Squirt185

Same here, but in the SU25. Only difference is I didn't get as far as landing and hearing the ATC wakeup suddenly - I was trying a zero vis ILS approach. Didn't work out so well :)

(I'm not sure if we are allowed to post things like this so sorry if not, but I imagine anything which gets more DCS:BS players is a good idea!) Given BS is only £10.95 on D2D at the moment there is no excuse: http://www.direct2drive.co.uk/2/7990/product/Buy-DCS:-Black-Shark-Download

Without question. One thing I've noticed is that I feel I've built up a relationship of sorts with the KA50, given how much study time and practice has gone into even the basics like getting the thing up and running, and the level of familiarity you gain with every panel and switch. It sounds strange, but when I look at shots of the real aircraft it feels a lot like I've sat in one before..!

A while ago I injured my shoulder to the point where I couldn't raise it enough to hold my saitek. I wasn't going to let this stop me getting sim time in, so turned to an XBOX 360 pad, given I could rest it on my legs without moving the shoulder at all. It worked a treat for FSX and a few others - I'm not sure I could fly blackshark with it though, the small movement range of the sticks doesn't lead to precision at all. Anyway, one thing that worked a lot better for me - setting the 'bumper buttons' as the yaw axis. I am assuming by bumper buttons you are referring to the analogue buttons (LT/RT). It's a lot easier to hold a slight rudder offset for say cross wind landings than trying to hold the small joystick in a precise position! One other thing I've done with the 360 pad is to use it with my Saitek aviator for handling optics and weapons deployment (obviously this works better in DSC:BS as you're normally in a hover by this point).