Air Taxiing

[Oubaas]

Anybody else do much air taxiing? I like to start up on the ramp and then air taxi out to the runway. It took me about 15 missions before I really got the knack and stopped wallowing around, but now I can drive the Huey around the airfield like I'm driving a sports car.

 

If you haven't tried it, give it a shot, loads of fun. But if you haven't done it before, expect to need a little practice before you can stay in your own lane.

[rtimmons]

Also handy for skidding between buildings for cover when your looking for a place to drop troops and crates in urban areas....

[Oubaas]

Also handy for skidding between buildings for cover when your looking for a place to drop troops and crates in urban areas....

 

Very true! I have also found that it has greatly improved my performance in shipboard operations, especially aboard smaller vessels where there's not much room.

 

It's a technique worth practicing. I used the mission editor to create some ramp start missions and they've been useful in practicing both cold and dark startups as well as air taxiing. That practice has paid off nicely in improving my Huey performance.

Edited April 26, 2016 by Oubaas
The usual: spelling.

[Bearfoot]

Unfortunately, I do more air taxiing than I like to admit.

 

It's getting better now, but while training/practicing landings I almost always got it wrong, i.e., while juggling air speed, angle of descent, heading, etc. etc., I would typically reach 0/0 altitude/speed WAAAAAY short or long or to the side of my goal. So then I just kick in a little collective to lift her just above the ground and cruise over to where I want to be. Like a little hovercraft with rotors. Sometimes for minutes at time.

 

With all of that "practice", I'm pretty comfortable air taxiing for take-offs etc! And definitely comes in handy in the situation rtimmons describes, i.e., maneuvering around cover and obstacles when landing troops. I've even gone cruising around Las Vegas at ~0 ft AGL just for kicks ....

[javelina1]

 

snip....

 

I would typically reach 0/0 altitude/speed WAAAAAY short or long or to the side of my goal. So then I just kick in a little collective to lift her just above the ground and cruise over to where I want to be. Like a little hovercraft with rotors. Sometimes for minutes at time.

 

..../snip

 

 

amen brother. you've described my current landing methodology. Getting a little better each time though.

[Bearfoot]

amen brother. you've described my current landing methodology. Getting a little better each time though.

 

Ha!

 

Actually, I was lying when I said I would often reach 0/0 altitude/speed. Many times I would end up at 0 knots speed but about 100 feet up, or, other way around, reach 0 altitude but still be blazing forward at 40-60 knots! In fact, there used to be time when if I actually did reach 0/0 at the same time, regardless of where I was, I considered it a MAJOR victory! Well, as long as the ship was still in one piece and not burning (because otherwise we could say I reached 0/0 very often).

 

As you say, getting better, though. Practice ^ 3.

 

EDIT: I should put a plug in for the mission that has greatly improved my landing: HueyDrop2. Many hours in this have really helped. While still pretty clumsy at times, and I do not always get it in clean, my landings are now something I can count on, and I attribute it completely to this mission! Multiple opportunities to practice landing (and take-offs) under fire in and around buildings, plus landing in a tightly-bounded zone (with comms antennas, tents, and vehicles providing a "wall", not allowing you to hover/glide in and requiring you to come in over them). Highly recommended!

Edited April 28, 2016 by Bearfoot

[rtimmons]

I love that mission too.....we should all do it multiplayer sometime. Another one that has even more enemy infested areas is [uH-1H]Tactical_Air_Assault_1.1.

Nice short trips to the battle field and back with lot's of takeoffs and landing. I have a CTLD version I have been using to practice hauling crates to strategic locations along with mortar squads etc. You can be a deadly asset with a Huey and CTLD.

[Bearfoot]

I love that mission too.....we should all do it multiplayer sometime. Another one that has even more enemy infested areas is [uH-1H]Tactical_Air_Assault_1.1.

Nice short trips to the battle field and back with lot's of takeoffs and landing. I have a CTLD version I have been using to practice hauling crates to strategic locations along with mortar squads etc. You can be a deadly asset with a Huey and CTLD.

 

That sounds really interesting. The link got broken, though.

 

For reference, I'm including it here:

 

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=140478

 

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/1306109/

[BSS_Sniper]

Just FYI, it's called a hover taxi. IIRC :)

[hansangb]

I gotta tell you, the other day, I was following around a pair of UH60's as they were taxing on their wheels. But it was *only* after I got the Komodo cyclic and collective. It's *so* much easier with those sticks than my thrustmaster (even with the lighter spring). So controls have a lot to do with controlling the chopper. Trust me, it's not like I got skills overnight! :)

 

And thanks for the drop off mission. Will give it a shot later.