Originally Posted by Ventus45
What do you think the aircraft would have done, (and why) all by itself, second by second, from AP disconnect, if the crew had done absolutely nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing.
Some time ago I wrote that the airplane's pitch and power at A/P disconnect was consistent with
AP & A/THR maintaining altitude and speed while flying in an updraft of approx. 1000 fpm. It would have continued in those conditions as long as the updraft lasted. After leaving the updraft, it would have descended at 1000 fpm at the pitch and power and airspeed it had at A/P disconnect.
P.S. The above assumes that the FCPC maintains pitch after AP disconnect and leaving the updraft. If it maintains 1g, it would need to restore the still-air pitch of about 3 degrees nose-up, and the airplane would then decelerate at about 1 kt TAS per second at constant altitude.