Trident Panel Manual
Panel Manual VC extras Checklists Flying Tips
Main Centre Autopilot Fuel Overhead Starter Radios
Autopilot
The autopilot is a separate window from the main panel.  It is toggled on/off by the toggle button marked 'AP'  
In the VC, the AP panel is positioned in the middle of the pedestal.

1 : Azimuth & Pitch Switches (AP Master Switch)
 Simple FS Master On/Off for autopilot functions.
 The flight director can still use the different modes if the autopilot is off.
 Auto throttle works independantly of the autopilot master.

 2 : Damping
 Works as Yaw damper in FS.

3 : F / Dir
 Flight director On/Off button.
The Flight director displays required bank & pitch commands on the attitude indicator (main panel).
FD can be switched off while the autopilot is running and FD can also be switched on while the autopilot is off.

4 : Speed Hold
 The Trident Speed hold has three modes:-
Throttle - Holds the selected Indicated Air Speed by use of the auto throttle.
IAS - Holds the selected Indicated Air Speed by adjusting pitch. This is not an auto throttle control.
Mach - Holds the current Mach number by adjusting pitch. This is not an auto throttle control.

For each mode, speed hold is only active when the 'Engage' button is pulled on (yellow light lit).

Once engaged, the hold speed can be selected by clicking the vertical thumb wheel.
When speed hold is not engaged, the selected speed is always set to the current speed.

In both IAS & Mach modes, engaging speed hold will automatically disengage Height Lock (not Aquire) & vice versa.
Height Aquire can be used with all speed hold modes.
Height Lock can be used when Throttle mode is engaged, but not with IAS or MACH modes.
5 : Azimuth Master
This button activates both Heading Hold AND Nav Hold.
On the real aircraft, this button could also be twisted to set the maximum bank angle for the auto pilot.  In the model max bank angle is fixed at 20 degrees (which was normal on the Trident).
Heading mode or Nav mode is set using a switch on the Horizontal Situation Indicator (main panel).
The switch points up for Nav mode & points right for Heading mode.  The relevant 'bug' is pictured next to the switch.

The Heading and Course (Nav) to hold are set using the knobs on the HSI.

6 : Prime Switch
Selects the use of Approach mode and Autoland.
In the 'Off' position, Heading Hold & Nav Modes can be used.
In the 'Glide' position approach mode is active.  It will capture & follow any ILS  beams tuned to NAV1.
In the 'Land' position, Glide is active and full auto land is also active.

The model does not require that you press the 'Engage Glide' button (bottom right).  Selecting the Prime Switch to 'Glide' or 'Land' will always engage that particular mode as well.

Similar to the real thing, Auto land activates a more accurate approach phase in the model at around 1000ft (radio Alt) and (hopefully) guarantees that the aircraft will land on the runway, even in a strong cross wind.
At the correct moment, Auto land cuts the throttle, performs a flare and uses the rudder to kick off any drift to land as straight as possible on the runway.

7 : Height Hold
 The Trident Height hold has two modes:-
Lock - Holds the current height.
Aquire - Climbs or descends to the selected height & reverts to Lock mode when it gets there.

For each mode, Height hold is only active when the 'Engage' button is pulled on.

The selected height can be set at any time by clicking the height knob.
When Aquire mode is selected, the vertical 'Pitch' thumb wheel sets the vertical speed.

In both IAS & Mach modes, engaging speed hold will automatically disengage Height Lock (not Aquire) & vice versa.
Height Aquire can be used with all speed hold modes.
Height Lock can be used when Throttle mode is engaged, but not with IAS or MACH modes.

8 : Descent Mode
 Descent mode can be engaged at any time & will override the other modes.
Height Lock (not Aquire), IAS & MACH modes will all be disengaged if any are active.
The descent rate is set by clicking on the 'Select Descent' knob.
If Height Aquire mode is engaged, descent mode will be automatically disengaged when the selected height is reached.

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