[cush]

Hello all-my first post on this Forum. I am a dedicated X-Plane flyer of long standing and those of you who are also on the X-Plane.org board may recognize me.

I have recently started learning F-18 OIF and have one question so far. I am working my way methodically through the printed manual and have downloaded the latest patch (1.04) but not yet installed it. My question is this: How do you "train" the joystick buttons? I know I read somewhere that there is a procedure to do this but I can't seem to relocate the reference. Do you hold down the appropriate stick button and then execute the keyboard command you want to map to the stick button?

My second question is: I bought Enemy Engaged not long ago but found it impossible to fly due to the inability to use both my rudder pedals and my stick at the same time. I notice some on this Forum like the game. Any hints as to how to fly the helios with only keyboard control of the tail rotor? Twist stick? I have some limited ability to fly rotary wing in X-Plane so I understand the collective thing. I know the same limitation exists on F-18 OIF but I figure I can get by with the keyboard rudder commands, especially since the nosewheel steering responds to the stick.

[cush]

cush, on November 1st 2007, 02:42 PM, said:

Hello all-my first post on this Forum. I am a dedicated X-Plane flyer of long standing and those of you who are also on the X-Plane.org board may recognize me.

I have recently started learning F-18 OIF and have one question so far. I am working my way methodically through the printed manual and have downloaded the latest patch (1.04) but not yet installed it. My question is this: How do you "train" the joystick buttons? I know I read somewhere that there is a procedure to do this but I can't seem to relocate the reference. Do you hold down the appropriate stick button and then execute the keyboard command you want to map to the stick button?

My second question is: I bought Enemy Engaged not long ago but found it impossible to fly due to the inability to use both my rudder pedals and my stick at the same time. I notice some on this Forum like the game. Any hints as to how to fly the helios with only keyboard control of the tail rotor? Twist stick? I have some limited ability to fly rotary wing in X-Plane so I understand the collective thing. I know the same limitation exists on F-18 OIF but I figure I can get by with the keyboard rudder commands, especially since the nosewheel steering responds to the stick.

Well, so much for this Forum. Not even the courtesy of a "Welcome, but I don't know the answers"

Bye.

[Bernie]

cush, on November 3rd 2007, 11:01 AM, said:

Well, so much for this Forum. Not even the courtesy of a "Welcome, but I don't know the answers"

Bye.

I read the forum posts once per week or two (or three). So, you didn't give me a chance to welcome you. And I do welcome you. (And, sorry, I don't have answers to your questions.) Please have a little more patience. I'm not saying that you'll get answers; I'm just saying that some people are like me and don't have the time to read posts that frequently. Some people only read posts on the weekends and we're still in the middle of a weekend.

[charmin]

cush, on November 1st 2007, 09:42 PM, said:

I bought Enemy Engaged not long ago but found it impossible to fly due to the inability to use both my rudder pedals and my stick at the same time.

Ask Feral Support if they can help with that.

[the Battle Cat]

cush, on November 3rd 2007, 08:01 AM, said:

Well, so much for this Forum. Not even the courtesy of a "Welcome, but I don't know the answers"

Bye.

IMG Forums welcomes Montgomery Field Airport. Sorry, I don't know the answers. There are a few avid flight sim gamers here, but they didn't see your post yet and weekends are a bit slow, so hang tough and give it a couple more days. Feel free to bump your thread too, not a problem.

[cush]

the Battle Cat, on November 4th 2007, 07:16 AM, said:

IMG Forums welcomes Montgomery Field Airport. Sorry, I don't know the answers. There are a few avid flight sim gamers here, but they didn't see your post yet and weekends are a bit slow, so hang tough and give it a couple more days. Feel free to bump your thread too, not a problem.

Thanks, guys. Sorry to be a bit testy-I'm spoiled by the X-Plane.org Forums that are VERY active. I had an email in to Feral Support for a week when I posted here; they finally answered and confirmed that it's one input device only at a time. I've put Enemy Engaged aside for now but I think a Saitek Aviator stick might be the answer. Twist control for the tail rotor. It's advertised as being a Windows only device but it works on Macs with just a little loss in functionality.

I'm now trying to learn F-18 Operation Iraqi Freedom. The only thing so far I'm having real trouble with is trying to fly at on-speed AOA during landing approaches.

[the Battle Cat]

PM Frost, give him a link to this thread. I think he is a fan of F-18 Operation Iraqi Freedom.

[Huntn]

cush, on November 1st 2007, 03:42 PM, said:

Hello all-my first post on this Forum. I am a dedicated X-Plane flyer of long standing and those of you who are also on the X-Plane.org board may recognize me.

I have recently started learning F-18 OIF and have one question so far. I am working my way methodically through the printed manual and have downloaded the latest patch (1.04) but not yet installed it. My question is this: How do you "train" the joystick buttons? I know I read somewhere that there is a procedure to do this but I can't seem to relocate the reference. Do you hold down the appropriate stick button and then execute the keyboard command you want to map to the stick button?

My second question is: I bought Enemy Engaged not long ago but found it impossible to fly due to the inability to use both my rudder pedals and my stick at the same time. I notice some on this Forum like the game. Any hints as to how to fly the helios with only keyboard control of the tail rotor? Twist stick? I have some limited ability to fly rotary wing in X-Plane so I understand the collective thing. I know the same limitation exists on F-18 OIF but I figure I can get by with the keyboard rudder commands, especially since the nosewheel steering responds to the stick.

Welcome on board!
Frost and I are pretty knowledgeable in general on flight sims. But I've not played either of these games so I have no advice to give. Does the manual not have any directions on programing your joystick? BTW what kind of hardware including stick do you have?

[cush]

Huntn, on November 5th 2007, 09:07 AM, said:

Welcome on board!
Frost and I are pretty knowledgeable in general on flight sims. But I've not played either of these games so I have no advice to give. Does the manual not have any directions on programing your joystick? BTW what kind of hardware including stick do you have?

Hello and thanks for the replies. I have found a keyboard command in FA-18 OIF to "train" (map) the stick buttons. "Control t" does the job. Not addressed in the manual but I found it in a Read Me that comes with the latest update. I'm using all CH equipment- stick or yoke and pedals. iMac 1.8 GHz PPC running OS 10.4.10

My current task in FA-18 is to figure out how to fly an on-speed AOA approach. I struggled with this until I figured out that airfield landing training mission seems to be broken in this regard- the carrier landing training mission seems to work as advertised.

I can't understand why a game developer would limit a flight game to only one input device (plus keyboard) at a time. My hardware setup is listed below my signature.

Cheers,

[Quicksilver]

The problem is that F/A-18 Hornet OIF is basically a Mac OS X-compatible version F/A-18 Hornet 4.0, which hasn't undergone any significant changes unrelated to graphics since F/A-18 Hornet 2.0. While I might be exaggerating a bit (out of ignorance and/or bad memory), you're essentially playing a 1997-circa game, which might explain the serious lack of support for hardware. I used to play it using my old ADB Gravis Firebird, which had everything but rudder controls right there.

[cush]

Quicksilver, on November 6th 2007, 01:07 PM, said:

The problem is that F/A-18 Hornet OIF is basically a Mac OS X-compatible version F/A-18 Hornet 4.0, which hasn't undergone any significant changes unrelated to graphics since F/A-18 Hornet 2.0. While I might be exaggerating a bit (out of ignorance and/or bad memory), you're essentially playing a 1997-circa game, which might explain the serious lack of support for hardware. I used to play it using my old ADB Gravis Firebird, which had everything but rudder controls right there.

Thanks for the info, Quicksilver. Oh for a real made-fo-Mac combat flight sim. X-Plane does it for me for general flying, but I would settle for an OS X update of A-10 Attack! Not enough user base, I guess, so it won't happen.

[the Battle Cat]

Quicksilver, on November 6th 2007, 01:07 PM, said:

I used to play it using my old ADB Gravis Firebird, which had everything but rudder controls right there.

I still have an ADB Gravis Firebird, in good as new condition I might add. Barely used, still in the original box.

[QuantaCat]

trying to make a selling point here, cat?

[the Battle Cat]

QuantaCat, on November 7th 2007, 12:41 AM, said:

trying to make a selling point here, cat?

No, not at all. I was only being chatty. It just came up in the conversation is all, you know, about my almost brand new, excellent condition ADB Gravis Firebird in the original box... BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! Included in this gorgeous package of gamer delight is the pristine Quick Start Manual and Driver Floppy in it's original envelope complete with authentic Gravis User License Agreement. And if you call within the next 15 minutes I'll throw in a backup floppy of the driver free of charge! Operators are standing by. Act NOW!

[blzbub14]

Hi all,
I was under the impression that there was a beta update for Enemy engaged that allowed multiple USB inputs.

Beta thread

[Huntn]

cush, on November 5th 2007, 08:57 PM, said:

My current task in FA-18 is to figure out how to fly an on-speed AOA approach. I struggled with this until I figured out that airfield landing training mission seems to be broken in this regard- the carrier landing training mission seems to work as advertised.

Not that you were asking for someone to talk you though it, as if you can do it at the carrier you certainly should be able to do it at the airfield. Am I correct? I use forward/back stick to correct on the glideslope and power input to control speed.

AOA background for those who would like to know... If your flying a glide slope, AOA (angle of attack) is basically controlled by power while maintaining the glideslope and represents speed of the aircraft. When the AOA is in the middle, 3 vertical lights,you are at L/D Max, getting the most lift as compared to drag, and the most efficient. In level flight the slower you fly, the higher the nose must be held which generates more lift on the wing because angle between the wing and the direction of flight increases. It also requires more power to be added to make up for the increase in drag.

[cush]

Huntn, on November 8th 2007, 05:01 AM, said:

Not that you were asking for someone to talk you though it, as if you can do it at the carrier you certainly should be able to do it at the airfield. Am I correct? I use forward/back stick to correct on the glideslope and power input to control speed.

AOA background for those who would like to know... If your flying a glide slope, AOA (angle of attack) is basically controlled by power while maintaining the glideslope and represents speed of the aircraft. When the AOA is in the middle, 3 vertical lights,you are at L/D Max, getting the most lift as compared to drag, and the most efficient. In level flight the slower you fly, the higher the nose must be held which generates more lift on the wing because angle between the wing and the direction of flight increases. It also requires more power to be added to make up for the increase in drag.

No, I don't really need a "talk through", but thanks for the reply. I can land at the airfield using the Landing Training Mission but I can't get the AOA 3 light display to work. The AOA "E" bracket on the HUD works but the lights just don't seem to function. Both work as advertised when I am flying the Carrier Landing Training Mission. Go figure! In the speed region used to land, 150 kts or below, pitch (stick forward and back) controls speed and throttle (power input) controls rate of descent. Lateral control (line up on runway/deck center line) is controlled by stick right and left (roll). I've been able to get aboard the boat and trap on most attempts. Practice, practice, practice...

[Huntn]

cush, on November 9th 2007, 11:10 PM, said:

In the speed region used to land, 150 kts or below, pitch (stick forward and back) controls speed and throttle (power input) controls rate of descent. Lateral control (line up on runway/deck center line) is controlled by stick right and left (roll). I've been able to get aboard the boat and trap on most attempts. Practice, practice, practice...

This is an opinion and not trying to start a fight, but what you described can work but does not work as well as using pitch to control rate of decent more directly and more precisely.
Rate of Descent controlled with stick forward and back (pitch).
Throttle controls speed.

Lets say you your level, stable, power set. If you lower your nose two degrees the aircraft will pick up a rate of descent and start to accelerate. Pull the throttle a little to keep speed constant. Raise the nose two degrees from level and the aircraft will climb and start to slow. Add power to keep speed constant. Give it a try. If your trying to fly specific rates of descent, I like this way better.

[cush]

Huntn, on November 10th 2007, 06:46 PM, said:

This is an opinion and not trying to start a fight, but what you described can work but does not work as well as using pitch to control rate of decent more directly and more precisely.
Rate of Descent controlled with stick forward and back (pitch).
Throttle controls speed.

Lets say you your level, stable, power set. If you lower your nose two degrees the aircraft will pick up a rate of descent and start to accelerate. Pull the throttle a little to keep speed constant. Raise the nose two degrees from level and the aircraft will climb and start to slow. Add power to keep speed constant. Give it a try. If your trying to fly specific rates of descent, I like this way better.

The procedure I described above is recommended by the FA-18 OIF manual for approach speeds. Something called "flying in the region of reverse command". Don't know how accurately the sim/game flight model reflects actual real life flying characteristics of the Hornet. Your procedure works for me too, and is somewhat easier, especially if you use the speed brake (Space bar) to reduce the speed picked up by dropping the nose. Mapping the throttle to a small hat switch on my stick has also given me a lot finer power adjustments than using the throttle wheel on the base. I am able to trap successfully most times now. Now to learn weapons systems!

[Huntn]

Glad I could help. The key to flying precise rates of descent for maintaining a flight path (glide path) is to pick a pitch, don't let it wander and see what rate of descent you get. Calibrate your eyeball so that you can make 1 degree pitch changes and see what that does for the rate of descent. If your pitch is allowed to wander up and down, then it will be sloppy and harder to fly.