Falcon BMS 4.38 Setup Guide – Keys, Graphics, VR & Head Tracking.
Falcon BMS 4.38 is one of the most realistic and rewarding combat flight simulators available today. With a new graphics engine, advanced avionics, and dynamic campaigns, it offers incredible depth. But setting it up can feel overwhelming especially for beginners.
This guide walks you through Falcon BMS 4.38 setup step by step. We’ll cover axis assignments, key binds, graphics settings, VR configuration, and head tracking solutions. Whether you use a HOTAS, TrackIR, or VR headset, this guide will help you get airborne faster.
Falcon BMS 4.38 Launcher – Features Overview
The new Launcher is one of the biggest upgrades in Falcon BMS 4.38. Instead of editing files or juggling tools, you can now configure everything in one place.
It’s VERY IMPORTANT you set up your AXIS and buttons through the LAUNCHER and not inside Falcon BMS. The key bindings DO NOT save properly so do it from the LAUNCHER PLEASE!
Key Features.
- Axis Assign – Set joystick or HOTAS axes for pitch, roll, yaw, brakes.
- Key Mapping – Assign commands like trigger, radar cursor, TMS, and CMS.
- Theatre Selection – Choose Korea, Balkans, Israel, or new community maps.
- Monitor & VR Options – Switch between monitor, SteamVR, or OpenXR.
- Additional Options – ACMI, windowed mode, Eyefly camera, debug tools.
- Graphics Optimization – Adjust performance and visual clarity.
- Profiles & Multiplayer – Save controller setups and configure servers.
👉 Always run the Launcher as Administrator to avoid saving issues.
Setting Up Controls – Axis Assignments & Key Binds.
Correctly mapping your joystick and throttle is essential in Falcon BMS. Always set up controls inside the Launcher, not in the simulator menu. The in-game setup is unstable and may reset.
Assigning Axes.
- Pitch/Roll → Joystick X & Y axes
- Yaw → Rudder pedals or joystick twist
- Throttle → HOTAS throttle quadrant or slider
- Calibration → Use “Calibrate” to ensure smooth control
Setting Key Binds.
Falcon BMS has hundreds of commands. Start with the essentials.
- Open the Launcher.
- Click Key Mapping.
- Search for the function (e.g., TMS, DMS, CMS).
- Click the box for your joystick or throttle.
- Press the button you want to assign.
- Hit Save.
👉 Pro Tip: Back up your Full.key file in User\Config before making changes.
Must Have Key Binds in Falcon BMS.
Here are the most important bindings every pilot should set first:
- TMS – Target Management Switch (lock and step radar targets)
- DMS – Display Management Switch (switch SOI)
- CMS – Countermeasures Switch (chaff and flares)
- Radar Cursor – Move targeting cursor
- SLAP Switch – Emergency countermeasure release
Using Modifier Keys for HOTAS.
You can expand your HOTAS setup by using a modifier button (e.g., a pinky switch). This allows a single hat switch to handle multiple functions.
Example setup:
- Default Hat → Radar Cursor
- Hat + Modifier → TMS commands
This doubles your available inputs and keeps your hands on the controls.
Falcon BMS 4.38 Theatres & Maps.
Falcon BMS 4.38 includes:
- Korea (KTO) – Default theatre, fully updated.
- Balkans – Updated and available.
- Israel – Historical campaign maps.
- Hellenic Theatre – Covers Southern Europe and the Middle East.
⚠️ Warning: Falcon BMS 4.37 maps (e.g., Nevada, Vietnam, Nordic, Desert Storm) are not compatible with 4.38. Developers must update them before release.
Falcon BMS 4.38 VR Setup – SteamVR & OpenXR.
Falcon BMS 4.38 now offers native VR support.
SteamVR.
- Easy to set up.
- Works with most headsets.
- Slightly higher system load.
OpenXR (Recommended)
- Lower latency and smoother performance.
- Requires correct runtime (Meta, WMR, or Steam).
- More stable than SteamVR for most users.
👉 Do not use OpenXR Toolkit. It no longer works and may crash Falcon BMS.
Head Tracking Alternatives
If you don’t use VR, head tracking is the next best option.
Options
- FreeTrack – Free, DIY IR setup.
- FaceTrackNoIR – Uses a webcam, lighting sensitive.
- TrackIR – Premium and highly accurate.
- AITrack + OpenTrack – Free AI-driven face tracking, very stable.
Additional Aircraft in Falcon BMS.
While the F-16 Viper is the main aircraft, Falcon BMS 4.38 also offers:
- F-15C Eagle – Full cockpit, advanced air combat model.
- F/A-18C Hornet – Carrier operations with LSO landings.
- AV-8B Harrier – VTOL capabilities.
- MiG-29 Fulcrum – Fly as Red Air.
Final Setup Tips.
- Always back up config files before updates.
- Start simple and expand your bindings later.
- Test setups in training missions before multiplayer.
- Optimize graphics and VR for your hardware.
With the right setup, Falcon BMS 4.38 offers the most realistic F-16 combat flight sim available.
Falcon BMS 4.38 Official – Breaking Changes!
- All previous theatres, mods or assets prepared for 4.37 are not compatible! DO NOT MOD 4.38
Tap while we wait for the other official maps to be completed.
- Nevada Theatre
- Nellis AFB training range.
- Popular for Red Flag-style missions.
- Requires 4.38 update.
- Red Dog’s Aegean Theatre
- Greece and Western Turkey.
- Excellent terrain and target areas.
- Update needed for 4.38.
- Operation Desert Storm Theatre (ODS)
- Iraq/Kuwait 1991 Gulf War.
- Popular for historical campaigns.
- Update needed.
- Panama Theatre
- Central America focus.
- Niche but high quality.
- Update needed.
- Nordic Theatre
- Scandinavia region.
- Community maintained.
- Needs reworking for 4.38.
- Iberia Theatre
- Spain and Portugal.
- Community project.
- No official 4.38 update yet.
- Battle for Sinai
- Israel/Sinai campaigns.
- Community theatre.
- Requires rebuild.
- Alaska Theatre
- Northern Pacific scenario.
- Requires 4.38 update.
- Kuwait Theatre
- Gulf area with emphasis on modern scenarios.
- Will need update.
- Vietnam Theatre
- SE Asia focus.
- Popular for historical missions.
- Requires update.
- Taiwan Theatre
- Strait conflict scenarios.
- Needs update for 4.38.
Author
Brendon McAliece (Aka Gunnie) is a military veteran with 23 years working on Jet Fighters, their weapons systems and ejection seat/module systems as well as munitions and R&D. Involved with flight simulation since the 1980s, he has flown all the major flight simulators over the years.
He is an Australian expat who has lived in Malaysia, UK, Saudi Arabia and more recently Thailand. He is a multi-lingual blogger who loves to share his life experiences here on LetsFlyVFR.com and DreamingGuitar.com, with his lifestyle and Travel experiences Blog plus his Dreaming Coffee website.
Learn More @
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