Autopilot

This article is a stub. You can help the wiki by expanding it.

The autopilot setting dialog of FlightGear.

An autopilot (AP) is a mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being. Most people understand an autopilot to refer specifically to aircraft, but self-steering gear for ships, boats, space craft and missiles is sometimes also called by this term.

The autopilot of an aircraft is sometimes referred to as "George".

Autopilot Settings

The AP Settings dialog could be found at Autopilot > Autopiilot Settings.

Heading control

• Wings Level: enable this to keep your plane horizontal- ususally used at Go-Arounds.
• Heading Bug: located on the compass rose of your instrument panel is a movable heading bug, the purple triangles that are pointing at your runways heading (283 for KSFO default). This bug is moved around the rose by setting the Heading Bug. The heading bug can be used several ways. When hand flying the aircraft turn the bug to your desired heading. This way you will have a constant visual reminder. If Air Traffic Control gives you a new heading move the heading bug to the new heading and you have your visual reminder.
• True Heading: your true heading as shown on the compass (of the HUD) and MP Map.
• NAV1 CDI Course: used for VOR-by VOR flying like in old days and useed with ILS.

Velocity control

• Speed with Throttle: speed will be regulated to the selected speed by controlling throttle.
• Speed with Pitch: your plane will be pushed down or up to reach the selected speed. This can not be used during takeoff, landing or low altitude flights. Doing so could cause a crash.

Pitch/Altitude control

• Vertical Speed: set the speed of vertical climb. Usually used as "feets per minute"
• Pitch Hold: pitch degrees of your plane. Use a negative number to lower your nose.
• AoA Hold: The Ange of Attack describes the angle of the wings to direction of the circumfluent air. Very important then the ift of the wing depends on the AoA. A too high AoA let the aircraft stall.
• Altitude Hold: the desired altitude of your plane in feet (FL1=100 ft, FL25=2500 ft etc.).
• AGL Hold: The Altitude about Ground Level. Usually the altitude is given about sea level.
• NAV1 Glideslope: The vertical slope which led the aircraft from the interception point down to Runway level-used only with ILS.

Route manager

TODO