Starting to make little progress

[bolox]

I = toggle selected engine(s)
in menu- like IL2 some of the names are not very intuitive

[d.burnette]

Originally Posted by bolox

I = toggle selected engine(s)
in menu- like IL2 some of the names are not very intuitive

Ok thank you very much, I had somehow wiped out that key press command. I have gone in and assigned "I" key, to Toggle Selected Engine(s - I would never have guessed that toggle selected engine would actually fire it up. Start Engine as the command would have worked better for my simplistic mind.

Ok so now I think I am set, once I get my joystick file compiled for all the key commands for the controls I have assigned.

Let me make sure I have this correct in my mind:
Once I am in the aircraft I will do the following to start my engine and get to taxiing, in this order- this list assuming I am in a single engine aircraft:
1: Select EngineOne
2: Toggle Fuel Cock#1
3: Move Throttle to app 10-15%
4: Toggle Selected Engine

That's it? Once these are done, ready to taxi and fly? No need to mess with radiators, magnetos, carburator heat, supercharges, mixture, prop rpm?
If so, that sounds very good to me - I can wrap my feeble mind around that just fine LOL.

ps: I did go ahead and assign selecting engine 1-4, fuel cock toggle engines 1-4, to have for the future if I need.

Thanks again,

[addman]

Originally Posted by d.burnette

Ok thank you very much, I had somehow wiped out that key press command. I have gone in and assigned "I" key, to Toggle Selected Engine(s - I would never have guessed that toggle selected engine would actually fire it up. Start Engine as the command would have worked better for my simplistic mind.

Ok so now I think I am set, once I get my joystick file compiled for all the key commands for the controls I have assigned.

Let me make sure I have this correct in my mind:
Once I am in the aircraft I will do the following to start my engine and get to taxiing, in this order- this list assuming I am in a single engine aircraft:
1: Select EngineOne
2: Toggle Fuel Cock#1
3: Move Throttle to app 10-15%
4: Toggle Selected Engine

That's it? Once these are done, ready to taxi and fly? No need to mess with radiators, magnetos, carburator heat, supercharges, mixture, prop rpm?
If so, that sounds very good to me - I can wrap my feeble mind around that just fine LOL.

ps: I did go ahead and assign selecting engine 1-4, fuel cock toggle engines 1-4, to have for the future if I need.

Thanks again,

That's pretty much it, superchargers you don't have to worry about until altitudes of 2500 m and up. I recommend assigning buttons to "supercharger next/previous stage". No need for magnetos messing about IMO. Mixture will be fine at default up until a certain altitude, you'll notice when your engine starts sputtering/belching black smoke (I think) then you need to lean out the mixture (lower it). Assign buttons to "increase/decrease mixture" and you're good, same goes for "open/close radiator", "open/close oil radiator". I only have these 2 button "add/decrease" setup for most of that stuff, same goes for prop pitch.

[d.burnette]

Originally Posted by addman

That's pretty much it, superchargers you don't have to worry about until altitudes of 2500 m and up. I recommend assigning buttons to "supercharger next/previous stage". No need for magnetos messing about IMO. Mixture will be fine at default up until a certain altitude, you'll notice when your engine starts sputtering/belching black smoke (I think) then you need to lean out the mixture (lower it). Assign buttons to "increase/decrease mixture" and you're good, same goes for "open/close radiator", "open/close oil radiator". I only have these 2 button "add/decrease" setup for most of that stuff, same goes for prop pitch.

Many thanks again addman, I will take your advice and go ahead and assign commands for superchargers and radiators as well.

[bolox]

if you are flying with full cem you will need radiator control(s)- set to full open for takeoff/climb- set to normal/half for normal cruising.- WATCH YOUR TEMPS

Prop pitch also needed. Have you used the 2 rotary controls on throttle for trim? if not might be a good idea to use one for prop pitch (in axes section).

[d.burnette]

Originally Posted by bolox

if you are flying with full cem you will need radiator control(s)- set to full open for takeoff/climb- set to normal/half for normal cruising.- WATCH YOUR TEMPS

Prop pitch also needed. Have you used the 2 rotary controls on throttle for trim? if not might be a good idea to use one for prop pitch (in axes section).

No I have not as of yet assigned my two rotaries on my throttle- have assigned keypresses for trimming that will get assigned to buttons on my stick.
I was thinking of using the two available rotaries, one for prop pitch, and the other for mixure? Would that make sense?

I do not plan on flying with full cem as I will be learning this sim for some time I am sure - maybe later on down the road...

Thanks,

[mxmadman]

Originally Posted by d.burnette

No I have not as of yet assigned my two rotaries on my throttle- have assigned keypresses for trimming that will get assigned to buttons on my stick.
I was thinking of using the two available rotaries, one for prop pitch, and the other for mixure? Would that make sense?

I do not plan on flying with full cem as I will be learning this sim for some time I am sure - maybe later on down the road...

Thanks,

I would strongly suggest using your two rotaries for trim, specifically rudder and elevator. This is just preference in the end, but you will be using them the most often and you will want more fidelity. Tiny adjustments in trim are necessary almost constantly and are essential in setting up a good gun platform.

I would say prop pitch you will want to use on another analog control of some sort. I personally use a slider for this. For the same reasons above, you want as much sensitivity as possible, but its not as necessary.

And to respond to an earlier question: my 1, 2 ,3 suggestion for starting was only an example. I use my joystick for everything and almost never use my keybpoard, but to simplify things I still put them in a sequence that's easy to remember because there are a number of things you will end up doing on every sortie and only turn it on before take-off (like sight illumination, which makes your crosshair brighter and easier to see against certain backgrounds) and then you don't really need them again.

I don't think you should get too attached to your mappings. Once you get airborne you will feel differently about some and they will certainly change as needed.

[d.burnette]

Originally Posted by mxmadman

I would strongly suggest using your two rotaries for trim, specifically rudder and elevator. This is just preference in the end, but you will be using them the most often and you will want more fidelity. Tiny adjustments in trim are necessary almost constantly and are essential in setting up a good gun platform.

I would say prop pitch you will want to use on another analog control of some sort. I personally use a slider for this. For the same reasons above, you want as much sensitivity as possible, but its not as necessary.

Thanks, however I really only have the two rotaries available to me, and they are on my throttle. My stick, and my throttle as well, have several buttons available to me.
I guess in the early stages by not using CEM, probably not too big a deal as I understand those items will be handled auto for me - at some point though once I get truly comfortable , I am sure I will want to switch to using CEM.

Yeah I am sure once I get everything programmed into a file and loaded into my setup, there will be some things I will want to change. I am trying though to plan this out as good as I can to give me a good start with this.

Thanks for the other tips as well, much appreciated!

[mxmadman]

Will you be able to hold your joystick and make adjustments while also changing trim with the same hand? This is another benefit to the trim being on your throttle.

It's 100% your choice and the only correct answer is what makes you the most comfortable, but I suggest this because I did the exact same thing. I used hat switches for trim for about a half hour before I realized the rotaries are so much better. Mine, too, are on the throttle and were even made for trim, since they have notches at 50% so you can feel when you're not at level trim.

Either way will get you to the same result. Good luck and hope to see you on the ATAG server soon!