I'd like to try helicopters

[philmurfin 73]

Hello,

 

For a while now, I have fancied the idea of learning (or trying to) to learn helicopter flying in XP. Many people have said how difficult it can be and that's kind of put me off, but  I've decided I'm going to give it a bash.

So, where do I start in terms of equipment and learning please? Initially, I'd like to keep the costs low in case it doesn't work for me, if it does, well then I'll get better stuff. As a starting point, I've got a joystick with rudder control included, what else I need, I don't know.

 

All and any advice would be most welcome please

 

Thanks

Phil

[tonywob 4,768]

Helicopters are difficult but real fun, especially when you manage to do your first hover or smooth landing. 

 

In terms of learning, there are some good tutorials over on the x-plane.org forums, but it just takes lots of practice, sometimes it can get frustrating, but it's also very addictive. Avism also have a helicopter tutorial which is excellent (Although for FSX, it's still relevant http://www.avsim.com/pages/0604/heli/helitutorial.htm). I learned using Dreamfoil's Bell 206, and I found it's not so easy to jump from one heli to the other initially, so it's best just to stick to one until you get used to it.

 

Once you're in the air, helicopters are simple enough to fly, it's the hover, takeoff, taxi and landing that are challenging. Generally, you start learning how to hover, and the rest then becomes much easier.

 

In terms of equipment, well I only have a Saitek X52 Pro and TrackIR. It's much more tricky as helicopters require very precise and light movements, and this is harder to replicate on a joystick. I also don't have rudder pedals, and it makes it harder, but it isn't impossible. If you can afford it, you should look at getting a controller specifically for helicopters. I do think TrackIR is a must, especially when hovering.

[Longranger 148]

So, where do I start in terms of equipment and learning please? Initially, I'd like to keep the costs low in case it doesn't work for me,

Well, the biggest problem with helicopters are their very sensitive rudders. You don't need for the beginning a very good Joystick but without rudder pedals don't even dream about the http://store-x-plane-org.3dcartstores.com/Eurocopter-AS350-B3-Plus_p_228.html . Too unstable. Even the general highlight, the Bell 407 http://store-x-plane-org.3dcartstores.com/Bell-407_p_299.html isn't really predictable in such a setup.

Heavier Helicopters like the Bell 412 ( http://store-x-plane-org.3dcartstores.com/Bell-412_p_326.html ) or the BK 117 ( http://store.x-plane.org/MBBKawasaki-BK-117_p_46.html ) are much more stable.

 

Or you could try the soft core programm and try the cheaper Robinson R-66 http://store.x-plane.org/Robinson-R66-Turbine_p_296.html , which doesn't really need a good ruddder control.

[tonywob 4,768]

I fly all of Dreamfoil's helicopters without rudder pedals (i.e. The Bell 407, 206, etc..), it isn't impossible, it's just not very realistic :-). Also, most of them have stability settings, so you can make them easier to fly.

 

Another great helicopter with a stablity/easy mode is Alabeo's R66. It's a great helicopter and another of my favourites. It's easily possible to fly this one with my Saitek X52, and once you're feeling confident, you can turn off the easy mode.

[philmurfin 73]

Thanks chaps, some great feedback and  suggestions there giving a lot of food for thought.

I think initially, I'll go down the Alabeo R66 route as it seems simpler than the other offerings to start with, and for that matter, it's also cheaper!

 

Thanks again

Phil

[Comanche 417]

I flew Helicopters in the US Army back in the early 90's. I learned on the UH-1 Huey and later transitioned to the AH-1 Cobra. 

 

They can be tricky to learn, but as said above, Hovering is the hardest part. Level flight is no big deal. Transitioning to a hover can also be a little tricky. When learning to hover, our whole class (12 ships) practicing hovering in an open field in Alabama. Everyone was all over the place. It wasn't pretty. Then one by one (over a month long period), it all started to click. It was a great feeling, like learning to ride a bike without training wheels.

 

Keep practicing and you will get it!

 

I tried Helicopters in FSX, but it was not even close to what its really like.

In X-plane, it is a lot better.

The best helicopter flight model ive seen so far was in DCS Huey. Its as close to the real thing as ive seen so far. Just a little bored with the scenery in that sim.

 

Rudder pedals help a lot, but a twisty joystick will do too. You will need to use the rudder/tail rotor  a lot!

 

Also each helicopter has a different feel to it, just like fixed wing. The Cobra was like a sports car compared to the Huey's Mini van like handling. Still the UH-1 was more fun!

 

Rob 

[KingGhidorah 209]

---Brief thread diversion alert--Comanche, I'm trying to learn more advanced techniques to fly the UH-1 in DCS, and I've been meaning to ask a real UH-1 pilot. If I ask them over in the Huey thread in the DCS section of Avsim, will you answer them? I have a couple. Well, actually, I kind of have a lot...

[Richard Sennett 2,499]

I cant fly a helicopter in flightsim to save my life

[Comanche 417]

---Brief thread diversion alert--Comanche, I'm trying to learn more advanced techniques to fly the UH-1 in DCS, and I've been meaning to ask a real UH-1 pilot. If I ask them over in the Huey thread in the DCS section of Avsim, will you answer them? I have a couple. Well, actually, I kind of have a lot...

 

Its been a while since I flew a UH-1, but Ill do my best to answer.

 

Rob

[KingGhidorah 209]

Ok, I posted them in the Huey thread. You're going to see how many questions I have and say "aw s**t why did I say yes to this guy", but believe me, I appreciate anything you can answer. I've never even been inside a real helicopter, so you can imagine the learning curve of trying to fly the Huey "realistically" without the benefit a flight instructor! I've done enough practice that my ability to control the copter is actually quite good, it's mainly the real world technique that is lacking.

[Jimmy RFR 406]

I'm absolutely loving flying the Dreamfoil R22.  It's a great beginner helicopter, in my opinion, since you can tune the sensitivity for yaw, pitch, and roll separately, plus it comes with an 'arcade' mode.  I'm sure you could turn the yaw stability up to 100, and have no issues flying it without rudder pedals.

 

The other bonus is that you can still play expert and do a full start-up / shutdown, but without having to learn a ton of stuff or spend a ton of time involved in it, since the R22 is very basic.  It hits a sweet spot for me; I love aircraft that are 100% simulated, yet simple enough that you can learn them inside and out without having to keep a manual handy.  One of my favorite aircraft in FSX was the very same: the 4X DA20-100 by Marcel Felde.  Fully simulated right down to the circuit breakers, yet very, very simple to learn and fly.

 

Things like being able to interactively roll it into / out of a parking spot is icing on the cake. ^_^

[tonywob 4,768]

 

 

I love aircraft that are 100% simulated, yet simple enough that you can learn them inside and out without having to keep a manual handy

 

Yes, hit the nail on the head for me also. These are my favourite types of aircraft inside the sim, and the R22 is no exception, it's fantastic and great fun to fly.

 

 

 

I think initially, I'll go down the Alabeo R66 route as it seems simpler than the other offerings to start with, and for that matter, it's also cheaper!

 

Yes, you've made a great choice. Remember that on the virtual yoke is a green/red button. When it's green it is in "easy" mode, when red, well, it becomes a completely different beast. I originally thought the helicopter was too easy until I noticed this button existed :-)

[Poppet 703]

I always liked helicopters. I own 3 of them.  I Bought the Dreamfoil in X-Plane loved it.   After going to P3D i got the MD503 from Milviz,  also very nice indeed.  

 

A couple of evenings ago i picked up the Dodosim 206 and i have to say im really liking this one,  so many settings and different realistic things going on, its great. 

You can pick your diffuculity setting and so on.  The sounds are terrific,  the textures are a little outdated but in terms of flight realism and systems, its the Accusim of the whirly bird world. 

[jcomm 5,890]

With XP9 I think overall helicopters felt more plausible.

 

Something happened with XP10 that caused them to top, unrealistically, with higher cyclic roll inputs. I had the Dreamfoil AS350, and it could turn upside down as if there was no inertia, under some circumstances where my cyclic travel was just a bit more aggressive, even starting from a hovering situation... I don't recall this happening to XP9 helicopters ?..

 

Also, most well known rotary wing effects, like the basic VRS, aren't simulated, or at least believably simulated.

 

As someone pointed out - helicopters = DCS World.... the rest is countryside....

 

But of course, most of us aren't using not even near the recommended hardware, and vlying an helo will never be any close to real flying of such aircraft....

[tonywob 4,768]

I never knew that, I'd always presumed the flight dynamics hadn't changed much between XP9 and XP10.