Autopilot for

[=PgT= Zero_CN_Reaper]

I got the FSX: Steam Edition - Messerschmitt BF 109 Add-On and though i do enjoy flying it i would like to have a autopilot for it.
I have a small collection of aircraft that don't have autopilot and would like to know how to add autopilot for them.
Just a simple little popup tool that could control altitude, speed, Nav/GPS/Heading

Tried doing searches on how to do it but all i am finding is how to use the autopilot instead of how to add AP to any aircraft.

[JJ FSX]

Google or Duck Duck Go: "fsx autopilot gauge".

[=PgT= Zero_CN_Reaper]

Originally posted by JJ FSX:

Google or Duck Duck Go: "fsx autopilot gauge".

Wouldn't by chance be a video on how to do it?
Reading instructions is fine so long as i have done it before.
Having not done this before i would need to see how it's done given it's in the Config files and don't know what changes i need to make.

I'm a visual observe and learn type not a give me a piece of paper with instructions on something i have never done before and expect me to get it.

[=PgT= Zero_CN_Reaper]

So i found a video on how to install a ground taxi gauge which gave me somewhat of a idea on how to do it and though i have autopilot in two of the aircraft i want, i can't figure out how to get the gauge to properly show up.
Had it fused with the GPS at one point.

Current aircraft have it in P51_Racer with stec!ST30. Also the default Air trike
This XML gauge simulates the System 30 combination Turn Coordinator and 2-axis autopilot made by S-Tec


** INSTALLATION *************************

I have included both a cab file and a folder, each named stec. Their contents are the same. The folder is so that you do not have to "unzip" the cab file to see and customize the contents. You can place the cab file in your gauges folder, if you wish to use it in several aircraft, and place the folder in a panel folder of one or more specific aircraft. Don't worry, there won't be a conflict: Flight Simulator looks first in the panel file for the cab or folder name, and if not found then it looks in its gauges folder. Thus, gauges load a tad faster in the panel folder (but I doubt I can click my stopwatch fast enough to see the difference).

Drop (copy or drag) the stec.cab file into a panel folder (for use in that panel) or into the FSX or FS9 gauges folder (for use in several aircraft panels). Or, place the stec folder in a panel folder to see the contents and modify them if you wish. To read the code, right-click on ST30.xml and select Edit.

A. TO PLACE THE GAUGE IN A PANEL add this line to its panel.cfg:
gaugeZZ=stec!ST30,X,Y,#,# // put this line in the main panel [Window00]

Where:
ZZ= next available gauge number
X and Y are the coordinates on the panel (see its background bmp file);
## are the width and height of the gauge (size it to suit your taste).
// indicates a comment, which is not read by the gauge.
Example: gauge14=stec!ST30,120,280,90,90
The gauge background.bmp is 400 x 400, so any ## in the ratio 1:1 looks the best.
This gauge will work in VC, where you can find a location and background bmp file.

You also must have these settings in the aircraft.cfg:
[autopilot]
autopilot_available = 1
flight_director_available = 1 (to capture altitude and heading, even if the FD is not used)


B. TO ADD A POP-UP WINDOW add these additional lines to the panel.cfg:
1. In [Window Titles], add this line:
WindowX=S-Tec // use next consecutive 2-digit number in place of X (01 to 64)

2. Add the gauge to your main panel [Window00] as in A above.
the gauge has clickspots to toggle the popup from the main panel.

3. After the last [WindowXX] and before [Vcockpit01], add these lines:
//---- S-Tec popup window ----
[WindowXX] // xx is the window number from step-1, above
Background_color=0,0,0 // can change to 0,0,1 for a black background to visually size the window
size_mm=200,200 // or other suitable numbers
//window_pos=0.7,0.3 // lets you specify an x/y location, experiment; or instead
position=5 // use this line instead of window_pos. The positions are:
// 0 1 2
// 3 4 5
// 6 7 8
windowsize_ratio=1.0 // alter this value to easily change the size of the popup
visible=0 // or use 1 to show it on start-up
ident=444 // the pop-up panel ID used in the S-Tec gauge.

gauge00=stec!ST30,0,0,X,Y // or other size of x/y ratio 1:1

You can change the ident number in the last three mouse functions in the xml gauge.
To toggle the popup window, click inside the gauge or press "shiftX+1." You can move and resize the panel in flight (grab an edge).






How i currently have it and what was within my ability to somewhat understand

// P51

[Window Titles]
Window02=GPS
Window03=stec

//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window02]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=545,354
window_size= 0.500, 0.362
window_pos= 0.000, 0.000
visible=0
ident=GPS_PANEL

gauge02=fs9gps!gps_295, 0,0
[Window03]
gauge03=stec!ST30,X,Y,#,#




I don't understand how any of this stuff works so just guessing with what i had seen but different from what i needed.

[=PgT= Zero_CN_Reaper]

What i would like to add it to.

//Final at 020610

[Window Titles]
Window00=Main Panel
Window01=Radio Panel




//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window00]
file=mini.bmp
size_mm=1024,768
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=4
visible=1
ident=MAIN_PANEL

gauge00=ahme109_xml!Airspeed, 53,620,137,137
gauge01=ahme109_xml!Turn Slip, 700,621,135,135
gauge02=simicons1024!Radio Icon, 927,653,20,20
gauge03=simicons1024!GPS Icon, 927,706,20,20
gauge04=simicons1024!Map Icon, 894,680,20,20
gauge05=simicons1024!Kneeboard Icon, 894,653,20,20
gauge06=simicons1024!ATC Icon, 894,706,20,20
gauge07=SimIcons1024!Clock Icon, 927,680,20,20
gauge08=ahme109_xml!Gyro Compass 2d, 374,592,200,200
gauge09=ahme109_xml!RPM, 545,622,135,135
gauge10=ahme109_xml!kohls, 174,576,214,243


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Window01]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=680,355
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=7
visible=0
ident=8
window_size= 0.664, 0.462
window_pos= 0.338,-0.002

gauge00=Radio!radio, 0,0,680,355


//--------------------------------------------------------
[Vcockpit01]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=512,512
visible=0
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$vc_kohls

gauge00=ahme109_xml!kohlsVC, 137,120,115,131
gauge01=JF_spitfire_guns!guns, 0,0,50,50

//--------------------------------------------------------
[Vcockpit02]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=512,512
visible=0
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$vc_turnslip

gauge00=ahme109_xml!Turn Slip, 124,118,138,138



[Default View]
X=0
Y=0
SIZE_X=8191
SIZE_Y=5000

[UncleJoe]

Try this one for a popup:

[Window02]
BACKGROUND_COLOR=2,2,2
size_mm=156,48
position=8
visible=0
ident=Auto_Pilot
zorder=1
windowsize_ratio=1.60
window_pos=0.756,0.275
gauge00=Bendix_King_Radio!Bendix-King Radio AP,0,0,156,48


And Add to the top [Window Titles]:

Window02=Auto Pilot

[UncleJoe]

Oh -- And check the aircraft.cfg file to see that, in the [Auto pilot] section the autopilot = 1 (not zero)

[=PgT= Zero_CN_Reaper]

Originally posted by UncleJoe:

Oh -- And check the aircraft.cfg file to see that, in the [Auto pilot] section the autopilot = 1 (not zero)

Already had that changed.
The popup, is that from a default aircraft?

[=PgT= Zero_CN_Reaper]

Originally posted by UncleJoe:

Try this one for a popup:

[Window02]
BACKGROUND_COLOR=2,2,2
size_mm=156,48
position=8
visible=0
ident=Auto_Pilot
zorder=1
windowsize_ratio=1.60
window_pos=0.756,0.275
gauge00=Bendix_King_Radio!Bendix-King Radio AP,0,0,156,48


And Add to the top [Window Titles]:

Window02=Auto Pilot

That works great.

[=PgT= Zero_CN_Reaper]

Something else i would eventually like to add is AT/Speed hold and the option to switch between NAV/GPS follow.

[UncleJoe]

Originally posted by Zero_code_name_Reaper:

Something else i would eventually like to add is AT/Speed hold and the option to switch between NAV/GPS follow.

I believe I adapted that out of a popup Bendix radio stack from the Beech.

For all that other added stuff (AT, etc.) you might do the same with the 737-800 A/P. And in the same place in the aircraft.cfg, make autothrottle=1

I had found the auto throttle to be problematic in the other planes though; it likes to stick and mess up landings.

[=PgT= Zero_CN_Reaper]

Originally posted by UncleJoe:

Originally posted by Zero_code_name_Reaper:

Something else i would eventually like to add is AT/Speed hold and the option to switch between NAV/GPS follow.

I believe I adapted that out of a popup Bendix radio stack from the Beech.

For all that other added stuff (AT, etc.) you might do the same with the 737-800 A/P. And in the same place in the aircraft.cfg, make autothrottle=1

I had found the auto throttle to be problematic in the other planes though; it likes to stick and mess up landings.

I don't necessarily need auto throttle just nice to have if you want to maintain a certain speed and keep the fuel burn at a more efficient rate depending on what aircraft you are using.
Though the NAV/GPS switch is somewhat a must have specially with this autopilot.
Had to switch to a different aircraft that had the switch because it wasn't following the GPS route i had set so had to set it and switch back to the aircraft i was wanting to fly.

[Katusoturi]

I use this:
gauge01=Beech_Baron!Nav GPS Switch, 0, 0

e.g.
[Window03]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=456,378
position=8
visible=0
ident=GPS_PANEL

gauge00=fs9gps!gps_500, 0,0
gauge01=Beech_Baron!Nav GPS Switch, 0, 0

[UncleJoe]

That 737-800 A/P is all digital and has the NAV/GPS switch in it as well as separate NAV and HDG buttons. (even has a Flight Director switch.)