Make no mistake: I do not have tunnelvision. The attached photo of the Agusta Power 109 testifies to a beautiful bird if ever there was one. An Italian masterpiece of a Lamborghini helicopter and I do indeed love it.Captain MikeHummingbird charters

Very nice indeed, but my fav is the AS 355, I would die to have this detailed a version in FS, with virtual everything! LOL I would never leave the house!!Regards, Michaelhttp://mysite.verizon.net/res052cd/mybannercva1.jpgCalVirAir International VAwww.calvirair.comCougar Mountain Helicopters & Aviationwww.cgrmtnhelos.comhttp://forums.avsim.com/user_files/12676.jpg

Have to say I'm a true fan of the 355 as well. I would love to have a good one in my hangar. I still have Ian Standfast's and use it occasionally.

Hey Jordan, that is one thing that amazes me. If I want some scenery in my sim, I design it, do you do the same for yourself with aircraft?? After doing the repaint for my VA for the EC130, I thought how cool it would be if we had an upscale helipad area in LA loaded with AI EC130s in my VA paint, so I started work on it, about 40% done and it is coimg along. If I had a handle of FSDS, I would be like Al Devins and pumping helis out! LOL I am actually coming to the point wher I want to try a vehicle in design (haven't decided which program, leaning towards FSDSV2) On the AS series, I think the De Silva bros have the over all best design still. It has all the eyecandy and functionality, but the modelling is a bit crude compared to the work of Antti (go figure!)There's always the future!maybe the next project ;-)Regards, Michaelhttp://mysite.verizon.net/res052cd/mybannercva1.jpgCalVirAir International VAwww.calvirair.comCougar Mountain Helicopters & Aviationwww.cgrmtnhelos.comhttp://forums.avsim.com/user_files/12726.jpg

Is gotta be the 109a for me, very retro 80s looking, although the 109e looks very fast the a model is just plain cool looking.Im not a fan of the dauphin n's, i like the f model though, longer nose looks alot sleaker and more like a dolphin.Alanhttp://forums.avsim.com/user_files/12765.jpg

Because the aircraft designs are such a major undertaking (if you plan on doing them right), its difficult to do them just because I want one for myself. At best I could do 2 helicopters per year. So I have to take into consideration what the community is needing as well. That tends to be pretty important to my choice of aircraft.Now scenery was a little different, I can afford to be a little more selfish, because the time commitment involved is not quite so much. So for example, I modeled completely (including photo-realistic textures) the entire farm/town where my parents live. It took me about 3 months, and was quite selfishly modivated. Although, surprisingly quite a few people downloaded it.

So you only make helicopters that the public wants?, I find that if i dont like the model i build then it wont be brilliant, like my longrangers for example, they took 3 days to make, just because i was bored and the blueprints i had were good, i dont really have an interest in that helicopter. I spent agaes doing the 222 partly because I was learning gmax and partly because its one of my favourite helis.I know alot of people want the s-76 made but I like the agusta more so im concentrating on it more than 76, ill eventually get around to the 76 but in my own time.Thats why i started designing 3 years ago, because the helis i liked didnt exist or were older models.Alan

Alan,I have a similiar outlook to you I started designing only because the aircraft I wanted weren't available. I could never design a aircraft if I wasn't keen on it myself irrespective of popular it might be.Jordan I can understand your outlook though, with your profile in the FS community and running HC its must be hard to ignore the wants and needs of the greater FS community and go off a do a project just to please yourself.Cheers GillesBTW I'm really looking forward to 109 , Sshots look magnificent. (I like it better than the s-76 aswell !)

>BTW I'm really looking forward to 109 , Sshots look>magnificent. (I like it better than the s-76 aswell !thanks, im doing my exams now but ive got help from a very qualified 109a/c/e pilot who is going to talk me through all the realistic tech stuff.Alan

Hi MichaelNever leave the house??... I know the feeling... I get withdrawal symptoms if I leave the stick of Bell 222 for too long!!..It may not be quite as detailed as this photo, but I may have answered your prayer.... In part.... Check out this link...http://www.fs98fabmil.hpg.ig.com.br/projeto/html/hs-355.htmlGo into the link for the seperate models and you'll find a download link to each at the bottom of the page....Happy flying........Cheers//TonniHere's a pic from one of the zip files i just downloaded.......(Haven't tried them out yet)...

Actually my basis for choosing a helicopter to develop is a little more complex than that. I take a few factors into consideration, when the timing is right all of the factors seem to come together at once, then I go with that helicopter. Usually the factors are:1. Personal Interest or Connection with the helicopter2. Helicopter Community's desire for the particular helicopter3. Expected Difficulty of Project, and Time needed to complete4. Does the helicopter bring something new or unique to FS? or does it just replace something that is getting tired.5. Do I have connections with the manufacturers, pilots, or professionals involved with a certain helicopter.I kind of keep a running tally of the above conditions on several helicopters I'm considering, and when all of them match up at the right levels, its like an alarm goes off. That's how I try to choose a project.

Hey Tonni, thanks for the link!!! The helo in post #3 is one of these, I found them a while back and I think they are the best eurocopter AS series out there for FS. The modelling could be smoother, but overall they are great!!! If you fly one of these and then the Dauphin, you'll notice the differences in detail. I think the De Silva bros are very talented, would be awesome if they would update these models! I especially love how if you walk away in the VC mode and turn around, the whole ship is in view, not just the VC part, very cool!Regards, Michaelhttp://mysite.verizon.net/res052cd/mybannercva1.jpgCalVirAir International VAwww.calvirair.comCougar Mountain Helicopters & Aviationwww.cgrmtnhelos.com