Realistic Controls Help
 

Are the flaps for landing/taking off, and the trim is for turning I think? How exactly do the flaps/trim work in this game for the xbox 360 and how do I monitor them inside the plane.

There are two flap settings, Combat and Level (I think that is the labels). It will pop a text when you hit the flap button. Combat is for whenever you need more lift at slower speeds, like tight turns and landing. Level is for when you want maximum speed in straight flight.

Hitting the Trim will take a snapshot of whatever you have your controls set at, minus the throttle, and make that the settings of the controls when you let go of the stick. There doesn't seem to be any visual or audio indication when you hit the trim button. It would be nice if there were.

If you hit trim with wings level and the nose up it will stay that way when you let go of the stick. If you set it in a steep banked dive it will stay that way also.

The usual use is to set it when you are flying as perfectly level as possible. Easier said then done. :-x

Just to clarify - there are three flap settings in total.

During normal flight, you can choose between Raised and Combat. Simply substitute "level" with "Raised" and your explanation is still good though.

However, the third flap setting is "Landing" and appears only when you have your landing gear down. You can imagine what this setting is for.

Also, for all we know - there could be a fourth "Takeoff" flap setting. I don't really recall if that's one of the settings in the original IL-2 or not.

Its there, when on runway you can put it on Takeoff

Awesome - thanks!

If I could ever land my plane without skidding off the end of the runway I could've known for sure myself, haha!

gamepad or flight stick?

On game pad holding down the throttle acts as brake.

Which mission is it that allows you a chance to land your plane?

At the end of the Dover mission it gives you a chance to continue the mission. If you continue, it will tell you to go land the plane.

I tend to land a tiny bit fast and bounce a few times across the runway on my first pass. I then have to swing around for another attempt where I usually roll all the way across the strip as I look for the brake button on this saitek stick. My plane then faceplants 20 feet past the runway and I blow up :?

It could be my settings too. I play on arcade mode, in cockpit, with all of the hud elements turned off.

Flight Sticks cant brake,
Face planting happens around 55 kmph (dont know in other speeds) making a sudden stop.
If u manage to land and enough space to roll out, make sure before it face plants speed up a bit.
This is the only advice i can give you for now.

But youre not really doing anything wrong.

Can anyone explain me the major gauges i could watch, what they do and say?