by ennobee » Sun Jul 31, 2011 9:18 pm
My understanding is that FMS has up to 8 channels available in its 'calibration' window, but that you need an 8-channel RC transmitter to actually enjoy them. Modern 3-d joysticks have 4 channels and old-time basic joysticks only 2. You can 'upgrade' your joystick with the keyboard inputs, but the keyboard only lists basic keys for rudder-aileron-stabilo and engine. (When I started out, I had a 2-axis joystick mapped to aileron and stabilo and used the keys for engine control. Although I had keys for the rudder also I never used them.) Anyhow, an 8-channel transmitter with the right USB connection might give you 8 channels to play with, but I don't have one, so I never tried
As for landing gear, right now FMS only supports fixed gear. So even if you had a separate channel for extending/retracting landing gear, the current version of FMS will still mot let you do anything with it. (Hey Muller bros'... Wink!!)
Flaps are a different story. They can be programmed into your *.par file with ease. On a whim I once deleted the rudder on one of my models and used that channel to put extra flaps in the wing. After some trying, I got really good in landing on ridiculously short surfaces. If I ever finish that scenario with the aircraft carriers, I might offer some 'upgrade' of my Grumman Avenger to go along with it
Still, I wish I had some more channels for flaps, spoilers, air brakes and all the other stuff people put into today's extreme 3-d foamies. May be the next version will have a way to assign keys to extra channels, or may be use the different 'fire' buttons of a modern joystick to on/off switches. (again, Wink!!)
To me that would be more valuable then retractable landing gear.
'Niklas