Sadly, since they’re not giving any clues as to the upgrade fee, I can’t even consider it. 🤷‍♂️

Okay, thanks, I get it now. It all comes down to if they value FS 2024 users as early adopters. It depends also (you are right) of the final price of the native FS 2024 version, and the amount of the upgrade fee.

June has arrived and the dev website says "Compatibility for FS2024... Coming soon in June" 👍

I'm very excited by this chopper because I have not piloted a helicopter in FS since the days of FSX (Dodosim), and also because it reminds me of fond souvenirs of campaigns with the DCS Mi-8. One cool thing is the option to have english markings and labels in the cockpit. I was on the verge to grab the MBB BO 105 by STRATOWARE but finally refrained because the GPS and GTN 750 cannot be removed and I'm a fan of analog gauges only. And finally I love this livery. That's many reasons!

1 hour ago, Simicro said:

June has arrived and the dev website says "Compatibility for FS2024... Coming soon in June" 👍

I'm very excited by this chopper because I have not piloted a helicopter in FS since the days of FSX (Dodosim), and also because it reminds me of fond souvenirs of campaigns with the DCS Mi-8. One cool thing is the option to have english markings and labels in the cockpit. I was on the verge to grab the MBB BO 105 by STRATOWARE but finally refrained because the GPS and GTN 750 cannot be removed and I'm a fan of analog gauges only. And finally I love this livery. That's many reasons!

The only thing I don’t like about this helo is that it only has ADF for nav (as IRL, apparently).

That’s obviously fine for VFR in known areas, but I do like at least something more common.

And perhaps strangely enough, I actually enjoy ILS approaches in helos!

Anyhow, given the reviews, I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting this one no matter what. 🤙

As I recall the Mi-8 was also equipped with a basic navigation system, something in-between an ADF and a VOR. Of course it was then retro-fitted. As to me, yeah I'll use it for short 30 min VFR like visiting my airports or the city. Unusual indeed to enjoy ILS approach in helos, but that's okay 😉

I had a quick exchange with the dev team and apparently they are still on track: the FS2024 compatibility update is planned for last week of June.

There's a big update out tomorrow.
This DOES NOT include the MSFS 2024 compatibility update but the changelog has been posted on Discord does include lots of other changes and adds DRM.

Mi-2 Hoplite Update V1.1.0

Systems

• Fuel system. Corrected fuel transfer between tanks
• Hydraulic system. Operational pressure corrected
• Anti-icing system. Heating cycle and load behavior implemented
• Electrical system. Corrected power supply from converters and indicator lights

Instruments

• Added TNV-45 thermometer
• UGR-4UK course indicator. Initial course alignment, synchronization process, and ADF needle behavior updated. Added bolt into the vernier slot, corrected material of the vernier, added scale to the COURSE RP pointer
• US-250 airspeed indicator. Response to wind, airflow and direction effects implemented;
• USHV rotor pitch indicator. Realistic behavior during power loss
• KI-13K compass. Recalibrated, corrected scale and rotation direction, added decals, added heading index
• Pressure gauges. Corrected needle response to electrical power input
• Fuel gauge KES2097. Corrected behavior for more realistic fuel transfer indication between tanks
• RV-3. Added decals on the instrument frame

Powerplant

• Rotor RPM governor and engine response to controls made smoother and more realistic
• Exhaust gas temperature. Corrected start-up spike and gradual cooling after shutdown
• Oil pressure. Aligned with operational regimes
• Engine shutdown behavior made more realistic
• Fuel consumption refined according to documentation
• Corrected engine power curve across full altitude range (0–5000 m) according to GTD-350 performance tables:
(a) 0–750 m: slight power increase
(b) Above 750 m: linear power decrease
• Ambient temperature effect on engine power is controlled by simulator logic
• GTD-350 power curve is nonlinear; at +25°C and above, simulator may produce excess engine power
• Added engine spool delay behavior:
(a) Raising collective too quickly can prevent engines from immediately reaching the necessary power, leading to a temporary drop in rotor RPM
(b) According to documentation, collective should be increased to takeoff power within 6–8 seconds

Rotor RPM corrections across all regimes

• Single engine at idle: rotor RPM = 40%
• Two engines at idle: rotor RPM = 50%
• More realistic rotor spool-up during engine start
• Smoother rotor deceleration during shutdown
• High power mode (right correction): rotor RPM maintained around 81%
• Adjusted rotor spool timing to operational regimes
• Adjusted rotor spool-down timing to idle regime
• Collective / engine RPM / rotor RPM relationship aligned with documentation across all flight phases
• Collective 0–8: rotor RPM maintained at 81%
• Collective 9: rotor RPM 80%
• Collective 10: rotor RPM 79%
• Collective 11+: rotor RPM 78% and lower

Flight Model

• Improved ground effect modeling (hover performance near ground partially corrected)
• Rotor blade lift characteristics adjusted. Reference condition used for tuning:
(a) Takeoff mass: 3200 kg
(b) Outside air temperature: +18°C
(c) Pressure: 740 mmHg (H760 = 250 m)
(d) Hover height: 15 m
(e) Engine power: 93%
(f) Rotor pitch: 7.5°
• Rotor blade performance generally matches documentation in cruise modes, but some issues remain. With increasing airspeed, rotor unloading is insufficient, resulting in higher required engine power
• Autorotation. Simulator does not model freewheel clutch behavior, resulting in excessive rotor RPM decay after engine shutdown in flight. Other blade characteristics during autorotation are generally within expected behavior
• Increased aircraft responsiveness to control inputs
(a) Reduced instability in hover
(b) Improved stability with increasing airspeed
(c) Faster response in roll and pitch inputs

Interior

• Added labels to the fuse box cover and flare launcher panels
• Added missing bolts and rivets
• Added latch striker plates on the frame of the front right door
• Added textures to the wiring of ceiling lights
• Added bolts into the openings of lighting regulators
• Corrected shading on lighting regulators and anti-icing system controls
• Added sealing rubber for the front left door
• Added additional animations (levers, valves)
• Other minor fixes and improvements
• Added safety strap handles

Exterior

• Corrected position of the right fuel tank
• Animated right and rear left doors
• 3D and animation fixes for the front left door
• Improved tail rotor textures
• Other minor fixes and improvements
• Added rear left door latch
• Added sealing rubber for the front left door and added missing bolts and rivets

Doors

• Cabin doors fully implemented with individual mechanics for each door
• Interactive opening by dragging the handle with inertia response
• Doors react to helicopter flight dynamics (pitch, acceleration/deceleration, roll, yaw)
• Doors may partially open or close in flight if not properly secured

Animations

• New animated cockpit elements: door handles, buttons, latches, locking mechanisms
• Stops, locking levers and additional cockpit mechanisms added
• Additional missing animations added for cockpit, exterior and interior elements
• Reduced rotor coning angle
• Rotor brake lever now sets correct position depending on aircraft loading state in simulator

Controls & Performance

• Switches now respond to mouse wheel input
• Major code optimization and performance improvements

Protection

• Product protection system against unauthorized use (DRM)

Edited Thursday at 06:46 PM2 days by Matchstick

1 hour ago, Matchstick said:

• Added engine spool delay behavior:
(a) Raising collective too quickly can prevent engines from immediately reaching the necessary power, leading to a temporary drop in rotor RPM
(b) According to documentation, collective should be increased to takeoff power within 6–8 seconds

Now THAT is a Proper change log!

The rotor and engine dynamics changes added here are one of the most immersive aspects of flying the Mi-8 and Mi-24 in DCSW.😎

This is shaping up to be an incredibly well executed addon!

Hopefully not too long to wait for v2024 🙏

29 minutes ago, UrgentSiesta said:

Now THAT is a Proper change log!

The rotor and engine dynamics changes added here are one of the most immersive aspects of flying the Mi-8 and Mi-24 in DCSW.😎

This is shaping up to be an incredibly well executed addon!

Hopefully not too long to wait for v2024 🙏

Unfortunately it looks like the dev is starting to run into limitations of helo and helo engine modelling on MSFS 2020.
Maybe these things can be addressed in the native '24 version down the line ?

3 hours ago, Matchstick said:

Unfortunately it looks like the dev is starting to run into limitations of helo and helo engine modelling on MSFS 2020.
Maybe these things can be addressed in the native '24 version down the line ?

Could be 🤷‍♂️

But the fact that they’re working this hard on v2020 is a very positive sign for 2024

As this is their first product, it is normal they try to "hit hard", I mean do their best.

The v1.1.0 has been delayed due to last minute technical issues.

56 minutes ago, Matchstick said:

The v1.1.0 has been delayed due to last minute technical issues.

v1.1.0 is for the FS2024 version or is it for FS2020?

1 hour ago, Simicro said:

v1.1.0 is for the FS2024 version or is it for FS2020?

This is an upgrade for the 2020 version and didn't include the 2024 compatibility upgrade (though it's possible it might be delayed enough now that 2024 compatibility ends up being included, who knows).

The native 2024 version seems still quite some way off.

Edited Friday at 06:38 PM1 day by Matchstick

The market is diverse.

Some devs like STRATOWARE make their helicopter (MBB BO 105) for MSFS24 first and I don't know if they have plans to make a MSFS2020 version.

And other like DIGITAL AERONAUTICS make their helicopter (Mi-2) for MSFS20 and only then deliver a MSFS2024 version.