Some beginner questions

[oskob]

Hi!

 

I recently got Warthog A10C and I'm loving it! But I have some problems that I cant find on the forums or in the manual.

Maybe I'm just not searching for the right thing, I'm kind of new to the whole super realistic simulator thing, so if these are common mistakes, please direct me to the right place :) (In other words: Yes. I have tried Google. I swear!)

 

Nosewheel steering:

I'm currently on keyboard only (will probably get a TrackIR 5 and a decent stick soon though) and I cant get the nosewheel steering to work!

 

While I'm on ground, i press the Nose wheel steer-key (Insert, but In my case the N-key, since my keyboard didn't have an Insert button).

The green light in my front display lights up, but I can't steer! I have to use the right/left engine throttle to adjust direction which is kind of hard. Do I steer with the joystick/arrow keys or are there other keys for this?

 

Firein' missiles, droppin' bombs:

When I go through the combat training I can't release missiles or bombs. The space bar shoots the gun, and I found that "Weapon release" was RAlt + space, but if I push those two the arrow keys stop working while I keep them down and no bombs are released, nothing happens.

 

Auto pilot:

When you're in training the tutorial engages autopilor from time to time, but if you are pulling the stick at the same time it is disengaged. If I try to engage it again, nothing happens. Sometimes at random I can get it to say a pling sound and then it works, but that is not very often.

 

 

Thanks in advance!

[GGTharos]

For nosewheel steering, you steer with the rudder. (x,z?)

 

For the missiles, hold down the weapon release key until the weapons come off the rails. Don't touch any other keys meantime.

 

Please read the manual for Autopilot engagement limitations.

[EtherealN]

Nosewheel steering:

I'm currently on keyboard only (will probably get a TrackIR 5 and a decent stick soon though) and I cant get the nosewheel steering to work!

 

While I'm on ground, i press the Nose wheel steer-key (Insert, but In my case the N-key, since my keyboard didn't have an Insert button).

The green light in my front display lights up, but I can't steer! I have to use the right/left engine throttle to adjust direction which is kind of hard. Do I steer with the joystick/arrow keys or are there other keys for this?

 

Pedals. I don't recall the default keys for this.

Stick actuates elevator and ailerons, not rudders and nosewheel.

 

Firein' missiles, droppin' bombs:

When I go through the combat training I can't release missiles or bombs. The space bar shoots the gun, and I found that "Weapon release" was RAlt + space, but if I push those two the arrow keys stop working while I keep them down and no bombs are released, nothing happens.

 

Note that if you press three keys while the system expects two, and there is no bind for those three keys, then of course nothing will happen.

Remember, flight controls on arrow keys are specifically the arrow keys - not rAlt-Space-Left. Think of it like this - you can't turn a steering wheel on an automobile both left and right at the same time.

 

Note also that many weapons require that you press and hold the weapon release button. Just pressing it is not enough for some weapons. (For example, with JDAM's depressing the weapon release button will cause the onboard computers to download information into the weapon, which the weapon will later use for guidance. If you release the button this halts and the weapon never got it's information. This can also cause the weapon to become unusable, since the chemical battery will have been fired.)

 

Auto pilot:

When you're in training the tutorial engages autopilor from time to time, but if you are pulling the stick at the same time it is disengaged. If I try to engage it again, nothing happens. Sometimes at random I can get it to say a pling sound and then it works, but that is not very often.

 

You want to not have excessive inputs while initiating the autopilot.

Edited January 11, 2012 by EtherealN

[Lane]

I confirm for pedals (rudders, or nosewheel steering), keys are X, Z, or X, Y keys ( depending the keyboard layout, Azerty, Qwertz,Qwerty) ). in case you have a doubt, Option > controls, choose A10 real or sim > Flight control.

Edited January 11, 2012 by Lane

[foxfour]

for autopilot there are 3 different modes. The default one (flying level and on the same heading) requres that your are flying level for a second before you engage the autopilot. If you are diving/climbing and then put your nose icon at the level mark and hit autopilot its not going to work. You need to be relatively level and then hit the autopilot and hear the tone.

 

The other modes of allow you to fly in a circle (making a level turn while engaging autopilot).

I never use the other mode but i think it does a heading and angle autopilot.. so you could climb and head in one direction hands free.

 

Also you switch between these by hiting 2-4 on the keyboard. or look for the switch behind the throttle.

Edited January 11, 2012 by foxfour

[Tailgate]

Also make sure you are trimmed properly on Autopilot. Speed deviations will require re-trimming. I don't know how that works on Keyboard only though.

[hopeless]

Hi oskob, I hope you don't mind me asking a question myself.

 

When starting from the ramp, should I wait until the EAC has completely aligned before I move the aircraft and start to taxi to runway?

 

Thanks

[GGTharos]

You mean the EGI. Yes. Once EGI is completely aligned then you can arm the EAC ... so wait for it.

[hopeless]

oops sorry I meant the EAC to arm. I noticed it takes awhile for the EAC light on the panel to switch off.

[oskob]

Hi!

 

the x and z keys worked perfectly for nosewheel steering! I think i tried every key and combination of keys except those ones x(

 

Note that if you press three keys while the system expects two, and there is no bind for those three keys, then of course nothing will happen.

Remember, flight controls on arrow keys are specifically the arrow keys - not rAlt-Space-Left. Think of it like this - you can't turn a steering wheel on an automobile both left and right at the same time.

 

Maybe it's my shitty flying, but don't you have to be able control the craft while having the release button depressed? Maybe if I reconfigure the release-key to something that does not include a modifier key it will work better. Thanks

 

 

As for the autopilot, worked much better if I let the airplane stabilize before hitting the key! Thanks!

 

Now I think I have most things under control. Thank you so much for help! Truly an amazing game!

[EtherealN]

Maybe it's my shitty flying, but don't you have to be able control the craft while having the release button depressed? Maybe if I reconfigure the release-key to something that does not include a modifier key it will work better. Thanks

 

Yes and no.

Yes, being able to control the aircraft while releasing a weapon is always a nice thing, but during weapon delivery you shouldn't be maneuvering excessively anyhow - you should be stable in order to effect a high-precision weapon delivery, and once the weapon is released break off. There is of course finer points and cases where maneuvering while holding release is definitely valuable - most specifically CCRP deliveries.

 

But the thing here is that this isn't caused by a counscious decision to make it impossible for the user just to mess with them - this is how computers work. ;) The only way to avoid this would be to hard-code the controls and make it impossible for the user to change key bindings.

 

The general solution to this problem is to not use a keyboard, which is generally suggested anyhow since a keyboard won't get anywhere near the precision flying a stick gives you. There are cheap sticks out there, no need to shell out for the most expensive HOTAS configurations (that'll happen automatically later on when you get properly stuck in this hobby anyhow :D ). Re-binding to make sure not to have a modifier should probably help though, yeah.

[snak]

if you have a TH warthog hotas

 

i would be happy to help you out online oh and TS3

[EtherealN]

snak, if he had the HOGTAS, why would he write that he's on keyboard-only? ;)