Ka-50 Basic Course (DCS)

This page describes the settings you have to make to operate the Black Shark.

In the main menu of DCS you open the settings:

In the settings, select the SPECIAL tab (1) and the Ka-50 tab (2).

If you have rudder pedals or a twist grip, please deactivate the option Rudder Trimmer (3).  If you don't have an axis to steer the rudder, it is best to leave the option on.  But especially with the helicopters in DCS it is difficult to get a feeling for the aircraft without controlling the tail rotor!

Then set the Trimmer Mode (4) to the version you prefer.  This is where most people fail and wonder why the box does what it wants.  We'll explain that in more detail.

1. Joystick Without Springs and FFB: Optimal variant, but requires a Force Feedback Joystick.  After trimming, the joystick stays exactly where it is, but the forces are neutralized.
2. Default: After trimming, you have 0.25 seconds (i.e. a quarter of a second) to move your joystick to the neutral position before the current joystick position is evaluated as a new control input.
3. Central Position Trimmer Mode: Only if your joystick was exactly in the middle position after trimming, further control Inputs are accepted.

We definitely recommend a force feedback stick. If you don't have one, please try the Standard setting.

Under the Customized Cockpit (5) section you can set the labels in the cockpit.  We recommend English, unless you speak Russian.  If this is the case, we certainly have a job for you and could use your help with other modules.   If you have installed the Ricardo Cockpit Mod you have also the option Ricardo in the list. This is a cockpit mod with improved HD textures. It can be found here in English and is highly recommended.

The deviation of the Helmet Ring Displacement (degrees) (6) can remain unchanged.  We don't need that for the time being.  

If not already done due to other courses or modules, please set the Avionics Language to English, under the GAMEPLAY tab, so that the voice output of "Betty" in the Ekran system is in English and the display in the navigation screen is also in English instead of Russian.  

That is it for the Ka-50 in particular.