AH Globe Swift is out

[falcon409]

Ok, just to satisfy my own curiosity I ran a few tests and this is what I found. I flew the Swift to 2000' and activated the AP switch. . .only the AP switch and attempted to put the aircraft into a shallow turn. It would not turn. I haven't looked at the cfg file but I suspect a type of "wing leveler" function. I disengaged the AP switch, put the aircraft into a moderate left hand turn and again hit the AP switch. . .the airplane immediately pulled back to straight and level flight. I disengaged the AP once more and then turned it back on along with the Altitude hold switch at which time it held the current altitude. Next I attempted to cause a left turn to a new heading and it wouldn't budge. Now I haven't flown any long distances like this so I don't know how accurately it would track that heading once it's level if the heading hold switch is off. At no time while I was attempting to turn and activate the heading hold did it seem to want to continue to roll. . .it would immediately correct and return to straight and level.

So if anyone else can weigh in on this. . .someone preferably who has had the same experience with the heading hold switch (especially exhibiting hold problems while in a crosswind), that would be great. But I have to stay with my previous observation, which is that what you describe has not displayed itself in any of my flights with the Swift which amounts to about 30 hrs right now.

 

[WND]

My 2 Cents !!

Two things come to mind on this Auto Pilot issue..

1. Since the Swift didn't have an auto pilot, AH elected to put a 'basic' one in for those that fly long distance's.. Therefore the auto pilot 'parameter's ' are probably not very 'tight' !! I'm guessing from your comment that it "will not hold a heading especially in a crosswind", my thought is that you have 'overcome' the heading hold parameter because of the crosswind component and it has dis-engaged itself from the 'heading hold' circuit.. Keep in mind that it's just a 'guess' at this point but if your able to fly using the 'heading hold' without having a crosswind, then that would be an area I would definately look at more closely.. If I'm not mistaken, the airplane itself in the RW had a very low 'crosswind' component..

2. As far as personally experiencing the airplane staying in a turn with the 'heading hold' on, I have never experienced that !! Usually if I'm in a turn, and I turn the 'heading hold' on, it will immediately level off and 'lock' onto the last major degree it passed.. If your flying along without the 'heading hold' on, depending on the difference between the weight of the 2 people in the seats, it WILL make a slight turn towards the heavier weighted side !! AH has design the FDE of this aircraft very well whereby anything larger than about 20 pounds difference will slowly cause the airplane to turn in the heaviest direction !! If I was bored when I was doing my 'cross country's', I would lean one way or the other and make the airplane turn for the fun of it !!!

Anyways, hope this helped some..

Bill

 

[ksheadley]

Just tried this with a 13 knot crosswind component, gusts to 18 knots, 28J following the radial to TAY at 2200 feet, no issues with the AP holding heading, or altitude. That said, the AP was a bit "loose initially" but settled in short order. Not seeing that issue here.

 

[donnybalonny]

Thanks for your tests and your anwers. I will test again later on today. But as I said before, its no big issue.

 

[donnybalonny]

Ok, I tested again and my AP does not work like what you guys say. Could using P3Dv2 have any influence ¿?

*I took the Swift up, in a 8 knots crosswind, stabelized it to a straight and level flight with 23 manifold pressure. default weight, 40% fuel.
*I switched the AP on with the mouse. AP only. The 2 hold switces were not on. (no light and switch down) but both Alt and Hdg hold were on (the ac was not responding to yoke): Alt hold: perfect, Hdg hold: slight turn
*I turned both hold switces on and no change. no response to yoke input, ac slightly turning, Alt hold perfect.
*I turned Both hold switces off and they were both off.
*I flew directly into the wind straight and level and turned both hold switches on: no response to yoke input, ac slightly turning, Alt hold perfect. after a 45 degree turn (with hdg hold on) I swiched of the hdg hold, levelled the ac and tried again with the same result 3 times.

Thats it. Please, understand, that I´m not trying to make a big deal about this. I´m very happy with the AC and will now stop testing and accept what there is. Its been 2 weeks full of confusion and patces and it takes some of my energy away from the AC and thats a petty because its a little gem. I will stop testing and just fly the little charmer.

Weird enough, I didnt have this hdg hold issue in one of the earlier versions. I cant remember which.
Thanks for chiming in and enjoy your Swift.

 

[falcon409]

Could using P3Dv2 have any influence?

In a word. . .NO! Enjoy your airplane.

 

[donnybalonny]

I agree. Lets just put it into the box called flightsim issues if its not already full. My car has its issues as well and I dont really care as long as its safe and sound.

 

[N2056]

Prior to taking on a major commercial project I was well along on a rendition of a GC-1B version of the Swift. Having purchased and flown this plane and having done a lot of research for my model all I can say is this...

What a wonderful plane!

For the level of quality coupled with the selling price this is an incredibly good deal. Not to mention it's one less project on my "to finish" list!

 

[srgalahad]

Not to mention it's one less project on my "to finish" list!

Does that mean I'm off the hook and don't have to spend a weekend photographing the nearby set of Swifts and perhaps talking my way into a ride in one? Dang...

 

[donnybalonny]

Just and Autopilot update:
Since I took the decision to stop worrying about the weird manners of my AP, it has turned "straight". It now works just the way it should. I havent changed anything except my attitude towards it.
If some of you think I have a couple off loose bolts in the upper appartment, then its ok. I sometimes wonder myself.
Back to swifting. This little gem has totally parked all my other GA AC. I just occasionally fly a jet. But besides that, Swift.

 

[ToniJH]

I have problems with engine start. If i pull the "Starter" the plane goes crazy and starts fly like crazy. Is there fix for this problem?

 

[bazzar]

Are you using the demo or the full package?
Also, some basic things...
Parkbrake on?
Throttle calibrated properly and closed?
Tried a new flight? Sometimes data from a previous flight will transfer over and create problems.

 

[ToniJH]

Full package, yes all it's like it should be, but still the plane goes insane if i pull the Starter. I guess i have to try make a new flight and then try start engine again.

 

[JimmyRFR]

Full package, yes all it's like it should be, but still the plane goes insane if i pull the Starter. I guess i have to try make a new flight and then try start engine again.

I've had this happen a few times on me as well.

Once was when loading a previous flight that was saved with version 1.0 of the Swift; I loaded up the next version of the Swift after the next upgrade, started it, and the world went crazy.

The other times have been when testing engine failure code. (Not that anyone else will experience this. Yet.) I had code in place to make the engine run rough and then randomly stall the engine under certain circumstances. On restarting the engine, occasionally the plane would jump into the air and spin like mad... I had it once happen in mid-air... needless to say, I abandoned that area of the code.

I do believe, however, that on loading a cold and dark flight created with the current version of the Swift, that I've never had the starter bug pop up. The key part is to not use a cold and dark flight created with another aircraft.

 

[pilto von pilto]

Here is what is written in the 2 manuals and checklist.

Start up procedure.
1. turn on the battery.
2. Check your fuel amount and turn the fuel cock to open .
3.Turn avionics on , Tune avionics to necessary channel.
4.Switch the fuel pump on.
5. Increase the mixture.
6. Switch the ignition to both ( if you miss this step you initiate the "craziness" )
7. Crack the throttle to around 25 %
8. Use the starter.

When I tried to replicate the issue by starting things backward, or missing a step, or trying to start with no fuel only missing step 6 above would I get the craziness. It has, as the only person who actually emailed us about the problem correctly surmised, to do with the normalised starter torque setting. Which while correct, will do doo-lally ( technical term that ) to your simulator if you dont follow the correct procedure. The bloke who emailed us seemed to use this entry " normalized_starter_torque=0.2 " to fix the doo-lalliness of forgetting step 6. above. Also If you have modified the aircraft.cfg for more power you might need a higher torque value. This may or may not have an affect on other areas of the flight file.
Thanks Bill.

BTW when following the correct sequence after loading a flight with a dassault business jet the oddness was not there. Though i couldnt start the engine as the previous flight had done something odd to the battery. So a reset of a flight is a good idea. A way to do this i have found is .
1. Load the stock cessna.
2. Turn everything completely off.
3. Save the flight.
4. Reset the flight. ( to check )
5. Load the plane you want.
6. Save the flight as " Sensational cold dark cockpit of all things curvaceous and bumpnoxious"

Personally I think the craziness is a figurative rap on the knuckles for not following the correct procedure.

Hope this helps.

 

[JimmyRFR]

6. Save the flight as " Sensational cold dark cockpit of all things curvaceous and bumpnoxious"

That is truly awesome. I am, from this point forward, going to name every one of my saved flights in that sort of creative fashion.

(However, I'll likely run out of 'creativeness' very quickly, and fall back to a cryptic two or three random letters followed by an airport code that tells me nothing about the saved flight.)

 

[ToniJH]

Where do i get latest upgrade? I purchased Globe Swift couple weeks ago, i probably have latest installer i guess or did the update came after that?

 

[bazzar]

This not a support forum. Please email the help desk. FYI the update was made available on March 17 . If you bought via the FS PiloShop, it was a few days later.

 

[ToniJH]

Ok, thank you.

 

[pilto von pilto]

Hey Guys this is mainly for the demo users ( if you are a purchaser from us you'll have received an email. FSpilotshop a little later ) This is what was sent to purchasers. This information is packaged as a pdf with the demo zips available now.

DO NOT USE THE UNINSTALLER FROM THE AH GLOBE SWIFT PACKAGE!

Having replaced the installer type we have now upgraded the package so that new users will not have the problem.

If you an existing owner/user, prior to 7th April 2015, please visit this page for instructions on how to fix the current issue.

http://aeroplaneheaven.com/swift_uninstall.php

OR

Simply navigate to your simulator root folder, find the file Uninstall_AH_Globe_....exe and DELETE it.
Then if you wish to remove the Swift from your computer, simply trash the aircraft folder from the airplanes folder of your sim.
We would, however urge current owners to upgrade to the new package as soon as is convenient. BUT DO THE ABOVE FIRST!

We apologise for the inconvenience and hope you will continue to enjoy the Globe Swift.

There are no other fixes but please follow the instructions above or what is in the pdf which is the same info.

I need some amber fluid made of organic wheaty hoppy things.