No getting away from it ... I'm not very good at piloting a helicopter.  

 

Recently my interest in them has been piqued since purchasing the AI helicopter program, Heli Traffic 2009, from Flight1 ... great fun.

 

I notice Just Flight has an old (now) simulation of the Schweizer 300CBi which apparently is well regarded. I'm thinking this might be just the ticket to properly learn on.  Before dropping my hard earned on it I thought it prudent to check with fellow members seeking their experiences,  good or bad.

 

I would very much appreciate your learned input ... thanks.

Hi,

 

i have the 300CBI. The good thing is it comes with basic AND with advanced flight dynamics. You can start with the basics and if you feel comfortable with it you can step ahead.

 

The 300CBI comes with a nice looking airframe and a nice lookin and good functional VC. It has also nice animations. Furthermore there is a repaint pack too despite that it is very crappy. In basic flight dynamics it is very easy to control even when you are a beginner. In the advanced mode  the helicopter is pretty demanding as it drifts and floats away and around. I wouldnt recommend to start directly with the advanced flight dynamics then you most probably will crash more than you will keep the bird in a stable hover.

 

Anyway the 300CBI is worth the ride and the money. 

 

If you look for a good beginner payware FS chopper then i would recommned the Alabeo R66. The R22 and/or the Bell 206 that comes with FS i also good for start.

 

But the goal to success in FS chopper flying is your right hardware controls setup. Flying a helicopter is a completely different kinda story than flying an airplane. Besides a joystick you NEED (as i´ve seen in your profile) pedals as well as a independent throttle control.

 

To get used to helicopter flying for ex. the JF 300CBI take and give yourself time. I can recommend in learning how a helicopter basically works and how it flys. You will benefit from this information. Dont worry you don´t have to go through a real world helicopter pilot course . Understanding of helicopter basics will save you time in learning.

MickeyJ many thanks for your most comprehensive reply.

 

I do have a Saitek HOTAS and will reverse the throttle direction to properly emulate the collective action, and CH peddles.  I'll probably end up relaxing the axes and sensitivities as well.

 

Before purchasing I'll wait a day or so to see if other members chime in ... but its looking good.

An aspirant helicopterer...Excellent!

I am a closet one, and have crashed many over time.

Fewer these days, which shows that anything is possible.

No need for payware initially, I would say this is as good a training aid as you'll get:

 

Category: Flight Simulator 2004 - Original Aircraft Bell 206B 3 Megapack   

 

File Description:
I present to you the product of 1½ months of hard work. In this megapack of the Bell 206, I chose to use the awe,some reworked Bell 206 B3 from Owen Hewitt, awesome job there my friend !!! The various paint I have included in this pack varies from Private - Corporate to military paint schemes, just to make everybody happy in some way. I have also updated some basic textures such as the main rotor assembly - tail rotor and exhaust, all the textures in the pack is more or less photoreal. This is a ready to fly megapack, but I have left out my Bell 206 "The real deal" soundpack, just to keep the download size down, I recommend that you download it, cause it really needs it. I hope this will get you flying the Bell a bit more...Have fun.

 

 

Filename: bell_206b_iii_megapack.zip License: Freeware Added: 12th November 2006, 18:30:12 Downloads: 6450 Author: Christoffer Petersen / Owen Hewitt Size: 37357kb

 

Get his soundpack, too.

Then, cruise over to Hovercontrol and get the HUD

http://www.hovercontrol.com/cgi-bin/ifolio/imageFolio.cgi?action=view&link=FS9_Panels_and_Gaugesℑ=HELIHUD04.zip&img=0&search=HUD&cat=all&tt=zip&bool=phrase

 

I fly happily with a Force Feedback twist stick.

Main thing to realise is that unlike fixed-wing, you are constantly at work: throttle/yaw/pitch combinations to try and stabilise something which is inherently unstable for much of the flight regime.

 

Come back after a play, and we can continue the discussion, which can be a long and rewarding one involving some great models and addons like hover, autopilot etc.  :Nail Biting: 

I, too, purchased heli traffic 2009 last week and am enjoying it.  The money spent on the UTT S-76 AI model is also well worth it for me.  Lately I find myself flying low and slow around Aerosoft Manhattan in FS9 and having a blast. 

Well 6 weeks on ... after taking all advice I AM a better helicopter pilot.  Not perfect mind you,  just better.

 

I did download the Bell 206B and I purchased the 300 CBI and I must say the latter flies even better in P3Dv2!  

 

Thank you guys for your advice and encouragement.  My simming satisfaction and pleasure has been enhanced due to your input.  :im Not Worthy:   

if you want to properly train flying a heli, get yourself behind a dodo 206

set yourself on level 4; and start trainning from there

 

anything you do now is basicly not true to real life heli behaviur

 

and you will not get better over night; there's no such thing

you survive with the accumulation of flying hours you put in

flying a heli is about predicting and seeing ahead your moves

Thanks for your interest Chris.

I've since checked out DODOsim at simMarket and it certainly looks intriguing.  Unfortunately purchase will have to wait a while as I have taken advantage of the recent sales and my wallet needs replenishment. 

Something that improved my hovering and landings considerably was TrackIR.  It's hard to describe to someone who has never used it just how much difference it makes.

 

Hook

Fortunately I am an owner Hook and completely concur.

not sure how TRACKIR improves hovering skills; I’m interested to hear more in that regards

 

when i fly i keep my eyes very focused on the horizon and try to stay in that focus to get proper orientation

i do this from cockpit view and i never change views

 

your controls are a huge part of heli flying; and must be setup specifically for heli flying

the default settings will do with the Dodo; as it requires far more sensitivity