Zentaos

were the fictional IJN skins for the Fw 190 A8 there before the update?

13 inches would be the total travel of the axis (-6.5 each direction from center). Like Vladinsky stated, with Force Trim turned off, or the button depressed, there isn't any spring force returning it to center, but there is still mechanical friction from all of the linkages. If you fly without spring, you should still have a good amount of damping. The cyclic doesn't flop about, it stays where you let go of it...ish.

The “center” you are referring to is more about CoG not deflection force. There is not any more force at any given amount of deflection, but you will feel where the control “center” is by where the CoG of the aircraft is depending on weight and balance as you pick up into a hover. Try to visualize a spinning top on a plate and you are tilting the plate to keep the top in center. There isn’t really a great way to deal with this in simming other than a motion platform. This is why smooth pickups and set downs are one of the most challenging aspects of flying helis in sims. The best way to handle this is to really know your helicopter and its sight picture well. There are, however, aerodynamic forces that require more deflection force. Like during cruise, you have to hold the cyclic forward and there is force pushing it back because the rotor wants to slow down naturally, not speed up. This is the primary function for trim in helicopters. To reduce the fatigue of cruise forces trying to push the disk back to a state of equilibrium.

I can't wait to rock the Huey over every inch of this map! ...and of course the Chinook and Loach too!!!

gahhh!!...getting lost in the updates juggling all my sims... now I need to get this set up and working again after updates to DCS and the MOZA Cockpit software for my cyclic profile.

I put this in the wrong thread... Anyway... I can't say enough good things about the OH6A Mod.

It is automatic if you have the DAFCS on, it should be set to both by default. However, you can manually change the LCT positions, but they should be set to auto for 99.99% of flight operations. The biggest difference you will notice, is that when pitching forward to increase airspeed, the fuselage will level and not want to tuck the nose towards the ground like it did before the LCT was in the FM.

belatu42

one from 47Driver @Brickle one from Hooker @HMSSURP

It would probably be more descriptive if those levers were labeled Ground Idle, but this is what they are labeled in the real thing I would want to hear what @Brickle or @HMSSURP would have to say, but I would think that if you were to introduce pitch for any reason, even ground taxi, you would want the rotors at flight rpm, not idle.

Wouldn't this cause a conflict with the physical position if you have it assigned to an axis? The question is if this is a feature or a bug. If it's realistic to drag the 'steering' wheel, does that mean that I am taxiing to fast?

I agree. I run into issues taxiing as well. I find that if it's not responding to the steering knob, just tap the brakes a bit and it starts responding again. I've noticed from the outside view, that the left rear wheel free casters like it's supposed to, but when it stops responding to steering input the right rear wheel is dragging.

That looks like a crazy bug... Does it happen with all sling load types, or just the fuel tank? I'm pretty sure I heard someone mention in a video that the OH6 model to sling, included with the Vietnam Assets pack, spins, but I haven't encountered any spinning sling loads yet.

Don't forget about Hooker... https://www.youtube.com/@PhrogHooker

Great work! Keep the info coming!

The main rotor is often canted for optimization in cruise. It depends on the design and how the engineers approach the different problems of rotor wing flight. However, It's nearly impossible to solve all of the different problems in each phase of flight so there are trade offs. Take the Huey for example, it's main rotor is canted 5° forward for cruise optimization, but in turn it hovers nose high. I don't know what the design solutions are in the Kiowa, but there is always a trade off. I would assume, dangerous I know, that it is optimized for cruise since that is where most flight time is spent. Anyway, the devs already confirmed that it should be left skid low, like other CCW helis. We'll have to wait and see how it gets addressed.

Thanks for the reply, but I'm not referring to the nose high attitude. That is normal for the type. I'm a licensed rotorcraft pilot in real life, so I'm not asking about the aerodynamics. I follow Casmo and agree with his sentiments on the module and how realistic it is. What I was asking, was if there is something with the Kiowa, since I am unfamiliar with it in real life, that would cause it to be leaning the opposite direction of what it should be aerodynamically. Kinkku responded to the same bug on Discord and confirmed that they are looking into it.

First, I am really enjoying the Kiowa! Great job Polychop! It flies beautifully and, for the most part, is behaving how I expect. However, I have a question about weight & balance, and translating tendency. I have been flying on Kola with a stripped down OH-58, no weapons, MMS removed, just to have fun flying the cleanest version I can set up. I am wondering if there is something causing the CG to be shifted to the right side of the helicopter, because it's hovering right skid low. When I set down, the right rear skid contacts first. I have turned on the Controls Indicator while watching the track, and I have to input a little bit of left/aft cyclic while hovering, with left pedal to maintain heading. All of this is what I expect from a counter-clockwise rotor system, except that with all of these conditions, it should be hovering left skid low. I've never flown a Kiowa/Bell 407 in real life, but all of the different Robinsons I fly (R22/R44/R66) hover left skid low with the same inputs. As you pick-up and increase left pedal to counter the torque, the tail rotor pushes you to the right (translating tendency) and you counter with left cyclic, which, while stationary, should leave the left skid low...Am I missing something about the CG of the aircraft that would cause this?...or is this an FM bug?OH-58_kola_03.trk

Maybe the "basic" trim system mentioned in EA will be the "center sprung joystick helper trim" that I feel like everyone is referring to when they say "Force Trim". It gets muddy when you start trying to discuss real system acronyms like DAFCS in the same conversation as PC sim software trim systems to work with desktop hardware. Center sprung joysticks don't work at all like the control systems in the actual aircraft. I agree that not having this software trim would make the EA module very difficult to use for everyone except those with full size 1:1 control setups like the PFT Puma or extended Virpil/TM cyclics... I feel like most real life pilots that play sims also, would have a full size setup to get as close to possible to what all of their muscle memory is used to. Especially for helicopters. That's how I feel anyway. I want my sim control experience to match the real world aircraft I fly. It just makes simming that much easier and more immersive.

How fast are you going when this happens? You may be encountering RBS (Retreating Blade Stall) or the effects of Dissymmetry of Lift on the controls. The FAA has a free publication on rotorcraft. It's a great resource. https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/helicopter_flying_handbook/helicopter_flying_handbook.pdf

Ha! I love this! We can't seem to get away from the VRS discussion trap... Yes, there are more stimuli letting you know what's happening with the helicopter when you are sitting in one. However, the "over modeling" of VRS in DCS helicopters isn't just a perception issue. It comes on more sudden, and more easily than it does in a real helicopter. When I trained with my instructor for demonstration and recovery, we had to work at it to get VRS to develop. I also never demonstrated RBS, we only discussed how to recognize and recover. There is also quite a difference in the handling of 2-bladed teetering systems, and fully articulated rotor systems like those on the KW. I haven't had enough time with it yet, but it feels really good so far. It's great in VR with my Varjo Aero.

Wow! There are a lot of great setups here! Some really innovative solutions! I personally use a Pro-Flight Trainer Puma and I am really happy with it. It has been rock solid with available upgrades for the past seven years. One thing I have noticed on some of the setups, is that the stick grip seems to be mounted very high for helicopters. It seems to be okay for fixed wing/fighter jets, but for helicopters you need to be able to rest your arm on your leg and move the stick with fingertip control. Having to use your whole arm to move the stick will make fine control harder and introduce more fatigue. Helicopter pilots call resting your arm on your leg "the weld" and it is necessary for the fine control required to fly helis.

Keep at it, the same principals apply to both ships. They respond fairly realistically or us real world pilots would be all over it. There are some things that are off. Like how the huey fuselage is super twitchy to control inputs. The disk reacts on a delay to an input, then the fuselage reacts to the disk. It also enters into VRS way too easily, but the basic response to control inputs is pretty accurate. It's the same with the OH-6A. It's super twitchy, but I love how the yaw axis responds correctly to collective input. You have to be on the pedals and ahead of the aircraft. Anticipate how it will respond to a control input and move the other controls accordingly before the helicopter reacts. If you are waiting to make inputs based on what the ship is doing, you are behind the aircraft and in for a world of hurt...

I find it a lot of fun to fly. There is always a challenge with OH-6/MD500/Hughes 369 flight modeling, because it is both stable and nimble. It's stable due to the lack of hydraulics and the fully articulated 4/5 bladed rotor. However, it is also very responsive and maneuverable. It's hard to simulate the nimbleness, and heavy, non-hydraulic controls at the same time. Most developers go for the nimble behavior. It's the same in MSFS and XP12. I find it very squirely if you try and lift off with the controls far off center. I use a PFT Puma, non-centering control setup though. Use the control position indicator until you get the hang of it. Also, move the controls in smaller amounts, and much less often. Remember, the Huey is a utility ship. it's slow and sluggish in comparison. The Loach is a nimble scout. The same principles apply, but they fly very differently.