Beginners guide to Autopilot and Radio Navigation in the Douglas DC-3 in Microsoft Flight Simulator
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- A beginners guide to operating the Sperry "Giropilot", and navigating by radio in the Douglas DC-3 in Microsoft Flight Simulator. We take off from Wycombe Air Park, fly some headings using the gyropilot, control pitch with the giropilot, and then look at flying directly towards VOR radio masts, and then flying radials. Enjoy!
#msfs #flightsimulator #douglas #dc3 #dakota #autopilot #beginner #guide #tutorial #howto #learning #education #navigation #radionavigation #vor
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I forgot to mention in the tutorial - the radio compass (next to the nav radio instrument) is what we would now call ADF :)
the old msn version had it an actucal Instructor and I sat down and figured it out way back when and I remember the msn DC 3 had a load of mods that were fab and I must say the panel looked better.
Sadly they are phasing out real life ADF stations. One thing to be careful of - electrical storms can distort the direction of the signal, and even lead you into the storm.
Thanks for making this! These DC-3 tutorials have been really helpful.
Glad to help!
Love that old bird and really gives an appreciation for how things used to be done. Biggest challenge I have is landing that bird without driving off the runway :)
It's fun :)
Try landing with the parking brake ON.
@@jerpiaaz thats a crash guaranteed irl lol. you have to dance on the rudder quickly
best way to keep her on the RW after touch down is to have the tailwheel locked. SHIFT + G lock/unlock, or pull the lever on the dashboard (but that is sometimes difficult as your are busy landing)
As always Mr Beckett you are always number one, thank you very much
Fantastic!
Now if we could only simulate ear aches when we climb too high or descend too fast, we would be exactly where we were in our childhood!
Thanks Jonathan, this was a great tutorial!
You're welcome :)
Perfect, thanks for making this. I have this idea of flying the DC3 from London to Cape Town or something using only radio navigation.
Great tutorial. I used to fly the DC3 in XPlane 11 and never did get the hang of the autopilot. This cleared up a lot. Thank you.
Great to hear!
Thanks for the DC-3 tutorials, I'm loving them!
Glad you like them!
Thanks!
Thank you!
Thx Jon ! Exactly what I needed to know, and was hoping you'd cover this subject. Well done !
I will admit - it took me a while to realise the bearing selector ring around the radio beacon heading needles had nothing to do with them. On a modern aircraft, it would surround the instrument with the alignment needles.
Nice tutorial!!! Thank You!
You're welcome!
Great video, exactly what I was looking for! Old school navigation without map view !
Glad you liked it!
Well done, it is very comprehensive video and easy to learn!
Many thanks!
Yes, very helpful! Thank you for cool calm presentation and explanations!
Thanks for the guide - big help with the VOR Navigation etc.
I just completed the 1950: Frontier Airline Bush trip in the DC30, which gives VOR frequencies in the Navigation Log - great fun, a lot more involved than just following the pink line!
Glad it helped!
Thank you for this awesome video. It has helped me tremendously to enjoy flying this aircraft. 👍
Excellent video Johnathan. Thanks very much
I'm flying from the Marshall Islands to Tarawa today. The autopilot tutorial helps too.
Still a long way to go without GPS though!
i really really like this plane, work of art i say! Thanks for the video!
Glad you like it!
Nice video, very clear explanation. Thanks for you time.
You're welcome :)
Excellent video as always - looking forward to a few DC3 flights - thanks
Soon!
A very useful tutorial !!! At least I am not the only one who ends up drifting their tail dragged to a stop 😂
Yeah - I forgot to lock the tail wheel again lol
Wonderful! Thank you for this video. I've been struggling to grasp how to properly handle this ship and this sums everything up nicely. Well done!
Gotta love the immersion of the rattling. Reminds me of the vintage holiday train on the NYC subway, the cars of which were contemporary to the DC-3. Perhaps I should open up a can of machine oil to complete the illusion next time I fly it.
Glad it helped!
Another fun and educational video, Jonathan. I'll have to quit "cheating" and not use the GTN 750 and use the rudimentary gyro pilot. Down where the tail dragger wheel lock is, there's an autopilot switch. I think it switched to on when I used my GTN 750. Must switch on when you used the knob activate the Gyro pilot. I figured out how to make the co-pilot yoke disappear. Click below the hydraulic gauges. I'm surprised how well the pull down menu GTN 750 works with this plane. I'm so glad Microsoft added the DC-3 to the simulation.
Yep - I'm going to have a crack at a route at some point without GPS - just fly the VORs.
Than you for the videos Jonathan, very helpful
My pleasure!
Thx Jon ! Must learn DC3, seems fun. There's pressure from the Group Flight pilots, that I should be using DC3 instead of my all time favorite DC6. No other choice than learning :)
The only points where you need to be careful are immediately after takeoff, and on touchdown. It ground-loops easily :)
@@jonbeckett Yes, I discovered that :) Forgot to lock tail wheel (like you). It was easier to fly than I feared, must practice a lot with trimming and gyro. Engines stalled twice on the ground, may not enough RPM. Forgot to energise first time, little things :)
I think you're using the heading selector back to front on the autopilot. You're using the "desired heading" knob to calibrate it and then using the gyro calibration knob to set the course you want. Which works but for the wrong reasons. Rather than telling the aircraft "you're pointing west and I want you to go north" you're telling it "you're pointing north but I am now moving where you think north is by 90 degrees".
It's the current model you are describing. In this video was older version of DC-3 until they updated it, where some switches are different.
Enjoyed the flight lesson Thank You
Not really a lesson - more a "here's what I've learned so far" :)
Very helpful thank you.... Roger... Pembrokeshire
Awesome, this really helps. Cant wait for my days off..!
Have fun!
Outstanding!
Thank you! Cheers!
Thanks very much.. 👍👍👍Much clearer now.
Need to practice tomorrow.
You got this!
nicely done sir, interestingly i have been getting a lot of stutter with the DC3 also
I think the servers have been struggling a LOT.
Thank you 😊 for video this will help a lot 👍 I love the DC-3
No problem 👍
Excellent! Thank you
You're welcome :)
Very informative. Made my first C&D start and flight today. Thanks.
BTW, to get 'er down - side-slip: full left aileron and full right rudder. Like a bird on a wire. Lotsa fun!
P.S. I haven't tried in the simulator but works real good in the RW. LOL
Yep - the Dakota sideslips well :)
Thank you for the lesson!!
My pleasure!
I like the dc 3 a lot, i wish there was more planes like that in msfs
Brilliant, really well explained.
Glad it was helpful!
From what I know about radial engines. Is that you do not want to idle as you do jet engines when descending. Idle too low and you’ll essentially cause spalling within the engines damaging them to Kingdom come. You control your descent by lowering your manifold pressure to around 30-20, RPM to around 2,050 and control speed with flaps.
Yep. DC3s do good ground loops with engines at idle too.
Thank you! This was very good!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great vid!!!
Cheers
Thanks a lot for this video
Most welcome
The shakiness on approach was you stalling out the plane - in your config 1/2 flaps about 70-80 MPH
I can see a stall testing video coming up - because I'm not so sure about that.
I owe you a beer for showing how to hide the yoke. I've been clicking everywhere else to no avail. Thanks.
Glad I could help - I'll have a Guinness please!!
Thanks
Nice video
Most welcome
That was a fun little improvised landing 🛬
It was another botched landing though :) lol
Hi Jonathan-great video thankyou.Just a question I have-when you pushed in the heading hold button,how did you do this?I have not worked out how to do that .Even going to Legacy mode for operating switches etc & using my mouse I could not push that button in.Your help would be appreciated.Have just managed 2 successful flights with the DC-3 in the sim flying by hand & without going off the runway managed 2 successful landings into NZAR & NZWU In New Zealand in the sim.Your help regarding pushing that button would be great thankyou.
I have the same question, playing on Xbox. I noticed you can select heading and then have to turn the aileron trim left or right to get the bank going and it will center once it gets close to the selected heading
Thank you so much for this...!
No worries!
Do you have a video on your sim setup? I'm interested in the computer and GPU you're using. I have a bleeding edge GPU but the rest of the machine is pretty old. I love the look and smoothness of the sim in your video. I want mine to look the same!
I7 3.6Hhz. NVIDIA 3080 RTX, 16Gb RAM, fast SSD, and fibre to the house.
@@jonbeckett Thanks! I'm guessing it's a newer Intel CPU. I have a 3090 RTX, but the CPU and rest of the machine is ~8 years old. Might be time to upgrade!
Takeoof 48" boost/2700rpm hold on the ground till the minimum V1/V2 speed of 82 kts - 95 kts METO Power (Max Except T/o) 38" boost/ 2550 rpm.
At 110 kts /500 ft Climb Power 32.5" boost / 2050 rpm.
BTW The autopilot is hydraulic & you must first move the top lever behind the F/o forward before engaging.
I'm going to do a video about the various levers behind the first officer's seat, and in the gangway - they all seem to be simulated - it will be interesting to see if they influence the systems as they should.
btw - thankyou so much for your help so far - it's been invaluable.
Thanks for this great instructional video Jonathan. You did not mention the green needle in on the CDI dial. How is that used?
CDI = Course Deviation Indicator. In terms of the DC3, it tells you if you are to the left or right of the course you have selected.
@@jonbeckett I thought that was what the other instrument was (on the right of the set of three), that has a white bar/needle in it. So does the green arrow in the left hand instrument do the same?
@@IcelandicWarrior Oh- I see what you mean now (just watched back some of it) - one of the arrows points at NAV1, the other at NAV2.
@@jonbeckett Brilliant, thank you so much 😊
Great thank you.
I find the opposite to be true about the tailwheel lock. When it is locked i seem to have no control over the airplane after touchdown. If i leave it free I can keep the plane pretty good center line using my stick rudder on my t-flight hotas. Nice video on the basics of how the nav works. Thx for putting your time in to making this.
You're welcome :) I have subsequently learned that keeping some power on is the secret - don't land on idle - then you have thrust over the tail, and can maintain control easily.
@@jonbeckett good tip, i will surely try this out.
Tail wheels should generally only be unlocked for taxiing.
If you leave the tail wheel unlocked on landing, it can encourage the tail to try and over run the nose and turn the aircraft eratically. Leaving it locked helps keep the back end from lateral play.
Great video, love this plane; however, when I turn either knob next to the vor display, while it does spin the compass ring, it seems to have no effect on either the large white outline arrow or the narrow green arrow. Thus I can fly directly to or directly away from a vor signal but can’t fly a radial. If you see this comment, any idea what I’m doing wrong? Thanks.
Thank you for the tutorial. Unfortunately, I seem to be one of many who has a potential bug that prevents the Engagement of the Autopilot. It simply does not stay ON when selected. So neither Rudder, Aileron or Elevator function. Interestingly, my cursor pointer does not change to a 'rotary' icon when placed over the Rudder or Aileron, but changes to a pointing hand. Have you any other reports of this behaviour or any suggestions?
Not so far. I'm sure the forums over at JustFlight will provide more feedback ?
Could you do a tutorial on how to do a hand flown ILS approach? For me the glideslope needle doesn't seem to work.
I'll add it to the list :)
Thanks for the video. Would you please tell me the name of the program add on for the map? That was great
I use both LittleNavMap (free), and Navigraph (paid)
Excellent video! Is that default MSFS scenery? Or do you have scenery packs installed? Looks absolutely stunning!
Thanks
Booker is payware :)
Great tutorial, thanks a lot. What is the software that you use as moving map on your computer (at 5:22 on your video).
I use both LittleNavMap, and Navigraph.
How are you pushing in the heading selection for the autopilot, all it does is twist for me no button pushes it in?
Hi Jonathan. I fly the AH DC3 in P3D and have lots of trouble with the tailwheel steering on the ground. Even if it's unlocked, it only turns when the brakes are applied and then goes straight to full lock. Then I have to swing back the other way on full lock to correct it. There's no n between. Any ideas?
It's difficult in MSFS too. I talked to a real DC3 pilot - the real thing behaves very similarly to MSFS. To keep it under control you have to be on top of the wheel brakes, the engine torque, and the shifting centre of gravity. It's not easy. If you do a power-on landing on a longer runway, it's relatively easy to keep it under control.
Great video. I would like to know, if you use the GPS version do you lose the autopilot or does it work a different way?
No idea - it's been a long time :)
Hi Jonathan, thank you so much for all the work you put in on your videos, especially on the DC3 which I’m struggling as hard as I can to fly as well as I can. I have watched this video a number of times but have not been able to get the Sperry to work. I’ve followed all the steps (I think!) but no joy. It occurred to me that maybe you had used one of the add-ons that currently sort out a number of bugs. Could this be it? Many thanks for your good works. Best, Pete.
No - I was flying it "stock".
I just noticed today that under the liveries tab... the ones labled "retrofit" have a modern gps autopiloit
They do!
how do you push that dial in at 2:10 for me it just want to twist it
Thinking of getting MSFS having been a lover of FSX. Out of interest, is the map / chart you were using built in or is that additional software?
It's additional software. LittleNavMap is free. Navigraph costs money.
what is the aircraft performance profile you used for LittleNavMap?
I didn't. I haven't created one for the DC3 yet.
Thank you 👏👏👏👏👏
Maybe after a little more practice, you could do another DC-3 autopilot tutorial but this time turn the LNM moving plane icon off 8-)
I've actually done that in the past - with the Cessna 152 - flown a route and used triangulation with radio masts to plot position. It's not too difficult.
Thank you so much...
This video is absolutely amazing 👌
What I want to figure out, I can tune VOR on NAV1 and 2, but I can only "see" 1.
Is there a way to see the direction to Nav2
Also, the VOR gauge doesn't seem to have a GS indicator when tuned to an ILS.
I can get the track on an ILS, but don't see the GS.
Am I using it wrong, or is that just how it is?.🤔
I think it might be how it is *at the moment*. When you tune NAV2, you can see the second needle move on the left-hand guage.
@@jonbeckett the yellow one? (I think it was yellow, thin one).
I’m going to check it out , thank you 🙏🏻
Hello Jonathan, can you please share what scenery you are using on these test flights. You mentioned it in a previous video, but I cannot find it now. I really appreciate it sir.
Wycombe Air Park - it's a very reasonable 3rd party airfield scenery available from the marketplace.
This is my favorite plane in the game but I have one issue with it I don’t know how to do ils landings in it does it even have the ability to do ils landings?
If you mean "approach and autoland" - of course not. The real plane doesn't have it, so the sim doesn't have it. It does have an instrument that shows the HSI and glideslope though - so you can follow the beam down by hand.
@@jonbeckett If u could please show me how that works or send me a link it would make my day ive been trying to figure it out since the plane came out
I can't use those knobs. Is there something I missed?
Very well explained. I guess no such thing as ILS approch in those days, or altitude hold ?
Oh yes - it does ILS - that's the horizontal needle in the nav radio instrument. It doesn't have altitude hold though.
I found little nav map. Thanks
Great :)
I would like to know how to get the jeppesencharts in the flightsim.
Buy a Navigraph subscription.
Ok thank you.
Jon, great video. Were you using the little navigraph navigation program?
I jump between Navigraph and LittleNavMap :)
Can u give tutorial on how to use the blower (turbocharge) controls on the DC-3 ? No info anywhere. Thanks
Is it not in the manual ?
@@jonbeckett The manual does not describe the functionality properly - a bit confusing. Was looking for someone to explain it :-)
I wish Asobo would include an option to use a basic GPS & AP with the plane.
Erm... but the real thing doesn't have them.
You realise you can edit the config file of planes and add any capabilities you want, right? (it ruins the immersion, but still... I know somebody that adds auto-throttle to EVERYTHING lol)
Hey jon, I actually read the document .pdf and found out about the retrofits. So I,m good now 😆
Man, I love that plane allready but I´m more one for garmin systems. Its a shame the garmin 530 is bugged in at least my plane:(
Have you tried using the PMS GTN530 instead of the WT GTN530?
@@icharpod I have not yet, is it compatible with the dc3?
@@Robinbermann yes
@@GumperVanLier Funny enough I allready had the pms 530 installed and after removing it just to test everything worked great, so I dunno what happened there
Why does my auto pilot fly fine at first, but when it's near landing time, the pitch stops listening to me and wants to dive to the ground? I had it dialed all the way to the bottom and it still wanted to dive to the ground.
Is it randomly disconnecting the pitch lock? I don't pay attention because I'm in panic mode.
Why do you have the autopilot on during approach? :)
@@jonbeckett My best guess is that once you deploy flaps, auto pilot auto disconnect. Why do we have ILS?
It doesn't have ILS ?! It has a nav radio though :)
@@jonbeckett Obviously, that's why I said "we" like in general life, not "it"
Hey jon.... Good video but next time lower the sound of the aircraft engine so we can actually hear you
Heh - it's always difficult too judge it correctly.
I have a question, if you wouldn't mind. I've run into a problem with the gyropilot where it holds its heading a consistent 20 degrees to the left of the heading I tell it to, no matter what I do. I tried turning it off, lining it up and turning it on (in which case it should just hold the current heading, right?), but it immediately turns left by 20 degrees.
Do you have any idea what could be the cause of it? I'm assuming it's user error but can't pinpoint what I'm doing wrong.
Try pressing D. D aligns the gyro compass with the binnacle compass.
Everytime that I try to takeoff the plane when it's close to full, it goes full nose up in the air. Have you experienced this at all?
Yes. Make sure you set your trim around negative 17. Also the balance is off. Check that and center it. At first, I like to start ready to go on the runway. This way you can see how it's set for take off. Despite this, I'm not always successful.
whats the green arrow on the CDI?
Excellent tutorial. I have flown the DC3 in X-Plane and am keen to get in this one. What Map are you using. It is really informative.
I use both Navigraph and LittleNavMap.
Jonathan, what map program are you using?
I use both LittleNavMap (free), and Navigraph (paid).
When you pull the manifold pressure" below the RPMs you are effectively destroying the engines; that's a big nono. You dont want to go under your props RPMs (usually 2000 RPM, 20" for a descent) until you are under 100MPH. This is from DC3 manuals
Good to know.
That will be the approach shudder, props driving the engines
wow
Whay map overlay do you use that tracks your movement within msfs?
It's an external app called LittleNavMap
I cant figure out what that dial is on top of the big gyro compass.
ADF, you mean ?
@@jonbeckett its above the big silver compass. It changes feet or something like that.
@@liquidsnake1123 It's the altitude limit control. It's noted in the manual, but it's function is not described.
@@jonbeckett I wonder if it has something to do with minimums.
@@jonbeckett aah i see. Guess ill have to digg deep for that one. Thanks alot for help.
When you watch this with CC on and JB is not talking, it says [Music]
Which I think is right ;)
Hah
How do you set a selected altitude for the plane to cruise at?
Gyro pitch
You don't. You only has pitch control. After you are in desired altitude just zero the pitch.
If both VOR instruments are responding to NAV 1, what does NAV 2 do?
You see the second needle? That's NAV 2. I should have explained that :)
Thanks. I'll be doing most of my getting los.... er, navigation in the DC3 by radio so your video was very welcome.
I think with those old radial engines you're not supposed to change the throttles like that during approach and landing.
Hogwash - use the controls at your disposal - as long as you use them in a appropriate manner.
ILS landing is possible?
Nope (well... not on autopilot at least)
I can’t seem to push the heading hold button in. Like there is no prompt to push it in so I can get the top half of the heading display to follow. Could someone be able to direct me please as I’m quite lost lol.
I have the same exact issue. Annoying...
Is there any way to use radio navigation on Xbox? Can’t imagine Navmap is available on it.
You could look up the maps elsewhere (chartfox comes to mind), print them out, and use them properly - draw all over them with a pencil, ruler, and protractor :)
Stop playing flight simulator on an Xbox and get a PC
@@eisaatana96 Real helpful of you, Jake. I'm sure that'll win them over.
i found that on the ground if you put altitude hold on gyro pitch doesnt work and when you do altitude hold again pitch works, but in the air if you do heading hold on then the gyro pitch wont work even after you do altitude hold again it still wont work. Also when gyro on no autopilot using trim wheel it also cancels out the pitch scroll wheel as well with my plane set to keyboard controls and using a joystick. Does anyone else find this and am i doing something wrong ? Can it be corrected? Love this plane my new fav to fly and i want to know it inside out.
Why on earth would any of it work when you're on the ground?