Auto Cruise addition for QOL

[TheDoc0404]

Hello, I hope this is the right place to discuss this as suggested by Discord moderators.

I wanted to suggest the addition of an "Auto Cruise" feature, similar to what PMDG has implemented with their 777. The Auto Cruise feature makes long-haul flights much more accessible to those with limited time. Many of us love the immersion of long-haul flights but struggle with the time commitment due to real-life schedules. The "Auto Cruise" feature has made PMDG's aircraft very popular, as it offers the option for a full flight experience in a shorter time frame.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of flying a wide-body aircraft like the A380 is the realism of taking off with a full fuel load and landing much lighter after a long-haul flight. Shorter flights, while fun, take away from the realism and unique challenges of managing fuel, weight, and descent in these large aircraft. For those who appreciate these details, having an Auto Cruise option would make it possible to enjoy the full long-haul experience, even with time constraints.

Currently, the maximum sim rate for the A380 is 2x, which is heavily dependent on FPS. I’m currently using a 4090 GPU, 7800X3D CPU, and 64 GB of RAM, and even with this setup, I experience performance degradation over time. It’s likely that players with lower specs find it even more challenging to keep the sim running smoothly for 6-8 hours, potentially making long-haul flights unfeasible.

For an aircraft still in beta, where unexpected issues may arise, a feature like Auto Cruise would offer more flexibility, enabling players to complete long flights without the concern of sitting for hours only to encounter a possible crash. I believe adding this feature could significantly expand the player base for the A380. By making long-haul flights more viable, players with tighter schedules would be able to enjoy the aircraft fully. Not only would this enhance the player experience, but it could also contribute positively to community engagement with the A380.

Thank you for considering this suggestion. I look forward to the continued development of the FBW A380 and am excited to see how it evolves.