Garrett,First ... I am not a pilot, I just fly helicopters on FSX. Landing a helicopter is fairly easy once you realize that it's a process that has to be planned out.When I'm landing, I never shoot EXACTLY for where I want to land ... I always shoot for a ground hover somewhere JUST BEFORE where I want to set her down!In the same way that you prepare to land a fixed-wing craft, there's a process to landing a helicopter that involves getting lined up, being at the proper speed and altitude as you approach, making very small adjustments as you come in, being mindful of wind direction and speed and being prepared to go around if things don't work out.I've uploaded a video of my technique. Your mileage may vary, but this works fairly well for me. I'd be interested to hear from Geof what he thinks of this approach.Here's the vid:http://www.box.net/shared/ysm15jyo50Cheers,Kevin

Garret,Go to http://www.fs-recorder.net/In the downloads, download FS Recorder for FSX 1.3 Beta2This is an addon flight recorder that works exactly like the one built into FSX is *supposed* to work. It runs recordings very smoothly on my computer.I've created a recording you can get athttp://members.shaw.ca/cbooth/b206demo.zipUnzip and place this file in same location as saved flights.C:Documents and SettingsMy DocumentsFlight Simulator X FilesThis will permit you to view a take off, circuit and landing from any view you wish.Cal

Extremely nice Kevin! Good future idea for fs for all phases...I sent an avsim email to you a couple weeks ago-just wondering if you got it?http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpgForum Moderatorhttp://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/

You guys rock! Thank you guys !!!!

Geof,I didn't get it, but did respond to your email that you sent to my gmail account last night.As for the video ... it was really pretty easy to make. About 30 seconds of Fraps, 1 screenshot, a little slo-mo in Moviemaker, upload to box.net and ... voila.What I'm really interested in is from an actual helicopter pilot's point of view, what you thought about the advice? You have (correct me if I'm wrong) thousands of hours in real helicopters, right?I've done a bit of reading, but otherwise, have had no training, and often wonder if I'm "doing it right."Cheers,Kevin

I guess I was not clear. I am not a helo pilot-so I have no idea (I am a fixed wing pilot with close to 1000 hours).I was assuming those that had strong opinions on the fs models possibly were, as I don't know how one could judge them as realistic or not otherwise. I certainly have no idea.http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpgForum Moderatorhttp://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/

Geof,OK. Thanks ... I wasn't sure from the wording. Any lurkers out there with rotorskilz should pipe up!:-rotor

The only thing I know about helicopters is when the guys next to my hangar taxi buy-it blows all kinds of nasty stuff into my hangar! :-)http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpgForum Moderatorhttp://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/

>Well, I will post this here since it might be of interest to>others. Here is a YouTube video of a guy doing flight training>in the R22 (in cockpit). http://youtube.com/user/cdcomcard>>It helps a little but I can't get a feel for it in those>videos. >I will have to check into that Saitek stick if I keep with the>choppers. How is the stiffness of the stick? I would imagine>that it would be easier if there wasn't so much tension, like>on the Logitech stick. I do fairly well I suppose since I am>just starting out and have been concentrating on making slight>movements in everything I do. As for the choice of which to>fly, I think you're right about the stability of the R22. I>had a flight saved with the R22 so that is really the only>reason I have used it. I will take your advice and try the>JetRanger. >>Anyway, we can continue via PM.The X-52 has less tension than my last joystick but I can't compare it to your Logitech becuase I haven't used it.

I'm still planning to make that video, I hope to be done with it by tommorow at the latest, I am going to be really busy this afternoon. I watched the first video posted on here and he is right, don't aim for the helipad, aim for a spot a few feet in front of it.

>The only thing I know about helicopters is when the guys next>to my hangar taxi buy-it blows all kinds of nasty stuff into>my hangar! :-)>http://mywebpages.comcast.net/geofa/pages/rxp-pilot.jpg>Forum Moderator>http://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/Helicopters are irritating!!!:-hah We have two helicopter schools at the airport next door, as well as the National Gaurd with it's Apache's & Blackhawks. They are buzzing over my house constantly, as well as hogging the taxiways! :-rotor I don't trust this noisy invention! One little "nut" falls off, and down they go...:7 Other than that, I spent quite a few years flying R/C choppers; have flown as passenger in several makes and models; and signed up for training during the FS9 beta period, before I knew better.. :-lol L.Adamson

That recording was great, thanks a ton! I also like FSRecorder, tons of options. I appreciate you directing me to that. It will make a great learning tool.

Garrett, Looks like multiplayer would be ideal for this: I could setup a session and you could share my jetranger, I have been doing some flying around Manhattan, kinda fun. let me know if you want to give it a shot and I would setup a private session. Let me know, Dan