Throttle Calibration

Use this table to identify how to configure and calibrate your controller with the steps described below.

Microsoft Flight Simulator allows you to create separate profiles for different controllers. To do that change to the DEFAULT profile of your controller and create a copy of it (DUPLICATE).

Set your Sensitivity settings exactly like this:

Your controller needs to have an axis which can be used as a throttle lever. This axis needs to be mapped to the throttle input of Microsoft Flight Simulator. Most controllers will be mapped automatically by Microsoft Flight Simulator in the default profile.

If this is not the case you can find out which controller axis is used by your controller by using the Sensitivity dialog and move the lever to see which axis is moving.

You can use either of these MSFS inputs:

• THROTTLE 1 AXIS (0 TO 100%) and THROTTLE 2 AXIS (0 TO 100%)
  (for a throttle with two levers)

• THROTTLE 1 AXIS and THROTTLE 2 AXIS
  (for a throttle with two levers)

• THROTTLE AXIS
  (for a throttle with one lever)

Make sure if you move the throttle all the way from lowest setting to highest setting that the white bar underneath the mapping line also moves all the way in both directions.

Microsoft Flight Simulator allows the mapping of a key or button to use the normal throttle axis as the reverser axis. To configure this chose a key or button on your controller and map it like this:

To activate the reverser hold the configured button while applying thrust with your thrust lever. Instead of forward thrust this will apply reverse thrust. The cockpit levers will move backwards into the reverser range.

Alternatively you can use TOGGLE THROTTLE REVERSE THRUST to use a button or key to activate reverse thrust. While this is active you can push the throttle forward to increase reverse thrust. To deactivate reverse thrust you need to press the mapped key/button again.

Some controllers have built in buttons that activate when the throttle is moved into the reverse position. With these controllers you can't use the above method as you would have to move the throttles forward to increase reverse thrust. But this would release the reverse button and apply normal forward thrust.

To simulate reverse thrust with these throttle controllers you can map the reverser button(s) to the THROTTLE 1/2 DECREASE. So as long as you keep the controller levers in the reverse position the throttle will be decreased up to full reverse thrust. To stop reverse thrust you would move the throttle forward (button will be released) and apply a little thrust so the throttle moves to a non-reverse value again.

Open the flyPad (maybe pop it out to a separate window next to the throttle with Right Alt+Left Button) and go to Sim Options (Tab) -> Calibrate.

Set Reverser on Axis to ON if your throttle has a range for the reverser thrust (lowest setting is full reverse).

Set Reverser on Axis to OFF if your throttle does not have a range for the reverser thrust (lowest setting is idle).

Set Independent Axis to ON if you have two throttle levers. If you only have one throttle lever set it to OFF.

Examples for Common Hardware:

The image above shows the controller in the IDLE position with a control value of -0.50.

As some controllers might be at a lower or higher value than -0.50 and even the same controller might sometimes have slightly different values although in the same position, the deadband of 0.05 ensures that small differences in actual values are treated as within a valid range for the IDLE position. In this case all values from -0.55 to -0.45 are valid IDLE positions.

Notice that the blue bar correspondents to current throttle position and is between two green lines. The green lines mark your deadband range for the detent. As long as the blue bar is between them, the throttle reads this as the corresponding detent. If your throttle is outside these green bars they become gray as you no longer are in the corresponding detent.

If your controller values vary a lot although in the same position the value might sometimes be outside the deadband range. In this case carefully increase the deadband value to include the value variations of the controller.

For controllers with Reverser the lowest setting is Full Reverse. Pull your controller levers all the way back into the Full Reverse position.

For controllers without Reverser the lowest setting is IDLE. Pull your controller levers all the way back into the IDLE position.

Set the controller lever to the desired position and click the corresponding button on the calibration page.

Press "Set From Throttle" on both sides for each detent.

1. Reverse Full (if you have reverser on axis)
2. Reverse Idle (if you have reverser on axis)
3. Idle
4. CLB
5. FLX
6. TO/GA

Thrustmaster TCA Throttle

Full Reverse

• Make sure that your TCA throttles are all the way back to Full Reverse (pull the Reverse Levers up to do so).

  

• Open the flyPad (maybe pop it out to a separate window next to the throttle with Right Alt+Left Button) and go to Settings -> Calibrate.

  Throttle Calibration Page:

  

• Set Reverser on Axis to ON (see 1 in image).

• Set Independent Axis to ON (see 2 in image).

• Click on Reverse Full in the middle (3)

  • Confirm that the value for Axis 1 (4) and Axis 2 is -1.0 (or very close to).

  To get the current throttle values it might be necessary to move the mouse outside the EFB window if you popped out the window with Right Alt+Left Button

• Click on Set From Throttle for Axis 1 (6) and Axis 2 (7).

Reverse Idle

• Move your TCA throttle forward until the Reverse Levers snap back and then pull the Reverse Levers up again and move the throttle back a bit. There is no detent for Reverse Idle so just make sure it is not all the way back but well out of the Idle Detent.

  To get the current throttle values it might be necessary to move the mouse outside the EFB window if you popped out the window with Right Alt+Left Button

  

• Click on Reverse Idle in the middle (3)

• Click on Set From Throttle for Axis 1 (6) and Axis 2 (7).

  

  Notice how the blue bar (current throttle position) is between two green lines. These green lines are your deadband range for the detent. As long as the blue bar is between them, the throttle reads this as the corresponding detent (in this case Reverse Idle). If you move the throttle outside these green bars they become gray as you now no longer are in the corresponding detent.

  You can enlarge the deadband by increasing the value above the "Set From Throttle" button. Currently this is 0.05 - set it as required which will move the green lines down/up.

  Usually the default values are sufficient.

Idle

• Move the TCA throttle into the IDLE detent by moving it forward until the Reverse Levers snap back then pull the throttle levers back against the reverse lock.
• Click on Idle in the middle (3).

• Click on Set From Throttle for Axis 1 (6) and Axis 2 (7).

  

CLB

• Move the TCA throttle forward one detent (CLB detent).
• Click on CLB in the middle (3).

• Click on Set From Throttle for Axis 1 (6) and Axis 2 (7).

  

FLX/MCT

• Move the TCA throttle forward one detent (FLX/MCT detent).
• Click on FLX in the middle (3).

• Click on Set From Throttle for Axis 1 (6) and Axis 2 (7).

  

TOGA

• Move the TCA throttle all the way forward (TO GA).
• Click on TOGA in the middle (3)

• Click on Set From Throttle for Axis 1 (6) and Axis 2 (7).

  

• Click on "SAVE AND APPLY" (8)

  

• Test each setting with a view like this. Make sure the mouse is outside the pop-out window otherwise the aircraft's throttles won't move.

  

Congratulations! You have successfully calibrated your TCA Throttle!

Thrustmaster TWCS Throttle

This describes the calibration of a single axis throttle with no Reverser on Axis and also no detents.

Throttle Mapping

This throttle does not have reversers on its axis, so we need to map the reverser activation onto a button on the throttle or key on the keyboard (see 2 below). In the example below we used the button "3" for this.

Hold this button and push the throttle forward to increase reverse thrust.

Calibrating in the FlyByWire flyPad (EFB)

• Go to the flyPad Throttle Calibration page

  

• As this throttle has no reverse and only one real axis, set the Reverser on Axis to OFF (1) and also the Independent Axis to OFF (2)

• Move the throttle all the way back to idle.

• As described above we go through all detents and set the values accordingly with Set From Throttle. The easiest way to do that is by having the flyPad in a separate window next to the throttle as in the screenshot below.

  

• For the detents CL, FLX and TO GA you can increase the dead zone to make it easier to move your throttle into the detents.

  

  In this example we have set the dead zone to 0.25 on either side of the actual setting. For FLX and TO GA you can use 0.10 or 0.15.

• Click on "SAVE AND APPLY" (8) and test everything

  

Congratulations! You have successfully calibrated your throttle!

Honeycomb Bravo Throttle Quadrant

The Honeycomb Bravo Throttle Quadrant does not have a real reverser on axis but emulates this by using a button when pulled back into the reverser position.

This makes configuration a bit awkward because Microsoft Flight Simulator is not capable to directly use this setup for a realistic reverser functionality.

To realistically use the reverser the pilot would lift the reverser lever and the pull the throttle back into the reverser range of the throttle axis.

There is however a way to simulate this with MSFS and the FlyByWire Throttle Calibration as described below.

Throttle Mapping

The mapping required for the Bravo is shown in this screenshot:

You might need to use THROTTLE 1/2 AXIS and not THROTTLE 1/2 AXIS (0 TO 100%).

Also do make sure to have REVERSE AXIS unchecked!

The THROTTLE 1/2 DECREASE mapping to Buttons 10,26 and Buttons 11,27 simulates the reverser when the Bravo's reverser lever is lifted (buttons 10 and 11) and the thrust lever is pulled back (buttons 26 and 27). This activates the buttons configured in the image above and in turn decreases throttle power to negative values for the reverser.

If you release the reverser levers (buttons 10+11) the mapping to THROTTLE CUT activates and put the thrust back to idle.

If you use the GA levers you will need to map the reverser to some other button, e.g. on your yoke/side stick, as the reverser buttons (10, 11) will not be there.

Calibrating in the FlyByWire flyPad (EFB)

[throttle_common]
reverse_on_axis = false

[throttle_axis_1]
reverse_low = -1.000000
reverse_high = -0.950000
reverse_idle_low = -0.720000
reverse_idle_high = -0.620000
idle_low = -1.000000
idle_high = -0.900000
climb_low = -0.161230
climb_high = 0.138770
flex_mct_low = 0.840000
flex_mct_high = 0.940000
toga_low = 0.950000
toga_high = 1.000000

[throttle_axis_2]
reverse_low = -1.000000
reverse_high = -0.950000
reverse_idle_low = -0.720000
reverse_idle_high = -0.620000
idle_low = -1.000000
idle_high = -0.900000
climb_low = -0.169348
climb_high = 0.130652
flex_mct_low = 0.820000
flex_mct_high = 0.920000
toga_low = 0.950000
toga_high = 1.000000

• Go to the flyPad Throttle Calibration page

• As this throttle has no reverser on the axis, set the Reverser on Axis to OFF but set Independent Axis to ON.

  

• Move the throttle all the way back to idle.

• As described above we go through all detents and set the values accordingly with Set From Throttle.

• For the detents CL, FLX and TO GA you can increase the dead zone to make it easier to move your throttle into the detents.

  

  In this example we have set the dead zone to 0.25 on either side of the actual setting. For FLX and TO GA you can use 0.10 or 0.15.

• Click on "SAVE AND APPLY" (8) and test everything

  

Congratulations! You have successfully calibrated your throttle!

Keyboard

No calibration required for keyboard - read below!

The keyboard does not have any axis which could be used for controlling the throttles. It uses various keys to increase and decrease the throttles or to set the throttles to predetermined positions.

The default Microsoft Flight Simulator mappings is:

• Ctrl+F1: Set throttles to IDLE
• Ctrl+F2: Decrease throttle by 1/40th (below IDLE this engages the reverser)
• Ctrl+F3: Increase throttle by 1/40th
• Ctrl+F4: Set throttles to TO/GA

The A32NX throttle calibration uses values from -1.0 to +1.0:

• Full Reverse is at -1.0
• IDLE detent is at -0.5
• CLB detent is at 0.0
• MCT/FLX is at 0.5
• TO/GA is at +1.0.

The step size for F2 and F3 is 0.05. This result in 40 steps in total from Full Reverse to TO/GA. The CLB detent is right in the middle at 20 steps.

With the default throttle configuration built into the A32NX this results in the following number of steps:

Counting from IDLE (-0.5):

• 10 times Ctrl+F2 (decrease) for Full Reverse (-1.0)
• 10 times Ctrl+F3 (increase) for CLB detent (-0.0)
• 10 times Ctrl+F3 (increase) for MCT/FLX detent (0.5)
• 10 times Ctrl+F3 (increase) for TO/GA detent (1.0)

Congratulations! You can use the keyboard for throttle control!

Xbox Controller

No calibration required for the Xbox controller - read below!

The Xbox-Controller (or any other game controller) is very similar to controlling the throttle with the keyboard. It uses buttons to increase and decrease the throttles.

Therefore read the Keyboard section section but instead of F2 or F3 use the buttons mapped to throttle increase and decrease on your controller. See also the Keyboard Special Mapping as this also works for the Xbox buttons.

For the Xbox-Controller the default buttons are:

• A: Increase throttle
• B: Decrease throttle

Of course you can map different buttons in MSFS. Also other controllers might have different default buttons for the throttle.

Congratulations! You can use your Xbox controller for throttle control!