FS2002: A new take on it's realism

August 17, 200223 yr

Yellow all,Thanks to this forum, all of you, and FS2002, I became very interrested in flying helicopters (which I dont know how I let happen, seeing as how I am an airplane man at heart:)). And so, the other day, I went and did .5 in a R22, and .5 in a Hughes 300. Boy, let me tell you, it was a BLAST!!!! Flying the real thing after only the impresssions of the simulator gives you such a rewarding feeling. Now, I have gotten pretty good in the FS helo's.....I can hover in a precise spot, move around with precision, and generally fly smoothly, but the real thing is a bit trickier! For one, the horizon in realation to the aircraft is very hard to distinguish.....unlike the simulator! Second, winds and turbulence keep you on you're toes when its hover time. The flight controlls were more or less what I expected: The cyclique was very sensitive at cruise, but less sensitive then expected in hover. the yaw pedals had a LOT more traven then anticipated, and they're use VERY tricky when adjusting collective in a hover. My first flight was in the Hughes 300. Nice helicopter...very comfortable, but very slow! We went up, and he gave me the controlls at 800FT, and I did a few turns and stuff....the instructor was really cheap, and did'nt even let me touch the pedals or the collective. After half an hour of that we went back, and I settled into the R22. The instructor for this one was cool, and right after reaching 30 knots, he gave me the controlls: all of them :). so, we did a few turns and climbs, and tried a few things. Then, he pointed me twards the heli pad, and let me bring it down to a hover in a farmers field right next to it. There, I got my first taste of hovering in a real chopper! I tell you, it was harder than I thought! Although, I'm sure its just a question of getting used to it, and less a question of aquireing the skills (thanks to FS2002!). I managed to hold it rather well, until he asked me to turn the helo sideways to the wind while maintaining a hover....I lost it on that one, but nothing dramatic. After what seemed like 1 minute (which turned out to be 15 minutes) he let me do the approach to the heli pad! a little 3 meter diameter circle, with many other chopper in the vacinity, and I brought it right on top of it!!!!!! it was a little shaky, though, so he did the actual touchdown. I was disapointed. I wanted to stay in that helo until all my theckniques were PERFECT. Oh well.THE POINT: My instrucors (the second, cool guy more than the first) said he was VERY impressed I could do all that I did on a first flight! The cool guy even went as far as to say it was incredible, and that I was clearly born to fly chopper. Then, I blurted out my secret: FS2002! And guess what? The cool instructor is also a fellow simmer!! How cool is that?!A WORD A ADVICE: to all you heli-simmers out there seeking realism: Keep that visibility at no more than 10 miles....get rid of that horizon to help you out! Keep thoses controll sensitivities nice and high. And here is a word to the designers: Get that tourque factor WAY up for the rotor! simmers have to work on the collectivepedals coordination in a hover!!!Thats all folks.