Volator

Yet another good heli server is, as the name implies, the "Rotorheads" server. It's persistent PvE and also features a good integration of Combined Arms (four Tac Commander slots), which I think is a core feature of good heli servers (i.e. the air to ground integration). The enemy AI ground units seem quite clever. Very target-rich environment though, needs a dedicated team in the air and on the ground to be successful.

PC, please consider adding an autopilot "cheat" for the SA-342 and the OH-58D, similar to the one in the UH-1 Huey module, that can hold altitude/heading and rules out steering inputs. The current autopilot modes on the Gazelle are all good tools, but with a stick that isn't self-centering (like a TMW with a 45cm extension), you can never let go of the stick because it will override the autopilot modes. I know it's not a realistic mode for the Gazelle and possibly not for the OH-58D, but it would make the life of a sim pilot easier.

Hi, suddenly I can't control the Viviane sight slew up/down via axis anymore. Tried two different axes on two different devices. Slewing left/right via axis works on both devices, axes are functioning in controls menu, are assigned, no interference due to other axes assigned... and via keys slewing up/down also works. Track: https://www.mediafire.com/file/qwku3k7vm9isytk/Through_The_Inferno_SYRIA_v2.1.2-20210516-200625.trk/file Track shows a MP mission, also tried in SP but forgot to save track. ***Edit*** Problem solved. For some reason under "Special" the option "Second joystick for camera" was deactivated. That was the culprit.

It seems this is rather hardware-related.

Here's another track from an MP server that shows ground units getting lost and stopping to move. Changing formation usually gets them moving again, but they often travel off path and get stuck in trees or buildings. https://www.mediafire.com/file/zv1qos1ll8vd8ly/Op+Be+Quick+or+Be+Dead+v4+MAY2021-20210512-204626.trk/file

Good news. Remember how users received heavy flak from some individuals in this forum for pointing out some oddities with pitch behavior pre 2.7.

Thanks ED, good thing!

Yes, most probably I would.

+1000! It's really great to read this from a professional military pilot, not only with regard to the Gazelle, but to DCS modules in general. When FM engineers pat their shoulders because by exaggerating certain characteristics they've managed to create the "most realistic" rendition of an aircraft to the point that you cannot properly fly it with regular flight sim hardware anymore, something has clearly got out of bounds. And it's not only the disparity in controls, their size etc., it's also the fact that you don't have physical feedback in a desktop sim. In a real aircraft, you can feel what's going on and will control the aircraft with subtlety accordingly. Also, except for some test aircraft, planes and helicopters are rather easy to control for any average pilot who has been trained on the particular aircraft. FM designers should mind this when they create their FMs, and some people need to mind this when judging flight models. Thank you Gunnars Driver, well said.

This video has probably been posted before, but since the discussion is about cyclic movement, I think it fits in quite nicely: To sum up the essential part here: Cyclic inputs are simulated wrong in the DCS Gazelle. Disclaimer: Yes, you can still have fun with the Gazelle though, and I'm happy that we have it in DCS. It will be even better when this gets corrected.

Possibly, maybe a stuck button or something? I flew the Gazelle M on an MP server yesterday and auto hover worked flawlessly.

Another recommendable server for chopper guys is this one I came across a few days ago: ROG Charlie Syria It's not a choppers-only server, but choppers can do a lot of useful things there via scripts. The cool thing is that most loads have to be sling-loaded, that adds a nice challenge. It's a PvE server with a persistent mission design, so everything you do (set up SAM sites, take enemy bases and the like) is relevant and will be present when you fly the next day. Lots of missions to do as shown in the F-10 map, but most need some sort of cooperation with fighters and strikers, as the enemy AI will scramble lots of fighters at you, so either built a good SAM screen or have fighter cover at hand. Additionally, there is one CA ground commander and some JTAC slots available for a2g cooperation and coordination. I haven't found any thread here in this forum related to this server, so I have no idea who's responsible for it. I'd like to ask the server admins / mission designers to add more Gazelle L and M slots to the various air bases and FARPS so that two pilots can fly the same variant to team up.

Those are bold statements I'd like to challenge. So, utility helicopters-wise, which European helicopter you can think of surpasses the performance, efficiency, effectivity, maintainability, readiness of the UH-60 combined as a whole package? Please don't say NH-90...

Agreed, and there are asymmetric scenarios both SP and MP where a turboprop fits in quite nicely.

Yes, they should, but in DCS they don't, AFAIK. So... 12. Automatic gun laying for radar-guided AAA.

Absolutely, units with an FCR can and should have the aiming circle. But for say an M1 it's unrealistic to "lock" a T-72 or a Mi-24. There you have laser range finder and automatic lead computation to get a good firing solution on a moving target, but it's more difficult of course. For MP servers, hosts should have the option to decide whether to use "easy" aiming or realistic aiming.

I don't know the exact wording here, but I mean the locking of air and ground targets and then getting an aiming cue for the perfect firing solution. It's highly unrealistic for most units.

5. MBT M60 drivable 6. Option to take away the easy targeting option for CA units in MP 7. better control options for UAV ops (setting up a loiter track; maybe even sensor integration into CA) 8. goes with 4.: better control/information over artillery units (e.g information when they are unable to fire, when they have finished fire mission etc.) 9. goes with 2. infantry taking cover and being able to fire from cover 10. being able to set repetitive patrol patterns for ground units 11. improved damage model for ground units ...

I for my part would favour a more general variant than those super-specialized ones. A standard UH-60A/L/M version would do for me. They are employed by many nations and services, not just the USAF or the 160th SOAR.

Another highly recommendable helicopter server is this one: Air Assault Operations

Trees (and even houses!) do not block search radar at all unfortunately, at least not EWR/AWACS, and there is a post that the F/A-18 radar can also see through trees. In the same thread BN mentioned that it is due to performance issues. It seems that trees (and houses) do block tracking radars of ground units like Shilka, SA-8 and so on. This is something that really should be looked at, because it renders NOE flying for helicopters virtually useless if there's EWR or AWACS around and you can't put solid terrain between you and the radar.

This is possibly a general problem with radar in DCS. Coming from helicopters I know that in DCS EWR/AWACS can see you behind forests and buildings. I'm no radar expert but I think it shouldn't be able to penetrate wood. This is something that should be adressed for the whole simulation.

It's very beautiful! Love the static elements.

Something like this for MP user callsigns might be a thing in a few cases... but I can't see how 'rogue' fits into the profanity category.