F406 AutoPilot

[ComputerJones]

OK, successful flight by some measure:

Using TDS Garmin suite the NAV source works as expected. The default Garmin suite does not work with this aircraft in 2024.

Autopilot pitch modes could use an actual explanation: I felt like engaging ALT hold wasn't actually doing that, it was engaging a pitch mode. My Bravo is sending alt set events when in ALT rotary mode, and that seemed to be affecting the pitch wheel (no animation though), so I was able to "hunt" for my altitude but it would not capture. Never got a green light on the FMA for "ENG" ALT mode.

I could flip to VS mode (which is not an annunciated thing here) and it seemed to act like VS mode if I counted "clicks" so I don't buy any of this "custom autopilot" business they call out in their videos, it's doing default stuff in the background. Coupling that with the "lie of omission" on career mode stuff (which sucks anyway):

I am downgrading from "disappointed" to "extremely disappointed." This is getting shelved indefinitely unless I can get a refund.

[Eddie]

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. 

[Denny Knepper]

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. 😊

[tclayton2k]

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.

[SuperSixBravo]

The pitch dial behaves weird. I have to dial it up to +8000 ft/min for it to climb at around 1000ft/min

[cpschulz]

Hello, some observations to engage the AP. From cold&dark mode, the rocker switch springs always back in the OFF position on my system. At "ready for TO" mode on the runway, the AP works as expected. Regards, Claus-Peter

[Denny Knepper]

That's because all three of the Avionics switches on the left wall are turned on when you select "Ready for T.O." The A/P will not work unless all three are on (i.e. in the forward position). If you start the plane from Cold & Dark, you have to make sure all three of those levers are on if you want the A/P to work. They did not make that clear in the checklist, apparently it just says "as required".

[Cpt. Alvarez]

Hi folks, I can't get the AP to capture the target altitude. I'm using the PMS 650 and the Logitech AP panel, which both work, except for the altitude. It doesn't matter which mode I use. 'Alt Sel' is active, but the autopilot doesn't level off at the selected altitude, regardless of whether 'Auto Arm' or 'Manual Arm' is selected. I also disconnected the panel, but that didn't help.

Otherwise, I have no problems. The AP follows GPS and heading (I haven't tried ILS and RNAV yet).

[dresoccer4]

23 hours ago, Cpt. Alvarez said:

Hi folks, I can't get the AP to capture the target altitude. I'm using the PMS 650 and the Logitech AP panel, which both work, except for the altitude. It doesn't matter which mode I use. 'Alt Sel' is active, but the autopilot doesn't level off at the selected altitude, regardless of whether 'Auto Arm' or 'Manual Arm' is selected. I also disconnected the panel, but that didn't help.

Otherwise, I have no problems. The AP follows GPS and heading (I haven't tried ILS and RNAV yet).

there's an altitude select input? where do you see that? mine is just hold altitude or hold pitch

[Cpt. Alvarez]

1 hour ago, dresoccer4 said:

there's an altitude select input? where do you see that? mine is just hold altitude or hold pitch

As far as I know, you can only do this using the GTN 650s “Autopilot” function (found under “Utilities”).

[dresoccer4]

5 hours ago, Cpt. Alvarez said:

As far as I know, you can only do this using the GTN 650s “Autopilot” function (found under “Utilities”).

ah yeah, that imo is kind of "cheating" as its not very realistic and a lot of the time doesn't integrate well in msfs anyway (since it's a work around). better to use the build in autopilot which works just fine

[Cpt. Alvarez]

On 7/14/2025 at 10:37 PM, Cpt. Alvarez said:

Hi folks, I can't get the AP to capture the target altitude. I'm using the PMS 650 and the Logitech AP panel, which both work, except for the altitude. It doesn't matter which mode I use. 'Alt Sel' is active, but the autopilot doesn't level off at the selected altitude, regardless of whether 'Auto Arm' or 'Manual Arm' is selected. I also disconnected the panel, but that didn't help.

Otherwise, I have no problems. The AP follows GPS and heading (I haven't tried ILS and RNAV yet).

Okay, I figured it out (partly).

I can set the altitude on the AP panel, the F406 then starts climbing at 1000 ft/min on its own and automatically captures the altitude.

I have no idea what I did differently from last time, but it works.

 

4 hours ago, dresoccer4 said:

ah yeah, that imo is kind of "cheating" as its not very realistic and a lot of the time doesn't integrate well in msfs anyway (since it's a work around). better to use the build in autopilot which works just fine

Well, then I have to revise my answer from yesterday: To my knowledge, there is no altitude select input in the cockpit.

Edit: changed "altitude select button" to "altitude select input"

Edited 3 hours ago by Cpt. Alvarez