I picked up the H130 (EC130) from CowanSim earlier today for about 30 USD.  This is probably their best helo yet, though I also enjoyed the R66 (made a paint for it recently).  Startup is simple enough with the FADEC engine, and the sounds are quite good which surprised me.  The visuals are maybe just a notch below Carenado but not much, the modelling is excellent.  The flight model is reasonable - I found it tricky to takeoff and land on a helipad, but otherwise enroute it was wonderful to fly.  What's really nice is there are a lot of panel/gps options.  You can get an analog panel with round gauges, with the GNS or GTNs (PMS/TDS), and also the new WT G3X panel with standby instruments or the "asobo" G5 attitude indicator.  The G3X is not fully integrated with TDS yet as they are doing an alpha test right now.  I did not check the PMS gauges.

There's some other cool features like movable spotlight, opening doors, etc.  And there's a decent manual that describes how you should bind your buttons/kb keys for this bird.

Overall I'm satisfied with the price for what you get.  Maybe I need to make a paint haha!

I'm taking it on few quick hops from Minneapolis airport to downtown helipad, then over to St Paul Holman field.  Then I've include a few extra shots of avionics and nighttime lighting which is really great!

It's a murky day here too but it's a simple class Bravo clearance with MSP tower to get off the Signature ramp and head north

h130 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Terminal 2 at MSP (I was just there!)

h1302 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Terminal 1 starting to get busy

h1303 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

A nice view of downtown MSP

h1304 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

I've got a few addon packs which adds a nice windsock at this helipad

h1305 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

A nice view of the Mississippi River, downtown, and the US Bank Stadium (home of the MN Vikings!) as I depart towards KSTP

h1306 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

One of the Twin Cities many rail yards as we cross into St Paul

h1307 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Interstate I-94 leading to downtown STP

h1308 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Just a closeup of the interior textures in the cockpit

h1309 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Just passed MSP airport again

h13010 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

St Paul Capitol building

h13011 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Passing over the hospital where my youngest was born, and tower has told us to cross west to east and enter the ramp from the south

h13012 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Delicious restaurant at Holman's Table

h13013 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Wave to the tower folks

h13014 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

She's a nice looking bird...

h13015 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Analog option

h13016 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Decent interior lighting

h13017 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

h13018 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

And external

h13019 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

h13020 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

Great shots Ryan, and she does look tempting.

Hi Ryan,

 

very nice shots. Due to your topic I purchased it today and I love it.

But I have maybe a dummy question: Does the H130 have an Autopilot? And if so, how to activate it?

Thank you,

 

Tris

1 hour ago, TristanAbyss said:

Hi Ryan,

 

very nice shots. Due to your topic I purchased it today and I love it.

But I have maybe a dummy question: Does the H130 have an Autopilot? And if so, how to activate it?

Thank you,

 

Tris

Thanks.  Unfortunately it does not have an AP.  I've seen aftermarket heliSAS options for it though.  But the addon doesn't have it modeled.  It would be awesome to have one though.

21 hours ago, TristanAbyss said:

Hi Ryan,

 

very nice shots. Due to your topic I purchased it today and I love it.

But I have maybe a dummy question: Does the H130 have an Autopilot? And if so, how to activate it?

Thank you,

 

Tris

Some helicopter devs are waiting on Asobo to bake in autopilot support to MSFS, so for now the only help's with an A/P option would be the Hype Performance Group H145 and H160.  The H145 is a big brother to the E1C130 so you may like it as well. 

Thanks for the review, Ryan.  I am tempted, and when I'm done having a blast with the (free!) jXt Simulations Bell 429 and the (also free!!) SimFocus Improvement Mod for Asobo's native Bell 407 - which is also excellent - this looks like the next addition to the rotary wing hangar.  

Thanks for the tour!

I frequently see these guys flying around. For some reason they just don't appeal to me - whereas other Aerospatiale / Airbus hummingbirds very much do (e.g., Gazelle!).

Will undoubtedly skip this one, but I am a long-time fan of CowanSim - since X-Plane, even 🙂

8 hours ago, UrgentSiesta said:

Thanks for the tour!

I frequently see these guys flying around. For some reason they just don't appeal to me - whereas other Aerospatiale / Airbus hummingbirds very much do (e.g., Gazelle!).

Will undoubtedly skip this one, but I am a long-time fan of CowanSim - since X-Plane, even 🙂

The ec130 is kinda fat I agree. I do think the 120 looks nicer though.  We used to have a Canadian EC120 fly into Duluth for the pipeline company  - great pilot and cool heli.

On 6/7/2024 at 7:07 PM, ryanbatc said:

It would be awesome to have one though.

Agreed. As with other CowanSim helis (I have the H145), an autopilot would give us the option to explore larger regions in a relaxed way.

Very nice summary and roundup of this Helicopter... (I see why the name may be confused with that HC-130 variant...🙂...)

I know you like Helis...still recall some of your XP Heli posts around here...🙂...

Yes, with an Autopilot this can be a real keeper...especially with that Analog Gauges panel option...you also mentioned ....

Thanks for posting...!

A great review, Ryan! Thanks a lot!

My initial plan was to get the H130 when it is on sale. But after seeing your review I couldn't wait much longer and bought it as well. 

And I don't regret it. It's a very enjoyable helicopter