Short and sweet. As I continue to learn and explore the fantastic Black Square B350, I find myself challenged managing certain aspect of VNAV, specifically descent. 

The Collins  AP is very functional and performs exactly as expected. I do have one challenge. The AP has built in profiles for both climb and descent. In both cases the AP adjusts the speed of the aircraft to provide either maximum climb or descent performance, often exceeding 2500 FPM in ether direction. 

But what if I want to set a controlled decent of say 1000 FPM.  As there is in most modern autopilots there is a VS function but the only way to set a VS speed of say 1000 FPM is to look down between the seats at the Collins and use it’s vertical speed rocker switch to set the desired descent speed while at the same time seeing the VS Gauge to set it.  Right now I can’t see a way to adjust AP VS while at the same time watching the panel gauge to see what if it is descending at our desired speed.

Make sense?  Any suggestions?

TIA,

-B

Edited October 13, 20223 yr by btacon

5 minutes ago, btacon said:

Right now I can’t see a way to adjust AP VS while at the same time watching the panel gauge to see what if it is descending at our desired speed.

Make sense?  Any suggestions?

Makes sense. In real life I guess the pilot would know where that rocker switch is and just keep looking at the PFD. In the sim we have to resort to zoomed-out weird views. I don't have a better solution, sorry. 

But thanks for the tip on the climb and descent profiles - I haven't been using those. I usually climb or descend in IAS and adjust with the V/S switch, if one can call it that. 

14 minutes ago, Cpt_Piett said:

In real life I guess the pilot would know where that rocker switch is and just keep looking at the PFD

100%. The G3 was the same way. The AP controls and HDG/CRS knobs were on the center pedestal. You clicked the mode you wanted on the Instrument panel and adjusted the controls while watching the EADI, TVSI and EHSI. The radios were down there on the back half as well. It was a pain looking and reaching back to set NAV and ATC radios. 

Edited October 13, 20223 yr by G550flyer
test

1 hour ago, btacon said:

Make sense?  Any suggestions?

My suggestion would be to use IAS. Select it and adjust the power to maintain the VSI you want. In the real aircraft, you do it by feel without looking at the AP panel. IAS should work great for ya and you won't have to look down, but you will have to monitor your climb/descent closely.

32 minutes ago, G550flyer said:

IAS should work great for ya and you won't have to look down, but you will have to monitor your climb/descent closely.

IAS mode makes things very easy, and I use it all the time in the aircraft where it's available. Don't think the analog Caravan has it IIRC. 

Assuming that the Black Square King Air's Collins AP works as other flightsim Collins APs before it, each click UP or DN on the rocker should change the vertical speed by 100 FPM. 

Thx, it does and it does.

The "PITCH SYNC" switch on the yoke sets your target speed to the current airspeed. I think it is assigned to the "Flight Director Pitch Sync" key command (not 100% sure, it seems to work but I don't see the switch animation when using the command).

The last two flights i did VS descents and as i have LNM on my second monitor and see there my descent path and TOD point i can easy follow this path as i use the VS up and down as i would to stay on this path..

The flightplan was made with LNM and copy over to MSFS, loaded with MSFS into the flight and so you have the plan also within the GTN750, this works just fine..

But the IAS descent seems also working well..

cheers 😉

Check out the airfoillabs KA350 solution.

7 minutes ago, dbw1 said:

Check out the airfoillabs KA350 solution.

Isn’t that for x-plane?  

Just click VS and roll the up/down button 1 click for each 100 ft Vertical velocity

2 hours ago, pmplayer said:

The last two flights i did VS descents and as i have LNM on my second monitor and see there my descent path and TOD point i can easy follow this path as i use the VS up and down as i would to stay on this path..

The flightplan was made with LNM and copy over to MSFS, loaded with MSFS into the flight and so you have the plan also within the GTN750, this works just fine..

But the IAS descent seems also working well..

cheers 😉

I prefer IAS, it's so easy. If I'm too high I go into idle or 10-20% torque then choose the descent profile to get down quickly. Even though this is a relatively complex aircraft, it's very easy to handle, once you get the hang of it. 

cheers 🙂