Flying Controls

[DwayneDibbley]

Are the best pilots out there using joysticks are are they using M+K?

Want to start working in trans but I need to learn how to fly first and was wondering if I needed a joystick

[nAyo]

I believe it only depends on what you have been used to, and what you started with. I fly with mouse and keyboard jets and choppers, and I suck with a joystick. But I know good pilots who fly jets with a joystick, even choppers but it's rare.

For choppers the most common thing is mouse and keyboard, I believe it is the easiest to be honest
For jets you can use either one, as long as you get used to it and practice enough

[Rhino]

If your flying jets you definitely will want to get a stick, no question. You can fly them with mouse and k/b but no where near a good or fun to fly with as your going to struggle to keep up with the speeds of the jets and the fine adjustments they need with a mouse and k/b.

For choppers its debatable, some players prefer mouse and k/b over sticks. I personally fly choppers with a stick and throttle and find its much easier to control, especially for things like hovering and tight, long turns etc but its really either or.

[Tim270]

If your flying jets you definitely will want to get a stick, no question. You can fly them with mouse and k/b but no where near a good or fun to fly with as your going to struggle to keep up with the speeds of the jets and the fine adjustments they need with a mouse and k/b.

For choppers its debatable, some players prefer mouse and k/b over sticks. I personally fly choppers with a stick and throttle and find its much easier to control, especially for things like hovering and tight, long turns etc but its really either or.

Thats really subjective Rhino... Adjustable sensitivity goes a hell of a long way.

I have my stick hooked up by choose m&k any day of the week, gives me more precision for jets and is dramatically easier to make fine maneuvers in choppers.

[Rhino]

Well guess its more personal presences but I can't stand flying with mouse and k/b to the point I won't fly without my stick

[Nugiman]

Years ago I bought a joystick only for Project Reality. I don't regret that decision.
I use it for both jets and helicopters and I think you have a better feeling flying them with it.
The throttle on your joystick makes it much easier to land and hover!
But you will need to have several training hours to get flying with a joystick.

[nAyo]

If your flying jets you definitely will want to get a stick, no question. You can fly them with mouse and k/b but no where near a good or fun to fly with as your going to struggle to keep up with the speeds of the jets and the fine adjustments they need with a mouse and k/b.

Hm it's entirely wrong, with enough sensitivity on the mouse I can tell you there is absolutely no disadvantage whatsoever during a dogfight.

Anyway, you'll get any kind of answers regarding what to fly with, but as I said in my first post, it's all about being used to it

[MrTomRobs]

I'm the same as Rhino, I've only ever flown with a stick and I find trying to fly on K+M makes me fall out of the sky like a fast thing going very fast.

BUT, it's subjective. If you can get by with K+M and you like it, use it. If you prefer using a stick, use a stick.

[Dogbox]

Since I've got Battlefield 2 I flew with a Joystick. Even with BF2's Simple Helicopter physics I struggled. When I learned about PR I was over excited about all the new Helicopters to fly with.

Just fucking LOVE it flying with the stick! Feels so good especially with the choppers. I thank the dev's for the great physics the helicopters have in PR.. No simulator can compare to this. Especially the Huey.

[mat552]

I use pure keyboard, as mice and joysticks are too squirrely for BF2. It also keeps all of my other controls (mumble) in an easy to reach place.

No simulator can compare to this. Especially the Huey.

You're right, DCS: Huey is incomparable to PR. DCS actually has a functioning idea of how helicopters work, and isn't forced to work with an 8 year old game engine. (I mean, unless you were suggesting that PR is the most accurate Huey simulator in terms of flight characteristics, in which case.. lol..)

[AcEy]

I have always used Mouse and Keys. I have a joystick that just collects dust.

I highly recommend setting your middle mouse button as the secondary key to pull up.
It will help you pull out of steep dives and assist in landing/takeoffs.

[DwayneDibbley]

Have the flying controls for helicopters changed since say v0.8?

I remember being able to fly quite well with M&K but now I am pretty bad

[Archerchef]

I use full keyboard. it is the only way to do it

[Welshboy]

I've always used Mouse + Keyboard, it seems to work very well for me.

[Archosaurus]

As a simmer, and with some knowledge of how flight works, I can tell you that PR has basically little to none correct in terms of flight.

I fly better with M + KB due to that fact, but in sims, stick only. PR is too rigid and artificial to get a feel for the floaty, heavy feel of most real helicopters and the soft, precise feel of modern jets.

[Steeps]

Jets: Joystick.
Helicopters: Mouse/Keyboard.

[OldGoat5]

For me, the flight physics on PR don't really require a joystick and throttle. But i use a joystick and throttle to have fast access to buttons mapped to the map and zoom, also the 4 mumble radios. I use Freetrack, like trackIr, and have the 2 stage trigger on my joystick stabilize the view to the center. A joystick is advantageous if you actually utilize all of the buttons on it hotas style. But you can adapt with keyboard.