Looking for any instructions (preferably written) on how to work the autopilot on the Caravan II. All seemed to be working as expected, but it would not intercept and track a GPS course using HDG to intercept with NAV on to take over once intercepted. Any help is appreciated.

Plus one - also interested in this topic. Can't get it to work at all (AP)

Had that issue initially, but it finally engaged after I was flying. There is a rocker-type switch at the bottom of the column. YD is down, and YD/AP if you flip it up. Then you have to use the buttons above with ALT, NAV, HDG etc with FD on. They are hard to see because its an old Autopilot.

Hi, im having this issue as well where the aircraft doesn't follow any GPS route even though NAV mode is ENG and the A/P is on.

27 minutes ago, Denny Knepper said:

Had that issue initially, but it finally engaged after I was flying. There is a rocker-type switch at the bottom of the column. YD is down, and YD/AP if you flip it up. Then you have to use the buttons above with ALT, NAV, HDG etc with FD on. They are hard to see because its an old Autopilot.

I've seen this switch, but it won't let me select AP/YD

would be a hell of a lot easier with a proper manual - if those two docs (not even pdfs...) is all, it's disappointing

Edited July 11, 2025Jul 11 by ConcordeAG

I cant switch on the AP every time I push it up it flips itself off!!

7 minutes ago, SuperSixBravo said:

I cant switch on the AP every time I push it up it flips itself off!!

Make sure these are set into the on position.

Also ensure that the AVN AC switch, located just ahead of the Avionics Bus switches, is set to either 1 or 2 (not the neutral center position that it starts in).

That's what I had finally done and then the A/P on button worked. Some instructions with the plane would have been helpful finding this. I'll have to go back and look at the checklist. Its probably listed there.Unfortunately, I still could not get the NAV to intercept after doing that. 

Edited July 11, 2025Jul 11 by Denny Knepper

The checklist just says Avionics Bus Switches - AS REQUIRED.  Nothing about the AVN AC switch.  Less than helpful.

Thanks for checking that. Sometimes I think these aircraft developers enjoy having making simmers figure out themselves what should have been in the missing manuals. Imagine trying to fly a real airplane yet not having a clue where anything is. 🙄

Edited July 12, 2025Jul 12 by Denny Knepper

2 hours ago, Denny Knepper said:

Thanks for checking that. Sometimes I think these aircraft developers enjoy having making simmers figure out themselves what should have been in the missing manuals. Imagine trying to fly a real airplane yet not having a clue where anything is. 🙄

With real airplanes you either fly with an instructor if, say, you are learning, as I did in a 172, or later on you need to get "type" rated which involves learning the plane, kinda like that thing simmers are so fond of, "study" aircraft, lol.  In no case would you take to the skies not knowing where everything is 🙂 

Edited July 12, 2025Jul 12 by jaybird

6 hours ago, Denny Knepper said:

Thanks for checking that. Sometimes I think these aircraft developers enjoy having making simmers figure out themselves what should have been in the missing manuals. Imagine trying to fly a real airplane yet not having a clue where anything is. 🙄

Imagine if aircraft companies put their designs out for beta testing!

11 hours ago, SuperSixBravo said:

I cant switch on the AP every time I push it up it flips itself off!!

I have the same problem.

 

Yes, expected better from iniBuilds. I did not have any issue with altitude hold, even got the VS to work. But NAV seemed to be "borked". HDG was OK, but I could not get an intercept to track.

Hopefully, iniBuilds will fix and release an update soon.

not following NAV... have you switched the source from LOC to NAV?

I'll have to check that. Just one more thing, I guess, to make it work. This plane was not designed for imbeciles such as myself. Too used to the simpler planes like Warrior and 172. 🙄

NAV works fine on the TDS GPS however I cannot tune the NAV1 as both the GPS and the nav radio tunes NAV2 

 

Got all working correctly this morning with the A/P. I was using the PMS650. I was on a heading greater than 90 degrees from the couse I entered (using the Direct button). The plane turned to the new course, intercepted, and tracked as expected. Make sure all three Avionics levers on the left panel are on, the A/P switch is up (on center, lower console) and press the NAV button (HDG is off). Also, that the CDI says GPS. You have to search around to find that setting. Altitude hold and V/S worked as well using my Bravo A/P buttons and knob.

Yes, it takes a bit of button pushing in various spots, but it does, indeed, work (for me, anyway).

Yeah the ALT mode wont engage for me. Other modes do work somewhat as expected.

This reminds me of the Spartan all over again. A rushed not functioning (basics) Plane and then we will have all the usual defensiveness over it rather than just fixing it!

Ah yes. The Spartan. Another one of my Hangar Queens. That hangar keeps getting bigger all the time. 😏

23 hours ago, SuperSixBravo said:

This reminds me of the Spartan all over again. A rushed not functioning (basics) Plane and then we will have all the usual defensiveness over it rather than just fixing it!

No defensiveness here! 🙂 We shall take a look at what is going on as soon as possible. I've forwarded this all to the team. Apologies for the inconvenience. 

Much appreciated. Although it did finally work for me, others that are having issues would like to have everything working as expected. 

Now, how about a Piper Navajo, Chieftan or Cheyenne in the future plans. Cessna and Beech get all the love. 😊

I managed to get an almost successful flight in today. Now that I know that know how to actually get the AP to engage, I was able to do a test flight from Honolulu to Kona. The only thing that that didn't work as intended was the glideslope intercept. It just flew right through that, maintaining altitude. Thankfully she's a sweet hand flier and the winds weren't bad. My only other concern is reverse thrust - it's practically non-existant. However... I have a fix for that - at least in MSFS (2020). And yeah, I know... "Warranty void if case is opened." But if you open the engines.cfg file and go to line 8, then change the minimum throttle from -0.15 to -0.25, you'll have both reverse sound and reverse function.