I see. I think I’ll try using the dial again next time I fly the 707 and see what happens, then. And yes, that digit flip is just the altitude naturally fluctuating slightly as the plane flies, I’ve seen that too.
Remember there are left and right runway turnoff switches that should angle the light to look for a turnoff on that side.
Also if you have (eg) Bravo yoke and throttle the switches on them override the switches in the cockpit.
If you read the real manuals I posted earlier you will find that the Autopilot mode selection switch is actually a spring loaded switch. It is magnetically held in HDG, VOR/LOC, NAV etc, but the magnet disengages when certain actions happen causing it to spring back to MAN. Most of the actions that do this are described in the operating manual and are represented accurately in the sim. For example, if you accidentally bump the manual bank dial, the AP will flip to MAN and you will not be able to take it out of MAN until that dial is centered again.
The GNS however has some weird interactions with the AP, including flipping this switch to MAN when it seems like it should hold the current mode. It’s hopefully just a temporary problem that will be fixed when the FMS is added.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve accidentally done this! I go to use the pitch trim wheel and end up missing by a few pixels and turning the bank dial which as you say sets the AP to MAN(UAL).
Interesting abut the magnetic nature of the dial, I’ll need to go find time to speed read the fine manual.
Just a warning, the manuals are old and not fun to navigate
They are indeed, but at least they are searchable text wise.
Interesting thing is tonight I do a cold and dark startup working through the checklists and the YD is referenced to it being turned on in two places prior to takeoff.
- In “before start” checklist it says : Yaw damper → ON
- In “before takeoff” checklist it says : ‘YD : check engaged’
Now who is right MS/AH or old manuals?
My bet is the real manuals are right lol
I’d follow the real one as well.
I’m thinking so too. I can’t think why they have it in the before start checklist though even if they think it should be on prior to takeoff. Which completely contradicts the old aircraft manual-
Thanks for the screenshots, I didn’t know myself that the Yaw damper is supposed to be switched off when close to the ground, seems like it was helping me out on my landings!
Maybe it doesn’t relate to the 707-320C though as the old manual describes it as the 707-048 which must have been an earlier type and likely had a ventral fin (retro?) fitted to help with yaw stability, the 320C doesn’t have this ventral fin. So maybe YD use changes by 707 type?
Just to confuse matters the vetral fin seems to differ in size depending on variant. The -320C didn’t have one though.
I just got the 707 on Xbox. And for my rudimentary preferences I think it looks and works just fine. The only wish I have is that more liveries come to the marketplace. Specifically Air Force 1 and the Boeing roll out brown yellow livery. Well that and if more realistic engine sounds ever come. But I see that as an enhancement, not a current problem.
I believe the 707-048 was a certain customer’s variant of the 707-020 (aka the 720). Not sure if there’s a database of all 707 customer codes somewhere, but I do know that the 720 was a shortened derivative of the 707-120 designed for better performance on shorter runways and at hot-and-high airports.
is pretty comprehensive
Indeed it is, I’ve read it several times.
Welp, this has just reaffirmed my reluctance to trust that altitude dial on the center pedestal. I guess I won’t use it again from now on. Thing’s trying to level off 900ft below its set altitude.
Yeah I’ve had similar experiences, can’t trust it. It shouldn’t be coupled to the autopilot, they should have just made it trigger a noise to remind you that you’re arriving.
What is your airspeed at this point? If it’s not high enough might not climb. I’ve climbed up to FL360 without seeing an isue (not beyond though). Although admittedly Ive been using FL300-FL330 a lot (mainly because of not having to use that 100ft alt dial so much!)
EDIT: Ive just spotted the airspeed on the copilot side. And it looks ok. I’ll give FL360 another try to see if I encounter this issue.
There’s not even a single livery available yet for PC users on fs .to, which is quite unusual. Seems like its either problematic as @keithb775406 mentioned in an earlier post or they all came to the conclusion it wasn’t popular enough. Or it’s too early.
EDIT: correction there is a single livery (published yesterday) available now on fs. to. But that is all so far.