Hi,

I know a lot about fixed-wing aircraft, but not so much about helis.

I wondered what is currently the best MSFS helicopter?

Thanks!

Dangerous question. You get a lot of personal tastes I think. 🙂
It depends on if one is known with the RL flight characteristics or not to acknowledge the flight model being realistic.
For me personally I like a helicopter if its behavior is convincing and for now that is the Cabri G2.
That said, I only have three: Cabri G2, Bell 407 and Robinson R44.

I don’t think there’s a definitive answer.  The three that get the most use for me are the Cowansim MD500, Got Friends Mini 500 and HPG H145.  I also have the Cowansim Bell 206 which I enjoy.  Some swear by the FlyInside Bell 206 though I can’t comment on that one.

Grab the Mini 500 from Got Friends.  Such a great chopper with plenty of character.  

Jase

Flight dynamics wise I'd say the Cabri ... also keep an eye on https://www.helisimmer.com/msfs, Sergio Costa is an expert on helicopter simulation and well connected in that ecosystem, lots of reviews/news/etc there.

Also, some of his videos re: MSFS helis worth watching:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXO59pIB27k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb7pg9AgpO4
 

 

Just now, Bobsk8 said:

When I flew copters in P3D, Sergio was really negative on anything but XP copters, it bugged me so much I just quit flying them altogether. Is he the same way about MSFS?

Well, if you watch both those videos he's really quite positive about the new heli support in MSFS. I captured his main points from that first video here: https://www.avsim.com/forums/topic/626513-helicopters-what-do-you-think/?do=findComment&comment=4874061 

 

I fly the Cabri a lot these days and like her. Not easy on you but feeling good. The free 407 made by Nemeth reminds me too much of the FSX/P3D helis.

Edited February 25, 20233 yr by Dominique_K

Of all of these mentioned, which is the easiest to fly?  Sorry, but I am not a purist and have so much dang trouble fly these little buggers, I am just plain looking for an easy one.

25 minutes ago, lwt1971 said:

also keep an eye on https://www.helisimmer.com/msfs, Sergio Costa is an expert on helicopter simulation and well connected in that ecosystem, lots of reviews/news/etc there.
 

 

OMG, you are so right - of course I know that name and website... totally forgot about it, thanks for the reminder!

Just now, PDX Flyer said:

Of all of these mentioned, which is the easiest to fly?  Sorry, but I am not a purist and have so much dang trouble fly these little buggers, I am just plain looking for an easy one.

If you really want to learn to fly a copter, watch some you tube videos, and then practice hovering, for a few days, landing, lifting off, hover, mix and repeat. When you get to the point where you really have control, then try some forward flight, short hops and land... 

10 minutes ago, PDX Flyer said:

Of all of these mentioned, which is the easiest to fly?  Sorry, but I am not a purist and have so much dang trouble fly these little buggers, I am just plain looking for an easy one.

The Cabri is a no-frill aircraft designed for training. It also has a governor which sets automatically the throttle, linking it to the collective (the up and down controller). It is free but Asobo has done a good job with her.

A heli is whole new ball game. To learn how to fly :

- Use this FAA excellent tutorial 

Helicopter Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-21B)

- use no wind scenarios

- and, contrary to Bob said, don't try to master hovering before everything because chances are you will give up. Hovering is difficult. In real life, the instructor will take care of some axes for you, but in the sim you are alone managing everything. Tough. Try to have some fun taking off to feel the beast, to understand the forces at work. Climb, descend etc. Then hovering will be much more easier.

- A decent 3-controller set up is really helping and this includes pedals. Some people will tell you that you can fly the heli with a XBox controller or a twisting joystick. I couldn't.

2 minutes ago, Dominique_K said:

The Cabri is a no-frill aircraft designed for training. It also has a governor which sets automatically the throttle, linking it to the collective (the up and down controller). It is free but Asobo has done a good job with her.

A heli is whole new ball game. To learn how to fly :

- Use this FAA excellent tutorial 

Helicopter Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-21B)

- use no wind scenarios

- and, contrary to Bob said, don't try to master hovering before everything because chances are you will give up. Hovering is difficult. In real life, the instructor will take care of some axes for you, but in the sim you are alone managing everything. Tough. Try to have some fun taking off to feel the beast, to understand the forces at work. Climb, descend etc. Then hovering will be much more easier.

- A decent 3-controller set up is really helping and this includes pedals. Some people will tell you that you can fly the heli with a XBox controller or a twisting joystick. I couldn't.

I have successfully taught quite a few people to fly RC copters. My rule was no forward flying until you could hover it. Almost everyone I taught was finally successful in flying RC, many getting into aerobatics. 

47 minutes ago, Dominique_K said:

The Cabri is a no-frill aircraft designed for training. It also has a governor which sets automatically the throttle, linking it to the collective (the up and down controller). It is free but Asobo has done a good job with her.

A heli is whole new ball game. To learn how to fly :

- Use this FAA excellent tutorial 

Helicopter Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-21B)

- use no wind scenarios

- and, contrary to Bob said, don't try to master hovering before everything because chances are you will give up. Hovering is difficult. In real life, the instructor will take care of some axes for you, but in the sim you are alone managing everything. Tough. Try to have some fun taking off to feel the beast, to understand the forces at work. Climb, descend etc. Then hovering will be much more easier.

- A decent 3-controller set up is really helping and this includes pedals. Some people will tell you that you can fly the heli with a XBox controller or a twisting joystick. I couldn't.

 

43 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

I have successfully taught quite a few people to fly RC copters. My rule was no forward flying until you could hover it. Almost everyone I taught was finally successful in flying RC, many getting into aerobatics. 

I appreciate what both of you have said.  Your answers seemed to be coming from two different angles.  For the time being, I think Dominique's answer is most direct to my question.  Yes I just tried to the Cabri, and I think as compared to some other helicopters, it is a good starting point for a newbie [and trust me, when it comes to helicopters is am a real neophyte] but I also appreciate the more purist answer from Bob.  Long term I think this is the way to go.  But for now, I am still in the short term. 

Thank both of you for wonderful answers and happy flying to both of you!

I used a Thrustmeter  16000m  joystick for the cyclic, and the first thing I did was modify it to reduce the spring tension so it would feel more like a Heli joystick and move easily. I didn't want to take all the tension off, because I still wanted to use it for fixed wing aircraft, but I reduced it quite a bit. I am still using that same jotstick today to fly all my aircraft from PMDG 737 to the Kodiak. Here is instructions on how to modify the stick. https://channellfd.com/the-t16000m-joystick-led-tension-mods/

Then all you need is some decent rudder pedals and a throttle quadrant like the Logitek 

The mini 500 is pretty “easy” to fly and is only $15.  Easy is a relative term of course with helicopters!