[MISSING TRACK FILE] AP won't disconnect while maneuvering

Not sure if it's a bug or not. the ALT AP won't disconnect even if I perform high G maneuvers. Is that correct?

It doesn't seem to be so, to be honest...

With best regards.

More precisely, engaging autopilot using a switch on the throttle (I use the PATH/ALT switch on the thrustmaster warthog) will keep the autopilot engaged regardless to G maneuvers.

It's a solenoid-held switch which will flip off by spring force is de-energized. However if you continually hold the switch in a position it will remain. What probably should happen is that the AP won't reengage until the switch is recentered and placed back in either on position.

I think right now holding the switch in the on position is immediately re-enabling AP and it's particular because your joystick button is doing this without the user thinking about it.

Yep. That's what I think is the code problem. No need to "re engage" - remove the joystick input OFF before bringing it back ON. The logic of that not robust enough in the current code.

It make this switched useless

Track provided, demonstrates while AP pitch held in ALT HOLD position that AP reengages altitude holding behavior after hard maneuvering even after AAR door open/close cycle.

APHeldDown.trk

The problem is that if the AP would correctly disengage, the hardware switch position would be out of sync with the VC cockpit switch. Not good either.

The question of if constant button input should result in constant switch pressure or only a temporary one at first activation is separate. Personally I have a script so that engaging the switch is a temporary pulse so the switch falls to center naturally and at worst my joystick button and cockpit switch disagree. Possibly that's how DCS should code the command but as before that's separate. No matter how the switch is held on that's a possible real world input and airplane behavior should be understood in that case.

The real switch can be held in the ALT HOLD position at all times with the human finger. Just because the solenoid de-energizes doesn't mean that the switch will return to off. It's just a spring and it can be held in place manually (which is essentially what the button input is doing).

What happens if a pilot holds the switch in ALT HOLD and cycles the refueling door switch? Does the autopilot resume or does the autopilot not resume until the switch physically travels through the off position and back to ALT HOLD?

Just to clear the matter of how the A/P switch works.

The A/P switch is magnetic. This means the pilot needs to hold the switch at the requested position until it engages.

The DFLCC gets an "A/P engage request" discrete signal from the switch position.

The DFLCC OFP looks if the preconditions for A/P engagement in that requested mode are met.

If all preconditions are met, the DFLCC will send a discrete signal (28V) to the switch solenoid which will hold it in place.

The moment one or more of the conditions are not met, the discrete will drop to zero volts which will disengage the switch by a spring to the OFF position.

Moving the AIR REFUEL switch to OPEN is one of the conditions to disengage the A/P.

Therefore, holding the A/P switch up or down will not engage the A/P in that mode.

The moment the AIR REFUEL switch is moved to CLOSE, the A/P switch will engage and function according to the selected mode.

The same behaviour is for the FLCS BIT switch, holding it while its preconditions are not met, will not initiate the BIT routine.

To clear the OP question:

ALT HOLD mode does not disconnects stick inputs to the FLCS.

You can still fly the aircraft with the stick as you need, while A/P is engaged.

The moment your hand leaves the stick, A/P will fly you to the captured altitude reference.

It always disconnects for me unless I have it navigating to a steer point (possibly a heading as well, haven't tested.)

You should be able to have the switch remain engaged as long as you hold the AP paddle on the stick and keep the G or AOA (I forget) below a certain amount.

According to Mr. SME if you were to physically hold the switch in one extreme position the solenoid would re energize and the FLCS would resume AP function as soon as all the requirements were satisfied. That's exactly what DCS is doing. The odd behavior is that our joystick switches are holding the switch on without us knowing when doing it for real it would be obvious and even tiring to hold your finger like that.

It will never be perfect until we get genuine solenoid switches on our joysticks so they can flip off when the airplane says to unlatch the switch (or we could hold it it with our fingers if we chose to).