I always wanted to fly helicopters but bought a Cessna instead.Cessna is gone, and my income and medical went the way of other things in retirement.So, here I am flying helicopters (Ranger and Dauphin) with a keyboard. Being impulsive, I ran all over town looking for a joystick and some CH Pedals, but no joy.I can take-off, hover, and land with the keyboard, but somehow, I get into trouble and just can't seem to "get accurate" enough to land between two houses as one poster said. I want to try doing that.Question: Is keyboard input similar to joystick input insofar as the "delay" is concerned? I don't mind flying with a keyboard, actually, and it makes small "tweak" inputs easy, but there's a joystick/rudder in my near future and I wondered if someone might comment on really "necessary" that is to aircraft manipulation, with "Realism" aside.

Mike, as you have found out, you CAN fly the helos with the keyboard so obviously a stick and rudder are not absolutely necessary. But it simply FEELS so much better to use a stick and rudders with the helos (or planes, for that matter) that you really should go for it. I don't think you'll regret it at all.Happy rotoring. :-wave -Lindy :-rotor

Thanks, Lindy. I researched the forum and saw your earlier posts.I have just bought a Wingman Force 3D 'cause it seems to have very little "spring" action for the long hauls. I will add CH rudders from on-line, and don't plan to "plug-in" the power for the force-feedback as I read people don't use that with helos and possibly other non-combative aspects of Flight-Sim.Thanks again.Now to set up this Wingman--my first joystick since the Commodore Vic-20 days.

*Lots* easier (and more fun) with a joystick. Rudder pedals next!

Check this out:http://www.flightlink.com/hardware/rotorwing/index.htmlI use Thrustmaster Cougar with peddles and love it. Remember, set sensitivities to maximum and null zones to minimum. Use highest realism and continusly make small inputs (as in real world). You will be hovering and landing in tight spots after a bit of practive. Head over to Hoversafe(http://members.shaw.ca/hoversafe/Hoversafe.htm) for great lessons and tips.

Yoiks!Be still my Visa! Wow. I'm in the cheap seats, but my CH Pro pedals will be here in a couple days and I'm excited.Between the aircraft detail of FS2002 Pro and the scenic detail of MSTS, I'm in transportation hog heaven and loving every simulator minute of both! Thanks for commenting hassata.