Returntosender

For some of us, the use of controllers represents a better, more 'immersive' experience into operating the switches, knobs and buttons of the jet as compared to using a mouse or joystick keybinds. Personally, I like the way it approximates taking your hand off of the hotas and moving it over to the switch in the cockpit. The challenge of having to do that, invoking that pseudo-authentic feel, is precisely why I like it.

Now that they are experimenting with allowing the rift controllers to manipulate both the stick and throttle in the TF-51D simultaneously (and maybe all the older warbirds?), I still hope they will allow two buttons or switches to be held at the same time, which is needed for both the TF-51D and hornet start-up sequences. To my surprise, I was able to land (poorly) completely HOTAS-free, just using the controllers and my pedals, with no other peripherals (mouse, keyboard, etc). It's a cool novelty, but ultimately, I don't think the controllers will be able to replace a true HOTAS. I personally find using the controllers to be more immersive than using the mouse for non-HOTAS functionas, but in the end, I suspect we will need a glove-type solution that you can wear comfortably without imparing HOTAS use.

Since the latest updates, I find it has become more difficult to flip and hold some of the smaller switches with the touch laser pointer (i.e. the fire test a/b, CRS, or canopy in the hornet). It's just hard to keep the laser steady and then the switch will flip off. The ability to flip switches and push buttons by moving the finger on the hand model into them is kinda cool, but it's still a little glitchy and there's no right-click equivalent that I could find. What I wish for most, though, is to be able to use the left and right hands to simultaneously press two buttons or switches at once, which is needed during start-up (FCS bit test). Still, using the touch controllers is my favorite way to interact with the cockpit, so I can only hope they further refine it!

Well, it seems like almost everything in the T-51D except for 3 levers (flaps and the 2 carburetor intakes) can be used by the touch controller. However, I learned something else when going through the cold start procedure. Only one touch controller can be active at a time. So, you can hold the starter switch with one controller, but if you try to move the mixture control from idle to run with the other controller, you are no longer holding the starter. I guess I will just have to live with some functions being mapped to joystick/throttle buttons at this point. A shame, I really enjoy the feel of using the controllers to interact with the cockpit.

Oculus Touch and certain clickable cockpit actions So I'm totally new to DCS, but I saw a video of someone using the oculus touch controllers to interact with the cockpit and knew I had to try it. I love it! However, some switches or levers do not seem to want to move (either with the trigger or thumbstick) and I cannot seem to figure it out. For example the flaps in the T-51D, I can't get 'em to budge. I tried it in non-VR and the mouse moves it just fine. What gives? What am I doing wrong?