SOFTWARE THAT RUNS THE COCKPIT

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The game is Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) World, with the A-10C II Tank Killer module. 

I run the "open beta" version (everybody does), and I update it every time one is pushed out.

There are a few edits necessary to get the game to run the cockpit.

• The monitor config .lua file has been drastically modified to export the MFD's, digital clock, UHF repeater and RWR display to the lower monitor. It also has been changed to export three outside world view ports across the three projectors. 
• The HUD definitions .lua has been modified to change the colour and size of the projected HUD so its more visible on my projector surface.
• The A-10C instrument .lua's have been modified so all the displays can be exported onto other monitors. Note that the CMSP, CMSC, UHF and VHF, ILS and TACAN all need to be exported to the second monitor as well, even though they are not actually visible. This is so that they will continue to update on my external panels when the 3D cockpit is turned off, or another external view is selected. If you don't export them, they wont update. I've sized them 1x1 pixel in the bottom corner.

I don't use JGSME or anything to manage my mods, just because I tried it once and I just couldn't get it working. So every time an update comes out, I need to copy my modified .lua's back to the game. I should try again one day, but its works now so I don't want to touch anything.

Helios Virtual Cockpit (formally known as Gadrocs Helios) is open source community driven software than runs my entire cockpit. 

It is very capable, and can run a complex cockpit like mine, or just a secondary monitor or even just one button box. 

Helios takes the data output from DCS World, and pushes it to gauges that it displays on my lower monitor behind the Main Instrument Panel. It can also run touchscreens as well if you are are building an F-35 style front panel (A-10D?).

Helios also reads the switch positions of every single switch in my cockpit, and makes it match what is happening in the game aircraft.

Flick a switch in the cockpit, Helios recognises it and flicks the switch in DCS World. This means I dont have to program any key binds within DCS itself, for any aircraft.

It is MUCH easier to program my cockpit than having to map every button in DCS itself because:

• I don't have to re-map everything if DCS breaks during an update or crash
• I don't have to edit .lua's in DCS to make toggle switches work. For example, let's say I am using a single toggle for my Anti-skid switch. It has a single connection to the PC, so it shows up as one on-off button in windows. I flick the Anti-Skid switch and it activates in the game, but when i flick it off it does not turn off in the game, because DCS does not recognise when switches are released. To make it turn off, I would need to toggle it again, to send a button press to the game to tell it to switch off. Not so with Helios, i can set it to do different things when a button is pushed OR released.
• Helios can do things DCS can not. One example- there is no way to map an ejection handle or button in DCS itself unless you want to push/pull it three times. You can set Helios to send keyboard presses, so when i pull my handle, it hits CTRL E three times.
• Because Helios can send keyboard presses, you can set up a modifier to essentially double the use any switch you want. I have the paddle on my Thrustmaster Warthog Joystick set up in Helios to be the LShift key, so hold that down and flick any another switch and you can do something completely different. For example- I have my trim hat set up to do snap views as well, using the paddle as a modifier.
• Helios supports multiple aircraft. I can fly a Hornet, set up a Hornet profile in Helios and every button can be mapped differently.

Immersive Display Pro by Fly Elise-ng is the software that 'warps' the projection surface.

It takes information you enter about the physical dimensions of your projection surface, the position of your projectors, and lets you blend and curve the image to match your viewpoint perfectly.

Think of it as projector keystone adjustments on steroids.

It can do up to 16 projectors in a full dome if you wanted to. It's the same software most commercial and military flight simulators use.

This software is not cheap, however they offer a trial version (albeit with a nasty watermark) so you know what you are getting yourself into.

You do all your calibration using their "Immersive Calibration PRO" software (that comes with Immersive Display PRO), then it will export a DCS .lua that you can copy into your monitor config .lua. 

Then when you run Immersive Display PRO in the background when running DCS World, you view will be warped to the perfect perspective when sitting in your cockpit.

SimShaker for Aviators is free software that runs various products that have built in vibration motors, such as the GAMETRIX KW-908 JETSEAT. 

I don't have a jetseat, but what I do have is a ButtKicker Gamer 2 bass shaker, so I purchased the pay-ware add on for Simshaker for Aviators called Simshaker Sound Module.

Most bass shakers like the ButtKicker Gamer 2 are designed to be connected to the sub woofer out of a audio amplifier. They are pretty cool the first time you feel them, but after a while you will realise that in DCS World all they really do is add a constant rumble/vibration to your sim pit based on the audio of the engine.

This is where Sim Shaker Sound Module comes in.

All you need to do is add another sound card, and it can be the cheapest one money can buy. Audio quality does not matter as it wont be actually making any sound. I bought this a cheap USB sound card. 

You connect your base shaker amplifier to the added sound card, then set it as the output in the Sim Shaker Sound Module software.

The software then reads data from DCS World, and plays specific sound files on that separate card that are triggered by events in the game.

So when the landing gear lock down, it plays three distinct files when they lock down, so you feel the three distinct clunks. Fire the gun and the entire thing shakes to pieces. Approach the stall angle and a specific buffeting is felt in the seat.

I cant really state how much of an improvement this software made to the ButtKicker Gamer 2. It's an absolute game changer. Even if you don't have a cockpit, attaching a Gamer 2 to an office chair with this in VR will be epic. 

Worth the money it costs and then some.

VIACOM PRO is a plugin for Voice Attack, that adds advanced speech recognition to DCS World.

It increases immersion, allowing you to stop using the annoying F1-F12 menus to communicate with AI units and just use your headset and voice.

Want your AI wing man to engage a target, key your mic switch and say that just like you would in the real aircraft.

I use this a lot in single player, but not much in multiplayer (I don't use AI units in multiplayer anyway).

It can also be set to run a voice recording of real radio chatter in the background- this alone makes single player missions actually feel populated!

Voice Attack costs $14 AUD ($10 USD).

A full licence for VIACOM PRO cost 20 euros ($30 AUD / $23 USD). 

Together they are worth every cent.

DCS Simple Radio Standalone (DCS SRS) is more open source community driven software that improves DCS World. 

This software allows your aircraft radios to work just like real ones, in the multiplayer environment. 

Change frequencies to hear different strike packages. 

Tune to a different frequencies to talk to your wing man with no one else listening.

Tune to the Air Traffic Control frequency to hear a real person running the airspace around Anapa.

Listen to a real human running an AWACS to direct real humans flying fake Hornets to destroy enemy aircraft while you sneak underneath the furball in your slow, fat A-10C hoping nobody notices you (they always do).

Range between aircraft affects quality of communications. Enemy jamming affects it. It has squelch noises and feedback. The mic switch in my A-10C cockpit now runs the three radios just like in the real jet, rather than having to look in the top corner to read F1-12 menus.

Another thing DCS World should come standard with...

Its also free to download.