Please need help with F16

[DeadEyeDegger]

very new to DCS play when i have time... downloaded the f16 DLC an went into the instant action an try free flight but i cant seem to control the jet i can change views an flip switches but cant figure out how to take control. Please any help will be greatly appreciated

[Κατακουζηνος.MXII]

You might need air controlls like the real eagle. It's a friend in Australia he on DCS he used real control over the system to operate all jet high performance flights

[Undead Rufus]

Jumping straight into instant action with a high-fidelity module like the F-16 is a recipe for disaster, at least as a new player.

Most likely, you did not set up any of your controls in the game settings. This is partially the game's fault, because it explains next to nothing.

Before I or anyone else can help you properly, we'll need to know what you're trying to use. Xbox (or other controller)? Mouse and keyboard? Joystick or HOTAS?

A good place to start might be this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIXdazooP30

It's a few years old, but still introduces things pretty well.

[DeadEyeDegger]

key board for the time being... and thank you for the quick response

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

Think the default for pitch is up/down arrow on cursor block, and roll is left/right, but I might be wrong.

Best check your bindings in controls (for "F-16C_sim"), you can use the search box and look up "pitch"/"roll".

That should give you some very basic controls, but I'd suggest to at least buy the cheapest joystick you can find.

Even that stick with the broken twist axis and two missing buttons one of your friends hasn't thrown out yet is better than keyboard, imho.

[Undead Rufus]

Originally posted by DeadEyeDegger:

key board for the time being... and thank you for the quick response

Viper with mouse & keyboard is gonna be difficult. If you're at all interested in flight sims, a cheap joystick will improve your experience. IMO, even an Xbox controller assigned to flight controls is better than using m&k only.

All that said, you can use WASD for pitch/roll, Z and X for rudder, Q and E for throttle, and maybe assign arrow keys to the radar cursor and targeting pod. [These aren't defaults, and you'll have to set them up as described in the video above.] Makes me cringe to think about playing like that, but it's technically possible.

Good luck. If you've got any more questions, just ask.

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

Originally posted by Undead Rufus:

All that said, you can use WASD for pitch/roll, Z and X for rudder, Q and E for throttle, and maybe assign arrow keys to the radar cursor and targeting pod. [These aren't defaults, and you'll have to set them up as described in the video above.] Makes me cringe to think about playing like that, but it's technically possible.

Probably not the best mapping to be honest, since that means all essential flight controls bunched up in one area of the keyboard.

I don't really have huge hands, but there's not enough space to actually arrange my hands on the controls, let alone use them. Just thinking about flying that way gives me CTS...

That said, instead of trying to fly the plane, why not sit on the ramp and learn the systems?

Might seem boring at first, but just getting used to startup procedures and working the UFC/DED will be invaluable later on.

You can easily spend a week doing just that, more than enough time to get a joystick shipped, or bum one somewhere.

[inmatecellblockd228]

am new to this f16 viper and looking for a wingman to fly with and figure out weapons and everything. dont know if i have my buttons mapped out right on my hotas

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

A good starting point for the Viper would be the Grim Reapers tutorials:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwE0YZ64ZzM&list=PL3kOAM2N1YJf8pIMCKRmRnP2RWkrWkSyZ

[Undead Rufus]

Originally posted by whatdoesthisbuttondo?:

Probably not the best mapping to be honest, since that means all essential flight controls bunched up in one area of the keyboard.

I don't really have huge hands, but there's not enough space to actually arrange my hands on the controls, let alone use them. Just thinking about flying that way gives me CTS...

Dunno. I would consider having "all essential flight controls bunched up in one area" as good as it gets, since you still need to look around, operate systems and lock targets. I mean, you use the same keys in first-person shooters to move around and do basic actions....

But I've never tried to fly the Viper (or any non-FC3 aircraft) without a HOTAS, so I'm just guessing based on early experiences with the F-15C and other games. Ultimately, control schemes in DCS are very much an individual thing.

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

Originally posted by Undead Rufus:

Dunno. I would consider having "all essential flight controls bunched up in one area" as good as it gets, since you still need to look around, operate systems and lock targets. I mean, you use the same keys in first-person shooters to move around and do basic actions....

I guess I'd rather use the Q-E/A-D block for roll/pitch/yaw, put throttle on Shift+Ctrl, that would at least allow you to use them with one hand and not dislocate a finger or two while doing so, and leaves half a row of keys plus spacebar for your thumb.

[Undead Rufus]

Originally posted by whatdoesthisbuttondo?:

Originally posted by Undead Rufus:

Dunno. I would consider having "all essential flight controls bunched up in one area" as good as it gets, since you still need to look around, operate systems and lock targets. I mean, you use the same keys in first-person shooters to move around and do basic actions....

I guess I'd rather use the Q-E/A-D block for roll/pitch/yaw, put throttle on Shift+Ctrl, that would at least allow you to use them with one hand and not dislocate a finger or two while doing so, and leaves half a row of keys plus spacebar for your thumb.

I guess we have different experiences on keyboard. For me, anything from Q-R, A-F and Z-V is within easy reach, and intuitive, which is why so many games use them for repetitive tasks. Also, using CTRL and Shift for throttle means you lose them as modifiers.

In the end, this is all academic since DCS lets you do pretty much whatever your want with controls, and any keyboard scheme is inferior to a basic joystick regardless.

[whatdoesthisbuttondo?]

Originally posted by Undead Rufus:

I guess we have different experiences on keyboard. For me, anything from Q-R, A-F and Z-V is within easy reach, and intuitive, which is why so many games use them for repetitive tasks. Also, using CTRL and Shift for throttle means you lose them as modifiers.

Well, that main problem is which keys you need to use at the same time, and for the primary flight controls, that would be all of them.

This isn't the same input problem as with typical FPS games, compulsive reloaders nonwithstanding the R key is rarely used overall, interacting might be a common task but as far as total keypresses are concerned, its use is miniscule.

With your flight controls, using pitch, roll and yaw at the same time is common, and quite often you'll also have to work the throttle.

[Undead Rufus]

Originally posted by whatdoesthisbuttondo?:

Well, that main problem is which keys you need to use at the same time, and for the primary flight controls, that would be all of them.

This isn't the same input problem as with typical FPS games, compulsive reloaders nonwithstanding the R key is rarely used overall, interacting might be a common task but as far as total keypresses are concerned, its use is miniscule.

With your flight controls, using pitch, roll and yaw at the same time is common, and quite often you'll also have to work the throttle.

Simultaneous inputs are an issue regardless of where on the keyboard you assign flight controls. I'm not clear on what you mean, but keys in the ranges I listed are accessible and intuitive for most players. A button-heavy gaming mouse can help too, but of course, even the most elegant KBM solution is still awful.

Which is why you're best just getting a joystick if you want to play flight sims.