What sold me onto this idea was when I got the Cougar MFDs back when I was playing DCS A10C. As you know, it can be hard holding your head steady then clicking the correct MFD OSB. For people who fly without TrackIR, this probably won't be much of an issue but I can't imagine flying without TIR, so I had many, many instances of not being able to click the OSB (I turn my head away too early and miss the OSB) or just not hit the correct one due to the snap feature and the fact that the MFDs would be tiny with the FOV I was using. When I got the Cougar MFDs, this was no longer an issue! I could physically activate the correct OSB no matter what my head position was.... I could glance at my MFD, decide I needed to press OSB 3, and proceed to do that as I turn my head away to re-acquire my target and continue keeping my SA up. I could "feel" for OSB 3 and press it even as I was busy looking at something else.

The next step after this was velcro-ing the MFDs over a monitor to get a picture behind the MFD, but that soon gave way to touchscreens.

At this point, I have a Helios profile that has the entire F-16's set of controls at my fingertips. Cold-and-dark startups, mission prep and execution, finding alternate airbases and setting new TCN/ILS/radio frequencies, landing, and shutdown, all possible without the need to touch the keyboard or mouse at all. Once I am in the 3D world, I put the mouse and keyboard aside and interact with the sim via my HOTAS, rudders, TIR, and touchscreen "cockpit." No need to memorize any key combination and no need to hold my head steady as I manipulate a button/knob/switch. Even radio comms are set up in the profile as backup to when I can't be bothered to use VAC.

Obviously, this is in BMS but I know this exists for DCS A10C and DCS BS2 as well.... some of my inspiration for my layout was from a guy that was making Helios profiles for DCS. I imagine this is also possible for 3rd-party and FC3 aircraft as well.

The most up to date and comprehensive source for DCS Helios profiles is right here.

http://www.captzeen.com/helios/index.asp

He has created export scripts which support things that cannot be done with the vanilla exports.

I too use Cougar MFD's. I didn't velcro them directly to the monitor, but I made a black foamcore cover with cutouts for the viewable area, and velcroed the Cougers to the foamcore. I attached the foamcore to the monitor bezel with duct tape. (If you can't duc it, F*** it). Also couldn't (wouldn't) fly without TrackIr. Couple this with the fact that the MFCD's are made larger on a second monitor, and it's a cherry set-up.

In the A-10C I use the INCR/DECR slider on the right side of my TM Warthog throttle for Zoom in/Out, so I don't go hands off the HOTAS while inflight. With the exception of raising and lowering the gear. That's just about the only time I hit a key with any regularity.

I haven't measured it out yet, but hopefully I'll be able to squeeze a third cougar onto this 13" monitor so I'll have all three screens for the Hornet.

Yep, Capt Zeen is the man!!

As for Cougar MFDs, they're cool up to a point.... the downside to they physical MFDs is that they occupy a permanent space over the monitor. With a touchscreen monitor, you can display something OVER the MFDs, thus making better use of the screen. For example, here's what the screen would normally look like in BMS:




But when needed, other things can be displayed over the MFDs:

I agree 100% with Ice (and that doesn't happen often ). As much as I like the Cougar MFDs, mine have been in a box on my hardware shelves for at least two years now. Even without a touch screen, what Ice said holds true since you can use Helios almost as well with a mouse and TIR has a negligible impact. Many of Capt Zeen's profiles make use of multiple layouts for a single aircraft which is priceless in cases like the Huey or the Kamov which have many more control panels than you could possibly fit on a single screen.

Yeah! I better quote that to keep a record of it!!


Is that true? Always used Helios with a touchscreen so it's interesting to know that it works for regular screens too. Does the sim work fine even when clicking on Helios with the mouse? In BMS, there are instances where doing so would cause the sim to "lose focus" and you'd have to click on the sim again to re-focus on the game, otherwise your inputs won't be seen by the game.


Indeed! In my BMS profile, I have the map of Korea, all the S.Korea airfield approach and departure plates, the pilot's kneeboard sheets, and even a menu of all of the radio calls available in the game!



Now let's find something we can disagree on!

I used Helios for quite a while, before acquiring a touch screen, without any issues like that.

Must be a BMS thing, thanks for confirming!

Perhaps. I also can't swear that the current version of DCS World is free from such problems since many things have changed in recent years.

What do you mean? I was under the ASSumption that you were still playing DCS, is this not so?

Yes, but I have not used Helios with a mouse in years.

Ah, gotcha!

That's pretty cool Guys,

What has my curiosity peaked now is how you have physically set up your multiple monitors. Ciclid, you're running a 40" main monitor and a 22" secondary touchscreen. There's no detail in your sig Ice. I'm running a 34" curved display as my main. For the life of me I can't figure out an elegant way to mount my second monitor.

Pictures would be appreciated, but are not necessary. How is your rig set up for optimal display and ergonomic use?

A picture is worth a thousand words.... here's a few pics:

Wow that looks awesome! Too bad there aren't monitors with really thin frames/borders to increase the seamlessness (is that a word?)...

Thanks! The borders are only about 1.2cm wide and once I'm flying, I don't really "see" them... Some people are quite bothered by the bezels and opt for ultra-wide monitors instead.

That *IS* cooler than the other side of the pillow Ice.

Nice setup!

Thanks! You lost me on the "pillow" reference though....

I don't find the controls to be hard to memorize or in bad locations. I do understand that it differs from plane to plane, but that is mainly a US vs Soviet difference in methodology. The few differences of the F-15 compared to the Flanker carry over to the MIG-29 and Su-25. It is just the nature of them being different enough to warrant different procedures. In general, for combat, most of my controls can be mapped onto my HOTAS. The things that may require an extra press are typically done en-route.

I have confidence in Razbam, the developer of the AV8B. Their Mirage was rough at the start but became a FANTASTIC aircraft after several months of updates and fixes. I will be purchasing this module. Very excited about the harrier!