Support for F/A-18 autopilot in FSX SE

[GRIFFIN]

Hi Guys,
What does exactly ATTH button do? I know that BALT button locks whatever your current altitude is and i cant enter predetermined altitude in BALT. So can i enter an altitude in ATTH or if i cant , what does it do? Another point that i don't understand is when i hit the ATTH button , CPL button is automatically disengaged. Could you make me clear about this issues?

Thanks in advance.

[balubear]

http://www.fsdreamteam.com/forum/index.php?topic=20.0

"A/P Mode - Autopilot

Pressing the A/P button will enter into Autopilot mode. The Panel will now show:

ATTH
HSEL
BALT
RALT
CPL

It's important to note that, opposite to any civilian A/P, the F/A-18 A/P has been designed for speed of operation, not safety or passengers comfort. This means, there's no "preselection" of modes: when an A/P mode is selected, it will immediately engage and it will also turn on the A/P, if not already engaged. Of course, you can always manually turn on/off the A/P, by using the ON/OFF button when in Autopilot Mode.

To better learn autopilot modes, I suggest putting the left MFD screen on the ACL page, so you will be able to see all the Autopilot Annunciators, and the right MFD screen on HSI mode (should be default). To do this, press "MENU" on the left MFD, then press "ACL". On the right, press "MENU", then "HSI"

ATTH - is the Attitude Hold mode.

HSEL - Heading Select. It will mantain the Heading selected with the HDG selection bug. The HDG and CRS selection bugs are just under the Fuel selector. You can check the current selected heading on the HSI under the HSEL readout, and there's a bug displayed on the HSI as well. Note also, on the HSI, a "CPL HDG" readout will appear close to the airplane symbol.

BALT - Barometric Altitude Hold mode. This will set Altitude Hold mode at the CURRENT Altitude. There's no way to manually pre select a different altitude, Altitude mode here will always lock at your current altitude.

RALT - Radard Altitude Hold Mode. Not implemented

CPL - Coupled mode. This mode is a generic way to name all modes that are Coupled to something like a TACAN, and ILS or a WAYPOINT. What you are coupled to, depends on the mode that has been selected on the HSI screen. To change Coupling mode, select either "TCN", "ILS" or "WPT" on the HSI, to toggle between modes. NOTE: Of course, to use WPT mode, you first have to create a flight plan! Without a flight plan, the only modes available for coupling will be TCN and ILS.

Note the "CPL TCN" or "CPL ILS" on the airplane symbol. To select a Steering Course towards the station, use the CRS bug, and check the small "CSEL" readout on the HSI. By pressing the "CSEL" button on the HSI, instead, you can toggle on/off the visualization of the CRS indication for the HSI.

Pressing A/P button again, will exit from the Autopilot mode."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLVO-eyW2lo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFIAXGHBS5k

[GRIFFIN]

thanks for your reply balubear.