I wish I’d known that flying in multiplayer was far easier than flying alone. Trying to babysit AI, or even keeping formation when you can’t ask “lead, say airspeed” or “where the hell did you go?” is so much harder than speaking to someone.

Not to mention that Falcon Lounge makes it so easy to get into MP without committing to a squadron (thanks, Max!) and the community especially on Discord is quite welcoming and understanding.

Also, while I like reading the manuals, I understand they can be daunting. But you don’t need to know everything - go through the Tutorial manual and fly along with the missions in-game. You don’t need to RTFM back-to-back to get in the air - but it’s an incredible reference for debriefing after a sortie and trying to understand what went wrong or how to do better next time.

I think there are a couple of these floating around for the Thrustmaster T.16000M, but I wanted to create a profile which did not require any T.A.R.G.E.T. scripts to work.

Note: Unfortunately I am not currently in a position to play Falcon BMS and have no plans to update the key files to version 4.37 or later. However, the zip file does contain PDFs with the mapping settings that can be easily recreated using the Alternative Launcher.

This keymap utilises BMS4.34 U1’s new POV hat override functions allowing you to map both the T.16000M and TWCS POV hats to functions. It includes a shifted layer for TMS and DogFight settings with plenty of free keys for remapping if so desired. Button 11 is used for OpenTrack (or TrackIR) centering.

The file is formatted to match the files included with BMS in the Docs\01 Input Devices\03 HOTAS Setup folder, so there are plenty of comments included to help. I’d love to see this entry-level stick included in the BMS download - devs, please feel free to do so or let me know if clean-up is required.

To install:

1. Go to your Falcon BMS 4.34\User\Config folder
2. Edit falcon bms.cfg and add the additional lines from my add to falcon bms.cfg file
3. Copy the .key file to the same folder
4. Load the .key file in Falcon BMS under Setup -> Controllers
5. Jump into 3D to verify all bindings (the 2D interface doesn’t show any shifted bindings)

Download here. The zip file includes PDF layout files for both the functions and the callbacks, and the required falcon bms.cfg changes to enable POV hat override.

Version 11 updates:

• Merged BMS Basic 4.36 keyfile changes

Version 10 updates:

• Added bindings for Toggle Pilot Model (B15) and Center View (shifted B11)
• Moved Visor to B14 and Night Vision to shifted layer B14

Version 9 updates:

• Updated keybindings for Falcon BMS 4.35.1

Version 8 updates:

• Added Falcon BMS 4.35 .key files and moved BMS 4.34 to another folder in the zip file
• Don’t forget the config file changes for both 4.35 and 4.34.1+!

Version 7 updates:

• TMS functions are now on the non-shifted POV hat; TRIM has moved to the shifted POV hat as it’s used less often than TMS
• Added another .key file which retains the original mappings (TRIM unshifted, TMS shifted)

Version 6 updates:

• Added dogfight cancel to shifted TBTN3

Version 5 updates:

• Added CMDS program knob step up/down to shifted layer CMS forward/aft

Version 4 updates:

• Added slap switch to shifted TBTN1 (handily next to CMS)
• Reversed dogfight and speedbrake bindings to closer match F-16 HOTAS

Version 3 updates:

• Tweaked the 3rd Party bindings to remove conflicts with BMS FLAPS and ANT ELEV Knob bindings

Version 2 updates:

• Added curve configs for falcon bms.cfg for the cursor (was too sensitive) - I recommend you disable all deadzones in both Falcon BMS and in the USB Controllers control panel in Windows
• Added MAN RANGE Knob mappings (SimRangeKnobUp/SimRangeKnobDown) to shifted layer THAT1R/THAT1L

For a long time, the recommendation has been to run Falcon in windowed (borderless or otherwise). I don’t know if this has changed with DX11, but I do see a borderless setting inside the 2D client now.

Falcon is a pretty old piece of software and it doesn’t do Alt+Tab or Alt+Enter switching very gracefully.

You can work around this by running windowed all the time and using the Windows magnifier while you navigate the 2D interface.

@dee-jay well based on time zone it’s still KTO… but the time change button has moved!

Thank you! I wish time zones permitted me to fly more with UOAF - I’ve only attended one event (suffered a blue-on-blue incident) but would love to join more.

@khronik I don’t have the exact parameters but from memory MP3 licensing prevented the codec’s inclusion into software - might be why Vegas/Premiere don’t have it included.

When I (rarerly) need to convert between formats I use https://ffmpeg.org/ - you should be able to convert your AVI with a CLI command with the right parameters.

Alternatively if you can’t be bothered with CLI, https://handbrake.fr/ is another good option. It includes the MP3 encoder.

@cag Windows 7 is out of support with no security updates for almost 2 years

You might be able to run the python code directly like @RUSHER0600 suggested, but I’d consider upgrading to Windows 10.

Sorry for the lateness in this one, I haven’t had any time for BMS lately

Version 11 updates:

• Merged BMS Basic 4.36 keyfile changes

Thank you! I wish time zones permitted me to fly more with UOAF - I’ve only attended one event (suffered a blue-on-blue incident) but would love to join more.

@dee-jay well based on time zone it’s still KTO… but the time change button has moved!

I’d be interested too, but sounds like @Khronik got the codec working in Vegas, not necessarily figured out why playback in BMS isn’t working as expected.

@musf at a guess, that’s a “limitation” of WDP/BMS and the F-4 relying on the F-16 avionics. Reading http://www.f-4.nl/f4_11.html as an example, or the F4E manual here, it seems to me only later models of the F-4 got VHF radio.

Page 1-43 of the manual describes the AN/ASQ-19 as only operating on UHF.

So, I’m pretty sure the F-4 modelled in BMS does not have any VHF radios. Technically you shouldn’t be able to communicate on VHF at all, but because it’s using the F-16 avionics it will load the DTC and VHF preset, and that’s why you can use the VHF radio on the preset but not change it.

@khronik I don’t have the exact parameters but from memory MP3 licensing prevented the codec’s inclusion into software - might be why Vegas/Premiere don’t have it included.

When I (rarerly) need to convert between formats I use https://ffmpeg.org/ - you should be able to convert your AVI with a CLI command with the right parameters.

Alternatively if you can’t be bothered with CLI, https://handbrake.fr/ is another good option. It includes the MP3 encoder.

@musf I’m under the impression the F-4 doesn’t have a VHF radio. If you check the docs for the F-4 it only shows UHF switches.

@mj3437 Can you check if the theatres are listed in the Falcon BMS 4.35\Data\TerrData\TheaterDefinition\theater.lst file?

@cag Windows 7 is out of support with no security updates for almost 2 years

You might be able to run the python code directly like @RUSHER0600 suggested, but I’d consider upgrading to Windows 10.

Version 10 updates:

• Added bindings for Toggle Pilot Model (B15) and Center View (shifted B11)
• Moved Visor to B14 and Night Vision to shifted layer B14