like to look at it that way.... "friends sharpening friends".I will accept being called "overzealous"... but "negative" on Flight or others? No... sorry to come across that way.

the comments you made are kinda goofy.

if you find the truth goofy fine by me...

YES pilots do use autopilots. What planet are you from? Who says we are instructing anyone here? I'm flying a game on computer...huh??

Flying a game on a computer? I call that gaming... the planet I am from does not call a person who flies a flight sim a "pilot".You solo an aircraft in the RW... I'd call you a pilot... many would not... but I would. It's a great achievement and something to be proud of.I'm a commercial pilot... I do not use an autopilot... I prefer to hand fly GA aircraft whether or not it has an autopilot. I think Geof said he prefers not to use an autopilot in the Baron. You think Geof and myself are the only two licensed pilots in the world that feel this way? C'mon... and you ask me what planet I am from?

This topic is talking about the Maule... Sooooo Ummmmm Which planes??? One plane the Maule.. Plane singular.. one.

You didn't say that... you said "if the plane is suppose to have one"... my take on that is you are saying certain (GA) planes are supposed to have an autopilot. So I am asking, "which ones?".I see what you are saying now... "if the plane has coded into it an autopilot it should work"... (and one that has already been dealt with by several people, including myself).Aha... well that is another subject. I disagree with you there... I would prefer that, but I can live w/o it pretending ("or filling in the gaps" as Larry Adamson has said) it is down for maintenance... or maybe I just shut it off and don't care to use it... etc.

I am failing to realize how having a plane in a computer game with over sensitive controls can make me a better flight sim pilot?

I did not say this... but I do at any rate believe it. Fly a couple dozen hours this way (not 5 minutes or 5 hours... a couple dozen... on the order of 40 or 50 hrs) and watch how much more precise your hand flying is... whatever it takes to develop that "muscle memory" to have your brain sub-consciously hard wired that way. You think I was born able to fly the ILS in that video that way? I am not a magic man with magic hands... it is the result of some very hard, very prolonged flight training in an FAA sim and in the air.

What the intent is here I have no clue... but... eh... I agree... (sorry to be sarcastic just the mood your post put me in)

No need to apologize! I quite enjoy the use (and using) sarcasm (unlike some nuts who say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit... I find it can be quite clever!)Your mimicking my statement is actually quite flattering... I have a son nearing college age and he still mimics me! And I love that kind of flattery... I find it quite amusing! What bothers me is I must have been too brusque for you... and for that I apologize. There is no reason to think I think "less of you" by your statements and again my former post was not meant to be "anti-matter" and cause a ruckus.-Rob

It takes mindless memorization and repetition to 'fly' any aircraft via A/P, especially in the GA sphere. This is why the FAA themselves advocate against the unecessary use of automated flight systems... http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/national_world&id=8337826It takes skill, inherent and learned abilty, and above all positive control, to fly an aircraft. No one who relies on flight management systems and or computers to fly an aircraft for them is a true pilot in my eyes.Just my 2 cents...

Hah. Again, Flight is teaching proper flying procedures. ITS A SIM!!! Hehehehe.

It takes mindless memorization and repetition to 'fly' any aircraft via A/P, especially in the GA sphere. This is why the FAA themselves advocate against the unecessary use of automated flight systems... http://abclocal.go.c...orld&id=8337826It takes skill, inherent and learned abilty, and above all positive control, to fly an aircraft. No one who relies on flight management systems and or computers to fly an aircraft for them is a true pilot in my eyes.Just my 2 cents...

I guess you would fly 10 hours flight in some airliner without AP too, just to prove you are real pilot, and all those airline pilots are just button pushers... Just tell me how would you satisfy RNP with your hands.

Edited March 6, 201214 yr by g_precentralis

Don't be daft. Obviously certain procedures, a/c, and or operations merit the use of automated flight systems. I identify two key ideas in my post: reliance and unnecessary use. Tell me, in your opinion, how would someone who only knows how to fly an a/c via its A/P will handle a situation in which manual control, situational assessment, and critical analysis of a rapidly deteriorating situation will fair? As pilots, we are taught to always be trustful but very critical of our instrumentation. Instruments and systems do fail (recall NZ60 in Apia). The point I'm trying to make is that, as long as one can safely and proficiently operate an aircraft in all conditions of flight and in all anticipated situations, then by all means use the tools you have at your disposal. But always anticipate that those tools may fail you.

Edited March 6, 201214 yr by N6330V

In a way I'm kind of glad there isn't AP on these aircraft, because I'm always sooo tempted to let autopilot fly the majority of the ILS approach in FSX (and the route). It's really tempting to stick the 737 ngx on AP and go and have dinner, then come back and land :P. The hours end up in the logbook, but you werent really there. In the Maule missions in Flight you need to be there the whole time (if you want the extra XP for not skipping heheh)