Couple of issues (heading mode and cowl flaps)

OwlInFlight

Yeah. I've seen similar problems. When I tried going into APPR mode it wouldn't stay on the localizer.

Kilstorm

I cant even engage the autopilot. It starts but then disengages. I also have the heading button always engaged. I thought it might be a hardware assignment conflict but went through all of my controller assignments and see nothing that would be a conflict.

musefan

@Kilstorm yeah same here. It will only engage when I'm airborne. I'm pretty sure the trim switch needs to be flipped on too. Sounds like you're having the exact same issue as me.

Black Square

The autopilot disengaging is due to the pitch trim servos switch (right of the lighting rheostats) being off.

The heading mode is always engaged by default, that's just how the Century IV autopilot works.

That's also how the cowl flap switches work too. They are momentary switches, and must be held to move the flaps.

musefan

@Black-Square Ok, that makes sense re the cowl flaps. However, even if heading mode is enabled by default, it doesn't explain why I can't disengage it

Black Square

That's just how the Century IV works. You can select other modes, obviously, but you cannot disengage all of them, as heading will always be active. This is actually not how I had it working originally, but my beta testers handed me the manual for the Century IV and encouraged me to be as realistic as possible. I hope I'm understanding what you're looking for. Feel free to ask more questions if I'm not understanding.

musefan

@Black-Square I can't change to any other modes. So for example, lets say I want to intercept a VOR radial in VLOC mode, or follow a GPS route in GPS mode, I fly toward the radial, or GPS line at a nice shallow angle, in heading mode, with nav mode armed, but when I reach the line, it just remains in heading mode and I'm unable to intercept. Heading mode won't turn of to let nav mode take over. Heading mode just overrides it

Lemny

I use a normal rocker switch for the cowls and made a scripted event that puts the cockpit switch back to center if the end position is reached.

Please note that the manual currently differs from the variables. 1 & 0 are swopped.

musefan

@Lemny Thanks, I haven't dabbled with Spad yet, it scares the wits out of me lol

Lemny

@musefan hehe, could be a bit intimidating at first, but the basics are easy to get and the possibilities are endless compared to the native stuff. And there also an amazing community on the Discord server.
The general benefits depending mostly on the hardware you are using.
I would simply not not be able to use my cockpit without SPAD.neXt.