Thanks for doing this. I have recently started using 727 and have noticed some of these issues as well. I will try them tonight.

cmpbllsjc wrote on Dec 21^st, 2009 at 10:06pm:


Yes.  Flip "off" the elevator master (pitch hold) switch and you can adjust your pitch with the yoke.  Flip the switch back on and the AP will hold the current pitch angle.

The only thing I was not able to solve was that when you hit "altitude hold", the elevator master/pitch hold switch will go to the "off" position, even though the AP is obviously controlling pitch if it is holding an altitude.  When you switch the altitude hold off, the elevator master/pitch hold will switch back on to show that it is holding the current pitch attitude.

As always, when in doubt, shut the AP off and make sure the selector is in 'Manual' and start again.

I personally have been super happy with the AP mod.

I also love the 727; bought the 767s on sale but haven't had much interest in flying them yet.  Not into FMCs etc.

Thanks for uploading these fixes. I took my first airliner flight in many a moon a couple of nights ago, in my new CS 727 100F. With the exception of a couple of glitches (which this pack appears to fix) it was a very enjoyable flight. Thanks to all who made it, and a big thanks to Captain Sim for a true pilot's plane - and for their super holiday sale as well. 

Matt 2218

Thanks for the fix package. I do have one issue with the AP in that when I switch on the Aileron Master(Autopilot master), the switch flips up to the engaged position correctly. The Elevator Master(Pitch Hold) however does not flip up in the pop up AP window. It seems to function just as u say but I have to remember whether I switched it on or off by testing the pitch responsiveness to the yoke. Is this the way it is supposed to work or is the Elevator master switch supposed to move like the Autopilot master?(it seems to only be stuck in one position"off" even though it functions as u say it should by clicking on it) BTW, in case u are wondering I do have the AP selector in manual at all times. Thanks in advance.

Alex C

pilot wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2009 at 4:10am:


Good Morning Alex;

No, it is not supposed to work like that...the elevator master is supposed to flip up and down to indicate whether or not "pitch hold" is active. Assuming that you put it in the right place (727-100 "panel" folder), there are two other things I can think of:

- First, even with the revised gauge I also have noticed 'strange' autopilot behavior at times, especially when loading a saved flight or changing aircraft.  I have gotten into the habit of flipping the AP off and on a couple times to clear out any 'memory' it might have.  Just yesterday I had a situation (saved flight) where the elevator master switch would not respond.  Turning the AP off and on a couple of times fixed it.  Please let us know if that works for you.

- Second, the boolean variable that I used to move the Elevator Master switch is "Pitch Hold"...I recall seeing something in the SDK about this being a new variable for SP2/Accel, but I'm not at my home computer to check it right now.  If you are running something other than SP2/Accel, could that be it?

Other than those two things, I don't know what to try.  Please keep in mind that the AP xml gauge that I was able to edit is only half of it.  Behind the scenes is a .gau gauge that I dont know how to edit, so our ability to impact its performance is limited. We're blazing new trails here so everyone please remember to back up your old stuff before you try anything new  

- aircanada; keep in mind that you cannot "set" an airspeed or altitude with the 727.  The altitude window on the panel is just an 'alert' that rings a tone when you get close to or deviate from the altitude shown. If a tone is not ringing when the alert goes off, you need to go into the "sound.ini" file in the "FSX/Captain_Sim" folder and change "soundoffwhenslew=1" to "soundoffwhenslew=0" (I think that is what it is called anyway). As for following a heading, make sure that you've got the autopilot set to "manual", aileron master switch on, then flip the "heading select" switch. This should enable you to set the heading with the heading bug.  If you switch it to "NAV/LOC" or "AutoGS" the heading bug is useless.  To hold altitude, you need to flip the 'altitude hold' switch when you are at the desired altitude (and not climbing or diving more than 500 fpm) and it is supposed to hold it from there. I hope that helps, otherwise I don't know.

Anybody else smarter than I am feel free to chime in.  That's about all I know  

Again, anytime you suspect AP issues, flip it off and on once or twice and rotate the mode knob right and left to clear it out. And did I say to back everything up first?

MarkOz - I'm sorry I forgot to include your Flight Engineer Hotkey fix in my file  

now working 

aircanadajet wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2009 at 7:26pm:


Sure - open up the CS Manual #2 to page 57, I'll refer to the number labels on the AP gauge picture shown there. Everything I'm going to say applies to the Autopilot POPUP gauge only...I didn't make any mods to the one built into the pedestal of the VC and I don't use it!

*************
- Before engaging the AP, you want to be sure that knob #1 is in manual mode, and that switches 3 and 4 are down.  For good luck I generally click #3/#4 on/off once or twice.  Note that when you flip #3 up, #4 goes up too; but you need to flip them down individually.

- Once you are off the ground, if you flip switch #3, both #3 and #4 switches will go up.  At this point the AP has control of the aircraft in all axes.  You will stay "wings level" (or go level if you aren't already) and your nose will stay at whatever pitch up or down that it was when you flipped the switches. This is MANUAL MODE.

1) In this manual mode, you can do a few things:
  a) Use knob #2 to roll the aircraft or pitch it up or down.
  b) Flip switch #4 off and control pitch manually with the yoke.  When you have the pitch angle you like, you can flip switch #4 back on again, and it will hold your pitch.
  c) Flip switch #5 up and the AP will seek and hold the altitude that you were at when you flipped the switch.  Make sure your climb or descent rate is small or the aircraft will porpoise.  Note that if switch #4 was on when you turned on #5, it will switch to the off position.  This is not realistic, but the best I could do with my limited skills.
  d) Flip switch #7 up and the aircraft will turn to fly whatever heading is indicated by the 'heading bug' (orange triangle) on the Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI). Note that if you adjust pitch using Knob #2 while you are turning toward a heading, the aircraft will temporarily stop turning as it seeks 'wings level'.  Once you stop messing with it, the AP will continue turning toward the heading.

Other modes:

NAV LOC

- If you want to track a VOR radial  or ILS localizer (horizontal navigation only), turn knob #1 to the NAV LOC position.  This has no impact at all on pitch, so you can still do the following actions listed above: 1a (pitch only), 1b, or 1c. When you go to NAV LOC mode, switch #7 will shut off and the heading bug will do nothing.

Note that if it seems like the aircraft will not capture the radial/localizer...try turning off the AP and back on, including rotating the mode knob (#1) to the right and back left to "manual".

AUTO G/S

- Auto G/S is the approach mode you use to track an ILS.  For best results, this is how I do it:

1) Start in manual mode:
- Knob #1 in manual
- Knob #2 at zero bank
- Switch #3 on
- Switch #5 on (holding my intercept altitude); therefore switch #4 off.
- Switch #7 on, holding the intercept heading that I want.

2) As you close in on the localizer, BELOW the glideslope, turn Knob #1 to "Auto G/S".  The aircraft should begin to intercept the localizer, and switch #7 will turn off.  As the glideslope indicator centers, you should see switch #5 flip "off" (#4 stays off) and the aircraft will pitch down to follow the glideslope. Make sure to manage your flaps/throttle/gear so that you aren't getting too fast or slow!

3) As I near landing (or whenever I want control) I hit "z" on my keyboard to shut off the AP (you will hear a buzzer and switch #3 will shut off).

The rest of the landing is up to you at that point.

MAN G/S

- I don't know what that mode does.

*************

I don't use knob #6 for anything.

I hope this helps with the 'knobology' of my modified Sperry AP.  Knowing how to operate it is only one small part of flying the aircraft successfully.  I recommend you read the CS manuals cover to cover and scrub the web for guidance on how to fly an approach.

Remember:
- Too much or too little speed will hurt you.
- Lowering your gear or adding flaps will generally require you to add power due to the increased drag.  Adding flaps in particular will cause the aircraft to climb temporarily but lose speed in the long run.
- When the aircraft pitches down to follow the glideslope it will gain speed.  
- Due to the 727's relatively low power and spool time, you need to anticipate when you will need power.
- With practice you'll get it!

Matt2218 wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2009 at 1:02pm:

Hi Matt.

I wasn't expecting that to be in there anyway so don't worry about it.  

Mark

javiercuellar wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2009 at 10:07am:


Javier;

I'm sorry it isn't flipping up properly for you 

Are you running FSX SP2 (or acceleration)?  I am running FSX Accel on Vista64; so I can't vouch for any other setup.

If that isn't the problem the only thing I can think of is turning the AP off and on a couple of times, including rotating the Mode selector knob all the way to the right and back to Manual.  I find I have to do that to get things to work properly sometimes, especially after loading a saved flight.

Good luck!  And please let us know if you solve it.
Matt

Matt

I am running FSX SP2 on XP SP2. No resolution on the Pitch hold flipping issue but no biggie, the AP mod you made works fine and is a vast improvement on the original as far as flyability is concerned. I will get used to checking whether it is off or on by yanking on my yoke. OOOOps,...didn't sound right that! . Anyway, I suspect it is an XP issue since no one using W7 or Vista seems to have reported this problem. Thanks again for the AWESOME work. Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!

Alex C

Alex, Javier -

The variable that I used to control the display of the elevator master switch may only apply to Acceleration.  As long as it works that is the important thing I guess.  In addition to yanking the yoke you might be able to tell the status of that elevator master by clicking it; if it jumps up for an instant then you know you have just turned it on.  At least that is how it worked in a previous iteration of the gauge for me.

Aircanada - your clicking problem with the -200 and freighters sounds like an activation issue to me...that might be how they protect the copyright.  Best go with a trouble ticket on that one.  Just a guess though.

Good luck and Merry Christmas to all!

I have something to add to the mods. In the Aircraft.cfg you need to find the [GPWS] section. The top is the original, the lower is the modified value. This will remove the "GLIDE SLOPE" or "PULL UP" warning (I forget which one it is now) when on approach.

[GPWS]
max_warning_height         =  1200
sink_rate_fpm              = -1500
excessive_sink_rate_fpm    = -2000
climbout_sink_rate_fpm     = -100
flap_and_gear_sink_rate_fpm= -100

[GPWS]
max_warning_height         =  1200
sink_rate_fpm              = -1500
excessive_sink_rate_fpm    = -2000
climbout_sink_rate_fpm     = -1000
flap_and_gear_sink_rate_fpm= -1000

Thanks Launchbury.

It'll be great to get rid of that warning when landing. It's so annoying.  

Mark

Hi again Matt.

Have you tested the EPR fix? Does it work with the performance charts?

I'v been testing and don't work properlly for me.

BTW, do you have a gauge for the TAT? I cant find one, so I'm trying to create one.

Fuel Flow fix:

The best information I can find gives the 727 a roughly 10,000 lbs/hour fuel burn. The default CS burns about 7,500 PPH. Find the following in aircraft.cfg

[GeneralEngineData]
engine_type= 1
Engine.0= -41.000, -8.960, 2.500
Engine.1= -48.000, 0.000, 2.500
Engine.2= -41.000, 8.960, 2.500
fuel_flow_scalar= 0.361
min_throttle_limit=-0.25
max_contrail_temperature = -30

Change the fuel flow scalar so the entry reads like this:

[GeneralEngineData]
engine_type= 1
Engine.0= -41.000, -8.960, 2.500
Engine.1= -48.000, 0.000, 2.500
Engine.2= -41.000, 8.960, 2.500
fuel_flow_scalar= 0.4344
min_throttle_limit=-0.25
max_contrail_temperature = -30

javiercuellar wrote on Dec 26^th, 2009 at 12:34am:


Javier -

I haven't tried the EPR fix against anything official.  I use it just because it spreads out the EPR range on the gauge.

I'm  headed over to download the update and see what we've got in there!

Aircanada -

Yes, to follow your GPS plan you need:

- Autopilot ON
- Mode: NAV LOC (+Altitude Hold is OK too)
- Nav/GPS switch: GPS.

If you have it configured like this, and you are reasonably close to the pink line you should track it!

Glad you got that activation figured out!

aircanadajet wrote on Dec 27^th, 2009 at 9:41pm:


No, you have to add it to the AP or GPS window by following my instructions...good luck!

aircanadajet wrote on Dec 28^th, 2009 at 11:39pm:


LOL - breathe into the paper bag...you will be OK

I meant some directions that are admittedly buried in my posts and download file. Here's what you need to do:

***To add the NAV/GPS button to the Autopilot window, replace the text for [window03] with the text below.  Note that this is for the 727-100 (passenger); the others will have a slightly different gauge00= line, so copy and paste the gauge00 line from what was there:

[Window03]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=427,130
position=2
visible=0
ident=10005
gauge00=Captain_Sim.p721.P12!P12_001_ap, 0,0, 427,106
gauge01=Cessna!Nav_GPS_Annunciator,                   400, 106, 24, 22
gauge02=Cessna!Nav GPS Switch,                          376, 106, 24, 22


or:

***To add the button to the GPS popup window, replace the text for [Window05] with the text below (will work on all versions):

[Window05]
size_mm=456,403
window_size=0.4
position=8
background_color=0,0,0
visible=0
ident=GPS_PANEL
gauge00=fs9gps!gps_500,0,25
gauge01=Cessna!Nav_GPS_Annunciator,                     400, 106, 24, 22
gauge02=Cessna!Nav GPS Switch,                          376, 106, 24, 22

Let me know if you run into any problems!

Matt2218 wrote on Dec 21^st, 2009 at 3:35pm:


Update:

With the release of version 2.3, most of my mods/fixes listed above are no longer applicable. The fixes that I am personally still using are:

- Revised altimeters ('rollover fix' eliminates ambiguous readings when altitude hold set at whole thousand-foot increments)
- MDA light fix (Square 'MDA' light shines when decision height reached)
- Nav/GPS button added to Autopilot 2D panel
- GPWS fix ( I set all warnings to chime at -1500 feet/minute or greater to eliminate "Don't Sink" on approach)
- JETPILOT's Fuel Crossfeed instructions still apply

I have put these items in a "727_Version_2.3_Mods" folder at the same link above and removed the old content.  If you have the altimeter & MDA light fixes from the old folder you should not need to download the new ones.

Happy New Year!

Launchbury wrote on Dec 31^st, 2009 at 6:23am:


LOL I am in a heap of trouble then  

Frankly I just matched it to the other sinkrate numbers in the section...didn't think too much about whether it made any sense!

Anybody wanting realistic GPWS warnings should change the descent rates to reflect Launchbury's earlier in this thread:

[GPWS]
max_warning_height         =  1200
sink_rate_fpm              = -1500
excessive_sink_rate_fpm    = -2000
climbout_sink_rate_fpm     = -1000
flap_and_gear_sink_rate_fpm= -1000

Regardless, here's wishing everyone a "Granite Cloud Free" New Year!
Thanks!

Javier -

Looks like they included your mod in 2.3.  On my system (2.3), the copilot's digital readout displays DME2.

My 727-100s and -200s no longer have duct pressure - yikes!  what happened??

Please, Matt2218 or anyone else could you please send me only the autopilot mod you have made?
or if you could tell me how you made it? the lines, etc,,,

If you could send me by email at toledo_fabio@hotmail.com I'd appreciate very much.
Thanks very much in advance.

Do anybody have any idea of where to find EPR settings for the 727-200?
I know it's been discussed before but is there any fix for the EPR gauges? I recently flown a 737-200 simulator on an MCC course and we flew with a fixed mass and a fixed EPR value wich was 2.10, if i'm not wrong didnt the 732 and 722 have the same engines (or very similar)?
This is impossible with the 727 both N1 EGT and N2 are reading red.

I also have a problem with the low oil pressure lamps on the main panel.
They are not illuminated when engines are shutdown. They illuminates for just a second when the engine is started.
any ideas?
regards
mikael

McCartney95 wrote on Aug 16^th, 2010 at 5:16pm:

There´s a file in FlightSim.com called " autolandjj.zip ". I haven´t tried it personally (and ever won´t with 727 at least).