Immersive Aircraft: Controller Support

Fly Immersive Aircraft with a controller

Immersive Aircraft: Controller Support adds dedicated analog controller controls to Immersive Aircraft . Fly fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft using smooth stick input, analog throttle control, precision taxiing, aircraft-specific handling, and a compact fading input HUD.

Xbox controllers use the standard gamepad layout, supported PlayStation controllers use familiar equivalent button positions, and Steam Input provides support for Steam Deck, Steam Controller, and many other devices.

Required: This is a client-side Immersive Aircraft addon, not a standalone controller mod. Immersive Aircraft must also be installed. Fabric users must also install Fabric API.

Aircraft-specific controller support

General controller mods usually translate controller buttons into ordinary keyboard inputs. Immersive Aircraft: Controller Support is designed specifically around aircraft movement, throttle control, taxiing, rotorcraft handling, and compatible aircraft addons.

• Native analog flight input — smooth pitch, roll, coordinated turning, lateral movement, vertical movement, and throttle adjustment.
• Fixed-wing handling — bank and turn naturally in flight while retaining controlled, level steering on the ground.
• Rotorcraft controls — analog forward, backward, and lateral movement with trigger-controlled climb and descent.
• Trigger-based throttle — gradually increase or decrease power instead of relying only on digital keyboard input.
• Precision taxi mode — reduce steering and throttle response for careful runway movement.
• Hybrid input — keyboard controls remain available and immediately take over when the controller disconnects.
• Hot-plug detection — connect or reconnect a controller while Minecraft is already running.
• Per-aircraft tuning — configure pitch, roll, turning, and throttle sensitivity globally or for specific aircraft types.
• Compact flight-input HUD — view the detected controller, precision mode, and live analog input without permanently covering the aircraft HUD.
• Optional addon controls — dedicated shortcuts integrate with Homing Missiles and Camera Zoom when installed.

Controller compatibility

• Xbox controllers — use the standard GLFW/XInput gamepad layout directly.
• PlayStation controllers — supported when GLFW recognizes the device as a standard gamepad. Steam Input can provide a compatible mapping when required.
• Steam Deck and Steam Controller — supported through Steam Input using an Xbox-style gamepad layout.
• Other gamepads — may work when they expose a standard GLFW gamepad mapping.

Raw DirectInput joysticks, flight sticks, HOTAS axis layouts, and controller vibration are not included in version 1.0.0. When using another controller mod, avoid assigning the same aircraft actions in both mods.

Default controller layout

Fixed-wing aircraft

• Left stick horizontal — roll and coordinated turning in flight; level steering while taxiing.
• Left stick vertical — pitch.
• Right trigger — increase throttle.
• Left trigger — decrease throttle.
• Right stick — reserved for camera movement where supported.

Rotorcraft

• Left stick horizontal — lateral movement.
• Left stick vertical — forward and backward movement.
• Right trigger / Left trigger — climb / descend.
• Right stick — camera look and aircraft-facing control where supported.

Buttons

• A / Cross — boost.
• B / Circle — dismount.
• RB / R1 — fire the installed aircraft weapon.
• Back / Create — toggle precision taxi mode.
• LB / L1 — cycle the Homing Missiles target.
• Y / Triangle — cycle the installed Homing Missiles seeker.
• X / Square — deploy Homing Missiles smart defense.
• D-pad Left / Right — deploy flares / chaff.
• D-pad Up / Down — Camera Zoom out / in.

Homing Missiles and Camera Zoom controls only activate when the matching addon is installed. Every button can be changed or disabled in the configuration file.

Why use this addon?

• Designed specifically for Immersive Aircraft flight mechanics.
• Provides real analog axes instead of only mapping controller buttons to keyboard keys.
• Handles fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft differently.
• Includes precision ground handling for taxiing.
• Works alongside keyboard controls.
• Integrates directly with other Crabb4n aircraft addons.

This addon can be used by itself for aircraft controls or alongside a general controller mod for menus, inventory navigation, and normal Minecraft movement.

Installation

1. Download the file matching your Minecraft version and mod loader.
2. Install Immersive Aircraft .
3. When using Fabric, also install Fabric API.
4. Remove any older Immersive Controls alpha file.
5. Place Immersive Aircraft: Controller Support in your Minecraft mods folder.
6. Connect the controller before or after Minecraft starts, then enter a compatible aircraft.

The settings file is generated at config/gamepad-immersive-aircraft.properties. If an alpha build created config/immersive-controls.properties, version 1.0.0 imports those settings automatically the first time the new file is created.

Supported versions

• Minecraft 1.20.1: Fabric and Forge
• Minecraft 1.21.1: Fabric and NeoForge
• Minecraft 1.21.11: Fabric and NeoForge
• Java: Java 17 for Minecraft 1.20.1; Java 21 or newer for Minecraft 1.21.x
• Environment: Client-side

Version 1.0.0 was built for Immersive Aircraft releases matching the same Minecraft version and validated with Immersive Aircraft 1.4.1 on Minecraft 1.20.1, Immersive Aircraft 1.4.6 on Minecraft 1.21.1, and Immersive Aircraft 1.4.7 on Minecraft 1.21.11.

Complete your flight experience

Homing Missiles
Guided missiles, target acquisition, warnings, countermeasures, and aircraft combat systems.

Camera Zoom
Adjust third-person camera distance for awareness, large aircraft, screenshots, and filming.

Realistic Landing
Adaptive approaches, smoother touchdowns, landing ratings, and natural runway rollout.

Realistic Takeoff
Longer runway rolls, progressive rotation, smoother liftoff, and controlled initial climb.

Modpacks

You may include Immersive Aircraft: Controller Support in public or private modpacks with credit.

Feedback and bug reports

Reports are welcome. Please include your controller model, connection method, operating system, Minecraft version, mod loader, Immersive Aircraft version, tested aircraft, other controller mods, and any edited configuration settings.

Discord: crabban1337

Credits

Created by Crabb4n. Special thanks to the Immersive Aircraft team for the original mod.

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