Auto-throttle for the JustFlight F28 Fellowship
This is a plugin that adds a very simplistic emulation of auto-throttle to the great F28 Fellowship family by JustFlight. I have created it mostly to check out how plugin development for the MSFS works and managing throttle of F28 while in cruise is always a boring task for me, especially if there is a busy airspace around and I may be distracted.
It was tested with v1.3.0 of JF Fokker F28. It is important to note, that it overrides the F28’s panel.cfg — whenever JF will change anything with it (for example adding UNS fmc, other GPS options, and so on) this mod will need to be updated. Also, important note is that testing was mostly done on The F28-1000 and it is likely that further tuning will be required on other variants of the family. It is something I'll get to in the near future, along with overall tuning and smoothening of throttle operation (as can be seen from the preview video, they can be a bit jumpy).
Operation
- The mod supports default MSFS bindings for “AUTO_THROTTLE_ARM” and “AUTO_THROTTLE_DISCONNECT” to engage/disengage.
- When engaged — white (inner) marker beacon light next to the speed brake and trim indicators is illuminated.
- The target speed is read from the left (captain) ASI and can be changed by rotating the left speed bug.
- Caution: whenever you click on the card with reference speeds for landing — it also sets a bug, so be ready that AT will try to slow down to Vref + 5 when you click on card to set Vref/flap markers.
- At 50 feet AGL auto throttle disconnects to allow for speedbrake operation while in air and facilitate precise control while flaring. That being said, I suggest flying final approach manually as now the AT has no information about winds, being in high- or low-energy state
Known limitations
- AT is inoperable at or below 50 feet AGL
- AT has some inherent oscillations when capturing speed, especially when engaged with large difference between target and actual speed. This is something I’ll look into in the future updates.
- AT can dip below target speed when acquiring it from a higher speeds. However in testing these dips were no more than 5-8 knots and were corrected quickly enough.
- AT should not be used for the approaches, especially in very gusty conditions as it was not a design feature for this plugin at the moment. That being said, in initial testing it was able to hold speed at Vref+5 in moderate winds and gusts. But also, where is fun in that?
Installation
Unzip the archive and folder into your community folder.
Then in your community folder find `justflight-aircraft-f28\SimObjects\Airplanes\Just Flight Fokker F28-4000\panel\panel.cfg`, make a back-up of it, and then (no, I mean it, make a back-up) file and add following block:
[VCockpit10]
size_mm=0,0
pixel_size=0,0
texture=NO_TEXTURE
background_color=42,42,40
htmlgauge00=KnidarknessVFEGauge/VFE.html, 0,0,1,1
before the "views" block (as of update v1.3.0 on line 82)
[VIEWS]
VIEW_FORWARD_DIR=2.000, 0.000, 0.000
kutyafal
Rookie3
I would like to spend you a coffe. It works like a charm, even in the descent and approach. Would love to have it on the BAE 146.
knidarkness author
4 months ago
jmgibbs51
RobsonM
bigflyer
Thanks.
knidarkness author
9 months ago
skymaster777x
knidarkness author
9 months ago
terbert
RobsonM
knidarkness author
9 months ago
doug1940
Alexair
9 months ago