Auto level keeps disengaging

[Brownshortz]

Ok....not sure what I am doing wrong but while trying to learn level bombing in the QMB the auto level keeps cutting out at the most inopportune times. It's ok at the start but the longer the session goes on the flakier the auto level seems to get. I'll line the plane up approximately with the target, switch on auto level and go into the bomb site mode. Invariably as I am making minor adjustments the auto level will disengage and the plane will start nose diving. Theres probably something obvious I'm missing??

[ShamrockOneFive]

That does sound unusual.

 

Given that the auto level doesn't disengage unless there is some sort of input... I'm guessing that either your stick is spiking a bit or you have the auto level engage/disengage button mapped twice and you're accidentally turning it off?

[Brownshortz]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I guess it must be something like that, although as I said its fine at the start of the session but after about 20 minutes it just wont stay engaged at all. Really frustrating.

[Pail]

Yeah the same has been happening to me sometimes. I generally put it down to me doing something wrong like having to correct the course of the plane too much.

[JimTM]

Auto-level is engaged automatically when you enter the bomb sight so skip engaging auto-level before entering the bomb sight next time and see what happens.

Edited March 14, 2017 by JimTM

[216th_Peterla]

Low speed disengages auto level.

[Blutaar]

No, its the angle of attack that disengages autolevel, or better say the angle of the elevators, if these are to much it will stop because of to much stick or control surface deflection.

If you engage it while being nose down or up, the autlevel pilot have to pull up but he overshoots if the nose was to low and then counter this with opposite elevator, that sometimes is to much movement.

After the patch the AI has kind of a slower control surface deflection then before and this is sometimes problematic with autolevel, so if you want to autolevel try to trim your plane first or at least hold level so you dont climb or dive to much then you should be fine with autolevel.

 

Of course i might be a bit off but this is my conclusion, try it, maybe it helps you.

[Brownshortz]

Auto-level is engaged automatically when you enter the bomb sight so skip engaging auto-level before entering the bomb sight next time and see what happens.

Ok...this sounds extremely plausible. I think you may be a legend....and I'm an idiot. Thanks

[JimTM]

Ok...this sounds extremely plausible. I think you may be a legend....and I'm an idiot. Thanks

 

 You're welcome.     

[Scojo]

Low speed disengages auto level.

I believe flying at low altitude will as well. I was once on autolevel and it disengaged when a hill approached, throwing my plane into the trees. I also was unable to engage it once and I solved the issue by climbing to several meters above tree height.

[-TBC-AeroAce]

One thing that i have noticed is that u must make sure u have the trim in an acceptable range other wise the auto level will be fighting it to stay level. For example if u are trimmed for a climb and hit auto level with out trimming for level flight it will find it hard to keep u level and will end up disconnecting

[TP_Silk]

One thing I pick up from this is "after 20 minutes or so" - it could well be that the auto-level feature has a 20 minute timer as it is only really implemented in game to substitute for those periods of time when the player is simulating being the bombardier looking through a bombsight while (in theory) a pilot would be steering the aircraft. It is not really meant as an auto-pilot system as most aircraft back then did not have those, only short-term auto-level to assist with game play.

 

One work-around if you want to keep auto-level on for longer is to periodically drop out of auto-level mode for a few seconds while in the pilot seat and then re-engage it.

[HotPursuit]

I don't think autopilot has a time limit. It's more likely an inadvertent control input turning it off.

 

You need to have the plane trimmed fairly well before engaging the autopilot. Once activated make sure you don't move the joystick and keep off the rudder pedals (if you have them).

 

When in the bombsight use the steering wheel in the centre bottom of the screen to line up your target, not rudder. You can also use the commands "Level flight AI-autopilot: left turn" and "Level flight AI-autopilot right turn" to adjust your course. I think these are LSht+ Z and LSht + X by default but not sure.

 

[Blutaar]

Actually you dont really need to trim your plane before using autopilot, you need to be sure the autopilot dont have to make large surface deflectios to stay level so you activate it while actively holding a more or less neutral pitch so you dont climb or dive and then you should have no problems using the autopilot no matter how you are trimmed but of course, trimming your plane is allways a good tip.

 

Guys whould you like to have the option for the autopilot to climb and dive in shallow angles like left and right steering is, i would really like that and on top of that an option to hold a left, right, up and down attitude without using the map bug?

Edited March 17, 2017 by Ishtaru