FINALLY: what appears to be a genuinely good SeaHawk/BlackHawk for (any) flight sim! 😁

Interesting limitations that are either sim-based or just straight up due to lack of public documentation. I wouldn't think nav systems on a 50 year old medium utility helicopter would have so much unobtainium in them. OTOH, it's not the airframe, it's what they stuff it with that's Secret Squirrel; And the AS(u)W capabilities on the SeaHawks are undoubtedly hush hush. On The Other OTHER Hand, I look at the highly sophisticated avionics and weps systems modeled in the DCS World Chinook F and Apache D, and, well...

In any case, it'll be great to have it as I'm sure it will be a worthwhile rendition. Will be fun to re-create some of the flights that are observable on ADSB Exchange!

Update on the systems and capabilities from MilTech, courtesy of our friends at Simulation Daily:

"Flight Displays (FD): The FD is the primary source of flight data and situational awareness for the crew. Engine information, ADI, altimeters, airspeed, HSI and hover parameters are all displayed on the FD.

Key parameters like barometric pressure (BARO), heading (HDG), decision height (DH), and course (CRS) can be entered directly via the bezel buttons and the Universal Control Knob located on the top bezel.

Mission Displays (MD): The MD provides all mission-related information, including navigation aids, routing, maps, FLIR imagery, aircraft warnings, cautions, advisories, and system diagnostics. Due to the MD being largely undocumented and classified, our rendition is based on extrapolating the available public documentation and adapting it within the MSFS environment.

The MD—particularly the FLIR and map systems—remains the most actively developed area, with new details and improvements being added during Alpha and entering into Beta. Due to various technical limitations in MSFS, fully accurate FLIR implementation isn’t currently possible. However, we’re making significant progress beyond the typical “synthetic view” to achieve a more realistic and immersive look.

Keyset: The keyset is a central interface designed to streamline pilot and crew interaction with the aircraft’s digital systems. The Keyset allows for rapid data entry, system control (COMM, NAV, Weapons, ATAK, etc.), and navigation through menus across the flight and mission displays. We’ve designed the aircraft around the Keyset as the central hub for configuring the aircraft. Cabin Layouts (eg. SAR/ASW/Transport cabins), Weapon Loadouts (Hellfires/Torpedos), external tank configurations (R and T), and external loadout options (Pallets, Flags and Buckets) are all managed through the Keyset.

The Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) included in the Coast Guard Tango versions in the real world won’t be modeled due to feasibility reasons.

The navigation system will include a Web-based coordinate Flight Planner simulating how naval pilots load flight plans using data cartridges. You can see what it looks like in the screenshots below.

The aircraft will also seamlessly integrate with the default tablet in MSFS 2024, while coordinate-based Fly-to-Point waypoints can be inputted via the keyset.

We’ll be able to program Expanding Square, Sector Search, and Parallel Sweep search patterns via the keyset, alongside a “Direct Return to Base” function.

VOR, ILS, TACAN, and ADF will also be supported. Simbrief integration is being investigated but it’ll likely come after-release with a free update.

The helicopter will have a fully functional 6-degree-of-freedom Autopilot (AFCS) and a Stability Augmentation System (SAS). They’ll use rotor trim and acceleration control systems to steer the aircraft without interfering with pilot input.

This provides a “responsive autopilot system, with smooth and dynamic flying experience, with realistic hover attitudes and acceleration/deceleration regimes.”

The modes provided will be as follows:

• AUTO PLT: Maintains aircraft attitude below 50 knots or airspeed above 50 knots, with heading hold functionality.
• RAD ALT / BARO ALT: Holds the aircraft’s altitude at the moment of engagement, based on radar or barometric altitude.
• APPR / HOVER: Transitions the aircraft from cruise to a stable hover in minimal time. Hover altitude and lateral/longitudinal speeds are fully adjustable via cockpit knobs.
• CREW HOVER: Allows keybind control over lateral and longitudinal speeds for precise maneuvering during SAR operations.
• DEPART: Initiates a climb from hover to a safe altitude and accelerates to 120 knots as quickly as possible.

There won’t be an LNAV mode capable of following a flight plan. Force Trim is planned but will come with an update after release."

This one looks like it could be great...I'm eagerly awaiting it.

9 hours ago, UrgentSiesta said:

FINALLY: what appears to be a genuinely good SeaHawk/BlackHawk for (any) flight sim! 😁

Interesting limitations that are either sim-based or just straight up due to lack of public documentation. I wouldn't think nav systems on a 50 year old medium utility helicopter would have so much unobtainium in them. OTOH, it's not the airframe, it's what they stuff it with that's Secret Squirrel; And the AS(u)W capabilities on the SeaHawks are undoubtedly hush hush. On The Other OTHER Hand, I look at the highly sophisticated avionics and weps systems modeled in the DCS World Chinook F and Apache D, and, well...

In any case, it'll be great to have it as I'm sure it will be a worthwhile rendition. Will be fun to re-create some of the flights that are observable on ADSB Exchange!

Update on the systems and capabilities from MilTech, courtesy of our friends at Simulation Daily:

"Flight Displays (FD): The FD is the primary source of flight data and situational awareness for the crew. Engine information, ADI, altimeters, airspeed, HSI and hover parameters are all displayed on the FD.

Key parameters like barometric pressure (BARO), heading (HDG), decision height (DH), and course (CRS) can be entered directly via the bezel buttons and the Universal Control Knob located on the top bezel.

Mission Displays (MD): The MD provides all mission-related information, including navigation aids, routing, maps, FLIR imagery, aircraft warnings, cautions, advisories, and system diagnostics. Due to the MD being largely undocumented and classified, our rendition is based on extrapolating the available public documentation and adapting it within the MSFS environment.

The MD—particularly the FLIR and map systems—remains the most actively developed area, with new details and improvements being added during Alpha and entering into Beta. Due to various technical limitations in MSFS, fully accurate FLIR implementation isn’t currently possible. However, we’re making significant progress beyond the typical “synthetic view” to achieve a more realistic and immersive look.

Keyset: The keyset is a central interface designed to streamline pilot and crew interaction with the aircraft’s digital systems. The Keyset allows for rapid data entry, system control (COMM, NAV, Weapons, ATAK, etc.), and navigation through menus across the flight and mission displays. We’ve designed the aircraft around the Keyset as the central hub for configuring the aircraft. Cabin Layouts (eg. SAR/ASW/Transport cabins), Weapon Loadouts (Hellfires/Torpedos), external tank configurations (R and T), and external loadout options (Pallets, Flags and Buckets) are all managed through the Keyset.

The Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) included in the Coast Guard Tango versions in the real world won’t be modeled due to feasibility reasons.

The navigation system will include a Web-based coordinate Flight Planner simulating how naval pilots load flight plans using data cartridges. You can see what it looks like in the screenshots below.

The aircraft will also seamlessly integrate with the default tablet in MSFS 2024, while coordinate-based Fly-to-Point waypoints can be inputted via the keyset.

We’ll be able to program Expanding Square, Sector Search, and Parallel Sweep search patterns via the keyset, alongside a “Direct Return to Base” function.

VOR, ILS, TACAN, and ADF will also be supported. Simbrief integration is being investigated but it’ll likely come after-release with a free update.

The helicopter will have a fully functional 6-degree-of-freedom Autopilot (AFCS) and a Stability Augmentation System (SAS). They’ll use rotor trim and acceleration control systems to steer the aircraft without interfering with pilot input.

This provides a “responsive autopilot system, with smooth and dynamic flying experience, with realistic hover attitudes and acceleration/deceleration regimes.”

The modes provided will be as follows:

• AUTO PLT: Maintains aircraft attitude below 50 knots or airspeed above 50 knots, with heading hold functionality.
• RAD ALT / BARO ALT: Holds the aircraft’s altitude at the moment of engagement, based on radar or barometric altitude.
• APPR / HOVER: Transitions the aircraft from cruise to a stable hover in minimal time. Hover altitude and lateral/longitudinal speeds are fully adjustable via cockpit knobs.
• CREW HOVER: Allows keybind control over lateral and longitudinal speeds for precise maneuvering during SAR operations.
• DEPART: Initiates a climb from hover to a safe altitude and accelerates to 120 knots as quickly as possible.

There won’t be an LNAV mode capable of following a flight plan. Force Trim is planned but will come with an update after release."

Miltech so far does not disappoint. Any release date yet? 

50 minutes ago, History said:

Miltech so far does not disappoint. Any release date yet? 

According to their blog post, it's presently in Closed Beta.

They are aiming for end of this month-ish, but are firm in saying that it'll be released only when it's ready, and not according to any estimated date.