Mark,

I only use the 2D autopilot and place it at the top corner of my display - out of the way.

As for using the turn knob, even it the real plane it was a pain to use. Most pilots used heading select to drive the plane around, or hit the little red button on the yoke and hand fly the plane. The 727 was a very nice plane to hand fly, all you needed to do was keep it in trim. In the traffic pattern or on vectors the plane was easy to fly. At cruise speed it was not as much fun since it was too pitch sensitive and you would make the passengers go weeeeeeee! ;D

Lou