KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q312460: FS2002: How to Change Autopilot to FS2000 Functionality

Article: Q312460
Product(s): Microsoft Home Games
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbimu
Last Modified: 06-AUG-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Professional Edition 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

The autopilot feature in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 is different from that
in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000. This article explains the differences and
the steps to use to emulate Flight Simulator 2000 autopilot functionality.

A single-axis autopilot holds steady on one axis (altitude, for example) while
allowing you to change other axes at will, so that you can turn or bank while
maintaining altitude.

For example, a less-expensive private airplane might have a single-axis
autopilot, which means that it can hold altitude but exert no control over
heading and direction. Or, it might have just the opposite: a single-axis
autopilot that can control heading and direction but exert no control over
altitude.

Although neither Flight Simulator 2002 nor Flight Simulator 2000 use an autopilot
model that is based solely on the single-axis type, the Flight Simulator 2000
autopilot feature can be made to function as though it has two single-axis
autopilots that can work together. Although this model may be satisfying, it is
not completely realistic.

Flight Simulator 2002 has a more fully-modeled dual-axis autopilot. A dual-axis
autopilot holds steady on more than one axis, such as both heading and altitude,
and may require alternate input to make course or heading changes, such as by
using the heading bug to "steer" the plane.

Note that the autopilots in both Flight Simulator 2000 and Flight Simulator 2002
are dual-axis. The major change in Flight Simulator 2002 is that you cannot
choose just one mode at a time, as in Flight Simulator 2000. This is very much
in-keeping with a real-world scenario with a dual-axis autopilot.

MORE INFORMATION
================

To modify the Flight Simulator 2002 autopilot functionality to emulate that of
Flight Simulator 2000, you need to edit the individual Aircraft.cfg file. To do
this, follow these steps.

NOTE: This file is usually located within the root folder of the aircraft folder.
Additionally, these steps use the Lear45 aircraft as the sample aircraft.

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type the following (with the quotation marks)

  "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2002\aircraft\<lear45>"

  where <lear45> represents the folder name of the aircraft that you are
  wanting to make the configuration changes to.

3. Right-click Aircraft.cfg, and then click "Open with".

4. Under "Choose the program you want to use", click WORDPAD.

5. Click to clear the "Always use this program to open this file" check box.

6. Click OK.

7. Add the following lines to the [Autopilot] section in the document:

  use_no_default_pitch = 1 // 0 = Default to current pitch mode, 1 = No default pitch mode.
  use_no_default_bank = 1 // 0 = Default to Wing Leveler mode, 1 = No default bank mode.

8. Click File, and then click Save.

9. Click File, and then click Exit.

Additional query words: msgame

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbimu 
Technology        : kbGamesSearch kbFlightSimSearch kbFlightSim2002 kbFlightSim2002Pro kbSimSearch
Version           : :
Issue type        : kbhowto kbinfo

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.