Proper takeoff procedures and yaw

[kenp]

DCS Gazelle SA342 is fantastic and well done with a question about proper takeoff procedures and yaw because I have to use %50 rudder to keep the helicopter straight during takeoff.

 

Is there a button to press to keep the helicopter straight during takeoff without having to use rudders?

 

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Ramsay]

Is there a button to press to keep the helicopter straight during takeoff without having to use rudders?

No.

 

AFAIK the Stability Augmentation System (SAS) yaw actuator doesn't have the authority/range to hold the helicopter straight by it's self. The pilot sets/trims the rudder pedals to counter the torque of the main rotor, etc and the SAS works from that setting to compensate for cross wind changes, etc. that disturb direction/azimuth. Micro-switches/sensors allow the SAS to differentiate between pilot inputs and external forces.

 

AFAIK, above 90 km/h (50 knots), the SAS yaw channel disengages and direction is only maintained by a mixture of the pedal input and tail fin forces.

[kenp]

Thanks for the input.

 

I have successfully performed a straight takeoff without having to use rudders by utilizing the auto-hover control button feature "Q".

 

How do you disengage the auto-hover feature after takeoff and enter flight mode?

 

Pressing the auto-hover button again does nothing to disengage hover flight and any sharp turns will cause the helicopter to explode.

[Ramsay]

How do you disengage the auto-hover feature after takeoff and enter flight mode?

 

Pressing the auto-hover button again does nothing to disengage hover flight and any sharp turns will cause the helicopter to explode.

 

Auto-hover 'Q' is a toggle function. It can't be engaged on the the ground, only in the air but it'll work even for a low 0.5-1.0 m hover check immediately after liftoff.

 

To see if the key is working as expected, use "Right-Control and Enter" to display the controls indicator.

 

To climb using auto-hover, you'll need to enter 'manual' collective mode by pressing 'C' (another toggle key).

 

 

Ascending in a hover using the collective requires a lot of torque/power and you will need to watch you don't exceed 100% or bring on the warning lamp (AFAIK there isn't an audible alarm). Gearbox failure, etc. will destroy the helicopter in seconds if the warnings are ignored.

 

 

Sharp turns with high collective settings can also overload the helicopter and destroy the clutch/gearbox which is perhaps what you are seeing after exiting auto-hover?

 

The only other mode of destruction I've seen durring auto-hover is if you accidentally enter a VRS. The helicopter *may* self-recover from the VRS once or twice but after that the auto-hover disengages, the tail is lost and it tumbles to the ground and destruction.

 

 

Tested in DCS v1.5.5.59744