Kind of a fun question " How long do you guys fly without turning on the AP, on long flights?

[BegottenPoet228]

@tclayton2k

The only time I’m flying without AP is when hand-flying is mandatory - usually right after takeoff and on short final. But there is one scenario when I fly just about the entire fight without AP, and that’s when I’m doing a Grand Canyon run. Start at KGCN and fly low-level due north. When the terrain drops out from under you, follow it down. Find the river and turn west to follow it. The closer you can get to the water, the harder the turns get. You’ll eventually come out over Lake Mead, where you can then fly over Hoover Dam and then on to Las Vegas.

You want a challenge? Try doing a canyon run with AP heading mode on, and only adjust your course with the heading bug. It’s quite possible in a military jet. Not so much in a C172.