Hi everyone, I've googled this and found either payware recommendations, unordered/not rated lists or stuff that is relatively old; so: what is currently the best freeware helicopter addon for FSX (civilian light helicopter)?

 

With 'best' I mean in regard to flight model, systems and looks - kind of in that order, should definitely be at least somewhat real. 

 

Looking to expand my flying horizon again, but not prepared to sink any money into this right now...

Deepest systems: Dodosim bell 206

 

Next best is probably Milviz Bell 407

 

Then you've got the Cerasim Bell 222, 212/412, UH60

 

Then you got the Nemeth birds which don't fly well IMHO.

 

I think Aerosoft has one I'm not familiar with too.

Thanks Ryan - but freeware?

Get Helicopter total realism from Hovercontrol and it will greatly improve the flight models of the default helicopters.

 

Also you may want to ask this question there, since it is loaded with rotor heads.

Oops did not read.

 

Freeware... Hmmm. There's a funky H21C (flying banana). Jordan moore's bell 412 port over...

 

That's about all I can think of.

Hm the Hovercontrol 412 looks nice! I'll try that, and the HTR package.

I can't address "realistic" flight dynamics on FSX helos but this is a stunningly detailed piece of freeware:

 

http://www.mijo-berlin.de/index.php/downloads/fsx/ec135-dl-fsx

 

Also a pretty nice JetRanger:

 

http://www.eaglerotorcraftsimulations.com/fsx_bell206b.php

With 'best' I mean in regard to flight model, systems and looks - kind of in that order, should definitely be at least somewhat real. 

You won't get any realistic heli flight model in FSX even with HTR, no way, since FSX isn't made for real heli FDE.

If you want all of the above I suggest you check out DCS World.

Second the EC135 and their EC145

You won't get any realistic heli flight model in FSX even with HTR, no way, since FSX isn't made for real heli FDE.

If you want all of the above I suggest you check out DCS World.

 

HTR is actually a physics engine that rivals DCSW. It all boils down to controlling the 6DOF velocities which means it doesn't matter whether FSX is made for helis or not. Its a totally external flight model. The only inaccuracies that may exist in HTR profiles come from the inputs provided to those profiles not from how they are interpreted. Garbage in garbage out.

The DCS Huey, while not freeware, is very good. It's worth the money and then some.  Many years ago in the R/W I flew one for a year.

Although yes, the DCS helicopter modules have a decent simulation of a helicopter flight model, in no way do they pass as civilian and they definitely aren't freeware.

 

The H&S Design EC-135 is quite decent, plus there is a pretty good HTR profile available for it over at Hovercontrol.

 

I'm not as big of a fan of the Jordan Moore 412, but that's purely personal preference; there's also HTR profiles available for it that I would assume make it fly very good (can't vouch for that, never tried the HTR on this one).

 

Apart from that, I'm not sure of any other decent FSX freeware.

I'm not as big of a fan of the Jordan Moore 412, but that's purely personal preference; there's also HTR profiles available for it that I would assume make it fly very good (can't vouch for that, never tried the HTR on this one).

 

I am no big fan of the HC 412 either, due to visuals mainly, but with HTR it flies very good.

is the Milviz AW109E any good? Like the virtual cockpit.

 

Also how about the Aerospatiale SA-2 Samson by Nemeth?

I've been trying the EC-135 with HTR and was reasonably happy with it to fly around for a couple of hours - after I'd fixed that bug in conjunction with Sound Environment Extreme that crashes FSX after a couple of minutes when flying a helicopters. Using FSX is a sisyphean task - you push your boulder up that mountain, i.e. you install addons and tweak settings and get other addons to make it all work. Then when you'r smoothly up the slope near the top you decide to try something new - and wham, back to googling FSX problems again.

 

Back to helos: I've actually enjoyed the flying so far that much that I decided I'd get me a commercial addon; it's so different from fixed wing flying in how you experience scenery that even on the first couple of flights in known areas I've seen things I've never noticed before!

 

So now I'm trying to decide which one to get; the Milviz 407 looks very good - but it's also very new, so I couldn't find an in-depth review yet, its very expensive, and I don't like the fact that you pay double (or almost double) when you want it to work in P3D as well.

The Dodosim Bell is a bit old, though it still probably is the reference as far as FD go - but I like a bit of bling, so...

Then there's the Cera Bells, and I'm in love with the Bell 222 - fast, sleek, looks stunning, plus there's HTR profiles for that one so I'm hoping for a realistic flight experience. Probably will get that one. But then there's also the Cera 412, which looks nice too... ;-)