We've expanded the usefulness of the mouse in Flight Simulator, bringing back a feature that many users liked in older versions: using the mouse as a control device for flying. The mouse is also in many cases the best device for setting instruments, changing radio frequencies, and other cockpit chores.

Using the Mouse to Fly

Flying with the mouse is easier than using the arrow keys on the keyboard, which is great if you don't own a joystick, yoke, or other controller.

Once you active the mouse as a flight control device (see below):

• move the mouse right to go right,
• move the mouse left to go left,
• move the mouse toward you to go up,
• and move the mouse away from you to go down.

Use a VERY light touch and small control movements when using the mouse to fly the aircraft.

To use the mouse to fly Create a flight in Free Flight or select a Mission and then click Fly now! When the flight loads, press CTRL+Y to toggle mouse flight control on and off. When the mouse flight control is ON, the cursor changes to a small cross.




Using the Mouse to Look Around

You can use the mouse to look left, right , up, or down while in the virtual cockpit or in spot plane view.

To use the mouse to look around while in 3-D virtual cockpit or spot plane view Press and hold SPACEBAR, then move the mouse. -or- Press SHIFT+O to toggle the mouse look function ON or OFF. When mouse look is ON, the cursor changes to a small cross.




The Mouse as a Cockpit Tool

The mouse can be a Flight Simulator pilot's best copilot, acting as the hand that flicks switches, resets the altimeter, moves the GPS display within view, and helps you scroll through your flight notes. Just click the control you want to operate. Some controls act like toggle switches: for example, clicking the landing gear lever once retracts the wheels; clicking it again extends them. Other controls, such as the throttle and trim wheel, move through a series of positions. You can drag these controls using the mouse, much as you would move them using your hand in a real airplane.

Using the Mouse Wheel

If you have a mouse with a wheel on it, you can use it to manipulate many cockpit controls, such as adjustment knobs and the trim wheel. Move the pointer over the control until the pointer changes to a hand, and then roll the mouse wheel to change the control.

Rollover Descriptions

You can discover each gauge's function by simply rolling over it with the mouse without clicking; a description will pop up.

Toggle Switches



To flip toggle switches, position the mouse over the switch you wish to change and then click. Since toggles only have two positions, clicking a second time on the same switch returns it to its original position.

Adjustment Knobs



Many of the cockpit gauges, such as the altimeter and heading indicator, have adjustment knobs, which should be adjusted prior to and during flight. Other instruments, such as the VOR OBS knob, should be adjusted during flight.

To turn knobs, position your pointer over the instrument's control knob. When the pointer sits on either side of the knob, a hand cursor appears.



When the hand with the minus sign (-) appears, clicking will reduce the instrument's setting; the opposite is true when the plus sign (+) hand appears. If you click and hold the knob, the instrument's control knob will begin to rotate in the direction indicated. Release the mouse when the knob reaches the desired setting.

Remember: You can also use the mouse wheel to turn the adjustment knobs. Move the pointer over the control until the pointer changes to a hand, and then roll the mouse wheel to change the control.

Dragging



Some controls—such as the throttle, trim wheel, and mixture—can be pulled using the mouse. First move the pointer over the desired control, then click and hold while dragging.

The Control Panel



Control panel icons offer an easy way to access flight maps, the GPS receiver, and other instruments located outside the screen frame. Familiarize yourself with their functions:

• To display or hide the Kneeboard, click the icon.
• To display or hide the ATC window, click the icon.
• To display or hide the flight map, click the icon. Viewing the flight map will pause the simulation. To hide the map, click Cancel or OK at the bottom of the map.
• To display or hide the GPS, click the icon.

Some aircraft also have throttle control icons, ceiling panel icons, and flap lever panel icons; these icons will also appear on the control panel. Roll over the icons to read what each represents, then click on the items that you wish to display or hide.

Using the Mouse in the Virtual Cockpit

In this version of Flight Simulator, the mouse works in the 3D Virtual Cockpit just as it works in the two-dimensional Cockpit View. Use your joystick's hat switch or your keyboard's numeric keypad to display the panel you want, then use the mouse as described above.