CS 717-200 A/P questions

[Slow Monkey]

I just typed a pretty long post asking for help and apparently it didn't get posted, so I guess I'd better start over and save this in case I need to copy-paste it again.

So I'm trying to figure out why the throttle keeps running away on the CS Boeing 717-200. When I reach cruising altitude, the throttle just keeps going up until I get blaring overspeed warnings, so I have to just manage the throttle manually, which I can do but I want to know what I'm doing wrong. I've read through CS's PDF manual but can't seem to figure it out. Yes, I'm aware that Captain Sim and his add-ons have a negative reputation for being janky and buggy. But I paid very little for the add-on and I'm managing my expectations accordingly. I'm just not so quick to assume it's a bug because in all likelihood, it's me. I'm still very new and learning a lot and the A/P on the 717 seems more complicated than I'm used to with lots of different modes.

Even if you don't have the exact answer I'm looking for I'd appreciate being pointed in the right direction of where to start reading/learning, because the manual isn't of much help and there's not really any quality YouTube content on the Captain Sim 717, just some stuff on the (obviously much better) TDFi, but not everything they say about that seems to transfer over to the CS plane (which makes sense b/c from what I undertand the CS plane is little more than a glorified mod of the stock A320). For example, there seems to be a procedure for takeoff where you engage the autopilot before takeoff and then you have to engage it a second time once you're airborne. That doesn't seem to work on the CS; I just immediatley stall and crash. If I take off manually with full thrust, then engage autopilot once I'm airborne, I can get going. But then the overspeed warnings start in no time.

[★Macman★]

You needs AUTO-THROTTLE ENABLED +AUTO-THROTTLE ON to follow AP. Some Planes are ON by default. The first is switches to UP position. The last you can also add a BIND as this needs OFF when Flairing to Land.

[Slow Monkey]

Are you talking about something that I'm supposed do in the aircraft, or something I'm supposed to be doing in the main menu? I'm sorry that I'm so slow, but I'm not understanding. How do I know if auto-throttle is enabled or on?

[★Macman★]

Aircraft obviously. If you had 1st Switch UP then you will see when AUTO-THROTTLE (A/T) is ON as it lights up if then turned ON.

[★Macman★]

This version is really an A320 inside a Boeing Model. You need to use the AUTO-THRUST BIND. 2:20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smm8xilU3OU

[Slow Monkey]

It's not obvious to me, and I'm sorry for needing so much guidance. I'm 36 years old, no spring chicken, and I've been a musician all my life and not even much of a gamer, let alone a flight simmer.

I'm assuming what you mean by "the first switch" are the two big A/P disconnect buttons underneath the main A/P button. If so, then yes, they're both up.

You seem to be saying I need to bind the auto-throttle to a keyboard key or a controller key, if I'm understanding correctly. I don't specifically know how to do that, but if that's what you're saying, then great, that at least points me in the right direction and I can research exactly how to do that.

What I'm not quite understanding is: are the auto-throttle and the autopilot separate systems that need to be engaged separately? Because when I try to it look up on Google or YouTube, I seem to be getting conflicting or confusing information. All I see on the control panel is one big AUTO-FLIGHT button, and when I watch videos of other people flying the plane, I can't tell what they're doing that I'm not (including the video you posted). Yet people seem to refer to the auto-throttle like it's a system that must be engaged separately.

My interpretation of what you're saying is as follows: Auto-Throttle is a separate and specific command from turning on the autopilot, and that needs to be bound to a key or controller input. Am I understanding?

Are you talking about FMS SPEED? Because that doesn't seem to do anything, so I'm starting to wonder if it's just bugged. The button lights up and the display changes from numbers to dashes, but it literally seems to make no difference. If I don't have FMS SPEED engaged, it also doesn't do anything. I can spin the knob to change the speed, push the speed/mach button to change it from IAS to mach, I can push it in, I can pull it out, it literally does nothing.

Again, I'm really sorry that I need so much guidance but I really do need help connecting the dots.

[★Macman★]

Look for AUTO-THROTTLE Bind in all cases. That is what AP needs.