Hello all,One thing I've always missed in previous installments of Microsoft's fine product is a true airspeed hold. I'm not referring to the autothrottle, but a true, airliner-style airspeed hold. A DC-10 autopilot, for example, lets the crew set the desired airspeed and altitude (say, 9,000 MSL and 250 kias). The autopilot will then, at full climb power, ascend at such a rate as to hold the airspeed at 250 kias. If I am not mistaken, this feature is present on all large aircraft. Thanks for hearing me out.Earl

Has bumping become passe?Earl

I agree with you sir! I've also always felt this is a glaring absense for the FS autopilot system. Most aircraft with a speed hold facility can have this controlled via pitch, in fact I'd go as far to say that there are probably more aircraft with "airspeed hold by pitch adjustment" modes on their autopilots, than those with "airspeed hold by power adjustment". Standard climb on most airliners today is done at a fixed calculated climb thrust and the aircraft is simply pitched to maintain the desired airspeed. Descents are often conducted at idle or low power and pitch again used to control airspeed. In fact, using thrust to control speed is only usually employed on approach and in cruise on many aircraft, not just airliners.I'm going to be very lame now and say what we've advised not to - I don't belive it would be that hard to implement. If freeware panels manage to include this facility via guages (and we're talking a fair few here too, just look at David Maltby's offerings) and without any true code for it integrated into FS I can't see it being too awkward. (I will point out at this point I know nothing at programming and I don't pretend to, I'll also point out I am probably going to be corrected over this).

It is rather surprising to me that this is not a bigger issue. I'm not big on suggesting things, but it's amazing to me that it hasn't been included yet. Comments?E

Personally I can't understand it either, I mean it is the standard way of climbing and decending, and not just in airliners and not just with the automatics engaged. Even when I fly a C152 in reality, we have a fixed climb RPM and pitch the aircraft to maintain standard climb speed, and do much the same in descent.Of all the autopilots with speed hold I have experience of, they either only offer a mode in which speed is controlled by pitch, or the pitch control mode and the thrust controlled mode. I've never seen or heard of one with just a thrust control mode and no pitch mode, which leads me to the conclusion pitch mode is more common on autopilots, there are more instances of it. Many classic aircraft only feature the pitch hold too, even older airliners like the Comet 4 only have pitch mode, they didn't have an autothrottle.I guess we can only hope they include it in FSX, however it seems there isn't much demand for it based on the lack of responce on the subject, and as you've said earlier, I'm really rather surprised at this. Perhaps people simply don't know?

I think it's entirely possible that they just don't know. I've never read about it, and it's never come up in any forums. I hope someone from ACES knows about this. E

Rest easy. I've been watching the thread develop. ;)

Excellent.E

(As Mr. Burns threads his fingers together and lets out an evil chuckle):)Take care,--Tom GibsonCal Classic Propliner Page: http://www.calclassic.comFreeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.comDrop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___

Yeah, this is basically FL CH mode on a Boeing... would be cool to see in the defaults I agree.

I'm just acknowleding that I've read the message.And just so everyone knows I make it a point to read every thread on this forum so you needn't ask if someone from the FS team is aware of an issue. I am, though I can't vouch for other folks on the team.

Ressurection!Now that more bean have been spilled, can anyone shed more light on this feature?Earl

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up ;-)