A-10II Saitek X-52 Pro Mapping

[jamante]

First off I want to say that DSC World absolutely rocks as a flight simulator and more specifically as a combat flight simulator. The flight model aerodynamics, aircraft systems modeling, and cockpit texture details are incredible. I feel as though I'm sitting in and flying the real thing.

 

Although I am not a military pilot, I have had considerable airborne time over the years. First as an aerospace med tech in UH-1N Hueys at Vandenberg AFB back in the mid '80s, I flew medical aerovac missions with the flight surgeons and various SAR training sorties over a 3 year span. In 1989, I voluntarily retrained out of Aerospace Medicine and into aircraft avionics and became an F-111 instrument and flight control systems specialist and moved from Vandenberg to Cannon AFB, New Mexico. As a "B-shop" F-111 flight control tech (and later after the USAF retired the F-111 and brought in the F-16s, as an F-16 avionics tech), I've had extensive training and experience in avionics and flight control systems.

 

While at Cannon, I began private pilot training at Clovis in a Cessna 172. I progressed through to solo several times, but never did get my private ticket.

 

On 2 occasions while in the AF I had the wonderful privilege to receive an "incentive flight" in both the F-111 (while deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey for Operation Provide Comfort) and in a block-42 F-16D while TDY at Nellis AFB for Red Flag in 2001. I had brief stick time in both aircraft - was even allowed to fly the entire traffic pattern in the Falcon at Nellis, right up to final approach. And let me tell you, you have not experienced acceleration until you've had a ride in the back seat of an F-16 on a takeoff roll.

 

(Unless of course, you're an actual pilot in the F-16 or similar military jet fighter. For me - the enlisted guy- it was quite the rush).

 

Just giving you my background.

 

My point is, I know what real flight feels like. I know how flight controls and avionics work. And back to my opening statement - DCS is awesome and to me feels like sitting in and flying an actual military aircraft. I love this sim. Used to think X-plane was the thing. It has recently taken a backseat to DCS.

 

I'm running the latest Steam version, open beta. So far I've purchased the P-51, P-47 (the Thunderbolt is awesome), the Mark IX Spitfire and the F-14 Tomcat. Haven't done too much in the Tomcat so far - I really love those warbirds! All aircraft have flown flawlessly after successful mapping flight controls and avionics to my trusty ol' Saitek X-52 Pro. I've had the X52 for 3 years now and have had it apart for various reasons more times than I care to count, but it still works great. Until yesterday.

 

I bought and downloaded the A-10CII on sale through Steam. I am unable to map controls to the X52. I'm also using a set of Thrustmaster rudder pedals and they work fine with the A-10. The strange thing though is that the X52 does work perfectly in the A-10 but only with the HOTAS Fundamentals training module. In other training modules or Instant Action missions, axis mapping will not cooperate.

 

Last night, I made the brilliant decision to "clear all" in Control Options for the A-10, thinking something default might be interfering with axis mapping and that I'd just map every switch and axis manually from scratch. This proved unwise. Now I have nothing working in any A-10 module except the pitch axis on the control stick. Can't even look around, as "clear all" wiped out TrackIR too. Duh... I cannot even press Esc to get to the control options screen and have to exit the sim via alt-tab and then right-clicking close window for DCS in the task bar. My OS is Windows 10.

 

All other aircraft still work fine (big sigh of relief...)

 

This morning I removed the A-10 folders from H:\\Steamlibrary\steamapps\common\DCSWorld\Mods\aircraft. Then I logged into my Steam library and re-installed the A-10 mod hoping to at least get the Control Options function back and resume attempts to map the X52. No luck. My A-10 controls are still dead (except pitch stick axis) and I cannot even press Esc to bring up Control Options.

 

I'm relatively new to DCS and I'm hoping one of you experts can provide some insight.

 

Thank you for any help.

 

 

 

 

 

[afof]

I'm guessing your first problem is mixing game control/avionics mode.

 

First, make sure you have game mode unchecked. 

to do that,

go into options from the main menu,

choose gameplay tab,

uncheck the two first boxes.

 

 

next, you need to bind the control for the A-10CII real 

to do that,

go into options from the main menu,

choose controls tab,

on the top left find and choose A-10CII real

as for deleting all the keybinds, 

under the above controls click on one of the keys under keyboard categoty and click reset category to default 

 

laslty, DCS does badly for auto mapping, you need to manually bind every button and axis

 

 

hope it helps.

Edited April 24, 2021 by afof

[jamante]

Thanks much afof !

 

Great advice. I hadn't thought to go to the main menu and configure controls there. That got me to where I could load the profile for the A-10 I'd previously created and saved.

 

Game and Avionics Flight modes were unchecked and it was also set to "A-10C Real". So those were good. I tried reset category to default, but still no worky. Plus now I have no TrackIR from my previous "clear all" blunder.

 

But once again, if I load the HOTAS Fundamentals training mod, all axis are mapped and working correctly and I have full aircraft control. Except now no TrackIR. Gotta figure that one now too. In all other A-10 mods (Instant action, etc) all axis except pitch stick are inop.

 

I'm going to reinstall the old A-10C from Steam and see if I can map my controller correctly with it.

 

I hope I can get this straightened out because the A-10CII looks like an awesome aircraft. I certainly can't be limited to only being able to fly it from the HOTAS Fundamentals scenario. Hope I won't have to request a refund from Steam.

 

Thanks again, really appreciate your help. Let me know if you think of anything else.

[afof]

just to verify, the A-10C and A-10CII are two compeletly seprate modules and need binding for each seprately. 

the picture shows A-10C which a mistake on my end.

 

i believe you need the A-10C installed for the A-10CII to work.

not sure how how and when you purchased it but it might the issue.

 

and very long strech and you probably know this, but just to make sure, if the aircraft is cold hydraulics dont work so only pitch will move the stick incockpit. 

when binding the axis mapping you can see the little white line moving with input and also on the axis tune screen.

 

a10 is sure an amazing module. hope you figure it out.

 

 

[jamante]

No,  I confess... I haven't read the A-10 manual (yet) and did not realize that without hydraulics you will only get pitch stick movement. The first aircraft I've seen where you can't physically displace the stick when cold and dark. But that is very good to know and may account for some things. Now wondering though - wouldn't you at least be able to slide a mapped throttle fore and aft without power? Wait... just occurred to me - there's probably a throttle lock I'm not aware of, right?

 

Yup - that's why all nubes are usually soundly chastised for not RTFM before posting tech problems often caused by ignorance.

 

Hah! Just found that the controls are working in the other training mod scenarios with the aircraft powered. Free flight controls right now in the A-10C are working like a champ.

 

But I still have no track IR. Works fine in all other DCS aircraft though (and worked fine in the A-10 before I "cleared all" in the control options) so should be something I can iron out.

 

Okay - kicking myself in the ass now for my haste and assumptions and not reading the manual (at least some) first. Apologies for wasting your time. Thanks again for schooling me and pointing me in the right direction!

 

Gotta get back to an A-10 free flight currently in progress.

 

Happy flying to you afof! Thank you!!