DCS: F/A-18C Hornet Autopilot Tutorial/Explanation

A look at the DCS F/A-18C Hornet's autopilot modes and how they work and how to engage and disengage them. also a quick look at auto throttle.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

If you are doing everything the way i'm explaining and your autopilot isnt working, make sure you have "game flight mode" unticked in your settings menu. for some reason this seems to interfere with the auto pilot in the early access build of the f-18.

[@callsignnictmere465]

In gonna give that one a try. I've had the F18 since the initial release and NO auto pilot.

[@Vahn2012]

BALT never work by my F18 but i try it tomorrow with that "game flight mode"

[@rexlawrence7255]

Great tutorial. This is not an easy aircraft to fly for a non-pilot 74 year old ha, ha, but so far out of the 25 or so I have purchased this F-18 is the most fun, thanks for the help!

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

my pleasure rex, glad you found it helpful.

[@handsomechocolatebar276]

This is sooo much different from commercial aviation. Thank you for the help! In planes like the 737 barometric pressure is something ATC gives you, and it changes if you enter different areas below 18 thousand. Also I was thinking I would use baro below a certain level, not the other way around. Real life saver, thanks man!

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

my pleasure man glad you found it useful.

[@superfost2001]

You are right. The air pressure DOES change depending on your location (of course it does; ever heard in the weather news them talking about regions of high pressure and low pressure?) and therefore your barometric altimeter will need to be set on the ground before you head out. This video simply deals with autopilot and therefore did not go into the naunces of a barometric altimeter (btw, i think it's the right call... otherwise you could be there for hours!): The pressure the ATC gives you for a given location will either be QNH or QFE: QNH (often civilian aviation): The air pressure relative to the sea level at the current location. So if you set the QNH, it shows *the altitude above sea level* at the current location. QFE (in military and DCS): is simply the air pressure *at the current location irrespective of it's relationship to mean sea level* . Therefore, if the QFE pressure is set, and you are on the ground, you can guess that zero feet is indicated for the current location. The distinction is important because not all airports are at sea level. There are incredibly useful resources on the net that talks about the differences between both. The comment you made about 18,000 ft is an important one: imagine you are flying out of Batumi and I'm flying out of Abu-Dhabi and we meet in the middle at the same cruising altitude. If we are simply relying on our QFE reading given by our respective airports, it would be possible for the altimeters of our aircrafts to show different values even though we are at the same altitude. Therefore once you climb above a certain altitude everyone will start using the standardised air pressure 29.92 inHg. That altitude is called transition altitude and it varies from country to country. In the USA it's 18,000 ft above sea level; here in England it's just 3,000 ft. Hope that helps.

[@rickberry4995]

Great video presentation, well prepared and time edited, red pointers marker very helpful to locate buttons you are referencing. Great use of graphic. Many of the video presenters I've seen lately have some good subject content but totally waste time with needless activity and head motion. I will be referring them to this to see how to do it right. right now i fly the A10 with TAWDCS NA33 and just started learning the hornet. Radar is my focus now, thanks for a great effort

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

thanks a lot i'm really glad you liked it and found it helpful. I 100% agree with you about the head movements they drive me crazy. And it never lets you actually get a good look at what they're pressing. I'll probably just turn off trackir for the next tutorial just reduce head movement even more. thanks again Rick. stay well.

[@rickberry4995]

Growling Sidewinder Well deserved my friend

[@chriszack4777]

This is a tough game to learn. Your tutorials are great, and make it a lot easier to learn this simulator. Thanks for making them!

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

ur very welcome Chris, I'm glad u find them helpful.

[@poppet_55]

Really helpful...too many tutorials out there where they are fumbling through the process...

[@bmbpdk]

Really good explanation! I like the zoomed in view on hard-to-see stuff. About BALT One never-fail way to get the correct pressure, is dialing in the ALT at wich you are at when at an Airport, that way you automaticly get the correct pressure. Check your aerodrome chart to get the ALT. Pressure change with the weather and "drift" like a gyro over time and when rapidly descending and ascending.

[@tday67]

I finally worked out how to engage radar and baro AP you have to have on the ins knob set to GND by default its set to NAV. Located on the right console on the SNSR section. Was driving me nuts. Nice job to Sidewinder

[@daisaigaming6836]

That doesn't really seem to fix the problem, still can not select b or r alt with the autopilot.

[@littlebits6231]

Awesome tutorials man. The way you explain stuff makes it easy to understand!

[@iainbradford4254]

Just had a quick scan through as the Auto pilot is one part of the F18 module where I'm a non-noob. Good use of diagrams to explain your points, particularly the Radar Alt hold mode and the impending cliff. I've flown TFR for real and radar height hold was a mode you could find yourself in under certain circumstances, with no radar looking ahead, the system needed careful management!

[@Virgin744]

Best explain about the A/P for the F-18 ever. Easy and precise!

[@macrayskeep8189]

Insanely helpful as are all of the F/A-18 tutorials, thanks!

[@usmarine7]

Great video. Best explanation I’ve seen so far. Thank you for explaining everything easy to understand 👍🏻

[@user-mp8bz7sz2i]

Thank you very much for giving us many accurate and clear tips and info to handle the plane.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

youre very welcome

[@mr.dudemeister7321]

you, my man, are awesome. this really helped. loved the explanations of how radar altitude and barometric altitude works

[@davehaag8175]

One of the best tutorials ive seen...A+++

[@despacito111]

Very good tutorial... simple and short! Thanks

[@fady904]

Thanks man for not beating around the bushes and getting straight to the point unlike other videos.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

my pleasure mate

[@fady904]

Growling Sidewinder do you have a video on case 1 carrier recovery for the Hornet using CRS/HDG?

[@justing.3425]

Excellent video, well explained. Appreciated the info on difference between Radar/Baro. Thank you!!!!

[@TheGreenerSide09]

nice video keep up the good work just got my hornet THANKS FOR ALL YOUR VIDEOS

[@alecisla]

Very good explanation, don't need to change your method to explain! Well done and thank you!

[@latavish]

excellent tutorial! Subscribed! Love how detailed you explained things. Keep it up. Would love to see more detailed tutorial videos. I am having the worst time learning the A2A radar. Would love to see a tutorial on this.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Latavish Gardner thanks man I appreciate the kind words. I'm learning the A2A modes now I'll throw up a video in the coming days.

[@FernandoCosta-mo7of]

Thank you. You are a good teacher. Very clear explanation

[@joachimbrand2314]

Just started the Game. Your video was very helpfull and very well done!

[@Taxpayer_416]

This was great. Very helpful and well done. Back to practicing for me.....

[@lifebetweenthelines9373]

Aircraft headings are magnetic. To get true heading you need to substract or add magnetic variation, depicted on charts. Not that it matters for dcs. Love the channel btw keep it up!

[@gopaldesikangopaldesikan5818]

presentation is too good, easy to follow with your red marker indicator to identify the buttons. I have been trying to fly on auto mode, but not successful. now, I will try the method you explained. Thanks.

[@ahmedshamz]

Excellent tutorial!

[@ianevans4107]

well explained great tutorial thanks for the help keep them coming

[@tommygun32917]

Dude thank so much for all your videos incredibly helpful thank you👍

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

My pleasure man glad you find them useful

[@fredellis5764]

Thanks for another helpful video!

[@zebrasandro]

Great and helpful video. Thanks.

[@figjam5181]

Nice and clear explanation, thank you

[@drinlab5393]

Thanks! Like always, great explanation!

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

glad u enjoyed

[@MarkDavidBlack]

Very well explained. Thank you.

[@robstone7325]

very nice explanation of this video thanks

[@tonio050668]

Just perfect, told me what I needed to know, thanks for this ;)

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Anthony Phillips my pleasure man

[@subratamridha1339]

Hey, really amazing explanation, keep going, from India

[@luigi7009]

Very nice video. Thanks

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Luigi my pleasure thanks for watching

[@Louis5270]

This tutorial is pretty nice ‘nd useful Thanks.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

U are very welcome I'm glad u enjoyed it

[@breaklux3823]

Also important when using barometric height is to set the correct QNH to account for differences in pressure due to weather

[@ciscocos5847]

Really well explain thanks for you time.

[@999gazzgazz2]

Thank you making good Videio! I understand Autopilot function .

[@carlstevens6670]

Are you a teacher....? Good presentation.... thanks

[@aetlaa]

I’d like to state that barometric pressure is not a constant, it is affected greatly by temperatures, that’s why when talking to ATC at Ontario in Canada, and Mexico City, they give you different atmospheric pressure ratings to plug into your aircraft. depending on the location and time of year, certain airports can have a much greater pressure-altitude, causing a far longer landing and takeoff roll, which can make it a crucial detail for flights to hot countries, India’s international airports for example are shut down to airliners during some of the summer due to this, and flying out of places like Death Valley, where there is a couple tiny airports can become impossible depending on the day.

[@sssamsamsam9]

spot on!! easy

[@joshuascholl5280]

How did you get the readable map down below? Mine is impossible to read. I have to turn it off. But it would be nice to be able to read it bright like yours is.

[@L3v3LLIP]

Are you sure the ATTH is needed for orbiting?IIRC you can bank in BALT and RALT up to 45° stable without stick input.There is just the little ~+-3° zone where it will automatically level the plane and above 45° degree the AP will turn off.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

no u dont need it, its just nice to have.

[@TractorsNStuff]

Anyway to turn on Auto-Throttle without keyboard shortcut?

[@Bjatc1]

Nice.

[@rodrigogomes4677]

Thanks for the tutorial, I just wish you would explain why should I engange the ATTH with the BALT, isn't the barimetric altitude hold enough to keep the plane at a certain altitude? what does the ATTH do?

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Rodrigo Gomes thanks ya the ATTH is if u want to maintain like a bank at a certain attitude so if I'm at 30000 feet but I want to keep a 5 degree bank to hold an orbit over an area or something the ATTH will hold that 5 degree bank for me

[@MetalMilitia80s]

Cool Tut for a beginner like me

[@gregpruitt1647]

When placing the jet in a orbit using ATTH and BALT in combination, I should also engage the auto throttle? Yes/no?

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

I certainly do.

[@Zicrus]

Does radar altitude always look directly down, or does it turn with the plane (so if the plane is on its side, does the radar altitude look towards the ground or the bottom of the plane (to the side))?

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Sebastian Meineche Falk the radar will turn and adjust to keep looking where u told it to look regardless of the orientation of ur aircraft within the gimbal limits of the radar, also note that older planes didn’t do this very well.

[@JaZoN_XD]

By the way, you can click the mirrors to fold them away to slightly increase fps :)

[@mikkihintikka7273]

if its selfdisengages does it have any warning sound?

[@robertmorrison8261]

At lower altitudes wouldn't you have to account for local variations - that's why you are given at QNH at take-off which sets your barometric altitude to match the airport elevation.

[@joebuckaroo82]

One thing that might want to note is that the barometric altitude will stay the same in all the continents IF they all have the same barometric pressure. Flying from a high pressure area to a low pressure area would cause altimeter to indicate higher than is actually the case. And vise versa. I'm relatively new to the simulator. Can anyone tell me if pressure changes occur within maps? Also, these tutorials are great. Highly appreciate them. Do you know of any way to contact willing co-gamers who could answer questions via e-mail, rather than having to go through forum?

[@567davefair]

Can an altitude change be made by inputting in into the numerical keypad while in "BALT" or "RALT" modes?

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Perfection Man I don't believe that's something that can be done. I haven't been able to do it and I've seen no videos of someone else doing it. Its maybe something that will be added later on if the real hornet can do it. But this is currently in early access so a lot of features are still work in progress.

[@stefanx8145]

can I set a Radar hight value or just hold it at the current position?

[@heklik]

Can u use auto throttle on landing's ?

[@trumfit]

Air-to-air refueling here I come!

[@markthunderhesh4634]

Hi, why I can't enable BALT and RALT? Thank you😀

[@Tepnox]

You got one thing wrong. The Radar Altitude Engaging does not depend on the Barometric Altitude. It depends on the measured altitude by radar. There is a switch near the HUD brightness knob where you can switch between Baro/Radar Altitude. When (R) Radar is selected you see the symbol R on the HUD next to the altitude (so Radar altitude is working and getting reflected by ground). When flying higher than 5000ft Radar altitude switches to B symbol means Barometric altitude. Also this is flashing when B is active. The radar altitude does also not work when flying high degree turns (because the radar can't reflect from the ground). Nice visualization for the radar explanation by the way. Higher resolution would be appreciated.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

thanks man, I'm planning on making a new autopilot video soon I've learned a few things since then. I'll be sure to add this one in too. thanks for the comment man.

[@channelwright9137]

My plane jerks slightly and doesn't engage AP. Any explanation on why this happens?

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

make sure ur somewhat level. and also, make sure you dont have "game flight mode" ticked in the main menu under settings.

[@PvtHaskins1]

Are you using a terrain mod?

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

no sir

[@GetSeriousMedia]

I'm still having issues. Can't enable Auto Pilot. "Game flight Mode" is unticked. Year old now and still not working. Any ideas?

[@8BitThoughts]

Managed to get it working once, then stopped working on the same flight. I'm having issues as well.

[@joebuckaroo82]

i can get autopilot to work by manually moving heading bar, but i can't get it to work by typing the heading into the UFC. Any suggestions?

[@cfeaver421]

im having the same issue .. did you eve get tiis worked out? I need help with this as well

[@joebuckaroo82]

@@cfeaver421 Nope. For now resigned to doing it the harder way.

[@cfeaver421]

@@joebuckaroo82 ok i think i got it. I started a a free flight mission just to get in the air. I turned on HSI on on the the right DDI. I turned on Auto pilot so that the for options for auto pilot are available but activated none of the options. When you PRESS AND HOLD the the HDG toggle switch the heading only option pops up where you can enter a value on the key pad for your heading. You press the AP button again to bring up the four options for auto pilot. Now press the round button next to the HSEL option and two dots appear indicating you are in heading select mode and the air craft will move to the heading you previously inputted. if you press and hold the HDG toggle switch while the two dots are active you air craft will immediately start to move in the direction you toggled the switch but the HSEL option will appear at the bottom again where you can enter a new heading.. I hope this helps.

[@joebuckaroo82]

Thanks much, I'll give this a try.@@cfeaver421

[@joebuckaroo82]

@@cfeaver421 got it going! thanks a lot for your help.

[@xxxbg311]

Very nice video, but i have a lot of hard times, using autopilot, especially BALT and RALT. They wont engage, whatever i do. Why is that? what shoul i do?

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

check in the settings section that you do not have "game flight mode" selected.

[@xxxbg311]

Growling Sidewinder, I've never playing in game flight mode man, only full hardcore realism. I dont know what to do...its so bad that i cant use that mode :/

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

you should still check it, I never clicked it myself but I had the same problem as you and when I checked it was ticked. also make sure you have the plane pretty level with minimum deviation pretty much level flight then take ur hand OFF the stick and try engaging.

[@xxxbg311]

Growling Sidewinder Chechked a thousand times, i dont have game flight mode activated. Still nothing happens. Perhaphs that is because i'm not using joystick...i play with keyboard only. But this shouldnt be a problem - everything should be available with keyboard too. Any suggestions?

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

I think the keyboard might actually be ur problem. try this. start a mission with ur hornet at like angels 10. don't touch ANY of the planes controls. as soon as you start up, hit autopilot then barometric hold. does that work?

[@andreaskrambeer9294]

how i can set for example in level of 5000 to change to 18000 ft with vs of 1800ft/min

[@jiajianhou426]

how come when i click BALT nothing happens? no two dots.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Jiajian Hou make sure you're not in game flight mode

[@nathanjordan1782]

Am I ever going to play DCS? No. Am I ever going to get into the cockpit of an F18? Probably not. But I’m watching the video all the same, just in case I pull something off next time I’m at an airshow

[@sp00f64]

Very useful!!!