Another one about the trimmer and autopilot

[Fishbreath]

The KA-50 is NOT a normal chopper. Its a VERY EASY (this is a good thing because you need to do the shooting as well) helo to fly with the AP channels and its power source. If you want to know how a "normal" helo flies like then the HUEY is a very good place to start in the virtual world. Coming from the KA-50 I had a lot of difficulty "mastering" the Huey but boy did it made me a better pilot.

 

Certainly true. If I had infinite time, I'd try and train people on the Huey and put them into the Ka-50 next, so they realize just what the FLCS and coaxial rotors buy them. Most of them have resisted that idea. Maybe, once we get the AH-1 or the Gazelle done, I'll put them in the back seat and see what they think. :P

[Yurgon]

If you want to know how a "normal" helo flies like then the HUEY is a very good place to start in the virtual world. Coming from the KA-50 I had a lot of difficulty "mastering" the Huey but boy did it made me a better pilot.

 

I couldn't agree more!

 

I love the Huey module and man was it tough to get this thing to do something that remotely resembled what I wanted it to do.

 

After I'd flown the Ka-50 for a good long while, I thought the Huey would maybe pose a moderate challenge, but it just flies so much different from the Ka-50 that I basically had to learn to fly helos all over again.

 

The great thing about the Huey is that there's no autopilot interfering with what I want it to do.

 

The great thing about the Ka-50 is that there's an autopilot allowing me to fly hands-free.

 

I love both helicopters and try to make the best out of both. :)

 

In terms of DCS flight-school, I think it would make all the sense in the world to put new pilots into the Huey first (or the Mi-8 ), Ka-50 second, because then all those Kamov AP gadgets will suddenly make sense. :smartass:

Edited July 24, 2015 by Yurgon

[tacky_taco]

Hmkmm You guys have piqued my interest in the Huey. Is there a campaign? And how are the training missions?

[King_Hrothgar]

It has a campaign, but I never got past mission number 3 due to boredom. Not sure if it ever gets beyond 40 minute sight seeing flights. The training for it is fine and the aircraft systems are very simple. It's easy to learn if nothing else.

[Yurgon]

Hmkmm You guys have piqued my interest in the Huey. Is there a campaign? And how are the training missions?

 

As I remember it, the training missions are very well done and explain all essential systems. Of course it doesn't hurt to look at the manual as well, but mostly it's seat-of-the-pants flying and not so much working systems all the time.

 

I think the campaign is amazing. It starts at a slow pace but then picks up momentum and the player soon starts to see quite some action. The campaign works very well in order to familiarize new pilots with the Huey.

When I flew it, there were a few hick-ups that the devs mitigated, but they didn't entirely solve the problems. For instance, some missions require the player to closely follow the flight lead - but the AI flight loves to fly erratic maneuvers that are almost impossible to follow, and then the mission could fail because the player "strayed" too far from lead. As a consequence, the trigger zones were expanded, but there's just nothing Belsimtek could do to fix the AI issues.

 

All in all, I love the campaign, though, it's one of the best there is IMO.

[kingpinda]

Yeah the campaign is awsome! Its very realistic in a sense. In a particular mission briefing the crew freaks out when they hear rebels are spotted with manpads! When flying with cruisespeed at around 80 knots with a max speed of 130 knots the dread is felt when flying through canyons and dropping infantry in contested areas.

 

Its not an easy campaign. you will need to do some practicing with landing. So get familair with in ground effect. Also there is one mission where you are supposed to land on a carrier to take on a passenger. Be sure to have the groundcrew fill up your tank to the brim if you aren't sure of your landing skills. Or you could reserve your fuel by flying economic but I ussually try to fly at top speed because the missions are indeed quite long.

[tacky_taco]

Ok, I'm sold! The Huey will be my next module.

[erjdriver]

AP channels on, active AP off is still autopilot-controlled—it'll attempt to hold pitch, bank, and heading. Holding the trimmer or turning on FD mode instructs the AP to stop attempting to hold pitch/bank/heading, but leaves the stabilization and damping effects on.

 

So flying with the AP channels on and...

 

Pressing and holding the trimmer is the same as flying in FD mode - aside from the HUD symbology in FD mode.

 

So if I'm in FD mode, there's really no need to press the trimmer, do a maneuver (e.g. change heading) and then release trimmer. I can just do the maneuver and the press/release the trimmer.

 

If the above is the case, then I can see where in combat scenario enabling FD mode is beneficial and a good compromise. You're not fighting the AP and also have stabilization/damping effects.

[kingpinda]

So flying with the AP channels on and...

 

Pressing and holding the trimmer is the same as flying in FD mode - aside from the HUD symbology in FD mode.

 

So if I'm in FD mode, there's really no need to press the trimmer, do a maneuver (e.g. change heading) and then release trimmer. I can just do the maneuver and the press/release the trimmer.

 

If the above is the case, then I can see where in combat scenario enabling FD mode is beneficial and a good compromise. You're not fighting the AP and also have stabilization/damping effects.

 

 

I think this is true for people with normal "game" sticks/cyclics. However people with FFB tend to hold in trimmer make their manuever and release it even in FD mode. This is because when you press the trimmer, the cyclic becomes limp compared to the spring force without trim. Making it very easy to swing the cyclic where you want. Also the stick REALLY stays in place when you release the trim button.

[Fishbreath]

Yup, erjdriver, that's right.

 

And kingpinda is also right—flying with an FFB stick changes everything. I don't have one, or even have access to one, so I can't really say anything further on that topic.