Have no idea if they considered an auto pilot, but I doubt it. They pulled those two particular aircraft off the line for that trip because they were equipped with the -34 engines, giving them the higher MTOW option. By heavy crew, I'm assuming you mean two extra pilots. They already had a total of four SOB, out and back, so two more would have compromised their fuel load. At one point, Loutitt thought about leaving his AME behind. The elevator trim problem proved the decision to take him along was a sound one.