Helicopter Joystick mapping - Best set for ACE pilots? - what is your config?

[p75 10]

Hi guys,

I just bought a Saitek Cyborg X joystick and I tried to configure it, but I'm not sure if I did it correctly? And to be honest this is my first attempt to play with an actual joystick.

Could some of you Helicopter aces share your settings? What is the difference between left and left banking for example?

Any helicopter vids which show how to fly an attack helicopter?

[BobbyDylan 10]

Hi guys,

I just bought a Saitek Cyborg X joystick and I tried to configure it, but I'm not sure if I did it correctly? And to be honest this is my first attempt to play with an actual joystick.

Could some of you Helicopter aces share your settings? What is the difference between left and left banking for example?

Any helicopter vids which show how to fly an attack helicopter?

Left is probably turn left, ie, like turning in a circle. Bank left is like strafing. You can achieve this on your Mouse+Keyboard combo.

[TechnoTerrorist303 10]

If your stick has a twist axis you should set it up like this:

Y-Axis (forwards/backwards) nose up & nose down

X-Axis (left/right) bank left & Bank right

Z-Axis (twist) left pedal, right pedal

Throttle slider should be the throttle.

This is the closest approximation to the real thing you will get without lots more hardware and a much more realistic flight model.

You will also need to remap the fire button to actually fire if you want to fly solo.

Also a quick description of the controls:

your nose up/down control is self explanatory but remember that in a helicopter this also controls your forward speed. To fly level you will need to increase your throttle the more you tilt forwards (when they introduce analogue throttle of course) otherwise you will fall out of the sky.

Banking left and right can be thought of as rolling the body of the helicopter just like flying a fixed wing aircraft so the you can execute turns

Turning is just like using the rudder in a fixed wing aircraft so your nose remains more or less level but you turn or "yaw" to the left or right, more like turning the steering wheel in a car.

Edited July 31, 2009 by TechnoTerrorist303

[Alpha-Kilo 36]

deleted.

Edited July 31, 2009 by Alpha-Kilo
Techno Terrorist explained it better.

[p75 10]

If your stick has a twist axis you should set it up like this:

Y-Axis (forwards/backwards) nose up & nose down

X-Axis (left/right) bank left & Bank right

Z-Axis (twist) left pedal, right pedal

Throttle slider should be the throttle.

This is the closest approximation to the real thing you will get without lots more hardware and a much more realistic flight model.

You will also need to remap the fire button to actually fire if you want to fly solo.

Also a quick description of the controls:

your nose up/down control is self explanatory but remember that in a helicopter this also controls your forward speed. To fly level you will need to increase your throttle the more you tilt forwards (when they introduce analogue throttle of course) otherwise you will fall out of the sky.

Banking left and right can be thought of as rolling the body of the helicopter just like flying a fixed wing aircraft so the you can execute turns

Turning is just like using the rudder in a fixed wing aircraft so your nose remains more or less level but you turn or "yaw" to the left or right, more like turning the steering wheel in a car.

Thanks, mate, I have it setup like that.

Grtz

[Hunin 0]

Using the X-52 with Saitek peds ( thanks to multyble controller support ).

It's not really a neccessity with Arma's flightmodel, but for someone who spends time with flightsims it just get's habbit to use all limps for harmonized controlling.

Muscle memory is really usefull for all rough spots.

Works great.

[frederf 0]

It's really helpful to have a joystick button programmed to "Zoom Out" so you can hold that during landings and such. The wider FOV really really helps.

[fincuan 0]

The Saitek X52 throttle thumb-slider is also excellent for FOV, as it allows one to smoothly adjust it to any possible position.

[andersson 285]

The Saitek X52 throttle thumb-slider is also excellent for FOV, as it allows one to smoothly adjust it to any possible position.

Good idea, gonna implement that to my CH hotas! Thanks

[frederf 0]

I did that but found that it makes it hard to use anything else like normal infantry fighting (Zoom (Analog) on rotary knob, X-45). The axis overrides any other control like the normal right mouse zoom and gets frustrating.

[weegee_101 0]

I did that but found that it makes it hard to use anything else like normal infantry fighting (Zoom (Analog) on rotary knob, X-45). The axis overrides any other control like the normal right mouse zoom and gets frustrating.

I remember that in ArmA but I haven't had it in ArmA 2 yet. I've got my zoom bound to one of my rotary axis on my X52.

[happygharry 10]

Left is probably turn left, ie, like turning in a circle. Bank left is like strafing. You can achieve this on your Mouse+Keyboard combo.

turn is bot banking and and tail so you turn faster instead of just the one incase u didn't know :]

[frederf 0]

I remember that in ArmA but I haven't had it in ArmA 2 yet. I've got my zoom bound to one of my rotary axis on my X52.

You know I could bind a rotary in bands to zoom in and zoom out. I wouldn't get fine control but it would solve the problem about non-aircraft control as the middle position would be no button pressed at all.

[weegee_101 0]

You know I could bind a rotary in bands to zoom in and zoom out. I wouldn't get fine control but it would solve the problem about non-aircraft control as the middle position would be no button pressed at all.

Yeah, I haven't set it up that way but that's how its already working for me with ArmA2. I have no clue why... could be something concerning the X52.

Its really kind of a pain though since I can't seem to get any fine control with the zoom. I'm either zoomed all the way in or normal, which makes A10 flights frustrating.

[InFireBaptize 0]

i'm having an issue with the throttle, to move the aircraft, i take it all the way up "full speed" there is no slow speed by bringing it to the middle, either fast or aircraft doesn't move at all, any idea why?

[b00ce 160]

I have found that a mouse and keyboard works superbly. Frankly, I've a hard time with the joystick that I have... :S I couldn't adjust the sensitivity to the sweet spot. So I managed to make due with what I got working; if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm pro at flying just about anything regardless of the lack of a joystick. lol

• W- full thrust
  
• S- what ever lowest thrust is
  
• A and D- Left and right pedal respectively
  
• Mouse forward- pitch down
  
• Mouse back- pitch up
  
• Mouse left and right- pitch left and right respectively
  
• Mouse thumb button #2- Look around (Sucks I cant look and steer at the same time... :( But it does help for quick glances.)
  

Simple and effective.

[TimRiceSE 10]

i'm having an issue with the throttle, to move the aircraft, i take it all the way up "full speed" there is no slow speed by bringing it to the middle, either fast or aircraft doesn't move at all, any idea why?

This is because the throttle, as of 1.02, isnt a proper analogue throttle, basically, 0% throttle = decrease speed, 50% throttle = maintain speed, 100% throttle = increase speed.

This is being addressed in 1.03 to be a proper analogue throttle wiht seperate airbraking. i beleive.

[fincuan 0]

The axis overrides any other control like the normal right mouse zoom and gets frustrating.

Could be a thing with the X-45 then, because it(zoom in X52 thumb slider) works at my end without overriding anything. Right mouse zoom works as before.

[InFireBaptize 0]

I have found that a mouse and keyboard works superbly. Frankly, I've a hard time with the joystick that I have... :S I couldn't adjust the sensitivity to the sweet spot. So I managed to make due with what I got working; if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm pro at flying just about anything regardless of the lack of a joystick. lol

• W- full thrust
  
• S- what ever lowest thrust is
  
• A and D- Left and right pedal respectively
  
• Mouse forward- pitch down
  
• Mouse back- pitch up
  
• Mouse left and right- pitch left and right respectively
  
• Mouse thumb button #2- Look around (Sucks I cant look and steer at the same time... :( But it does help for quick glances.)
  

Simple and effective.

that's so true, i tried the mouse and joystick and the movement is smoother but i hate flying with a mouse when i have a joystick!

---------- Post added at 03:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:17 PM ----------

This is because the throttle, as of 1.02, isnt a proper analogue throttle, basically, 0% throttle = decrease speed, 50% throttle = maintain speed, 100% throttle = increase speed.

This is being addressed in 1.03 to be a proper analogue throttle wiht seperate airbraking. i beleive.

Hopefully it will be addressed, thanks for the heads up.