Flap Position / Button Assignment Issue

[Rick S 0]

I am experiencing a problem with the flaps not responding properly to assigned joystick button assignments. I have tried programming 5 buttons on two different joysticks to each of the 5 flap positions with the same incorrect response from the airplane. This happens from either joystick. I am programming the buttons through LINDA. I also tried programming them through FSUIPC directly with the same results. I have the latest versions of both. I have the controls in FSX disabled and I started out with a clean FSUIPC.ini file by deleting it prior to assigning the buttons. Both LINDA and FSUIPC are correctly seeing all 5 buttons. A side note: The flaps will move normally using the "Flaps Incr" and "Flaps Decr" commands.

Here is what I am seeing:

Going from "Flaps Up" to "Flaps Down"

Selected - Flaps Up *** Indicated - Flaps Up

Selected - Flaps 1 *** Indicated - Flaps 1

Selected - Flaps 2 *** Indicated - Flaps 1 (No Movement of Flap lever or Flaps)

Selected - Flaps 3 *** Indicated - Flaps 2

Selected - Flaps Dn *** Indicated - Flaps Dn (Skips Flaps 3)

Going from "Flaps Down" to "Flaps Up"

Selected - Flaps Dn *** Indicated - Flaps Dn

Selected - Flaps 3 *** Indicated - Flaps 2 (Skips Flaps 3)

Selected - Flaps 2 *** Indicated - Flaps 1 (Skips Flaps 2)

Selected - Flaps 1 *** Indicated - Flaps 1 (No Movement of Flap lever or Flaps)

Selected - Flaps Up *** Indicated - Flaps Up

From looking at the results, it appears that "Flaps 1" is selected by both the "Flaps 1 & 2" switches.

"Flaps 2" is selected by the "Flaps 3" switch.

"Flaps 3" is not able to be selected.

"Flaps Up & Dn" both work properly.

[Joshua Che. 1601]

I am experiencing a problem with the flaps not responding properly to assigned joystick button assignments. I have tried programming 5 buttons on two different joysticks to each of the 5 flap positions with the same incorrect response from the airplane. This happens from either joystick. I am programming the buttons through LINDA. I also tried programming them through FSUIPC directly with the same results. I have the latest versions of both. I have the controls in FSX disabled and I started out with a clean FSUIPC.ini file by deleting it prior to assigning the buttons. Both LINDA and FSUIPC are correctly seeing all 5 buttons. A side note: The flaps will move normally using the "Flaps Incr" and "Flaps Decr" commands.

Here is what I am seeing:

Going from "Flaps Up" to "Flaps Down"

Selected - Flaps Up *** Indicated - Flaps Up

Selected - Flaps 1 *** Indicated - Flaps 1

Selected - Flaps 2 *** Indicated - Flaps 1 (No Movement of Flap lever or Flaps)

Selected - Flaps 3 *** Indicated - Flaps 2

Selected - Flaps Dn *** Indicated - Flaps Dn (Skips Flaps 3)

Going from "Flaps Down" to "Flaps Up"

Selected - Flaps Dn *** Indicated - Flaps Dn

Selected - Flaps 3 *** Indicated - Flaps 2 (Skips Flaps 3)

Selected - Flaps 2 *** Indicated - Flaps 1 (Skips Flaps 2)

Selected - Flaps 1 *** Indicated - Flaps 1 (No Movement of Flap lever or Flaps)

Selected - Flaps Up *** Indicated - Flaps Up

From looking at the results, it appears that "Flaps 1" is selected by both the "Flaps 1 & 2" switches.

"Flaps 2" is selected by the "Flaps 3" switch.

"Flaps 3" is not able to be selected.

"Flaps Up & Dn" both work properly.

Hi,

You simply cant use those commands (and its not realistic anyway) simply because of the way the flaps auto mechanism is programmed.

[Rick S 0]

Hi,

You simply cant use those commands (and its not realistic anyway) simply because of the way the flaps auto mechanism is programmed.

Joshua,

Thanks for your quick reply. I am confused about what you mean by "not realistic! How is being able to select a flap position not realistic? If I am flying the airplane without the checklist, are you saying the AAX program only recognizes "Flaps Incr" and "Flaps Decr" commands? The reason I am wanting to program the individual flap positions is because I am flying the airplane using an Airbus Pedestal that has a 5-Position flap handle installed.

[Rick S 0]

For any of you cockpit builders out there that wish to use this AAX software with your existing hardware, this may be helpful. After much trial and error, I was able to get the flaps to agree with my flap handle positions. Since in normal flight, the flaps only go in one direction (Up to Down), I was able to assign buttons that enabled incremental movement from Full Up through Full Down. However, they do not move incrementally in the opposite "up" direction. The Flap switch mechanism I am using is an actual Flap Switch that came out of a retired Lockheed Jetstar. It was perfect because it has 5 positions with detents. But, because the internal switches are not "momentary" type switches, I decided to use the "Desktop Aviator" Model 2235-DP USB Interface Board. It nicely converts a constant switch output to a 1/4 second momentary pulse when the switch is made. However, a secondary problem with this interface board is that it also sends out another pulse when the switch contact is broken. This made assigning the buttons to "Flaps Incr" a problem because it assigned the "Flaps Incr" command twice, once when I selected the switch and then again when I deselected the switch, This caused the flaps to move one position beyond what I had selected. I was able to work around this by taking advantage of the odd switch behavior described in my previous post. I was able to make it work by doing the following:

Button 1 (Flaps Up) Assignment - "FSX Flaps Up"

Button 2 (Flaps 1) Assignment - "FSX Flaps 1"

Button 3 (Flaps 2) Assignment - "FSX Flaps 3" (You will notice that from my previous post, whenever Flaps 3 is assigned, it causes the flaps to go to "Flaps 2" position, not "Flaps 3." Not sure why, but it works!)

Button 4 (Flaps 3) Assignment - No matter what button assignment I assigned here, including no assignment at all, the flaps would skip past the "Flaps 3" position and go straight to "Flaps Dn." I decided to try removing the Flaps 3 switch wires from the Interface Board and for some unexplained reason, the flaps moved to position 3 and stayed there when I selected it.

Button 5 (Flaps Dn) Assignment - "FSX Flaps Dn"

The flaps will go back to Full Up by placing the handle in the full up position.

I realize this post probably is not for relevant to most of you reading it, but I thought that maybe there might be someone else that might benefit from it.

[Joshua Che. 1601]

Joshua,

Thanks for your quick reply. I am confused about what you mean by "not realistic! How is being able to select a flap position not realistic? If I am flying the airplane without the checklist, are you saying the AAX program only recognizes "Flaps Incr" and "Flaps Decr" commands? The reason I am wanting to program the individual flap positions is because I am flying the airplane using an Airbus Pedestal that has a 5-Position flap handle installed.

Hi again,

LOL, okay, I thought you were using like buttons on the joystick and assign the flaps individually.

For the flaps, I would simply recommend using LUA Script.

For the airbus, there are technically six flaps settings RETRACTED, 1, 1+F, 2, 3, FULL

Thats why, when you command Flaps 3, it will result in flaps 2 command and so on.

[Rick S 0]

Joshua,

I get what you're saying about the extra flapsetting. Still, only 5 positions are physically located on the flap handle. Not being an Airbus expert, it is my understanding that on the ground, Flap handle position 1 moves both the flaps and slats (1+F). In flight, only the slats are deployed when flaps 1 is selected on the flap handle. From a mechanical point of view, there are only 5 positions. I assume what you're telling me is from a programming point of view, their are 6 positions, which is why assigning buttons according to position does not work. I am not a programmer and don't pretend to be. I am sure not going to challenge you or anyone else why this works the way it does. I appreciate all that has been done to make this airplane as good as it is. I was able to work around the programming to get my mechanical 5 position flap handle to work so I am therefore one happy camper. Thanks for explaining.

[Steve34613 0]

For any of you cockpit builders out there that wish to use this AAX software with your existing hardware, this may be helpful. After much trial and error, I was able to get the flaps to agree with my flap handle positions. Since in normal flight, the flaps only go in one direction (Up to Down), I was able to assign buttons that enabled incremental movement from Full Up through Full Down. However, they do not move incrementally in the opposite "up" direction. The Flap switch mechanism I am using is an actual Flap Switch that came out of a retired Lockheed Jetstar. It was perfect because it has 5 positions with detents. But, because the internal switches are not "momentary" type switches, I decided to use the "Desktop Aviator" Model 2235-DP USB Interface Board. It nicely converts a constant switch output to a 1/4 second momentary pulse when the switch is made. However, a secondary problem with this interface board is that it also sends out another pulse when the switch contact is broken. This made assigning the buttons to "Flaps Incr" a problem because it assigned the "Flaps Incr" command twice, once when I selected the switch and then again when I deselected the switch, This caused the flaps to move one position beyond what I had selected. I was able to work around this by taking advantage of the odd switch behavior described in my previous post. I was able to make it work by doing the following:

Button 1 (Flaps Up) Assignment - "FSX Flaps Up"

Button 2 (Flaps 1) Assignment - "FSX Flaps 1"

Button 3 (Flaps 2) Assignment - "FSX Flaps 3" (You will notice that from my previous post, whenever Flaps 3 is assigned, it causes the flaps to go to "Flaps 2" position, not "Flaps 3." Not sure why, but it works!)

Button 4 (Flaps 3) Assignment - No matter what button assignment I assigned here, including no assignment at all, the flaps would skip past the "Flaps 3" position and go straight to "Flaps Dn." I decided to try removing the Flaps 3 switch wires from the Interface Board and for some unexplained reason, the flaps moved to position 3 and stayed there when I selected it.

Button 5 (Flaps Dn) Assignment - "FSX Flaps Dn"

The flaps will go back to Full Up by placing the handle in the full up position.

I realize this post probably is not for relevant to most of you reading it, but I thought that maybe there might be someone else that might benefit from it.

Hi All,

A better choice for your FLAPS would have been the Desktop Aviator's 2120 or their 2237-SP

http://www.desktopaviator.com/Products/Model_2230/index.htm

http://www.desktopaviator.com/Products/Model_2120/index.htm

Both boards create ONE 1/4 second pulse unlike the 2235-DP you mention above.

Each pulse can then be programmed with each of the FLAPs positions you need without any problems.

Should you wish to use FLAPs Increment/Deincrement, you might want to consider DTA's Model 2530 Flaps controller

panel:

http://www.desktopaviator.com/Products/Model_2530/index.htm