Autopilot in Super VC10

[beaky]

Just DLd D. Maltby's VC10 model, and I seem to need more info on how to operate that AP. It's weird- I can select either mach speed  hold, or altitude hold. And sometimes the switches indicate "on" when they're off, and vice-versa. Anybody flown this one?

[Nav]

It's an old-style A/P, rottydaddy.

[sir_crashalot]

Hi Rottydaddy. I flew the VC10 for my world tour (see screenshots). I f you see the panel for the autopilot, you will also see, the AP icon in the left bottom corner. Press that and you will get an autopilot that looks more like we are used too. You know, with the digital readouts.

Good luck in flying a truly great aircraft.

Crash

[767-300er]

that's cheatin

[beaky]

Outstanding. I knew there was a good manual somewhere; thanks. And yes, I may start off with the "cheater's" AP panel until I get the hang of it... wouldn't want to prang this beauty...

[sir_crashalot]

that's cheatin

Why call it cheating? Some things are made to make other things a little easier. It's true that the "old" autopilot might be more authentic, the "new" one is easier.

Crash

[Nav]

When you've been messing about with FS as long as I have, sir_crashalot, you'll maybe find that 'a change is as good as a rest'.  :) It's nice to fly a challenging 'oldie' sometimes.

Besides - you shouldn't miss out on that 'autoland'. Weird at first - especially the first time you use it,  folding your arms and watching the runway rush up at you and just HOPING it'll work  :)

[sir_crashalot]

Don't get me wrong, I tried to use the old one and I must say it gives the plane something extra. It's certainly something different.

Crash

[beaky]

I'm looking forward to flying this one "old school style", but I'll have to work up to it. Besides, perusing this nice manual here, I see that even the "original" AP has been modified slightly to work with FS... it's just a PC sim, after all.

[C]

You may find this thread very useful...

Classic British Flight Sim forum - VC10 question

These forums are frequented by Mr Maltby and other designers such as Rick Piper and Dave Garwood...

Also, more importantly for this thread, "Tonks", one of the forum moderators, is a current Royal Air Force VC-10 pilot at RAF Brize Norton, so can answer any technical questions on the operation of the aircraft off the top of his head...

[willg]

i found the AP in the VC-10 easy to use as well as being truly amazing, how many custom aircraft have that good an Ap on a custom panel, as well as the superb auto land feature?  8)

[beaky]

Wow... just finished a flight from Aukland to Sydney in that Super VC, using the autopilot. Made the mistake of switching between the "old" and "new" APs; they seemed to get a little out of sync. Also had a bit of trouble holding Mach (chose Alt. hold over Mach hold): It seemed like in level flight trimmed for FL250, 88% thrust was not enough, but 89% thrust would get it creeping up into overspeed territory in no time. Very slow to accelerate, but very hard to slow down.
 Things got odd while intercepting the ILS; she went way, way low. Had me worried for a moment. But the "Flare" function worked like a dream! Phenomenal model!!!
 

[beaky]

You may find this thread very useful...

Classic British Flight Sim forum - VC10 question

These forums are frequented by Mr Maltby and other designers such as Rick Piper and Dave Garwood...

Also, more importantly for this thread, "Tonks", one of the forum moderators, is a current Royal Air Force VC-10 pilot at RAF Brize Norton, so can answer any technical questions on the operation of the aircraft off the top of his head...

Thanks, I'll have to look at that before I fly the next leg on the way to... London, I guess?
Any idea where I can find listed routes for these old BOAC planes? Particularly interested in the London- L.A. flights, but can't find a map anywhere. Would that just be a Great Circle via Greenland, such as a GPS might plot?

[Nav]

rottydaddy, about the speed, my joystick throttle lever was too 'coarse', and David has modelled 'spooling time' very accurately (longer than in the default aircraft). The solution I found was to 'fine-tune' the speed with the lightest possible taps on the F2/F3 keys.

The planned VC10 long-range version never happened (except for the RAF version?) and as far as I know London-LA direct was never a possibility. BOAC, as the main customer, stuffed the VC10 design around unmercifully.

[Nav]

If you like David's VC10, you might like his Comet 4 even more - I reckon it's a masterpiece.