Simviation Forums

Is there a way to add an autopilot to a download that does not have one. I just downloaded a Piper Pa 28 with out and autopilot and would like to add one.

Thanks
Bob

If the aircraft is fitted with a FULL Bendix-King Radio gauge(s) stack in the Panel.cfg.....

Check for this entry in the "aircraft.cfg" file...>>>

[Radios]
// Radio Type = availiable, standby frequency, has glide slope
Audio.1 = 1
Com.1 = 1, 1
Com.2 = 1, 1
Nav.1 = 1, 1, 1
Nav.2 = 1, 1, 0
Adf.1 = 1
Transponder.1 = 1
Marker.1 = 1

This enables ALL the options in the Radio Stack, including the autopilot!

Paul....Bendix-King enthusiast!..... ...!

Hi Bob,

adding an autopilot can be as easy, as adding a [autopilot] section to the aircraft.cfg.

Open up the aircraft.cfg of your plane and look if there is a section like this:

[autopilot]
autopilot_available=0
flight_director_available=0

If you have this section, you can change it to (or if not, add it):

[autopilot]
autopilot_available=1
flight_director_available=0

When you start the sim and load the plane, the section should automatically updated to something like this:

[autopilot]
autopilot_available=1
flight_director_available=0
default_vertical_speed=700.0
autothrottle_available=0
pitch_takeoff_ga=8.0
max_pitch=10.0
max_pitch_acceleration=1.0
max_pitch_velocity_lo_alt=2.0
max_pitch_velocity_hi_alt=1.5
max_pitch_velocity_lo_alt_breakpoint=20000.0
max_pitch_velocity_hi_alt_breakpoint=28000.0
max_bank=25.0
max_bank_acceleration=1.8
max_bank_velocity=3.00
max_throttle_rate=0.10
nav_proportional_control=9.00
nav_integrator_control=0.25
nav_derivative_control=0.00
nav_integrator_boundary=2.50
nav_derivative_boundary=0.00
gs_proportional_control=9.52
gs_integrator_control=0.26
gs_derivative_control=0.00
gs_integrator_boundary=0.70
gs_derivative_boundary=0.00
yaw_damper_gain=0.0

The [Radios] section is needed, if you want to drive the autopilot via NAV1, but it can also driven by GPS or altitude and heading input.

In the panel.cfg of your plane, you need something to control the autopilot, like the Bendix-King autopilot. If there is none, copy the radio stack of a plane - which has one - to your panel.cfg. (And a NAV-GPS toggle, if you want to drive the autopilot via GPS.)

But this only works, if the air-file of your plane supports an autopilot. If not, you can try to mess with the air-file or try to find a external autopilot, like FS-Pilot (ex-payware for FS9), but I don't know if there is one for FSX.

I hope I could help.

Greetings from Germany

Dieselpunk

I think you will need a way to activate it as well, which means adding a switch to the a Panel.
Myself I would use FSPANEL STUDIO Just add the gauge and make sure the radio section is correct and that is it.
However I think you can assign a keystroke to arm and disarm the auto pilot but not sure I have never tried it.

Hi,

The AP is normally activated via the AP knob on the Bendix King, a external AP toggle is only used in larger and/or newer aircraft.

By the way, some of the default key-strokes are:

[Z] activate autopilot
[CTRL] + [Z] altitude hold
[CTRL] + [H] heading hold

Greetings from Germany

Dieselpunk