I would like to learn DCS but ... KEYBINDS :0

[Weißbrot]

I would really like to get into DCS but I HATE TO FLY WITH KEYBINDS, i thought DCS is a clickable cockpit game with top notch flight models but now after i downloaded in 2 houres DCS i sadly noticed that the Su-25 has no clickable cockpit (and a thin flight model?), also it seems like they changed the second free plane wich was so far i remember correctly a Spitfire into a unarmed P-51 trainer wich has full flight model!?

I am not interested in WW2 planes but in modern planes so the P-51 isnt really interesting even if it would have the full flight model.
I think it would be better if DCS would provide one double seat plane like the A-29 Super Tucano as the free starter plane with full flight model and armed so you can train with other players in it not only flyin but also fire missions or at least giving the Su-25T a full flight model with clickable cockpit.

For now i will wait until the next sale comes and buy something wich has full flight model and clickable cockpit.

[Maki Nishikino]

Flaming Cliffs 3 aircraft (such as the Su-25) don't have clickable cockpits. All else (such as the P-51) do have clickable cockpits. May be worth checking out the A-4 community mod (personally I've never used it) but I know it has a clickable cockpit.

[spike2071]

A-4 is a free mod that is fully clickable.

The free clickable plane was always the unarmed TF-51D, never the Spitfire. The Su-25T has full flight model, but basic avionics.

[Sizigmund]

Su-25T is a ground strike aircraft from the previous iterations of this game. Nowadays it was removed from the Flaming cliffs 3 module and inserted to the game as a free aircraft, so people can try some functionality of this simulator.

Now because Flaming cliffs 3 and Su-25T are a legacy modules, they don't have clickable cockpits, their systems and system management are simplified, but their flight models are realistic. All these aircrafts both Su-25T and all the aircrafts from Flaming cliffs 3 module are low fidelity aircrafts. All other aircrafts in this game are high fidelity, they have a realistic flight model as well, but they also have a realisticaly simulated systems and their management, which means that they also have clickable cockpits.

But if you think that flying high fidelity aircarft is easier because it have a clickable cockpit, you are mistaken. Because it is both very inconvinient and very slow to click buttons inside a virtual cockpit during combat. You have to bind the most important functions to your H.O.T.A.S.. So you still have to fly using the key bindings on your H.O.T.A.S. for the most important functionality, use the bindings on the keyboard for the less important functionality and click buttons with your mouse in virtual cockpit for the most unimportant functionality. Otherwise, if you will use virtual cockpit by clicking it with mouse pointer for all functionality it will be so slow, because for clicking some specific button or switch you have sometimes to change position in the cockpit, to turn the head of a pilot or even to lean forward or left, e.t.c. to see this button or switch. So you can't do these things during the battle, it is very slow. It is much faster to press the button on your H.O.T.A.S. or keybinding on the keyboard to toggle such a switch.

So yeah, there is still a lot of keybindings to remember and it can be overwhelming on the start, but with a time you will get used to it.

By the way, here is a list of all low fidelity aircrafts in this game:

1. Su - 25.
   
2. Su - 25T.
   
3. Su -27.
   
4. Su-33.
   
5. MiG-29A.
   
6. MiG-29S.
   
7. MiG-29G.
   
8. J-11A.
   
9. F-15C.
   
10. A-10A.

All of these aircrafts except Su-25T are included in Flaming cliffs 3 module, but you can also buy them separately. So pay attention do not buy them if you want a high fidelity aircarfts only. But honestly, the low fidelity aircrafts are very good for a start. There is a lot of things to learn in this game, about the flight itself, about the air to air tactics, air to ground tactics, e.t.c.. So as for me, these low fidelity aircrafts brings you an ability to learn all of these things without focusing much on the systems management. But you are free to choose.

[Gunfreak]

A4 Skyhawk is free mod, fully clickable cockpit and as good as the ones you pay $60+ for.
Hercules mod also clickable cockpit, not as super awesome as the Skyhawk, but very good. So far the only 4 engine flyable plane.
Blackhawk helicopter mod also clickable cockpit, quite new, so don't have that any features yet.

[Sizigmund]

There is also Su-30 mod which have a clickable cockpit, but it uses a SFM (Simplified Flight Model). So currently the controls of Flaming cliffs 3 aircrafts feels much more realistic than Su-30. But in the future the mod creators planing to change this.

You can use this mod for air to ground only, if you don't have a Flaming cliffs 3 or Su-33. Because it's air to ground capabilities requires a free Su-25T which comes with the game. The air to air capabilities hovewer, requires a Su-33.

[HoboCop]

Best suggestion (and I know you have downloaded already using Steam):

Download the STANDALONE version directly from ED's site. Once you do this you can try one of the full fat modules with fully clickable pits for free by doing a months trial (no payment details required may I add)

I would suggest the F16 / FA18 / A10Cii over others to give you a nice trial of the full flight models with nice easy clicky pits to get you acclimated and give you a taste before you make your mind up. The free aircraft do not really offer much to entice new users, I agree and have suggested this before. The Steam version not offering free module trials I think must hamper their sales.

Also, there is a way to convert your already downloaded Steam version to the standalone to save downloading again, but this has been posted about already, so do a quick search for that if you need it

[Weißbrot]

Thx for all your comments and suggestions, i will try out this A-4 and have a look at the free testing if i learned all i need to understand wich fits me the best :)

[Hawk_UK]

Just a bit of advice: If you ever buy modules, then always buy your DCS modules through STEAM. That way if you ever want to use your modules in the STEAM version you can do, but you can also use them with the standalone version too by binding your STEAM DCS module(via Eds website) to work with the standalone version and STEAM versions. BUT if you buy your modules direct from EDs website then your module can only play on the standalone version and never on STEAM.

Here's where you can transfer your STEAM Modules to be able to use the standalone version too: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/support/faq/steam/#3303126

[Maki Nishikino]

Origineel geplaatst door Hawk_UK:

Just a bit of advice: If you ever buy modules, then always buy your DCS modules through STEAM. That way if you ever want to use your modules in the STEAM version you can do, but you can also use them with the standalone version too by unbinding your STEAM DCS module(via Eds website) to work with the standalone version and STEAM versions. BUT if you buy your modules direct from EDs website then your module can only play on the standalone version and never on STEAM.

I have many modules and have found the M2000 doesn't transfer.

[Hawk_UK]

Origineel geplaatst door Maki Nishikino:

Origineel geplaatst door Hawk_UK:

Just a bit of advice: If you ever buy modules, then always buy your DCS modules through STEAM. That way if you ever want to use your modules in the STEAM version you can do, but you can also use them with the standalone version too by unbinding your STEAM DCS module(via Eds website) to work with the standalone version and STEAM versions. BUT if you buy your modules direct from EDs website then your module can only play on the standalone version and never on STEAM.

I have many modules and have found the M2000 doesn't transfer.

If you bought the M2000 module via STEAM then it should be able to be bound and played on the standalone version and the STEAM version..... If it doesn't then you should contact ED about that issue.

Did you bind it here as you should do? https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/support/faq/steam/#3303126

[Troll Norris]

Basic keybinds:
Function keys - view modes
G - Gears
F - Flaps
W - Wheelbrakes
B - airBrake
P - braking Parachute
C - Canon mode
D - weapon change (probably because it is near the C key)
L - lights
O - optics
I - radar (probably because nexto O, don't know)
E - ECM
The trim or slew buttons are in shape of cursor arrows
The "Z,X" for rudders is used in every flight simulator since 1980, maybe much longer.

[Maki Nishikino]

Origineel geplaatst door Hawk_UK:

Origineel geplaatst door Maki Nishikino:

I have many modules and have found the M2000 doesn't transfer.

If you bought the M2000 module via STEAM then it should be able to be bound and played on the standalone version and the STEAM version..... If it doesn't then you should contact ED about that issue.

Did you bind it here as you should do? https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/support/faq/steam/#3303126

When I last tried it didn't work, all else did from what I recall. I don't really have plans to use the standalone long term. The only reason I used the standalone is because I have the AJS-37, F-5, L-39 and MiG-15 that I bought from the ED store and they can't be transferred. At the time I wanted to use the F-5 so I installed the standalone. I have a ton more modules on Steam. I personally prefer Steam if I can help it. It has been ages since I bought from the ED store and likewise since I have used these modules. I think next sale I will rebuy the modules that are bound to the standalone on Steam.

[Hawk_UK]

Origineel geplaatst door Maki Nishikino:

Origineel geplaatst door Hawk_UK:

If you bought the M2000 module via STEAM then it should be able to be bound and played on the standalone version and the STEAM version..... If it doesn't then you should contact ED about that issue.

Did you bind it here as you should do? https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/support/faq/steam/#3303126

When I last tried it didn't work, all else did from what I recall. I don't really have plans to use the standalone long term. The only reason I used the standalone is because I have the AJS-37, F-5, L-39 and MiG-15 that I bought from the ED store and they can't be transferred. At the time I wanted to use the F-5 so I installed the standalone. I have a ton more modules on Steam. I personally prefer Steam if I can help it. It has been ages since I bought from the ED store and likewise since I have used these modules. I think next sale I will rebuy the modules that are bound to the standalone on Steam.

All I can suggest is you contact ED about it, because if you bought the M2000 from STEAM then it should transfer.... But if your not bothered about using the standalone version of DCS World then I guess it doesn't matter. :)

[Maki Nishikino]

Origineel geplaatst door Hawk_UK:

Origineel geplaatst door Maki Nishikino:

When I last tried it didn't work, all else did from what I recall. I don't really have plans to use the standalone long term. The only reason I used the standalone is because I have the AJS-37, F-5, L-39 and MiG-15 that I bought from the ED store and they can't be transferred. At the time I wanted to use the F-5 so I installed the standalone. I have a ton more modules on Steam. I personally prefer Steam if I can help it. It has been ages since I bought from the ED store and likewise since I have used these modules. I think next sale I will rebuy the modules that are bound to the standalone on Steam.

All I can suggest is you contact ED about it, because if you bought the M2000 from STEAM then it should transfer.... But if your not bothered about using the standalone version of DCS World then I guess it doesn't matter. :)

Oh, thanks for the suggestion nonetheless.

[EazyE]

The T-45C Goshawk is a well done free mod with 2 seats and clickable cockpit. It is a trainer aircraft and can carry live rockets. I used it to train my 8yr old before he jumped in the F18. It can be flown from the front seat or rear seat and you can set it up to give and take control of the aircraft at anytime if you are teaching someone.