I have been trying to find a way to assign the throttle axis on my XBox controller. Per the H135 Quick Start Guide, “mapping throttle axis is critical” to control the rotor collective pitch.
I found that if I assign it to the right thumbstick, I lose the functionality of the camera movement which is important for flying with an exterior view.
I have the left thumbstick assigned to aileron and elevator which is the obvious control. And, I can use the same lower rear buttons for the rudder as other aircraft.
The throttle axis, being a single increase/decrease control, does not seem to work using buttons like the a throttle.
Is there a way to preserve the right stick for the camera and still control the collective?
I tried the same but found no way to do it to retain camera control on right stick. And as throttle/collective on the H135 has to be an axis, I have to use my HOTAS throttle for that.
I think I’m right in saying that if you only have an XBox controller then you cannot fly the H135 but would be very happy to be proven wrong.
Perhaps, if the program design broke the throttle axis into a two-button command, like the throttle increase and decrease functions are defined, the “X” and “Y” buttons or the two upper rear buttons could change the pitch + and -.
Or… could the MSFS propeller pitch controls somehow be used for the collective pitch + and -?
The default Xbox controller configuration should actually work with H135 with no changes. This was not always true but has been for some time now.
It is also not true that you need an axis to use H135, you may use the “throttle up/down” commands (avoid using throttle 1, 2 etc, only the combined throttle commands). I think A and B are the default commands for “throttle up” and “throttle down” for Xbox controller, and those should work with H135. Just make sure that you have engaged the FADEC first by mouse-wheel scrolling up on the two levers below the center display. You can also use Ctrl+E to get past this at first.
Once you get this working, open the tablet and select the “Flight Mode: XBOX” so that you will have a slightly easier time hovering in ground effect.
That’s good news and the way I did fly it when I did. I must have misunderstood the Quick Start PDF. I got the impression that the throttle is not to be used and that throttle is controlled by the FADC and the axis is needed to control pitch:
This is true. You use the throttle axis and throttle commands with H135.
H135 flight control module interprets your throttle commands, and then FADEC-controls the engine throttle. Your throttle commands are then applied to the collective pitch as if they were directly set by MSFS (if it had supported helicopters).
All of this is really just so that you can still fly fixed wing with the same controller setup.
