A-10A Training: How to start the engines and taxi to runway for take off.

[Toasting Aces]

Well, here's where I'm at right now. It's been a while for me since I've come back to this site. I had to obtain a joystick for my notebook computer. I am using the Thrustmaster T.16,000M Well, let me correct that last statement: I'm trying to figure out how to use it with this program.

 

Now, a few months ago, I wrote in about trying to get the training for this program. At that time, I was concerned about finding a way to get the training into my computer. Well, I did manage to get one or two training videos into my computer. But, the videos are still beyond what I am ready to understand.

 

I was also told that I can find all the training videos on YouTube. Well, today I visited the YouTube sight for LOFC2. And, wholly cow, there's so many videos that I'm kind of realizing this thing is gonna be like taking a course at college again. But where do I start?

 

The program seemed to start me off with the A-10A Warthog. <Oh boy, I wanna be flying!> However, before I can be doing that or learning about flying this awesome machine, don't ya think I need to learn how to start the engines and taxi off to the runway?

 

With all the stuff at the forums, I don't even know where to go to learn the basics. With all the videos at YouTube, I wonder how come they're not listed by jet type? And, I wonder why there isn't just a sequence of videos to watch and learn what to do? You know something like: Video One: How to understand your cockpit controls. Video Two: How to start the jet engines. Video Three: How to move the jet to the runway (taxiing I think its called). Etc.

 

So my flying friends: How do I do this? I wanna be flying! I wanna fly! I wanna fly! ..... There's work to do! Enemies to shoot down. Justice to be served. Democracy must survive!

[Namenlos Ein]

Maybe some training videos from lockon.co.uk can help to save the democracy?

 

http://lockon.co.uk/index.php?scr=products&end_pos=135

[Toasting Aces]

Just an update on my information to date.

 

On 07-29-10, 11:01 PM, KnightHawk sent me to the following site:

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2142529/All%20of%20the%20LOMAC%20FC%20Training%20M.html

#Post2142529

Well, it seems he gave me a slightly different string of characters, but the above is what currently shows in my address bar of my internet explorer. Gee, I sure wish I knew how to understand all that "gobbledegook" in the address line.

 

Anyway, I just want those to know about this who are viewing this thread.

 

I don't know if that is going to help, but when I have more time to explore this further, I let all of you know about my progress.

 

I don't know how to view the prior post which I'm talking about from KnightHawk, but I saved a hard copy of my notes from 07-29-10, 11:01 PM. I've got to make time to review my notes too. Anyway, I hope this helps some of you who are following this thread.

 

 

 

[Toasting Aces]

Namenlos Ein

 

Thank goodness Russia is no longer an enemy. I've known about this site, and I am in the process of downloading it right now. But I do believe I've been there before, I just don't recall. I hope it's got instructions on doing the tasks I stated in my earlier posts. Have a nice day.

[nomdeplume]

The videos are arranged in sequence; the first set start you in the air and cover basics of flight. Then each aircraft has its set of videos going through takeoff, navigation specific to that aircraft, and weapons employment.

 

The English version of video 2 seems to be missing though. But the aircraft-specific ones are more useful, anyway.

 

To get started, you'll want to go to Options / Controls to let the game know how you want to control your jet.

 

Remember that each aircraft has its own controls configuration, so if you're starting with the A-10A, make sure you configure the controls for that plane or your changes won't have any effect when you go to fly it.

 

Start with Axis assignment, as these are the main ones. Each column lists a controller, based on what was detected in your machine. Since that stick doesn't seem to have a throttle, you'll have to skip configuring that in the axis commands bit, but you can do pitch/roll and possibly yaw if it's a twist-stick.

 

Terminology: "axis commands" basically just means anything which has a continuous series of different inputs, rather than a simple buttonpress (on or off). So, the X axis on your joystick is when you move it side-to-side; the further you move it, the larger the effect will be. The other commands are for things like button presses, where you're either pressing the button or not, with no range of values in between.

 

Once you've got your axis commands set, go through each of the categories as you need them. I'd suggest just doing 'Flight Controls' to start with. You'll particularly need to make sure there's keypresses assigned to the throttle so you can apply thrust, or you'll have a hard time doing anything. You can do everything at once, but there's quite a few commands and most won't make sense until you've learned about that system.

 

For your first flight, all you really need is thrust, steering (pitch/roll/yaw), wheel brakes (so you can stop, if you manage to land), and the ability to retract your landing gear (if you manage to take off). So make sure you know what keypresses or buttons you've assigned to control them. Flaps are nice too, but not essential.

 

Some commands have a few variants. For example, you can assign a keypress/button to "raise landing gear" and a different one to "lower landing gear", or you can just use "toggle landing gear". The benefit of the individual assignments is that you know by pressing it exactly what will happen regardless of the current state. It's particularly useful for pit-builders. However, it takes up an extra command, so if you're assigning them to joystick buttons for example, you probably don't have anywhere near enough buttons for all the commands you'd like.

 

Finally in regards to your original question, the engine start process in FC2 is very simple, it's two keypresses: start left engine, start right engine. You can find them in the controller screen as well. I think it's RightAlt+Home to start the left engine, and RightCtrl+Home to start the right engine.

[Toasting Aces]

Nomdeplume: You are the greatest. I can always count on you for good commentary. Thank you for being a good instructor. I haven't had more time to study what you just wrote, but on the surface it looks really good. I just scanned it a moment ago, once I figured out how to get back to this thread. If you look, I just reported on something I did tonight/today with Lesson 1. I'll be getting back time permitting soon. Please look for my other post from today. Gotta go now. :)

[ApacheDoctor]

Also, if your confused about the start sequence and aircraft prep, theres a great tutorial under the "TRAINING" section of the Main Menu. If you also look at the forums theres an e manual that you can download that is helping me learn volumes on an aircraft Ill never fly in real life but as an enthusiast I ll be able to learn more than I could ever hope to. Im sure that if you spend some time reading you can find lots of information that will assist you in learning the aircraft.

[asparagin]

Thank goodness Russia is no longer an enemy.

 

Amen! And let me just draw a metaphor, where DCS: A-10C is the Apple on a tree called "Cold War".

 

Enjoy the fruits :P

[Toasting Aces]

nomdeplume:

Re: Post 5 this thread. I just read through you post carefully. I have to explore a bit before I can actually see what you are talking about. However, the TrustMaster T.16000M does seem to have a thrust switch. It's located at the front bottom of the control stick. And it seems to operate by moving the selector up or down its path which is about a vertical inch (if that makes any sense to you).

 

To the other responders: thank you. I will report back soon on some of the other comments.

[Toasting Aces]

To: ApacheDoctor

 

I have looked at the Training section, and I do not see anything related to what you say: "if your confused about the start sequence and aircraft prep, theres a great tutorial under the "TRAINING" section of the Main Menu."

 

There's only 3 sections with various training titles: Flight School; A-10A Thunderbolt II Study; and Su-25 Frogfoot Study. None of the sub titlles in either of these sections matches what you've indicated as: "the start sequence and aircraft prep".