Hunt3r.j2

I'd like to see one pure air superiority aircraft within our lifetime, and the AH-64A, since it seems that the cockpit model is already done...

I'd like to know more about this, it could be my next HOTAS.

Taiwan is equipping their Apaches with Stingers. What?

It seems then that in order to do anything with the stability augmentation and FD off you have to press and hold trim down. If real pilots don't do that, then how would then fly?:huh:

So far, all that I've seen regarding autopilot in the manual is flying routes. But my question is how to work with the autopilot while flying with no route in the PVI-800 or the ABRIS. Basically, how do you just FLY with the AP instead of having to fight it? And how would real pilots fly it?

Basically, if you're going to strafe, do a balls out 20 rocket artillery strike. Rockets are meant to blanket an area, not to be a weaker Vikhr. That, and it's probably a good idea to make sure you're absolutely stable and you have a target locked up in the Shkval, so you have a visual cue of what to hit.

Could anything be done to remove the dirty glass effect?

Seeing as how there's a dearth of helicopter sims at all, it would be nice to see DCS making more helos...

Yes, but once again you deal with the system that is Army procurement.

Well, that and the Russians have done it, and they didn't have fancy schmancy FBW to control the Ka-50, so we know that it's quite stable and good.

And if CH releases one then Thrustmaster will have done all that R&D for nothing.

Then wouldn't that fix the "rotors colliding" problem for all but the worst case scenarios? That, and I don't understand why there's an inherent fear of coaxial design. R/C helicopters do it and they seem to fly perfectly. Why not use it in a real one? A modded Sikorsky X2 attack helo with said avionics, more power, tougher design, lots of armor all around, fuel, yadda yadda, make it combat tough, would be quite desirable if it could also keep it's 250 kt cruise speed. Now... if someone tested this out in X-Plane...

Can a coaxial helicopter be designed with a rigid rotor system?

Rigid stick is far more precise, yadda yadda. Basically, unless CH releases something new, it's really going to start falling behind.

They should probably just have a base "spring" adjustment that would feel much like a conventional stick. In games where they KNOW that FFB is in fact completely working, this would be disabled and handed off to the game, but otherwise you would just set the base spring force to whatever you prefer. This would make Black Shark fixed, and probably much more enjoyable.

Bump. I'm guessing that this would make flying the Black Shark better, as it would recenter faster, no?

First person to be able to fly a Vikhr from the Black Shark into a F-15 in FC 2 wins a prize.

The ideal combat helicopter for attack? Coaxial rotors, FBW, Compound design (pusher prop in tail?), longer wings to have a total of 6 hardpoints, and two wingtip stations for SHORAD in a pinch. 2A42, two pilots. Titanium bathtub. Two turbines, 2,500 shp, secondary APU with 850 shp, to be used in hot and high conditions. Make it able to take 30mm, but not too much. Avionics that would reduce workload, ie after switching on APU or ground power, you would just flick a switch, and everything automatically starts up. Targeting would be accomplished by pushing a lock button, and it would automatically lock onto the target. Then just select weapon, arm, and fire. MMW radar Autopilots that allow you to hold hover, provide more effective assistance. Trim would work much like the BS. The idea is to make it fast, armed to the gills, armored to the gills, much of the work done automatically, and in general, allowing pilots and co-pilot/gunners to focus on the mission instead of flying the aircraft. To be on topic, the main problem with the Ka-50 was really that it came at the wrong time and place. Had a Ka-50 design been from an American company that had it in a two seat config, with CPG in front, pilot in back, and sent it to compete with the Apache... well, I think the Ka-50 would've become a very different animal. In fact, I think it might not have been able to be done in DCS.

DCS: BS is fun for rotary heads. You do a mission, and during said mission, tanks shoot at you, AA nearly hits, a Hind tries to kill you, and you manage to destroy an entire convoy and most of the helos. That is fun. Until we have a DCS: Viper I doubt that a Falcon 4 junkie would enjoy the game.

Your best bet, if they're far away, and it's a helo, and you have the upper ground, then set appropriate settings and try to engage with Vikhr.

In short, helicopters like the Sikorsky X2, the AH-56A (CL-804), X49A Speedhawk, and the Piasecki 16H. They've certainly be around for a while, but the question here now is if they would actually have a viable use on the battlefield. I'd imagine for transport helicopters they'd be huge, being able to get to and from the battle faster. The X-49A is expected to cruise at the Vne of the current UH-60L. What do you think? This could push the normal speed of a helicopter to 250 knots, which would be quite attractive.

Oh, DCS A-10 and DCS Apache is out, and DCS Havoc launches in a few weeks. Why?;)

Well that's basically what I'm driving at. But after you trim, the helo will basically be in AP, and holding your flight parameters. Completely hands off. If when you trim the rate of climb and speed is zero, you now have a nice hover.

FBW like the Airbus systems is bad. Something assist with stability ie your helo will stay at the proper angle and stay trimmed for a certain condition for whatever the case (hover), with no pilot intervention. Pressing trim no longer means keeping recentering the cyclic, it means keeping the exact same rate of climb, rate of turn, and speed.

How about a ducted fan being run by a THIRD engine (Either a very powerful APU or another entirely new helo) to replace the tail ala X-49A Speedhawk. Harder to truly damage the device counter-acting the torque, more engine power, more range, more payload, and you don't risk hitting the fan. Not to mention, you fit longer wings, so for the attack helos that's two extra hard points. Either 38 more Hydras, or 8 more Hellfires. For Cobras/Apaches your loadout would be: 8 Hellfires, 76 Hydras 16 Hellfires, 38 Hydras 24 Hellfires 152 Hydras. Sure sounds nice... That, and even if the controls via ducted fan fail, the stub wings have ailerons.