CYCLICK CONTROL STICK

2-4: Cyclic pitch control stick

The cyclic is your primary means of controlling helicopter attitude. Just like a fixed-wing aircraft, pushing and pulling the stick affects aircraft pitch and moving the stick side to side inputs roll. Unlike a fixed-wing aircraft though, you will generally pitch the helicopter forward to initiate forward flight and pull the stick back to slow down or even fly backwards.

The cyclic has a number of buttons and hats that allow you to manipulate the various systems of the helicopter without having to take your hands off the cyclic. These include:

1. “ОГОНЬ РС – ВПУ” (Fire weapon – cannon) triggers.

2. Wheel brake paddle [W].

3. “ВИСЕНИЕ” (Hover) button – Toggles the hover autopilot mode on and off [T + LALT].

4. “РАДИО” (Radio) button – Activates radio in transmit mode. No function.

5. “ОСВ ПУЛЬТ” (Gauge lighting) button – Toggles cockpit and gauges lighting on and off.

6. “ЦЕЛЬ УКАЗ” (Uncage Shkval – confirmation) button – uncage the “Shkval” EO targeting system for target designation and confirmation of data entry (i.e. during navigation system INS fix-taking procedure) [O].

7. “МЕТКА” (Marker) hat switch – Slew control for “Shkval” line of sight [ „], [,], [.] and [/].

8. “ТРИММЕР” (Trimmer) button – Cancels all force on cyclic with the trimming mechanisms. When released, the autopilot will stabilize current angles of pitch, bank and yaw [T]. Note that this is a different method of trimming the aircraft compared to fixed wing aircraft.

9. “ОТКЛ АП” (Autopilot disengage) – autopilot emergency disengage [A + LALT].

If you have a programmable control stick at home, you may wish to program it to match these settings. You can do so using the input control manger in the options screen.

Release Weapon – Cannon Triggers

The triggers block is located on the opposite side of the stick from the pilot. Triggers are intended for generating “fire” signals for weapon system and selected weapons. By default the “ВПУ” (Onboard cannon) small trigger is guarded by the larger “РС” (release weapon) trigger. The larger weapon trigger is intended for shooting or launching external weapons of the selected type (ATGMs, rockets, bombs, canisters and gun pods). Note that when firing an anti-tank guided missile like the Vikhr, you will need to hold down the weapon trigger for up to a full second.

2-5: Weapon (large) and Cannon (small) triggers in default position – Release Weapon trigger operates

2-6: Weapon (large) and Cannon (small) triggers in default position – Release Weapon trigger operates

1. “ОГОНЬ ВПУ” – Onboard cannon (small) trigger [SPACE]. Trigger is inoperative.

2. “ОГОНЬ РС” – Weapon (large) trigger [SPACE + RALT]. Trigger is operative.

For cannon employment it is necessary to flip up [C] the “РС” weapon (large) trigger. When that is done, the weapon system transmits the signal for cannon operation and the “ВПУ” cannon (small) trigger may operate.

2-7: Weapon (large) and Cannon (small) triggers in Cannon operate position (Release Weapon (large) trigger is flipped up)

1. “ОГОНЬ ВПУ” – Onboard cannon (small) trigger [SPACE] is operative.

2. “ОГОНЬ РС” – Weapon (large) trigger is inoperative.