Gamepad - Immersive Aircraft

Take control of every flight

Gamepad - Immersive Aircraft adds native analog controller support to Immersive Aircraft. Fly fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft with smooth stick input, pressure-sensitive throttle control, practical utility bindings, and a compact fading flight-input HUD.

Xbox controllers work through the standard gamepad layout, supported PlayStation controllers use the same familiar button positions, and Steam Input provides a dependable path for Steam Deck, Steam Controller, and many other devices.

Required: This is a client-side add-on, not a standalone mod. Immersive Aircraft must also be installed. When using Fabric, Fabric API is required.

Designed for aircraft, not menus

• Native analog flight input — smooth pitch, roll, coordinated turning, lateral movement, vertical movement, and pressure-sensitive throttle adjustment.
• Fixed-wing steering — the left stick banks and turns naturally in flight, then steers on the ground without forcing the wings through the runway.
• Rotorcraft controls — analog lateral and forward movement, trigger-controlled climb and descent, and right-stick camera control.
• Precision taxi mode — reduce steering and throttle response for careful runway movement.
• Hybrid input — keyboard controls remain available and are restored immediately when the controller disconnects.
• Hot-plug detection — connect or reconnect a controller while Minecraft is running.
• Per-aircraft tuning — configure pitch, roll, turning, and throttle sensitivity globally or for individual aircraft types.
• Compact fading HUD — see controller type, precision mode, and live flight axes without permanently covering the aircraft HUD.
• Add-on shortcuts — optional bindings integrate with Homing Missiles and Camera Zoom when those add-ons are installed.

Default controller layout

Fixed-wing aircraft

• Left stick horizontal — roll and coordinated steering in flight; level steering while taxiing.
• Left stick vertical — pitch.
• Right trigger — increase throttle.
• Left trigger — decrease throttle.
• Right stick — intentionally unused for fixed-wing steering.

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 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 the Homing Missiles smart defense.
• D-pad Left / Right — deploy flares / chaff.
• D-pad Up / Down — Camera Zoom out / in.

Homing Missiles and Camera Zoom buttons only act when the matching add-on is installed. Every button can be changed or disabled in the configuration file.

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 the mapping when needed.
• Steam Deck and Steam Controller — enable Steam Input and expose an Xbox-style gamepad layout.
• Other controllers — can work when they have a standard GLFW gamepad mapping.

Raw DirectInput joysticks, flight sticks, HOTAS axis layouts, and controller vibration are not included in version 1.0.0. If another controller mod is installed, avoid assigning overlapping aircraft controls in both mods.

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 Gamepad - Immersive Aircraft 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.

Compatibility

• 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 1.20.1; Java 21 or newer for 1.21.x
• Environment: Client-side

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

Complete your flight experience

Homing Missiles
Aircraft-mounted rockets, guided missiles, target acquisition, warnings, and countermeasures.

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 Gamepad - Immersive Aircraft in public or private modpacks with credit.

Feedback and bug reports

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

Discord: crabban1337

Credits

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

View all Crabb4n projects  •  CrabMods on YouTube