For those who have downloaded and tried to (self) install Brian Whitelegg's newly-uploaded BK-117......For reasons not known to me, it does not install properly unless you add a sub-folder on to install location - i.e., ...FS2002/Aircraft/bk117_medevac/.There is another, more suttle, anomoly. The landing gear is specified as being wheels rather than skids which makes for some odd behavior on the ground. This can be corrected by opening the aircraft.cfg file with notepad and scrolling down to CONTACT POINTS. You'll notice that the first number in the first FOUR LINES is 1.0000. Change it to 3.0000 so it looks like: [contact_points]point.0=3.000000,10.416667, etc.....point.1=3.000000,-2.916667, etc.....point.2=3.000000,-2.916667, etc.....point.3=3.000000,10.416667, etc.....Calhover long and prosper

Great hints CalI have noticed many choppers have contact points defined as wheels. I think designers do this to give touchdown scrape sounds, as it seems to me that a contact point designated as a skid gives no sound.What I do to alleviate the problem of having wheels on a chopper that is not supposed to have them, yet still get touchdown sounds is to duplicate the first 4 contact point entries in their entireity, leaving the wheels intact but adding skids.ie:point.0=1.000000,10.416667, etc.....point.1=1.000000,-2.916667, etc.....point.2=1.000000,-2.916667, etc.....point.3=1.000000,10.416667, etc.....point.0=3.000000,10.416667, etc.....point.1=3.000000,-2.916667, etc.....point.2=3.000000,-2.916667, etc.....point.3=3.000000,10.416667, etc.....Now you have touchdown sounds without the chopper rollling around the deck !Steve

i don't dowload this crap. If the you can't publish a good fs helo. dont even bother,by coming out with that ****

Please enlighten and educate us all, Tayphoon.Define a GOOD fs Helo??

As seldom as I visit here let alone say anything I can't think of anything that would encourage a developer to improve their product than the above statement by Tayphoon. But then, that's mainly why I don't visit or even bother to comment anymore around here after a long time. BTW, don't bother to trash me as I won't be listening as I have better things to do. If you have a problem with my attitude, take it up with the forum moderators or have them cut me off. I could care less either way. Do as you see fit but be aware of the fact that there are some developers that are tired of listening to this crap. jb

>i don't dowload this crap. If the you can't publish a good >fs helo. dont even bother,by coming out with that **** I think someone needs to grow up! there is no need for that kind of reply! Fine, don't d/l it and don't talk about it! Geez some people!Regards, Michael

I hear ya jb.After the raking I just got, it will be a good long time before I ever post any "hints" again.Calhover long and prosper

i just wanted to say...that we have to many products wich have original bell(cesnna) air file.....they dont even bother to make a good helo...they just put it together! I would realy prefer seeing a FS helo,who was puted together in a year or half a year, and not in one week. i admire LZ helos,and new Dauphin,Bell 47...and they were not puted together in a week...but they needed a time and real effort of the disigner,to make them! This ARE REAL FS HELOS...OTHER...CALL IT WHAT EVER YOU LIKE

If it wasn't for the freeware designers who contribute their creations(perfect or imperfect) to those of us in the FS Helicopter community, we simply wouldn't have a helicopter community. It's certain that dear ol' Microsoft isn't going to provide us with any new rotorwing designs (especially, based on something other than a Cessna flight model).Instead of bashing these good-hearted folks for their efforts (try repainting a helicopter in a week, let alone designing it in that period of time), we'd be much further ahead by encouraging them and to thank them for what they've done.Additionally, this isn't the first time Cal, Skymed and others have posted helpful hints (withouth slamming the author of the design), and I hope they don't stop. We can only make the interest and enjoyment in FS Helicopter flight grow and improve by working together.My two cents... take it or leave it.Tom

i totaly agree with you by encouraging disigners,but encourageing will not make them better disigners. some times you have to tell them that their work isn't good,so next time they will do better. we have to tell them what we dont like,so that,if they wish to serve FS heli comunity, they will serve good. and somebody posted a topic about "FS helo disign"(freewere) group.That would be good idea. cause some people are better at other works as other. if they join together we could get realy good FS helos.

OK guys, I made an honest mistake in not adding the essential /BK117_medevac final statement to the target in the self install pack.Tayphoon's vitriolic comment really rather took me aback. I had no idea that such an attack would appear in any forum such as this. In the past I have had nothing but support, constructive advice and assistance from FS developers around the world. Cal Booth has been one of these people and I urge him not to hold back in posting help and advice in forums such as this. Perhaps Tayphoon, with his stupendous command of the English language and obvious in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of .air file modification and design of virtual cockpits etc. could supply a series of "How to..." tutorials ?I design aircraft, both rotary and fixed wing for the fun of it and share my efforts with all who care to try them. In the past I have downloaded some aircraft which I subsequently did not care too much for but I would NEVER attack the author telling them that their efforts were "crap". If I was unable to give constructive comment to the author then the simple answer is to delete the file and see what improvements the author has made in their next effort. I don't pretend to be as good at it as the likes of Cal, Ian Standfast, Shlomo Hakim, Dirk Fassbender and all those other excellent, gifted designers out there, but I do try to learn from them. The BK117 wasn't just "put together". It took something like 100 hours of my valuable time. This is after working a 48 hr week on a 24 hr, 7 day, 52 wk /year rotating shift pattern ( ambulance paramedic )with a 20 - 30 hr per week part time job thrown in for good measure to pay for the holidays. One day I might meet Tayphoon in a professional setting. I sincerely hope it doesn't happen but I'm the one on the BLUNT end of the needles mate !I refuse to allow one illiterate's rantings to excessively upset me. I will continue to upload files to AVSIM and other sites and hope that they will give pleasure to those that use them. I am very open to constructive comment and happily accept any assistance that those better at this hobby of mine than me care to offer.On a final note, I realised the error with the BK117 the day following the first upload and corrected it with a further upload of a simple zip file. A corrected self install download is available at www.hovercontrol.com My apologies to all those who were put to some trouble with my error.Regards,Brian Whitelegg.

To Brian,and ALL developers. I think there are literally THOUSANDS of appreciative members of the flight sim community who really appreciate the efforts of those of you who are skilled enough to develope these aircraft, scenery, utilities, and helpful hints. I for one thank you very much for your abilities and you desire to better the community with your efforts. Please don't let one individual to discourage you in your efforts. think rather on the many who appreciate your excellent contributions.like me. thank you.:-rotor

Brian:Don't pay any attention to those who cannot constructively criticize.I downloaded your chopper, made the adjustments suggested by Cal and others and find it to be a neat little chopper to fly!I have many friends who are flight nurses aboard aircraft such as yours and that's what attracted me to it in the first place!Little known fact: The current U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Rich Carmona (a professional friend of mine and a person that my wife worked with in Trauma Services in Arizona) liked to dangle out of these machines to assist those in need on a regular basis.Regards,HarryKey West, FLCapital of The Conch Republic--We Seceded Where Others Failed!!