Hi all, here is a stupid question, but what is a flight director and how do you use it? I notice that then I turn the FD off the needs go from a perfect crosshair to each corner. Im practicing my IFR in FS2004 and understand the VOR needles for ILS, but do not understand the use of the flight director nor have I ever used the GPS in FS2004.Thanks,Bill

FD is the integral part of the autopilot but in some inexpensive aircraft it is possible to have AP but no FD.Given the navigation mode you are currently flying (ILS, LOC, VOR, alt hold, ...) Fight Director figures out where you should be pointing your airplane to accomplish the goal. If AP is enabled then AP's servo motors will do the job and will follow FD's directions, but it is possible to fly manually and following FD indications. FD is a BIG help if for example you want to shoot ILS approach in poor weather and want to do it manually but instead of using the raw signal you use FD. This gives you much smoother and easier flying.In order to use FD: 1. the proper vertical and/or horizontal mode must be selected on the autopilot panel2. you turn FD ON but do NOT turn AP ON. AP remains OFF.3. Point airplane as FD indicates ...Michael J.WinXP-Home SP2,AMD64 3500+,Abit AV8,Radeon X800Pro,36GB Raptor,1GB PC3200,Audigy 2

I tried to find an explanation, but the more I tried, the more I discovered that to give an exact answer is very difficult.In simple terms, the FD visualizes where pitch and bank need to be to reach a commanded goal (such as FLCH while on LNAV). It does this by displaying a cue on the artificial horizon or the PFD.The FD is independent from the autopilot. It only displays the pitch and bank targets the autopilot would chase. You can either do that yourself by hand-flying, or let the autopilot do the work by switching it on and thus coupling the servos to the control surfaces.That's the simplest answer I'm able to give, hope it helps.Andreas

Great responses.I had no idea what it was either! so very helpful. Thanks

I can answer much more easily than that, because I don't have a clue HOW it works but I do know what it's doing!Whatever plan of direction aid you have working, just steer toward the point where the FD cross-hairs cross.i.e. if it's at the top left corner of the PFD, climb and turn left.In other words, try to keep the FD cross hairs centred at the centre of the PFD, if you do that you are following the 3D course set by your navigation system.

In real world aircraft a pilot would choose to use the flight director to:a) Hand fly the aircraft whether for hand flying practice, fun :) (most pilots do have fun flying even if it's their job), or with the particular system they are using hand flying is smoother than the autopilot (most newer ap systems are smoother than hand flying, not so 20 years ago):( Real world autopilots will disengage when certain parameters are exceeded so flying an approach in really rough weather would be another reason to opt for hand flying with the FD instead of the AP.I really like hand flying with the FD when the aircraft is equipped with one, I'll engage the AP to review an approach plate, go over charts, look up frequencies, etc.Hope this helps,Zane

>FD is a BIG help if for example you>want to shoot ILS approach in poor weather and want to do it>manually but instead of using the raw signal you use FD. This>gives you much smoother and easier flying.You use the FD *in conjunction with* checking the raw data from the CDI needle, not as the primary source for steering info.