Controller Setup for MSFS 2020 and X-Plane
This first step is to calibrate your controller.
Depending on which version of Windows you are using that will determine the method on how to get to the calibration screen.
You can first try to right click on your Start menu at Windows Desktop and click on Search. Search for 'Game Controller' and click on 'Set up USB Game Controllers' in the results. If this works and the Game Controllers box opens up then continue with the 'Calibration Steps' down below.
Windows 10 or older Windows 11 versions: Right mouse click on your start menu at the desktop (typically in the lower left corner or center of the Windows taskbar), click on search and type in control panel. Click on Control Panel in the search results then click hardware and sound, then devices and printers.
Windows 11 (Cumulative update May 2023 and later): Right mouse click the start menu at Windows desktop and search for settings and then click to 'Bluetooth & Devices' on the left hand side of the window that opened and then click on 'Devices' in the center of the window. Then scroll all the way to the bottom of that page and click on 'More devices and printer settings', this should bring you to where you can right click on FlightSimStuff Controller and continue on with the directions below.
Once you determine which method you need to follow to get to this point right click on 'FlightSimStuff Controller' and click on 'Game Controller Settings' (If you followed Windows 10 directions to get to this point and Game Controller Settings option is not there then follow the Windows 11 instructions above).
Calibration Steps:
In the 'Game Controllers' box that opened up double click 'FlightSimStuff Controller', and then click on the settings tab on the new window that opened up, click the calibrate button. Ignore centering the controls message, that is not necessary, click on next.
It will then have you move an Axis, move each control on the controller until you see the bar moving on screen, once you have the correct control and the bar is moving then move that control fully in and then out multiple times (or rotate the trim wheel fully from one end to the other, multiple times). Once you do that click on next and do the next Axis, again move each control on the controller until the bar starts moving on screen, once you find the correct control move that control in and out fully multiple times and then click next and finish each control until completed.
The important steps are where you move each control fully in and out for the throttle, prop and mixture and and rotate the trim wheel all the way from one end to the other, do that a few times to be sure the entire range of motion is detected, MSFS uses this calibration in game.
Once you complete that you will be back on the test tab, you should be able to move each control in and out and see the bars move on screen in sync with you moving each control.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 Instructions
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 click on Options, then click on Controls. In the Controls screen you will see a device along the top called FlightSimStuff Controller. Click that, on the left there is a search by name box. Search for 'throttle'. Results will show up in the middle section. Find 'Throttle Axis', you may need to scroll down a little to find it. Click the box that is to the right of 'Throttle Axis'. A screen will pop up, first click on Clear Current Input. Then click in the Start Scanning box and move the throttle on the controller in and out. It should auto fill in the control, then click on validate. That will bind your throttle.
Repeat the same steps for Mixture and Propeller, search for 'Mixture' and then search for 'Propeller', you are looking for 'Mixture Axis (-100 - 100%)' and 'Propeller 1 Axis'.
Search for Flaps. Find 'Decrease Flaps' in the list, click in the box to the right of that, clear current input then click start scanning and push the flaps lever up, it will fill in the control, click validate.
You will see 'Increase Flaps' in the list. Click the box to the right, clear input, start scanning and push flaps lever down, click validate.
Then in the search by name box search for Trim. 'Find Elevator Trim Axis (-100 to 100%)' and click in the box to the right again, click clear current input, click start scanning and move the trim wheel on the controller, you may need to rotate the trim wheel several turns for it to auto detect, then click validate.
When finished click Save and Apply on the bottom and should be good to go! You may find a control is reversed (example, the throttle is backwards when pulling/pushing), if that is the case all you have to do is go to Options, Controls, click on FlightSimStuff Controller and all the controls you previously bound will be in the list in the center of the screen. There will be a reverse axis check box next to each control, check it to reverse it.
Once you complete binding all the controls go to the Assistance Options in the Options Menu, go to the Piloting section and turn off AI AUTO-TRIM.
-- After you finish binding all the controls it is best to quit out of MSFS and then reload it to be sure all the settings will be applied properly.
This is not always the case but also make sure you do not have any other controller with throttle, mixture, trim or prop bound as having two controllers with the same inputs bound may not work correctly. If you were using a different controller for throttle/prop/mixture prior to this one you may need to plug it back in and go into MSFS settings/controls and unbind the controls from it, this isn't always necessary but sometimes needed. --
X-Plane Setup Instructions
Once in X-plane go into the Settings menu. Once in settings click on the Joystick tab. On the Device drop down box select FlightSimStuff Controller. Then click on Calibrate and follow the instructions. You need to move each throttle, mixture and prop controls fully in and out. Then rotate the trim wheel from one end to the other. Do this several times for each control to be sure the entire range is detected. When calibrating there may be 1 or more Axis that are not used, click ignore on the calibration screen next to those axis that are unused.
Once you are completed with calibration move the throttle in and out and you will see the bar move on the screen under one of the Axis. Once you see which Axis the throttle is select where it says none (black box with down arrow) and select Throttle from the list, it should be towards the top of the menu.
Now move the Prop control in and out and locate which Axis and then select Prop from the menu, should be towards the top of the menu.
Move the Mixture in and out on the controller to locate it in game and select Mixture from the menu, again should be up towards the top.
Click the Flaps switch down and locate which button number that is highlighted on the right hand side of the screen, once you locate the correct button number hit edit and in the search field type in flaps and then select Flaps down a notch. Then move the Flaps switch up to locate the correct number in game and click edit, search for flaps and select Flaps up a notch.
Now rotate the trim wheel to find the Axis for that and click to bring up the menu and select Elevator trim option from the menu. Should be down a little bit from the top.
Then click done and now the controller should ready to go to!
Full Size Trim Wheel Setup Instructions.
This first step is to calibrate your controller.
Depending on which version of Windows you are using that will determine the method on how to get to the calibration screen.
You can first try to right click on your Start menu at Windows Desktop and click on Search. Search for 'Game Controller' and click on 'Set up USB Game Controllers' in the results. If this works and the Game Controllers box opens up then continue with the 'Calibration Steps' down below.
Windows 10 or older Windows 11: Right mouse click on your start menu at the desktop (typically in the lower left corner or center of the Windows taskbar), click on search and type in control panel. Click on Control Panel in the search results then click hardware and sound, then devices and printers.
Windows 11 (May 2023 and later): Right mouse click the start menu at Windows desktop and search for settings and then click to 'Bluetooth & Devices' on the left hand side of the window that opened and then click on 'Devices' in the center of the window. Then scroll all the way to the bottom of that page and click on 'More devices and printer settings'. Right mouse click FlightSimStuff Trim Wheel and select ‘Game Controller Settings’
Calibration Steps:
Once you have determined which method you need to take to get to this point the first thing to do is select the settings tab at top left of the window that opened up. Once on the settings tab click on Calibrate and follow the directions. You can ignore the instructions to center the Axis/controls. It will then have you move an Axis, rotate the trim wheel from one end to the other, do this 2 or more times each direction all the way from one of the trim wheel to the other. Once you do that click next and finish the calibration process.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 Instructions
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 click on Options, then click on Controls. In the Controls screen you will see a device along the top called FlightSimStuff Trim Wheel or FlightSimStuff Controller. Click on that, on the left there is a search by name box. Search Trim and find Elevator Trim Axis (-100 to 100%). Click the empty box to the right and then click on Clear current input then click start scanning and move the trim wheel on the controller, you may need to rotate the trim wheel many turns for it to auto detect, once it detects and fills in the axis click on validate. If it does not auto detect you can manually select the input, select the Slider Axis.
When finished click Save and Apply on the bottom and should be good to go.
When in the plane you may find the trim wheel is reversed (example, rotate the trim wheel up will cause the plane to climb), if that is the case all you have to do is go to Options, Controls, click on FlightSimStuff Trim Wheel and in the center of the screen click the + signs to open up the controls and there will be a reverse axis check box by the slider axis, check it to reverse it.
Once you complete binding all the controls go to the Assistance Options in the Options Menu, go to the Piloting section and turn off AI AUTO-TRIM.
X-Plane Setup Instructions
Once in X-plane go into the Settings menu. Once in settings click on the Joystick tab. On the Device drop down box select FlightSimStuff Trim Wheel. Then click on Calibrate and follow the instructions. Rotate the trim wheel from one end to the other. Do this several times to be sure the entire range is detected.
Once you are completed with calibration rotate the trim wheel and find the Axis that is moving on screen and select where it says none (black box with down arrow) and select Elevator trim option from the menu. Should be down a little bit from the top. Then click done and now the controller should be ready to go.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Happy flying!
-Shawn