Simviation Forums

Hi guys and gals, I have my ppl and have had a bit of time on FS2004. I enjoy doing things the right way and have 1 problem left that I can not figure out.

When I fly a 777-300 or similiar I normally set all radios and AP settings before clearance and taxi.
So example when I have permission to Take off, I am on the runway with the AP set up for 10000ft altitude, 800fpm VS, etc. Just before Take Off I switch on the Flight director and the AP. But I do not engage the VS or Alt. Set Auto Throttle and hit TO/GA button.

The problem begins on the take off roll... The plane starts to nose up and stall on take off. Resulting in a buried tail.....

Am I doing it right. It seems to be only the big jets. The same method works great in other planes.

Thanks John

Well, always check your pitch before TO.

I always set my AP after receiving the IFR datas, but I never engage it until I have the full control over pitch, throttle and the AP itself. I use to do the TO and first climbing myself because

1. where's the fun when AP does your TO
2. I don't want the AP to ruin a longer flight.

I also had the discribed problem with certain other planes and I found out that when I'm setting the ALT and VS it engages itself  while beeing on ground and pretends like he is in air, with 0 KIAS speed  ;D trying to climb.
That's always check my pitch before TO...

But I never switch the AP on during TO. Only AT. The flight director seems to take over or the AP is operating in the background? I can not even push the nose down

the problem you are having is that the auto pilot is triming your aircraft to reach 10000ft.  dont turn on the auto-pilot until you are engaging the alt hold etc.

When I fly a 777-300 or similiar I normally set all radios and AP settings before clearance and taxi.
So example when I have permission to Take off, I am on the runway with the AP set up for 10000ft altitude, 800fpm VS, etc. Just before Take Off I switch on the Flight director and the AP. But I do not engage the VS or Alt. Set Auto Throttle and hit TO/GA button.

Finally set up an experimental flight to try it out on your behalf, John. The answer turns out to be, DON'T switch the AP on before takeoff (even though you're not engaging the various 'holds').

Try another takeoff in your usual way and watch the pitch-trim wheel - you'll see that it winds up to FULL nose-up trim before you're even airborne. So you'll finish up in a situation of full power and full noseup trim while you still have flaps and gear down - not a healthy situation.

So leave the A/P switched off until you're airborne, with gear and flaps up, in a stable climb at say 1,000 ft./min. and 200-plus knots. Then turn it on and trigger the various 'holds.'

You have to be careful with TO/GA too.

Wow I am Impressed. That you took the time to actually do that for me.. Thankyou very much.

I love this site, I went through all the tweaks last night that NickN posted regarding what I can turn of in Windows, and my machine has never run so fast. And now my FSX works like a dream.

Thanks again everyone

John