DrawyahGames Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 Afternoon guys, I've recently been flying a few older aircraft within FSX recently as I do enjoy the more manual side of flying, although one thing I've never quite understood is how pilots would program the old-style autopilot you would find in aircraft like the BAC 1-11 or Boeing 707 as this was a time before the FMC. My only guess would be that pilots manually programmed radio frequencies whilst flying, but I don't think this is the case - could someone explain to me how the old system worked? Check out my YouTube Channel for FSX, X-Plane and other simulator content! https://www.youtube.com/c/Drawyah/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lnuss Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 My only guess would be that pilots manually programmed radio frequencies whilst flying, but I don't think this is the case Then you've guessed right and think wrong. The time of the 707 is before digital computers were a common thing (and the few that existed were huge). They did, indeed, set the radio freqs manually on the radios. They also had to manually turn the OBS on the VOR or rotate the pointer on an ADF. There were inertial nav systems, but they weren't tied to radios, and the navigator had to periodically check them, since they would drift some over time. I'm not sure when the inertial systems went from analog (such as the bomb/nav on the B-47 and B-52, both of which had a separate bombardier/navigator to manage the system) to digital, but it still wasn't an FMC, in the modern sense. And these systems were BIG and HEAVY (the B-47 system would take up a fair sized room on the ground), with just one of the many, many boxes often taking two people to carry. The system was mostly servo mechanisms, gear trains, 3 dimensional cams and a few tube-type amplifiers. The navigator used a periscope (yes, that's not a misprint) with a tracking handle (similar to a joystick) to set winds into the system (later they tied in doppler radar for that). As far as the autopilot controller you depict above, the one you've labeled "Horizontal Mode Selector" switched between a HDG mode (manually set the heading bug on the DG), the MAN mode (manually twist the turn selector (which you've labeled Bank Angle Selector, though it doesn't control bank, just the rate of turn)), LOC/VOR (localizer/VOR), GS (glide slope) and Auto(matic). INS may mean Inertial Nav System. The one you labeled Altitude Hold Switch is the on/off to hold the altitude set by a bug on the altimeter. In other words, you did most of the stuff manually, without computer control. Larry N. As Skylab would say: Remember: Aviation is NOT an exact Science! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyjohnston Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 When I first started simming in FS 5.1, we didn't have fancy GPS systems where we could program in a course for the sim to fly. I kind of 'created' my own system that I used to get from place to place. Didn't have the moving map either. I would tune the freq, then turn the VOR to capture it. Exactly as you describe. Spent way too much time using these sims... FS 5.1, FS-98, FS-2000, FS-2002, FS-2004, FSX, Flight, FSW, P3Dv3, P3Dv4, MSFS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
napamule2 Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 He knows there was no FMC involved. The only reason he asks these 'type' questions is to post his link to his YouTube videos. Troll post. Click bait. Annoying. Chuck B Napamule i7 2600K @ 3.4 Ghz (Turbo-Boost to 3.877 Ghz), Asus P8H67 Pro, Super Talent 8 Gb DDR3/1333 Dual Channel, XFX Radeon R7-360B 2Gb DDR5, Corsair 650 W PSU, Dell 23 in (2048x1152), Windows7 Pro 64 bit, MS Sidewinder Precision 2 Joy, Logitech K-360 wireless KB & Mouse, Targus PAUK10U USB Keypad for Throttle (F1 to F4)/Spoiler/Tailhook/Wing Fold/Pitch Trim/Parking Brake/Snap to 2D Panel/View Change. Installed on 250 Gb (D:). FS9 and FSX Acceleration (locked at 30 FPS). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ols500 Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 Exactly, ban this guy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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