Totally confused!!!!

[BlueMax4195]

Well, I FINALLY managed to get this game to recognize my joystick inputs!

So, I tried a "first solo" flight. I could taxi without much problem at all. However - when it came to taking off - that was another matter ENTIRELY!!! Even during a take off in the training section!!

I could NOT get the aircraft to leave the ground using the joystick commands! It just simply ran down the runway, then off the runway, and then through the trees (like they weren't even there) and only stopped when the aircraft nosed into the ground. Even then, the engine kept running as if there was nothing wrong! The ONLY way I could get the game to stop was to hit the "Esc." button.

So I tried going into the realism settings and setting this thing up on "EASY" thinking that my flight skills weren't quite sharp enough just yet. By doing this, it "again" changed my HAT settings on the joystick, and made them basically unusable - except through the number pad on the keyboard?! WTH?! As for the flight itself - SAME THING?! I could just barley get the aircraft airborne, with a nose high attitude with the aircraft just barely off the runway! Even holding the joystick ALL the way back it just seemed to stay in that attitude and never gain any more altitude! And that was pretty much it.

So I tried a quick mission - where I start already in flight. I could NOT get the aircraft to fly straight and level - PERIOD - even with the realism set to "EASY"!

I've noticed 3 slider bars to the bottom left of the axis window in the controls settings for the joystick and wonder if this could have anything to do with my issues? I played with them a bit, thinking this might help, but so far, I cannot see where it has helped in the least!

Can ANYONE offer any suggestions or help - PLEASE?!