Autothrottle how to...

[StarJourney]

I'm trying to modify Mike Stone's PBY so that the A/P can use autothrottle.  I have an A/P Gauge that has the autothrottle option, but I can't seem to get it to work.  I'm using FS Panel Studio and have already checked the "Autothrottle" option, but it still doesn't want to work.  Any idea?

Thanks for any help,

Scott Horne

[dave3cu]

You'll need to add or change lines in the aircraft.cfg file-[Autopilot] section.

Here is an example from the B737 aircraft.cfg file

[autopilot]
autopilot_available=1
flight_director_available=1
default_vertical_speed=1800
autothrottle_available=1
autothrottle_arming_required=1
autothrottle_max_rpm = 90
autothrottle_takeoff_ga=1
......................

If you need a reference for editing the aircraft.cfg file I'd suggest the MS-AircraftContainerSDK; http://www.microsoft.com/games/flightsimulator/fs2004_downloads_sdk.asp#aircraftcontainer

Dave

[jimcooper1]

My experience of creating Autothrottles for Prop aircraft has been variable to say the least. Some aircraft models just don't seem to want to settle down to a fixed speed and hunt around the selected IAS causing pitch oscillations as well.  Other aircraft seem to accept an autothrottle quite happily. as I don't create aircraft (only gauges and panels) I don't know enough about the mdl file to understand why this is so - one day there might be enough hours in the day to start building aircraft as well!!

If you can't get the autothrottle to work try this frig in the [autopilot] section of the aircraft.cfg file

autothrottle_max_rpm=190.0

Good luck

Jim

[StarJourney]

Well, thanks for the advice.  Unfortunately, it seems like the PBY just isn't an autothrottle-type airplane.

Oh well......

Scott Horne

[jimcooper1]

Scott,

I was curious so I downloaded Mike Stone's PBY and put in an autothrottle.  Works like a dream using the Learjet45 AP and these lines in the aircraft.cfg file:

[autopilot]
autopilot_available= 1
flight_director_available= 1
default_vertical_speed= 700.0
autothrottle_available= 1
autothrottle_max_rpm=190
pitch_takeoff_ga= 8.000
max_pitch=10.000000
max_pitch_acceleration=1.000000
max_pitch_velocity_lo_alt=2.000000
max_pitch_velocity_hi_alt=1.500000
max_pitch_velocity_lo_alt_breakpoint=20000.000000
max_pitch_velocity_hi_alt_breakpoint=28000.000000
max_bank=25.000000
max_bank_acceleration=1.800000
max_bank_velocity=3.000000
max_throttle_rate=0.100000
nav_proportional_control=9.000000
nav_integrator_control=0.250000
nav_derivative_control=0.000000
nav_integrator_boundary=2.500000
nav_derivative_boundary=0.000000
gs_proportional_control=9.520000
gs_integrator_control=0.260000
gs_derivative_control=0.000000
gs_integrator_boundary=0.700000
gs_derivative_boundary=0.000000
yaw_damper_gain=0.000000


Try again !!  God Luck

Jim

[StarJourney]

Thanks!  I'll try it out tonight and see what happens!  Wish me luck!  I'm working on / tweaking a modernized instrument panel for Mike Stone's PBY.  I've flown 3/4 around the world with the panel I'm using now, but it still needs some tweaks.

Scott

[StarJourney]

Wonderful!  Works like a charm!  Now to figure out adding reverse thrust!  :)

Scott Horne

[rootbeer]

You guys' ability to do things like that without breaking a sweat leaves me feeling like I'm best suited to sweeping gutters...