PFD cosmetics

[Will]

Again, in an analog system, the magenta stuff would be in front of the airplane.  

Great job Hardy, really stunning.  As they say in the world of digital photography, it really pops.

Will

[Hardy Heinlin]

Hi Will,

I don't understand what's so great about the V-bar :-) I think the crossbar is more precise and also provides all info in one spot in the middle and not in two spots left and right.

I've flown with the V-bar only for some hours in a sim over 10 years ago, unfortunately I can't remember the details.


Cheers,

|-|ardy

[Will]

Our fleet had about 70% of the ships outfitted with V-bars and 30% outfitted with dual cue flight directors, and I have thousands of hours in each. From the beginning, I felt more at home with the V-bars.  I assume this is entirely subjective, like whether you prefer a yoke to a side stick, so I'll try not to speak in terms of absolutes.

When I flew with the dual cue FD's it felt more like I was using an instrument.  It looked like a slide rule or something, like measuring sticks.  The V-bars on the other hand looked like an airplane, and there was a sense of "flying" the instrument instead of using it.

I could do an approach equally well with either FD, so it wasn't a matter of one being better than the other.   But the V-bars had more of a sense of aviating about them, more of a piloty feel...  that's all I can say.

Except that I disagree about all the information in the middle in one, and on the periphery in another... My eye would see all of it as a whole, and there was no difference in visual efficiency between the systems.  They were both equally useful.  I think it's an aesthetic issue.

Will

[Hardy Heinlin]

I just noticed in PS1 the magenta V layer is between the white airplane outline layer and the black airplane layer (the crossbar FD, on the other hand, is on top of both the white and the black airplane parts). I made it so in PS1 possibly because somebody told me it should look like this :-)

Perhaps in that other photo the hidden magenta fragment is not hidden by both  airplane layers, but only by the white airplane outline. If the magenta V would turn a bit more on that photo it may reveal this.

This way it will also provide a better sight if the main magenta wings are filled as they won't cover the white outlines, yet the V remains in view over the black layer.


|-|

[Hardy Heinlin]

If somebody thinks this is wrong, please tell me.



Lower right is the LCD version. I like this a lot better because it doesn't hide the pitch scale.

[vito]

I am no expert in this field but in many pics found over internet v-bars are not transparent and they are not in front of the "plane" symbol. Here is example of avidyne AFD system:

http://youtu.be/ScCEX--kwEM

I think this is good example of modern v bar FD system.

[Hardy Heinlin]

Thanks for the tip, Vito.

Well, perhaps it's not in front of the airplane ... perhaps ...


|-|

[vito]

Here is one another example - B767, fine pic with some bank angle so it is clear how FD bars overlap (scroll down page):

http://www.gadling.com/2008/07/11/plane-answers-767-winglets-flight-directors-and-oceanic-flying/

and another one   :

http://www.flyafrica.info/forums/showthread.php?41500-Today-s-flight-Daegu-South-Korea-to-Beijing-China

best regards

vito

[Hardy Heinlin]

Now I wonder if it's true that the FD shows rudder/tiller rollout commands when all autopilots are disengaged after an autoland touchdown. I guess it's true. A certain mode must remain annunciated when switching from LAND 3 to FD. The FLARE mode will be already blank anyway. No job on the vertical part. But the lateral part remains unblanked.

So, what do V-bar users see during an FD rollout? Does the V remain invisible? Or does it show rudder commands by banking the V?

Does anybody know?


Cheers,

|-|ardy

[the mad hatter]

wow now I am confused what was the original question? in its most simple terms please with a matching picture

[Lasse]

Hey Hardy

On the first picture the crossbar are in front of the pitch square... Hmm I would be surprised if B747 would be different from the B737, B777 software....
The FD are in the background...

Best regards
Lasse

[Hardy Heinlin]

Interesting, Lasse. You're the first in 14 years discovering this detail :-)

I guess you mean the white square outline, not the black filled square? According to photos, the F/D bar is definitely visible over the black filled square, but due to photo overexposure it's not clear whether the white outline, too, is behind the F/D.

Hatter, the original question was: what kind of box shape is shown around the "NO AUTOLAND" annunciation. The last question was: Is the V-bar available for rollout steering when the LOC roll mode is engaged on the ground after LAND 3 has switched to FD? It looks strange when banking V wings symbolize rudder steering commands.


Cheers,

|-|ardy

[Lasse]

Hey Hardy

Yes just the white frame...

/L

[Hardy Heinlin]

Hi Lasse, and you mean the white frame of the square only, not the white frame of the "wings", too?


|-|

[Lasse]

Hi Hardy

Yes only the pitch square... The wings are super...

I have send you a picture to the info mail. You are welcome to upload it, or use it as you like...

Best regards
Lasse

[Hardy Heinlin]

Thanks, Lasse. I'll upload it.

The bars behind the white square -- it looks and feels better, I must say :-)


|-|


737 photo by Lasse:




PSX Alpha 54:

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Beautiful photos, no matter what they display. There really is some radiant quality to them, both.

[Pierre Theillere]

Hi Hardy and Lasse!

Wow, both pictures are amazing and nearly worth speechlessness! Anyway, what are the white vertical bars on Lasse's photo, with the magenta arrow, just below the brown side of PFD? Could it be something related to LNAV mode and deviation from the route? I had never seen that detail before...
Keep up the good work on Alpha 54, Hardy...

[the mad hatter]

Yes hardy your pictures are 100% correct as they are per Lasses comment: I am sorry I missed the plot of the question when engineers get involved us poor pilots that are not too bright get confused ;-)

[vito]

PSX with virtual cockpit ?