how can i set joystick controls for helis?

[Læms]

ive been wonering since first dev server is it just like planes or?

[timdekeyser6]

just uninstall the game so we have one less choppernoob ruining top tier

[Læms]

Originally posted by timdekeyser6:

just uninstall the game so we have one less choppernoob ruining top tier

really? do you have to be so useless? or are you mad you dont have money to buy a heli?

[Læms]

thats prob it jeeeez. im here to ask if someone have tried this and stop being so toxic

[Firedune]

Hi, I've actually just gotten done setting up my joystick for helos. I'm only using a cheap-o logitech xtreme 3d pro, so yor setup might differ considerably, but i'll say right now that flying is much easier with a stick but right off the bat you will never be as precise or aware as someone using default m+k. What stick are you using?

[Læms]

Originally posted by Firedune:

Hi, I've actually just gotten done setting up my joystick for helos. I'm only using a cheap-o logitech xtreme 3d pro, so yor setup might differ considerably, but i'll say right now that flying is much easier with a stick but right off the bat you will never be as precise or aware as someone using default m+k. What stick are you using?

im using thrustmaster t16000m

[Firedune]

Anyway, Basically, you'll want/need to be rebinding everything.

Step 1 is making sure that your main flight axis (axsisi?) are set up properly. Be sure to give yourself some generous deadzone space, any movement will reset your gunnery camera to zero. Make sure that you've got at least one throttle equivalent; you'll want to bind that to the collective min/max (your primary thrust-y thing). The last movement-related thing you'll want to set is the Hover Mode button (hover mode on/off) and Hovering Height buttons (set 1 button each to min/max). This'll get you flying but the flight dynamics are differet for each helo, so heads up on that.

Step 2 is setting up camera controls, and this one can be a PITA, it took me a while to figure out what does what. So, oddly enough, flying can be significantly easier whie in cockpit mode as you'll have less of a tendency to over-correct and it gives you a better feel of which direction your helo is actually going. Anyway, the first one to set up is the Toggle View button, you'll be pressing that one a bit. Next is the real PITA, setting up your actual camera. I'm forced to use a hat switch, which is... not ideal so if you've got head tracking, use that. Otherwise, it you want to bind head movement to a hat switch start binding the "View in battle" axis and set it to "Relative Control". This moves the camera smoothly instead of 100% in an instant.

Step 3 is setting up gunnery/weapons. Set "fire machine guns/cannons" to your favorite trigger. This will fire every machine gun while in cockpit mode but the main turret will also be locked forward (everything should more or less line up nicely with your sights). Next up is binding your rockets to your second favorite trigger. (i like binding the key to "fire salvo" because aiming is a bit inaccurate and most helos carry a lot of rockets). Next thing you should bind is your "Missile Control" X & Y axis, preferrably to a hat switch (NOTE this isn't SUPER important as when you are in the gunnery camera, your mouse will still work, making aiming MUCH easer, and it will also control the main turret). Finally, bind the "Fire Missile" button to your third favorite trigger.

Step 4 is mostly binding Misc items. A handful of handy things to have bound to some auxillary buttons are "Sight Stabilization" (only works in gunner mode) , Open Map, and Landing gear. This is all for Simplified control, but it'll get you flying. Enjoy!

[RazeOrion]

Hey, Firedune. I had a question for you:

I'm using the same joystick as you. Would it be possible for you to help me with an issue?

[RazeOrion]

Originally posted by Vlad.Quattro:

I haven't seen any appropriate joystick for a heli on sale. The thing is - helicopters have a bit different controls than planes, not only one stick, throttle and two pedals (I guess helis are using two sticks).

What helicopter did you buy?

The first one I could, the AH-1G. I mapped everything to he able to fly to my own specifications. I can take off, land, and move freely. However, my guns wont follow my screen and my trigger wont fire the weapons

[Lucas_de_Lessak]

Originally posted by RazeOrion:

However, my guns wont follow my screen and my trigger wont fire the weapons

You need to switch to gunner seat in AH-1G, to be able to control MG turret and get actual gunsight for rockets if I remember correctly. And you also have to enable the "Camera from aircraft gunner sight" in options, otherwise the gunner view is not available. Not on my gaming PC right now so cant check the exact name of that setting. You can still control heli from the gunner seat btw.

To be honest, while I was looking forward to helicopters, as there is no other game with somewhat realistic helicopter gameplay in PvP environment (DCS is more PvE and for some reason, I never really got into Arma) so far It is a huge dissapointment for me. Helicopter EC in only in AB and I play SB only, thus I have no interest in it. And while helicopters are available in SB ground battles, I find them either completely useless - easy prey for SPAA and planes or even tanks, if you do not have heli with ATGM, or rather OP, if you have ATGM (still easy prey for planes and SPAA with radar, as even in SB, radar is just silly arcade copy paste mechanism).