How 'bout milk? Got that? Well, as you've heard me say (write?) before, the Xbox 360 controller goes with Flight Simulator like peanut butter sandwiches and milk---mmm, mmm, good! I like mine so much I just had to make it work with Flight Sim 2004, too. And since Microsoft has a DirectInput driver available from Windows Update this was a piece of cake (which, come to think of it, goes good with milk, too). So, if you've got a wired controller and Flight Sim (the milk is optional) here's all you have to do:
 
1. Locate your FS root folder.
2. Open the DEVICES.CFG file in Notepad.
3. Copy and paste the following lines into the end of the file:
 

[Microsoft Xbox Wired Gamepad (Controller)]
AXIS_EVENT_00=AXIS_AILERONS_SET
AXIS_SCALE_00=20
AXIS_NULL_00=1
AXIS_EVENT_01=AXIS_ELEVATOR_SET
AXIS_SCALE_01=20
AXIS_NULL_01=1
AXIS_EVENT_02=AXIS_RUDDER_SET
AXIS_SCALE_02=-1
AXIS_NULL_02=0
AXIS_EVENT_03=AXIS_PAN_HEADING
AXIS_SCALE_03=64
AXIS_NULL_03=30
AXIS_EVENT_04=AXIS_PAN_PITCH
AXIS_SCALE_04=-64
AXIS_NULL_04=30
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_00=THROTTLE_DECR_SMALL
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_00=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_01=THROTTLE_INCR_SMALL
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_01=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_02=GEAR_TOGGLE
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_03=BRAKES
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_03=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_04=VIEW_MODE_REV
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_05=VIEW_MODE
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_06=PAUSE_TOGGLE
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_07=USER_INTERRUPT
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_08=ELEV_TRIM_DN
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_08=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_09=ELEV_TRIM_UP
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_09=1
POV_MOVE_EVENT_00=PAN_VIEW
POV_MOVE_REPEAT_00=1

[Microsoft Xbox Wired Gamepad (Controller) SLEW]
AXIS_EVENT_00=AXIS_SLEW_SIDEWAYS_SET
AXIS_SCALE_00=64
AXIS_NULL_00=20
AXIS_EVENT_01=AXIS_SLEW_AHEAD_SET
AXIS_SCALE_01=64
AXIS_NULL_01=20
AXIS_EVENT_02=AXIS_SLEW_BANK_SET
AXIS_SCALE_02=-32
AXIS_NULL_02=0
AXIS_EVENT_03=AXIS_SLEW_HEADING_SET
AXIS_SCALE_03=32
AXIS_NULL_03=5
AXIS_EVENT_04=AXIS_SLEW_ALT_SET
AXIS_SCALE_04=-127
AXIS_NULL_04=10
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_00=SLEW_PITCH_PLUS
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_00=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_01=SLEW_PITCH_MINUS
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_01=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_02=MINUS
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_03=PLUS
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_04=VIEW_MODE_REV
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_05=VIEW_MODE
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_06=PAUSE_TOGGLE
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_07=SLEW_TOGGLE
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_08=SLEW_RESET
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_09=SLEW_FREEZE
POV_MOVE_EVENT_00=PAN_VIEW
POV_MOVE_REPEAT_00=1

 
4. Save the file.
5. Plug in the controller (and wait for the driver to update if necessary).
6. Launch FS.
 
This file provides a reasonable default set of control mappings although you can tweak them by using the Assignments dialog in FS. Oh, and as a BONUS, if you have an Xbox 360 headset you can simply plug it into the controller and it will show up as a sound device in Control Panel. Just select it as your default output device, sit back on your couch (provided your PC is nearby <g>), relax and enjoy the elegance of comfortable flying. Ahhh, it doesn't get any better...