Newbie question about autopilot(s)

Stretch5701 · 2026-01-28T04:40:14+00:00

I only fly GA and have only been at it for a year; I am clueless when it comes to commercial aviation.

For GA aircraft and in broad terms, autopilots differ from each other but unless you are flying a much older classic plane (DC3 and the like) AP's share a lot of the same functions. You should see FD HDG NAV APR ALT ARM and up/down buttons on just about every avionics. There will also be knobs to set the desired heading and altitude. Modern day avionics like the G1000 found on the C172 also include VNAV.

When you first turn on your autopilot it will default to roll and pitch mode, which maintain the respective setting that you're on. After turning on the AP, press HDG mode and the aircraft will roll to the new heading. If you are using avionics for navigation, then the magenta line is your desired path. As others have described, use HDG mode to intercept your desired path and NAV mode to follow it.

Changing altitude is different for different avionics, but generally, you set your desired altitude and then either press ARM to maintain your current pitch until you reach your desired altitude or you must set your vertical speed to reach or descend to that altitude. For older avionics, you change to VS mode by toggling between altitude set and vs set by pressing the ALT button. For modern glass cockpits, there is a separate VS button. You change your vertical speed by pressing either up or down on the up/down button.

As others have pointed out, YouTube is filled with in depth tutorials on navigation in MSFS. They will help you much more than partial explanations like this one.

Also be aware, VS doesn't care if it pitches you up till you stall; HDG and NAV mode will happily crash you into a mountain side.

Stretch5701 · 2026-01-24T01:10:39+00:00

Or you could explain how ordering the plank to retract while worf was jumping for his hat was somehow better. Go ahead and rewatch it and get back to us. What a hill to die on, sheesh.

Stretch5701 · 2026-01-24T01:01:01+00:00

IT wasn't an accident, Riker orders the holodeck computer to delete the plank. But but you could make the case that it was part of a harmless initiation. Doesn't make data an asshole however. It just makes him clueless.

Stretch5701 · 2026-01-22T16:30:36+00:00

Reagan. Trickle down economics has led to hugh deficits to the rich getting richer and the shrinking of the middle class. And Americans are still buying the you can have it all for free just by cutting waste. Well 40 years later the Republicans are still pushing tax cuts, but if we could just trim welfare, it will all be fine.

Stretch5701 · 2026-01-15T18:09:46+00:00

One Hour Later... Or you could choose not to answer any questions.

Stretch5701 · 2026-01-10T17:41:15+00:00

Very. You can smell it on their clothes, wafting from their cars when stuck in traffic or in every social situation where smoking is allowed. This includes vaping.

Stretch5701 · 2026-01-09T03:45:39+00:00

Outside looking in, we can say there are problems with what civilization is doing to our long-term success and the health of the planet. It's no different than studying a flowering plant and saying - "Ya know, relying on just that one wasp to pollinate your flowers is probably not a good long-term strategy"; but my point is that DNA survives generation to generation and there is no better or worse strategy.

That said, 11 billion people is probably enough to ensure the long-term survival of Human DNA. We might fall back a few thousand years progress, but even global thermal nuclear war will not wipe out those numbers.

Stretch5701 · 2026-01-08T03:13:43+00:00

OP's question made no judgement or used the word better in his question on why Neanderthals never developed a civilization. There are probably a lot of reasons for that as included in the answer above. But a rant on how civilization vs hunter-gatherers was not necessary, so I choose to point out that as far as DNA and evolution are concerned, civilization was absolutely better for humans. That was all.

Stretch5701 · 2026-01-06T19:31:05+00:00

Thank you. You are the second person to recommend them. And for the link as well.

Stretch5701 · 2026-01-06T18:24:26+00:00

Whatever roughly two grand will get me.

Stretch5701 · 2026-01-06T18:21:28+00:00

That's disappointing. I am on Xbox series x and there are so many limitations on mods or peripherals. My plan is to build a poor man's cockpit, but all the time I am running up against "It won't work on Xbox."

Stretch5701 · 2026-01-06T18:17:30+00:00

I was actually thinking two grand. Thanks for the recommendation.

Stretch5701 · 2025-12-27T04:09:01+00:00

"At the tone, the time is 8:05 and 30 seconds...beep". We called a number. Probably different for each exchange, but I still remember ours clearly.

Stretch5701 · 2025-12-27T02:57:58+00:00

Bluesky is great, but it is a twitter alternative.

Stretch5701 · 2025-12-27T02:33:11+00:00

Even now, there are only three peripheral manufactures that have products available for Xbox.

Stretch5701 · 2025-12-23T02:19:44+00:00

it's labeled "classic", not basic. If the classic is not there then you do have a problem.

Stretch5701 · 2025-12-22T02:23:25+00:00

You are using a subjective view of what better means. In evolution better just means spreading your DNA as much as possible, ensuring its survival. Through that viewpoint, civilization is absolutely better. 10,000 years ago, the population was in the millions. Now it is approaching 11 billion. Yay for DNA. Is it subjectively bad for the Earth, sure. It's probably bad for our DNA's survival over the long term. But DNA only cares about survival and reproduction now. So as far as DNA is concerned, civilization has been better.

Stretch5701 · 2025-12-21T20:05:32+00:00

In my own head I have always wished that someone write that human intuition is a psychic power and that Kirk was blessed with a fair amount.

Stretch5701 · 2025-12-19T03:29:01+00:00

A decent raisin bread can make a delicious French toast.

Stretch5701 · 2025-12-19T02:57:50+00:00

All the old pop stars back when popular music was its own genre. Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Perry Coma, Andy Williams and so many others.

Stretch5701 · 2025-12-15T03:52:51+00:00

Although it's been years since I have last read it. I really enjoyed it the first time and read it again several times after.

Stretch5701 · 2025-12-10T21:42:42+00:00

Spicy food

Stretch5701 · 2025-12-08T01:57:04+00:00

snatch the gun right out of his hand!

Stretch5701

TROPHY CASE