I bought this model the day it was released and have never really flown it like it was meant to be flown. With RL and time constraints I just got bored every time I tried to wrap my head around it. Now that I'm retired and have unlimited time, I trying to force myself to learn how this plane needs to be flown.

I've managed to get it up and flying and even managed to do an ILS landing. Problem is, I've been using the heading function and when near the destination, call on the ATC to vector me to final approach. I'm having a lot of trouble working with the FMC/FMS inputting the required info which I'm sure I'll figure out, I think I got a grip on that a few years ago and have since forgotten.

My question mainly is, does LNAV follow the flight plan on it's own or do I have to manually click on "direct to" at each waypoint?

Thank you for any help!  :smile:

 

 

My question mainly is, does LNAV follow the flight plan on it's own or do I have to manually click on "direct to" at each waypoint?

Thank you for any help!  :smile:

 

it should follow on it's own if you are in nav mode. direct to is used mainly when you aren't on the plan and want to join it from your current location (like after some vectors after takeoff, or diverting for weather for example) or if you want to skip to a different point for some reason.

 

cheers

-andy crosby

I myself started flying the J41 with basic autopilot modes only, and added the FMC (LNAV) later. I had to go back to the J41 tutorial to get the basics of the FMC operations. (And I had to read it rather closely.)

 

For a second tutorial, or just a different way of explaining things, go to the QualityWings site and download their Avroliner documentation: It also includes a tutorial and it uses the same FMC that's implemented in the PMDG J41.

it should follow on it's own if you are in nav mode. direct to is used mainly when you aren't on the plan and want to join it from your current location (like after some vectors after takeoff, or diverting for weather for example) or if you want to skip to a different point for some reason.

 

cheers

-andy crosby

 

Thank you Andy, that's great. The manual seemed to say that you needed to click on direct to, maybe I missed or misunderstood that it was a full LNAV as in most aircraft.  :smile:

 

olli4740, thank you for your response. Even the basic AP in this aircraft requires some reading of the manual.  I'll check out Quality Wings, thanx!  :wink:

You will need to set an initial "TO" waypoint on the NAV or D-> page of the FMS, but after that it's automatic.

 

You must ensure the AFCS is in LNAV mode by pressing the LNAV button on the glareshield twice and you can then activate NAV on the autopilot (assuming you are near the LNAV track, which you can check by pressing FULL/MAP which will put the EHSI in to map mode).

 

Remember when you want to fly the ILS you must pop the AFCS back in to radio mode by pressing the V/L button twice!

 

 

My question mainly is, does LNAV follow the flight plan on it's own or do I have to manually click on "direct to" at each waypoint?

 

It will automatically sequence, though you have to activate the first leg.

 

I have an FMS Guide specifically for the J41 if you search my name in the AVSIM file library.  That, combined with the tutorial that comes with the plane, should have you sorted out nicely.  In fact, mine picks up where the tutorial leaves off, so you could try doing the tutorial and then - to get more knowledge about the FMC - try mine.

I have an FMS Guide specifically for the J41 if you search my name in the AVSIM file library.

 

Thank you Kyle, I found your guide and downloaded it. I'll get into it a little later today.

 

 

 

You must ensure the AFCS is in LNAV mode by pressing the LNAV button on the glareshield twice and you can then activate NAV on the autopilot

 

Thank you Chris. So basically when I want to activate the LNAV and I have everything ready to go to autopilot, I turn on the AP, click NAV  and then VNAV twice (??)

Thank you Chris. So basically when I want to activate the LNAV and I have everything ready to go to autopilot, I turn on the AP, click NAV  and then VNAV twice (??)

You have to press the LNAV button twice, then you can activate NAV mode on the autopilot. There is no VNAV button.

You have to press the LNAV button twice, then you can activate NAV mode on the autopilot. There is no VNAV button.

 

Not true.  A single press is all that's needed.  The double press is when you're in LNAV and want to go from LNAV to NAV while still in NAV mode.

Not true.  A single press is all that's needed.  The double press is when you're in LNAV and want to go from LNAV to NAV while still in NAV mode.

I was trying to simplify things... if you double press LNAV you can be sure the AFCS nav source is the FMS. By default the AP nav source is the radios (V/L mode) so on first engagement of the AP you would have to press it twice, would you not?

 

 

By default the AP nav source is the radios (V/L mode) so on first engagement of the AP you would have to press it twice, would you not?

 

I'm not quite sure what you're referring to here.  The Nav source selector is on the EFIS control panel.  Pressing the LNAV button once is all that's required before pressing NAV.

 

Again, only V/L must be pressed twice only if you're already on AP NAV mode, and wish to transition to V/L.  The reason for this is that the first press sets a preview mode so that you can adjust the V/L course before transitioning out of LNAV.

Doesn't the LNAV have a preview mode too?

You have to press the LNAV button twice, then you can activate NAV mode on the autopilot. There is no VNAV button.

I meant LNAV  :rolleyes:

Doesn't the LNAV have a preview mode too?

 

To my knowledge, no.  There's really no point in having one.