Autopilot question

Spartan13 · 06-06-2003, 12:48 PM

Can anybody tell what aircraft was the first to have autopilot?

1:400 Man · 06-06-2003, 01:53 PM

The BAC 111 had an Autopilot, I believe the DC 8 also had some sort of autopilot. The L1011 was the first to have auto land

ZX1100F1 · 06-06-2003, 03:21 PM

My grand pappy flew a C-47, he used a brick and a piece of rope for his "autopilot", does that count?

If I am not mistaken; it was the military that contracted Honeywell (around 1943) to build the first (3-axis) autopilot system using the B-17 (as the test bed) making the B-17 the first aircraft to have a 3-axis Electronic Autopilot System installed and later as standard equipment on most U.S bombers.
This autopilot was originally designed to aid the crew (in lining up the Norden Bombsight) in keeping the aircraft on course and steady during bombing runs, the crew's quickly discovered that it made flying the mission much less fatiguing and used the system to fly the aircraft much like they are used currently even though that was not the original intent.
There were earlier much more rudimentary so called "auto-pilot" systems (all the way back to the rope and brick) but the Honeywell C-1 was the pioneer of the technology used in modern systems.

Sentinel Chicken · 06-06-2003, 05:24 PM

The first autopilots were really nothing more than gyroscopes connected via servos to the flight control surfaces and not the mode selectable devices that they are now. Supposedly Elmer Sperry is the father of the autopilot and as early as the 1912-1914 had demonstrated a rudimentary "gyroscopic stablization device" on a Curtiss flying boat. Sperry's experiments continued in the interwar years with increasing levels of sophistication that culminated in the autopilot systems that were integrated with Norden and Sperry bombsights on WWII bombers.

Sperry's first autopilot was a two-axis device, operating the rudder and elevators of the Curtiss flying boat.

Scott · 06-06-2003, 06:05 PM

Wasn't the first autoland capability demonstrated by the British Trident? Today's autopilots are wizards of accuracy. I believe the 777 is certified for autoland with one engine inoperative. Sweet!!

Spartan13 · 06-06-2003, 06:08 PM

Thank you guys for the information. Did it become very popular after the Curtiss flying boat or did another aircraft make it popular.

ZX1100F1 · 06-06-2003, 06:33 PM

Elmer Sperry was the inventor of the gyroscopic compass, his heart was in nautical navigation.

His son Lawrence Sperry was actually given credit for being the one to tie them together (with the flight controls) and come up with what is known as the "First Autopilot System" that you mention, but this system was not widely used in any particular run of aircraft as it was prone to failure.

Lawrence Sperry was also the inventor of the Mile-High Club.... no kidding.

And I know for a fact that Scott is correct about the Trip7 being certified for a single engine Autoland.

Scott · 06-06-2003, 11:44 PM

Geez, I hope the corporate logo for "Sperry" was not a sperm!

Sentinel Chicken · 06-07-2003, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ZX1100F1
Lawrence Sperry was also the inventor of the Mile-High Club.... no kidding.

Dave's an honest broker on this one. The story goes that Lawrence Sperry was giving flying lessons to a wealthy Long Island socialite in a flying boat and utilized his newfound invention to stabilize the aircraft while he "shot some approaches" with his student. The plane crashed and Sperry and the socialite survived, but were found naked by rescuers that rushed to the scene....

Beau222 · 06-07-2003, 02:11 AM

Can the 777 on FS2002 Pro be set to autoland ...just curious...

1:400 Man · 06-07-2003, 08:55 PM

The 777 in FS 2002 Pro can Autoland, all aircraft can.

Beau222 · 06-07-2003, 09:54 PM

ok can anyone tell me how to preset landmark 777 to autoland in ATL usually 9 left Thanks Beau

06-06-2003, 12:48 PM	#1
Spartan13 Insane Collector Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: TULSA Age: 28 Posts: 1,409	Autopilot question Can anybody tell what aircraft was the first to have autopilot?

06-06-2003, 01:53 PM	#2
1:400 Man Senior Collector Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: White Rock Age: 27 Posts: 162	The BAC 111 had an Autopilot, I believe the DC 8 also had some sort of autopilot. The L1011 was the first to have auto land __________________ We need more Air Canada Models. How Bout an Air Canada B777-200LR and when the B787 model is done, an Air Canada B787. Also how bout a Air Canada B767-200 New Colours and Polished Metal Schemes. How Bout a Air Canada B737-200 Drink Beer

06-06-2003, 05:24 PM	#4
Sentinel Chicken Go-Getters Go Ozark Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: DFW/THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS Posts: 4,167	The first autopilots were really nothing more than gyroscopes connected via servos to the flight control surfaces and not the mode selectable devices that they are now. Supposedly Elmer Sperry is the father of the autopilot and as early as the 1912-1914 had demonstrated a rudimentary "gyroscopic stablization device" on a Curtiss flying boat. Sperry's experiments continued in the interwar years with increasing levels of sophistication that culminated in the autopilot systems that were integrated with Norden and Sperry bombsights on WWII bombers. Sperry's first autopilot was a two-axis device, operating the rudder and elevators of the Curtiss flying boat. __________________ *Piss on noise abatement!*

06-06-2003, 06:05 PM	#5
Scott Insane Collector Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Escondido, Ca. USA Age: 50 Posts: 2,763	Wasn't the first autoland capability demonstrated by the British Trident? Today's autopilots are wizards of accuracy. I believe the 777 is certified for autoland with one engine inoperative. Sweet!! __________________ Fly the Friendly Skies of United uniTED takes wing Feb 12, 2004

06-06-2003, 06:33 PM	#7
ZX1100F1 Buford T. Justice Join Date: Sep 1999 Posts: 2,004	Sperry was the first but an archaic pile of crap Elmer Sperry was the inventor of the gyroscopic compass, his heart was in nautical navigation. His son Lawrence Sperry was actually given credit for being the one to tie them together (with the flight controls) and come up with what is known as the "First Autopilot System" that you mention, but this system was not widely used in any particular run of aircraft as it was prone to failure. Lawrence Sperry was also the inventor of the Mile-High Club.... no kidding. And I know for a fact that Scott is correct about the Trip7 being certified for a single engine Autoland.

06-06-2003, 03:21 PM	#3
ZX1100F1 Buford T. Justice Join Date: Sep 1999 Posts: 2,004	My grand pappy flew a C-47, he used a brick and a piece of rope for his "autopilot", does that count? If I am not mistaken; it was the military that contracted Honeywell (around 1943) to build the first (3-axis) autopilot system using the B-17 (as the test bed) making the B-17 the first aircraft to have a 3-axis Electronic Autopilot System installed and later as standard equipment on most U.S bombers. This autopilot was originally designed to aid the crew (in lining up the Norden Bombsight) in keeping the aircraft on course and steady during bombing runs, the crew's quickly discovered that it made flying the mission much less fatiguing and used the system to fly the aircraft much like they are used currently even though that was not the original intent. There were earlier much more rudimentary so called "auto-pilot" systems (all the way back to the rope and brick) but the Honeywell C-1 was the pioneer of the technology used in modern systems.

06-06-2003, 06:08 PM	#6
Spartan13 Insane Collector Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: TULSA Age: 28 Posts: 1,409	Thank you guys for the information. Did it become very popular after the Curtiss flying boat or did another aircraft make it popular.

06-06-2003, 11:44 PM	#8
Scott Insane Collector Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Escondido, Ca. USA Age: 50 Posts: 2,763	Geez, I hope the corporate logo for "Sperry" was not a sperm! __________________ Fly the Friendly Skies of United uniTED takes wing Feb 12, 2004

06-07-2003, 02:11 AM	#10
Beau222 Senior Collector Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Crestview, Florida U.S.A. Age: 42 Posts: 150	Can the 777 on FS2002 Pro be set to autoland ...just curious...

06-07-2003, 08:55 PM	#11
1:400 Man Senior Collector Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: White Rock Age: 27 Posts: 162	The 777 in FS 2002 Pro can Autoland, all aircraft can. __________________ We need more Air Canada Models. How Bout an Air Canada B777-200LR and when the B787 model is done, an Air Canada B787. Also how bout a Air Canada B767-200 New Colours and Polished Metal Schemes. How Bout a Air Canada B737-200 Drink Beer

06-07-2003, 09:54 PM	#12
Beau222 Senior Collector Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Crestview, Florida U.S.A. Age: 42 Posts: 150	ok can anyone tell me how to preset landmark 777 to autoland in ATL usually 9 left Thanks Beau

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