I located the heading bug setting control knob on my new PC-12...

but when i activate it by pushing it with the cursor and then trying

to set a new course by moving my trac ball, nothing happens...

any help appreciated...

John Helms 

2 hours ago, jmhelms said:

I located the heading bug setting control knob on my new PC-12...

but when i activate it by pushing it with the cursor and then trying

to set a new course by moving my trac ball, nothing happens...

any help appreciated...

John Helms 

The heading knob on the panel is not the heading mode selector.   You need to press the HDG button up on the main autopilot control panel to select Heading mode.   The knob you refer to is only for adjusting the heading (and centring the current heading, if you press the knob).

Thanks, Bill....it seems as though the autopilot is only

operative above a certain distance, like 1500 feet or meters...

do you know the exact height?...

While I got you, how does the autopilot pitch preference work?...

I seem to have a similar problem with it, ie, when I cut off the

altitude hold button and attempt to adjust the altitude of the plane

up or down, the switch lights you but the height meter just sits

there as I scroll with my trac ball....

John Helms

21 hours ago, jmhelms said:

Thanks, Bill....it seems as though the autopilot is only

operative above a certain distance, like 1500 feet or meters...

do you know the exact height?...

While I got you, how does the autopilot pitch preference work?...

I seem to have a similar problem with it, ie, when I cut off the

altitude hold button and attempt to adjust the altitude of the plane

up or down, the switch lights you but the height meter just sits

there as I scroll with my trac ball....

John Helms

The AP can be engaged at any altitude at my end.  (Carenado addons aren't generally sophisticated enough in the systems department to model minimum altitude for AP!).

For pitch control - I don't use it a lot, as I use the VS/Preselect panel to select VS mode, then dial in a required VS.    But I have used the pitch before.   However, I don't tend to use the mouse a lot.  In this (and most other aircraft), I have key assignments set up.   The assignments in MSFS for the pitch control that you refer to are:-

AUTOPILOT PITCH REF INCREASE

and

AUTOPILOT PITCH REF DECREASE

I have those assigned to two keys on my keyboard.  I can confirm that selecting ALT HOLD off and pressing one of those two, does result in the aircraft climbing/descending.

Oh I just thought........  Have you selected a lower or higher than present altitude in the altitude selector first?  Because unless you do, the aircraft won't climb/descend in pitch mode.

Eg.... Let's say you're at 13,000.    13,000 is showing as the selected altitude in the small ALT/VS panel. You must lower/raise that value, before commanding the aircraft to climb/descend, using PITCH, VS or IAS modes.

Edited March 11, 20242 yr by JYW

Thanks, Bill....

Bill, while watching TV last night i thought of a solution to my problem...

First involves making your way to "Flightsim.to"  ... a great site....then

navigating to: https://flightsim.to/file/56532/msfs-panel-replicas  ...there you will

find a program which emulates several flight sim autopilots....download the addon,

pick a autopilot of your choosing....I used a fairly sophisticated one for the PC-21...

it worked splendidly except for the part about the maximum altitude, which you must

set in the plane...let me know of your adventures... 

...cheers, John Helms 

On 3/13/2024 at 5:21 PM, jmhelms said:

Bill, while watching TV last night i thought of a solution to my problem...

First involves making your way to "Flightsim.to"  ... a great site....then

navigating to: https://flightsim.to/file/56532/msfs-panel-replicas  ...there you will

find a program which emulates several flight sim autopilots....download the addon,

pick a autopilot of your choosing....I used a fairly sophisticated one for the PC-21...

it worked splendidly except for the part about the maximum altitude, which you must

set in the plane...let me know of your adventures... 

...cheers, John Helms 

Thanks John.

That looks an interesting mod from Flightsim.to!

John, I would edit out your email address from your post if I were you - email addresses posted publically can be picked up by nasty, forum-scanning software used by fraudsters and scammers.  👍

Yikes Bill..how do I edit my  post?

4 hours ago, jmhelms said:

Yikes Bill..how do I edit my  post?

It only lets you edit it within a few hours of posting it.

However, I'm sure the helpful moderators here will remove your email address from your post above.

@micstatic - Would you be able to edit out John's email address, from his post above?   Thanks

@jmhelms - How are you getting on with the PC-12's autopilot? 😎

Done 

Getting along fine now with it now that I use the

"helper" Panels app....thanks for asking...

The author has updated the program....first in a long time...

2 hours ago, jmhelms said:

The author has updated the program....first in a long time...

The Carenado PC12?    Or the AP Panels from flightsim.to ?

AP Panels from Flight.to ....