MPGames RT
 Category 23,  Topic 6
 Message 78        Sat Jan 22, 1994
 T.NAUGHTON [SCAVENGER]       at 19:22 EST

TEST PILOT REPORT: AUTO PILOT DEFICIENCY
 Problem;
 1.Autopilot is set for straight and level flight and can not be set for any
 degree of climb.

2. Autopilot does not maintain straight and level at high alt.  Autopilot
 tends to lose alt. at over 30k.

Background: During long climbs to high alt. pilot must stay on the stick
 constantly to 1. maintain rate of climb 2. avoid stalls. The this total
 commitment to stick management makes use of the MODEL 1 ( interprestal
 digitation radio) more difficult. The autopilot is of no assistance.

At 40k with lower throttle settings a/c management becomes increasingly
 difficult. Using the radio while turning at low power can easily result in a
 stall. Again the autopilot is of little value as it tends to permit the
 aircraft to lose alt. at 40k. Flying at that alt becomes a constant jockey of
 stick,power,autopilot,radio.

Solution: I tried several methods. The one that works best was the most simple
 solution. Get two 3 3/4 by 1/4 inch rubber bands. Drop the bands over the
 stick handle down to the bottom of the handle stem (where the handle goes
into
 the base). Stretch the bands back toward you to the left and right corners of
 the base. Pull the bands down over those corners just enough to hold. Now you
 have a rubber band triangle running  across the front of the base, looping
 around the two corners and running along the top of the base to and around
the
 joystick stem.

On my TH FCS with autopilot set ON it put just enough tension on the stick
 that I could hold exactally any rate of climb set. At 35k I slipped one band
 off and the darn thing worked like a precision tool. With one band I could
 just set the auto to hold exact level and throttle down to 80%. Then I could
 perform rudder only (3 click) turns and get a 4:44 360. I could forget about
 the stick, airspeed, and maximize fuel, make turns and type command thier
 reports.

'Hello there Ch#2, this is JG1, we way up here where we are, down there we
 aren't any more.

'Yup We got fuel, its going in the motor up front, just fine, thanks for
 asking!

'Heading? We are going mostly up and some frontwards too. Suns at my back so
 must be going East.

'Whats Hector? No hes not here, want to talk to BG?

'Buff report? Well lets see. BG and Axe both work out. I'm pretty much a couch
 potatoe myself.

'Ican? Well sure and thanks, I've always wanted too.

'Well its been nice talking to you too. Well I just hate to see a grown man
 cry.

/JG1 to flight. Those guys are having a bad time of it down there.  It sounded
 like they was all in tears.

Hope this helps high alt. performance. I did this while sitting around waiting
 to hear how you guys won the battle, I hope

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