Helicopter collective control - auto-reverse?

[rangoon 0]

Hi - Am I just missing it in a config file or something or is there still not a function for reversing the collective input on helicopters vs. throttle on fixed-wing? I thought for sure this would have been a feature in ArmA 2 even though ArmA 1 didn't have it, but I'm not seeing any way to reverse it except to once again do this manually every time I go from fixed-wing to helicopter and vice versa.

Thanks.

[paajtor 10]

Do you use a joystick?

If so, maybe you can program the stick's software, to do that function, with a switch- or keycombo.

[rangoon 0]

In fact I was able to do that. I use the CH Fighterstick/Pro Throttle/Pro Pedals combo and was able to write a script which allows me to toggle the throttle back and forth for fixed-wing/helicopter.

[rangoon 0]

I was flying in the Mi-17 today and I realized that it's not that big of a surprise to me that they didn't consider the throttle control reversal. The pilot (player 3D model) - in the Mi-17 at least - is holding the cyclic with both hands. :confused:

I mean not only is that just wrong...it's funny. It would be like having the player model shown driving a car by controlling the steering wheel with his teeth. I wonder if they consulted any pilots or just modeled things off of other flight simulators (with no real-world insight). I mean they could have at least asked someone! :)

Oh well - just a funny anecdote really. I still love flying helicopters in ArmA!

[TheHarvesteR 11]

You CAN map the throttle on your joystick backwards so it will feel like a heli collective... there's no neep for a reversal option because the way you map your control can define that already...

the BIG problem for me is that helicopters don't respond to the analogue throttle (introduced in 1.04), and if you map both digital and analogue controls to the same axis (being that most people with joysticks will at best have a single axis for throttle), the digital one has priority and wins out over the new analogue (and much better) mode

all this means that it is simply impossible to use the analogue throttle in planes and digital in helis without having to remap your controls every time you switch from one to the other. you either fly helis and planes on the oversimplified digital throttle, or you drop helis altogether but fly airplanes more realistically... you can't have both as of now...

this issue has been reported in the ArmA Issue Tracker, so if you agree, please vote it up so it gets fixed more quickly (I didn't post the bug there, I'm only trying to pass it on)

The pilot (player 3D model) - in the Mi-17 at least - is holding the cyclic with both hands.

LOL this has been going on since the OFP days... not only the Mi-17, but many other planes and helicopters... I don't mind that their hands don't move with the sticks, but at least set them in a proper pose, no?

Cheers

Edited October 29, 2009 by TheHarvesteR

[rangoon 0]

Right, I know I can set it properly (directionally) for the helicopter, but as I stated in the OP, the problem is that when you go from jet to helicopter, you have to manually change the input direction. If I set it correctly for helicopters, it's backwards for the jets. If I set it correctly for jets, it's backwards for the helicopters.

It was a pain figuring out how to write the script to allow me to toggle it in the CH Control Manager (since I'm no programmer/scripter), but at least it works. I just wish I hadn't had to go through that since it's a common feature in most sims which feature both jets/fixed-wing and helicopters (since the early 90s). Really surprised it wasn't implemented, figuring it was just an unfortunate oversight in ArmA 1 that it would certainly be employed in ArmA 2. But if the pilot has two hands on the cyclic, he's not going anywhere - so I realize I can't expect much. ;)

I'll check out the other thread and place a vote. However I can't imagine ever using the digital settings for any axis. Throttle/collective needs to be analog. Cyclic/stick needs to be analog. Pedals/rudder needs to be analog.

But thanks for the heads up - I was unaware of that conflict.

Edited October 29, 2009 by rangoon