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simple airplane physics toolkit

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Input Modules

Simple Airplane Controller supports multiple input backends. All input modules inherit from AirplaneInput and can be swapped on the same aircraft.

input-modules

Module Overview

Module File Description
AirplaneInput Legacy/AirplaneInput.cs Default keyboard input
AirplaneInputAxes Legacy/AirplaneInputAxes.cs Unity Input Manager axes
AirplaneInputDelegate Legacy/AirplaneInputDelegate.cs Scriptable overrides
AirplaneInputSimpleAI Legacy/AirplaneInputSimpleAI.cs AI follow/waypoint
AirplaneInputKeyboardDelegate Legacy/HybridControllers/ Keyboard + delegate hybrid
AirplaneInputMobile AirplaneInputMobile.cs Mobile touch controls
AirplaneInputActions AirplaneInputActions.cs New Input System

Legacy Modules

AirplaneInput (Keyboard)

The default module. If no input component is found on the aircraft at startup, this one is added automatically.

Inspector Features:

  • Real-time input readout (axes values, throttle, flaps, brakes)
  • Full key remapping
  • Trim settings (step size and key bindings)
  • Configurable input sensitivity and throttle step size
  • Auto-brake option (engages brakes when throttle is closed)
  • Starting throttle position

AirplaneInputAxes (Input Manager)

Reads from Unity's legacy Input Manager axes (Edit > Project Settings > Input Manager).

Use this for joystick/yoke hardware or custom axis bindings. Axes that aren't defined in the Input Manager are silently ignored.

Available Axes:

  • Pitch, Roll, Yaw, Throttle (all axes)
  • Flaps (axis — positive increments, negative decrements)
  • Brake, Camera, Engine Cutoff, Light Toggle, Gear Toggle (button axes)

AirplaneInputDelegate (Scriptable Overrides)

Exposes all input values as public fields and methods. Use this when controlling the aircraft from other scripts, AI, or networked input.

Methods:

  • SetPitch(float), SetRoll(float), SetYaw(float)
  • SetThrottle(float), SetRawThrottle(float)
  • SetBrake(float), SetFlaps(int)
  • ToggleCamera(), ToggleEngine(), ToggleLights(), ToggleLandingGearAssembly()
  • SetPitchTrim(float), SetRollTrim(float)

AirplaneInputSimpleAI

Basic AI that follows a target or navigates waypoints. Not a full autopilot — it's a demonstration of what the input delegate system enables.

Modes:

  • Follow — Chases a target transform
  • Route — Follows a list of waypoints in sequence (loops back to start)

AI applies pitch, roll, yaw, and throttle. It avoids ground contact using a downward raycast. Configure overrides for flaps, brakes, and toggles.

AirplaneInputKeyboardDelegate

Combines keyboard input with delegate overrides. Keyboard input and scripted overrides are summed together. Useful for games where a player can fly manually but scripting needs to influence controls (e.g., damage wobble, auto-level).

New Input System (AirplaneInputActions)

Requires the com.unity.inputsystem package (Window > Package Manager).

Setup:

  1. Install the Input System package and restart Unity
  2. Add AirplaneInputActions component to your aircraft
  3. Assign the included SimplePlaneControls.inputactions asset
  4. Click Bind Actions From Asset in the inspector

Provided Control Schemes:

  • Keyboard — Maps to the same keys as the default AirplaneInput
  • Gamepad — Left stick for pitch/roll, right stick X for yaw

Custom Bindings: Each action can be individually overridden in the inspector. Actions auto-detect when the input asset is assigned.

Actions:

  • Pitch, Roll, Yaw, Throttle (all Value/Axis)
  • Flaps, Brake, CameraSwitch, EngineCutoff, LightToggle, LandingGear (all Button)
  • TrimPitch, TrimRoll (Value/Axis)

Mobile Controls (AirplaneInputMobile)

Touch-screen controls for mobile builds.

Setup:

  1. Add AirplaneInputMobile component to your aircraft
  2. Check Auto-Generate UI to create joysticks at runtime, or assign pre-built joystick references
  3. Configure colors and sizing

Auto-Generated Layout:

  • Left joystick — Pitch (vertical) and Roll (horizontal)
  • Right joystick — Yaw (horizontal)
  • Side slider — Throttle (vertical)
  • Buttons: Brake, Flaps Up/Down, Camera, Engine Cutoff, Lights, Landing Gear

Custom Assignment: You can drag pre-configured AirplaneMobileJoystick and AirplaneMobileButton components directly into the slots to design a custom HUD layout.

AirplaneMobileJoystick

Drag-to-steer control with visual handle and fade effect.

Property Description
Movement Range Maximum drag distance in pixels
Horizontal Axis Enable horizontal input
Vertical Axis Enable vertical input
Clamp To Circle Circular vs square drag area
Handle Rect The thumb graphic
Fade On Idle CanvasGroup for idle transparency
Idle/Active Alpha Transparency values
Fade Speed Transition speed

AirplaneMobileButton

Touch button with optional toggle mode.

Property Description
Is Toggle Latching toggle behavior
Pressed Color Active color
Normal Color Idle color

Trim Controls

All input modules support pitch and roll trim. Trim values offset the raw input signal.

Default Keys: T/G (pitch trim up/down), U/I (roll trim left/right), J (reset).

Delegate/API: SetPitchTrim(float) / SetRollTrim(float) on AirplaneInputDelegate and AirplaneInputSimpleAI.

Trim state persists until reset. The inspector displays current trim values in the input readout.