Before i started experimenting with new control combinations, i really sucked as a pilot. I could keep a transport heli in the air long enough, but attack choppers usually ended destroyed within 10 seconds
So, for all you non-joystick owners and hardcore mouse+keyboarders out there, i have some tips for making your life as a pilot easier.. unless you already own as a pilot, in which case you would only read guides to feel good about yourself.
Most importantly, you need to use the Numpad to fly. If you try and use the 'wasd' keys, you will end up with a few hard to reach controls, because bf2 has so many that youre not allowed to duplicate (sometimes it even says there are duplicates where there arent any, restricting control freedom even more).
Luckily, the Numpad isnt used by wasd players, so you should use that instead for flying, like this:
Num8, Num5: Pitch Forward/Back
Num4, Num6: Roll Left/Right
Num7, Num9: Steer Left/Right
. (beneath Num3): Accelerate
Num0: Decelerate
NumEnter: Flares (Num+ would be better, but bf2 tells me its a duplicate, which is of course not true)
NumDevide (above Num8): Cycle weapons (for jets)
You could chose other keys for Flares and Cycle weapons, but i found these to be easy enough to reach.
Anyway, you should keep some space between the movement keys and the Accelerate/Decelerate buttons, because youre going to need your thumb to reach these and you dont want cramps there after 10 minutes of flying.
I found this to be a very good configuration, and i actually flew for the first time in my bf2 lifetime
Im still a lousy pilot, but the controls made it easier for me to at least hit something now, so if youre having problems with flying you should at least try using this config.
But using controls isnt enough, i also found that you should keep the Mouse Axis movements for pitching and rolling (as far as i found out, you can only get this configuration by reseting your keys to default first, then make the NumKeys secondary controls), this way you can fine tune your aiming with your mouse (using keys is too hard)
If this works for you, let me know!
So, for all you non-joystick owners and hardcore mouse+keyboarders out there, i have some tips for making your life as a pilot easier.. unless you already own as a pilot, in which case you would only read guides to feel good about yourself.
Most importantly, you need to use the Numpad to fly. If you try and use the 'wasd' keys, you will end up with a few hard to reach controls, because bf2 has so many that youre not allowed to duplicate (sometimes it even says there are duplicates where there arent any, restricting control freedom even more).
Luckily, the Numpad isnt used by wasd players, so you should use that instead for flying, like this:
Num8, Num5: Pitch Forward/Back
Num4, Num6: Roll Left/Right
Num7, Num9: Steer Left/Right
. (beneath Num3): Accelerate
Num0: Decelerate
NumEnter: Flares (Num+ would be better, but bf2 tells me its a duplicate, which is of course not true)
NumDevide (above Num8): Cycle weapons (for jets)
You could chose other keys for Flares and Cycle weapons, but i found these to be easy enough to reach.
Anyway, you should keep some space between the movement keys and the Accelerate/Decelerate buttons, because youre going to need your thumb to reach these and you dont want cramps there after 10 minutes of flying.
I found this to be a very good configuration, and i actually flew for the first time in my bf2 lifetime
Im still a lousy pilot, but the controls made it easier for me to at least hit something now, so if youre having problems with flying you should at least try using this config.
But using controls isnt enough, i also found that you should keep the Mouse Axis movements for pitching and rolling (as far as i found out, you can only get this configuration by reseting your keys to default first, then make the NumKeys secondary controls), this way you can fine tune your aiming with your mouse (using keys is too hard)
If this works for you, let me know!