mbits

I got a new joystick and was struggling with hover. Tried attitude hold pretty much for the first time and yeah its really useful, properly brings stability to things.

Until someone does decide to make a decent FF stick for us. For Helis what do people think is best/most realistic? Albeit obviously partly a personal choice. Springs and DCS trim methods, or springless with dry clutch holding it "in trim" all the time? It sounds like AW139 thinks it's by using some weak springs and an extension. I recently got a VKB NXT EVO (extensions not an option) to use with helis, to be springless and the dry clutch holding it where ever I leave it, therefore simulating the force trim maglock sort of? I'm starting to wonder now if I'd be better off with springs in though and continuing the centre trimming DCS method of pressing force trim, re-centering and having a new "centre". The reason being is the springless dry clutch is very nice for regular a to b travel, but I'm not sure sure for low level hover/landing, as anything you put in it stays in with no resistance, which is taking some getting used to. If the springs were in I'd be making little "nudge corrections" which perhaps is more realistic like pushing through the magnets?

I'm thinking of trying an xbox controller too so I can see why it might be nice, however, its easy to fly from cpg even if you have configured it all for cpg duties. Just use a switch modifier to change the important flight controls back to pilot style. So you request control and hit the modifier.

Hard to find though and not made anymore. Also read as they're so old there are issues with Windows 11.

@AW139Thanks! I've been looking for a good explanation of how cyclic works in a real helicopter. I realise this is an old post. I've just bought a VKB EVO. It's not got an extension but it does have springless and dampening. I like it but I've noticed hovering is hard. I'm going to do the opposite of what I instinctively did which was tighten dampening and try what you say about needing it loose without dropping.