IPACS

Controls Settings

In Aerofly FS pretty much all USB input devices can be used. For a very large number of common input devices we even created default assignments so that you can plug in your new device and use it out of the box. Aerofly FS also supports having multiple different input devices at the same time so that you can take full advantage of your hardware setup. Using the controls menus you can customize the assignments for your input devices.

Our philosophy

If you don’t know what a function does then don’t assign it.

In Aerofly FS we assign input axes, buttons, keys, etc. to a certain function and one input can be used for multiple functions. Functions that are important but are not assigned will be automatically generated from other similar inputs. For example: If you have no input for your rudder axis assigned then the aileron input will be used to generate a rudder steering command on the ground and in the air the rudder is automatically controlled to fly a well coordinated turn. And if no nose wheel steering tiller axis is assigned it is automatically generated from your rudder input, allowing you to turn on the spot on the ground easily.

Controls Menu

Essential

The “Essential” menu provides quick access to the most important flight control assignments such as:

  • Throttle
  • Elevator
  • Aileron
  • Flaps
  • Gear
  • Air-brakes
  • Simulation pause
  • Autopilot master

General

In the “General” menu you can find a categorized list of control assignment menus such as:

  • Airplane
  • Helicopter controls
  • Autopilot
  • Navigation
  • Communication
  • Views
  • Simulation
  • Application
  • Lights
  • Sound

Multi-Engine

For users with advanced hardware setups there is a dedicated multi-engine menu, which allows you to assign specific throttle quadrant layouts for different aircraft categories. These include:

  • Single engine (default settings done in General menu)
  • Twin propeller
  • Twin jet
  • Four engine jet (Quad-Jet)

Input Devices

The “input devices” menu shows a list of your input devices and gives access to :

  • Input device calibration
  • Deadzone
  • Sensitivity
  • Enable/disable
  • Preview of all axes and buttons

Function Assignments

All assignments in the controls menu are performed with a few simple steps.

  • Find the function that you want to assign
  • Click on the axis box, which highlights it
  • Move your axis or switch or press the button or key that you want to assign.

Axis

  1. To assign an axis first move the axis to about 50%.
  2. Click on the center box for the axis that you want to assign.
  3. Move your input device axis towards the highlighted area.

Tip: If you click on the far left side of the axis field the axis will highlight the left side. If you click on the middle or right side the right side will be highlighted. Make sure to always move your input device towards the logical direction that is highlighted.

Keys, Buttons or Momentary Switches

  1. Click on the box on the left or right side, corresponding to the direction of movement that you wish to assign
  2. Tap the button, key or momentary switch briefly and release it to assign a “step” assignment (e.g. flaps increase) OR press and hold the button/key until the assignment is set for a “active as long as pressed” kind of assignment (e.g. wheel brakes).

Two-Position Switch

Tip: If your landing gear switch is already in the “gear down” position and you want to assign the “gear” function it is advisable to set the switch to the up position first.

  1. Click the center box
  2. Move the switch towards the highlighted area and keep it there until the assignment is complete. If you aim towards the left side the left side will be highlighted, otherwise the right side will be highlighted.
  3. If the direction is flipped then repeat the process but move the switch in the opposite direction.

Invert Assignment

To invert the control direction of an axis or switch:

  • Click the center box again but this time
  • Move your axis in the opposite direction as for the last assignment.

Change Input

To remove and re-assign the axis just repeat the process above but with a different axis on the same device.

Delete Assignment

To delete the assignment click on the assigned button, key, switch or axis to highlight it, then press the backspace key or delete key on your keyboard.

Multi-Assignments

Keys and buttons can have multiple functions assigned to them. When this is the case a small yellow caution triangle is visible next to the assignment box.

  • Click on the yellow triangle to see multiple assignments for the same button
  • If you know that the assignment will create issues you can remove the undesired assignments by clicking on the red X.

Note: Some assignments like brakes, reverser and air-brakes can be assigned on the same key without issues. It’s also possible to assign aircraft category specific things like magneto switches and jet engine master switches at the same time because there is no aircraft that has both things.

You can also have multiple different joysticks assigned to the same input axis. This usually works well and only the last input that was moved is used for the airplane but if you experience issues such as the brakes not being released or the throttle not moving forward please delete all assignments for that function first and assign only one device to this function.

Input Device Settings

From the Controls menu select the “Input device” menu and then the device that you want to adjust. In the device menu you can see a preview of all input axes and buttons.

  • Enable: On/Off is used to completely disable a device inside of Aerofly FS. This can be used to temporarily disable a device without having to actually remove the USB connection.
  • Mode Game-Pad/Joystick: Usually game-pads are recognized correctly but if the device was not detected correctly automatically then you can switch between the two modes manually.
  • Sensitivity adjusts the control input sensitivity near the zero position for Elevator, Aileron, Rudder (and helicopter controls). With low sensitivity an “expo” function reduces the control deflections for small inputs near the center whilst keeping the full deflection unchanged.
  • Dead-zone can be used to exclude a small range near the zero position where a small mechanical play or jitter can occur.

Device Calibration

Select Device

From the Controls menu select “Input devices” and then select the device from the list.

  • To start the calibration simply press the calibration button with the cross-hair symbol.

Then follow the steps in the menu.

Control Ranges

In the first step

  • Move all axes to the full deflections.
  • Press OK when done.

Control Center

In the second step

  • Move all axes to the 50% center, including all brake pedal inputs and throttle sliders.
  • Press OK when done.

Reset Assignments to Default or Delete All

Default Assignments

To reset the input device in Aerofly FS to the default assignments (“factory reset”):

  • Go to the controls menu
  • Select “Input devices”
  • Select the device from the list
  • Press the “Reset to default assignments” button with a joystick icon with filled in base

In the menu that opens select “Yes” to reset the assignments to default.

Delete all assignments

To remove all the Aerofly FS input device assignments and start from zero:

  • Go to the controls menu
  • Select “Input devices”
  • Select the device from the list
  • Press the “Remove all assignments” button with a joystick icon with transparent base

In the menu that opens select “Yes” to remove all assignments of this device.

Multi-Engine Setup

Input devices such as the Thrustmaster TCA throttle quadrant with Add-Ons are pre-assigned correctly in Aerofly FS so that you usually don’t have to change any multi-engine settings. But there are a lot of hardware devices on the market and users may want to change the settings so we created a dedicated menu for this.

Recommendations

  • Only assign functions in a category if you have enough free input axes for it.
  • Don’t assign everything, only what is actually different from your existing assignments in Airplane and General.

Multi-Engine Categories

Single Engine

The single engine category can be assigned in the Essential and General, Airplane control menus. These assignments include:

  • Throttle
  • Thrust reverse
  • Propeller speed
  • Mixture
  • Engine starter
  • Ignition
  • Magnetos
  • Flaps, gear, air-brake, auto-spoiler arm
  • Autobrakes

Twin Propeller

Aircraft such as the Baron B58, King Air C90GTx, Dash8-Q400, etc. all fall into the twin prop category. In this category you can assign:

  • Throttle 1/2
  • Thrust reverse 1/2 (beta reverse)
  • Propeller speed 1/2 (condition levers in some)
  • Mixture 1/2 (cutoff/high or low idle in C90)

Twin Jet

This category covers a lot of the airliners, such as: Airbus A320, Boeing 737 (Classic, NG and MAX), 777, 787 but also the Learjet, F15, F18, etc.

  • Thrust lever 1/2
  • Thrust reverse 1/2
  • Engine master 1/2 (cutoff or run)
  • Engine start 1/2 (starter set on)
  • Air brake, auto spoiler arm, flaps (all overriding default axes, if assigned)

Note Do not assign airbrakes, spoiler arm flaps, etc. unless you want to override the default axis assignment. We recommend leaving these assignment blank if you want to keep the same lever assigned.

Quad Jet

This category affects four engine jets like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747.

  • Thrust lever 1/2/3/4
  • Thrust reverse 1/2/3/4
  • Engine master 1/2/3/4 (cutoff or run)
  • Engine start 1/2/3/4 (starter set on)
  • Air brake, auto spoiler arm, flaps (all overriding default axes, if assigned)

Note If you don’t have four hardware levers for these then please don’t assign anything in this category. If you already have twin engine assignments set up then the engines 1/2 of the quad jet will be controlled by your engine 1 assignments and the engines 3/4 will be controlled by engine 2 inputs from the twin jet setup.

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