11 hours ago, mac44 said:

thanks will give it a try!

1) note also when i hover the mouse cursor over the twist throttle I am really only getting 2 "positions" - one titled governor (assume this is the 100% setting used to fly) and another one that says idle? (nothing in-between!).

2) in terms of trim - should my old GA trim settings already assigned work in the similar way on the 500? (i.e. rudder/aileron and elevator)

3)notice in the external view there is an integrated instrument with MIL (bottom) and Thrust (top)- what do this indicate?

1.  You can simply click and drag on the throttle twist grip to adjust the throttle to any setting to your liking.  

2.  I believe it's generally better to use the new trim assignments for rotary wing aircraft that were added in the anniversary release (that gave us the Calibri and Bell 407).  I'd recommend setting up a dedicated helicopter controller profile and map your trim buttons to "Increase/Decrease Rotor Lateral Trim" for left/right trim and "Increase/Decrease Rotor longitudinal trim" for up/down trim.  You can copy an existing controller profile and rename it to keep your other custom assignments, but be sure to delete the trim assignments used for fixed-wing aircraft.  You wouldn't want to have regular trim mapped at the same time as rotor trim since that woudl lead to two potential trim inputs when pressing the button once, if that makes sense. 

3. Seeing the integrated instrument in external view indicates that the option for "Instrument Heads-Up Display - Chase Cam" under the User Experience section in the Assistance Options menu is set to "Full".   I have it turned off because I find it annoying and unrealistic - I don't believe the throttle setting marks mean much for this helicopter (or any helo for that matter).  I think it's marked the way it is for the kids who want to turn & burn and buzz airliners at KLAX in the F-18 in external view.  

2 hours ago, Stoopy said:

1.  You can simply click and drag on the throttle twist grip to adjust the throttle to any setting to your liking.  

I have dedicated Virpil collective on order, to arrive soon ("soon(tm)" in the PMDG sense though, as Virpil takes about 90 days to acquire).  It has a twist throttle on it.  Once I have it, can I set up the MD500's throttle axis to this?  So I could have any throttle setting 0-100%?

7 hours ago, Mace said:

I have dedicated Virpil collective on order, to arrive soon ("soon(tm)" in the PMDG sense though, as Virpil takes about 90 days to acquire).  It has a twist throttle on it.  Once I have it, can I set up the MD500's throttle axis to this?  So I could have any throttle setting 0-100%?

You'll likely be able to do that with some other helos right now but not with this oner.  Per the description on the product page: 

Quote

Due to limitations of the sim right now, you will have to use a mouse or VR controller for the throttle. Hardware bindings will be updated by Asobo and we will implement the code in an update after that. The rotor linkage animation for cyclic is a WIP and we would like to get the cyclic math finished soon. This is version 1.0.1, so expect updates after feedback is received. We keep our products up to date, so you can count on us!

It's unclear what exactly is keeping Cowan Simulations from using an existing mapping right now but I'm guessing they don/t want to map to something like prop pitch and then have to change it when Asobo gives us a proper helicopter throttle binding to use. Since the throttle is somethign you can "set and forget" for most normal flight regimes with this bird it's not crucial.

6 hours ago, Stoopy said:

You'll likely be able to do that with some other helos right now but not with this oner.  Per the description on the product page: 

It's unclear what exactly is keeping Cowan Simulations from using an existing mapping right now but I'm guessing they don/t want to map to something like prop pitch and then have to change it when Asobo gives us a proper helicopter throttle binding to use. Since the throttle is somethign you can "set and forget" for most normal flight regimes with this bird it's not crucial.

Ok I understand.  But the collective itself (lever-type action) can be mapped right now I hope.   Just not the twist throttle for now.

1 hour ago, Mace said:

Ok I understand.  But the collective itself (lever-type action) can be mapped right now I hope.   Just not the twist throttle for now.

You got it.  Yes the collective itself can definitely be mapped so you're good to go there.

I only have a regular desktop throttle quadrant which is my "collective" and until recently had it set up so that forward throttle was "up" collective and back was "down" collective.  Backwards to what it should be but it worked for me.  Now I've reversed the assignment so it's a little more traditional (but still fore/aft movement rather than down/up) and am re-training my muscle memory.  I'm envious of that fancy collective you're getting! 🙂

 

I’d love to get a collective now that I’m flying helicopters a lot more but I’m just not sure how it would attach it to my desk chair.

57 minutes ago, regis9 said:

I’d love to get a collective now that I’m flying helicopters a lot more but I’m just not sure how it would attach it to my desk chair.

Zipties and duct tape just like any well-engineered solution!  😉

2 hours ago, regis9 said:

I’d love to get a collective now that I’m flying helicopters a lot more but I’m just not sure how it would attach it to my desk chair.

The Virpil bolts onto what they term, "most office chairs".   

I'm thinking I will have to do some modding but I'll do that stuff for my hobby.

My particular chair has a metal arm that connects underneath.  And right.  If all else fails, duct tape and zip ties.  heh.

I was actually poking around their website and see they also have an extra adapter you can buy for an office chair…this definitely looks interesting!  Now to see how far forward the collective would sit from the chair…my computer desk has drawers on both sides so the space is a bit limited.

I guess this could also be how a new collective leads to a new desk haha.

Well, I didn’t buy a new desk, but I did remove the drawers on the left side that would have been in the way of a collective.  I use an old, vest solid bankers desk so I figured modifying was better than replacing.

Bought a collective and seat mount from Virpil, excited for this next step in my helicopter pilot journey! 😀

23 hours ago, regis9 said:

I was actually poking around their website and see they also have an extra adapter you can buy for an office chair…this definitely looks interesting!  Now to see how far forward the collective would sit from the chair…my computer desk has drawers on both sides so the space is a bit limited.

I guess this could also be how a new collective leads to a new desk haha.

I keep thinking that the collective will hit my desk on the left side (I have an L-shaped desk with one of the "L"'s on my left...)  but the collective might be underneath the desk just enough.

Or I could just sit a little further to the right.  To do that I'd have to move my yoke a little to the right etc.

I'll make something work.

Get ready for a long wait, I ordered mine Dec 30 and still not shipped yet.  Or you could get lucky, your order will go with the same batch mine is in.  And you may only have to wait a few weeks.

Yeah I did a lot of measuring and I think I got it all figured out but I guess we’ll see when I get it.  I may end up having to take the arm off my chair either to fit it on or to make it comfortable to use.

My desk had a very narrow opening in the middle, not wide enough for my larger chair so I had been thinking about removing the left shelves anyway…this all should hopefully work out!

On 1/29/2023 at 11:41 AM, ryanbatc said:

I actually wish they'd include a few and have an option for more.  I need like 3 haha.  

I'm hoping for TDS GTNxi integration at some point - so much nicer to operate especially in VR.

Seems your wish has been granted with the release of the 2.0 update. PMS and TDS integration, selectable glass or steam gauge panel, mapping of throttle axis now works, most everything a feller could ever want is mappable, sounds like new sounds, and yes indeed flight model improvements - much better in a hover and really a pleasure to fly now.  Just when I was digging the Lama for all of it's fantastic flight characteristics this update comes along and has me torn on which one to fly now. Just a great update.

Edited December 17, 20232 yr by Stoopy

Yeah I read about it....too many planes not enough time.  Plus about all I fly is Substance Painter these days (I stole that phrase from @Tim-HH )