Question for the rotorheads

[jasonstory44]

Hi guys, wanted to get some input.

 

I’ve never flown anything but fixed wing before. I want to give the choppers a spin but have no idea which one to start with to learn even the basics of handling and flight before diving into deeper systems. I own all four choppers but haven’t really jumped into them. If anyone could give me some guidance as to what might be the easiest module to start with...and learn the flight characteristics of choppers...that would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks, Jason

[ricktoberfest]

Hi guys, wanted to get some input.

 

 

 

I’ve never flown anything but fixed wing before. I want to give the choppers a spin but have no idea which one to start with to learn even the basics of handling and flight before diving into deeper systems. I own all four choppers but haven’t really jumped into them. If anyone could give me some guidance as to what might be the easiest module to start with...and learn the flight characteristics of choppers...that would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

Thanks, Jason

 

 

 

Huey. It’s the most basic one and you fly it almost entirely by hand. No autopilot to get in the way (except for the cheat autopilot)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BlacleyCole]

I say the easiest to mast might be the first dcs came out with the black shark the computer flies it so you can run the weapons systems by that it has assists systems for roll, pitch and yaw plus iirc it has auto hover mode Yes it has complicated weapons and such but to learn to fly is easier.

[Quadg]

learn the huey and you can fly everything else without much hassle.

so its the best one for basics.

[Buzzles]

The Huey is the most, well, helicopter-y, of the current batch, so is the best place to start. Mi8 is similar but more like a flying truck, which brings its own interesting challenges.

 

KA-50 has a lot of autopilot aids + the coaxial rotor, so it's very much its own thing. A lot of fun but definitely not a "standard" chopper.

[jasonstory44]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the feedback

[Mr_sukebe]

Huey. It’s the most basic one and you fly it almost entirely by hand. No autopilot to get in the way (except for the cheat autopilot)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

+1. On top of that, I still love flying the Huey.

[ebabil]

huey

[John Hargreaves]

The Huey is the most, well, helicopter-y, of the current batch, so is the best place to start.

 

Very well put, I totally agree.

I'd suggest that having rudder pedals makes a big difference, as did removing the big spring from my warthog joystick (desirable but not essential). You can also set your throttle to go the other way to fixed wing (pull towards you for increased collective pitch) as well to get the feel closer to a helicopter. If you get really into it you might go for a collective, but that fix will certainly get you going. It's a lot of fun and very satisfying once you get the hang of it.

[Eviscerador]

In my experience the Huey is also the best helicopter trainer.

 

Gazelle has Sas channels AND autopilot which will drive the helo on rails once you get over 60 km/h

 

Mi-8 is heavier and more difficult to control at low speeds. At high speeds thanks to the simple autopilot it is a joy to fly, and much faster and powerful than the huey.

 

The Kamov is a class on its own. With autopilot trim, several attack autopilot modes and coaxial rotors, it is like flying a fixed - rotary wing hybrid. The closest thing to me is the harrier.

[BlacleyCole]

I like the huey as it’s my primary but to learn how helos operate from a fighter mentally the ka-50would be the easiest.

[Quadg]

the ka-50 is an experiment to remove the gunner from a 2 man attack helicopter.

why it has so many autopilots.

but it is a bit of a failure as the Russians themselves have bought more 2 man ka-52 than ka-50.

and flying it I often wish it had a gunner so I could focus on flying :) instead of using the wacky autopilot. trim linked to autopilot? really?

you can still master it and get good.. but you can also see it get massacred in the helicopter tournaments because it is to complex. too much work for one man.

when it does not autolock they are usually dead.

 

none of this means the ka-50 isn't a lot of fun in DCS.

its interesting because its an experiment.

[backspace340]

The KA-50 teaches you how to fly an autopilot, the Huey teaches you how to fly a helicopter.

[Robert31178]

The KA-50 teaches you how to fly an autopilot, the Huey teaches you how to fly a helicopter.

 

This.

[BitMaster]

Huey or Mi-8, either one of them flies like a real chopper without too much distraction.

 

 

The Huey and it's doorgunners are unmatched in DCS yet, they're fun.

[Frag]

Damn I wish I could land the Huey. I fly an fly and fly but 3 landings out of 4 end up in the ditch. Watched full of tutorials and read everything and I understand it, but cannot do it LOLLL

 

Not blaming the Huey by the way, I am the dumb ass pilot here. I can land a K-50 on a trash can in proper balance on a single skid, but I cannot land the Huey is a 25 square kilometers empty parking lot.

 

I am starting to think that only practice practice and muscle memory will fix this. I LOVE the feel of that chopper.

 

I SO wish that they will do a solid Blackhawk ...

[ricktoberfest]

The thing that really helped me in both the Huey and the Hip was making a much slower/smoother transition from cruise to hover. I always tried to do it like on the videos of Vietnam but it takes a lot of skill to go from 100knots and flying to landed that quickly and accurately. Skill I don’t yet have. Every time I tried I ended up in VRS and crashed. Now I do a much slower transition and then it works great.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kotor633]

The Mi-8 was the last helicopter module I bought myself. And I have to say, that was a mistake. I should have gotten it first! This module just makes fun! Yes, it's not easy at the beginning. In the beginning I often crashed during the vertical landing, it reacts slower than the other helicopter modules, the radio and the cockpit lettering are in Russian. But in no other module do I personally have the feeling I'm steering a helicopter. Especially the transport of loads and passengers makes a lot of fun. And also the rotors sound just sounds great. I personally advise you to Mi-8.

[BitMaster]

The Mi-8 was the last helicopter module I bought myself. And I have to say, that was a mistake. I should have gotten it first! This module just makes fun! Yes, it's not easy at the beginning. In the beginning I often crashed during the vertical landing, it reacts slower than the other helicopter modules, the radio and the cockpit lettering are in Russian. But in no other module do I personally have the feeling I'm steering a helicopter. Especially the transport of loads and passengers makes a lot of fun. And also the rotors sound just sounds great. I personally advise you to Mi-8.

 

 

I dont own the Gazelle, but from all other 3, if I want to fly a HELICOPTER I take the Mi-8, if I want to have fun I take the Huey and if I want to kill things I take the Ka-50. That sums it up pretty good.

 

 

She ain't easy to master but she got the best overall experience by far, Mi-8. The Huey is close, but there is a gap the Huey cannot bridge.

[Cik]

MI-8 is the best helicopter IMO- enough autopilots to make sure it's not physically tiring like the huey, but not so much as the KA-50 where you are not really even flying the airframe anymore.

 

 

unlike huey, it doesn't have trouble carrying it's own weapons. more than enough power to climb hills and move at high speeds even loaded to the gills with rokkits. better at sling loading as more power definitely helps. generally much more stable in flight with no nose left/right wobble unlike huey.

 

 

as a gunship it's superior to huey, seems more damage resistant and powerful. fun to fly with it's own quirks but not a real headache cross-country once you get in the groove.

 

 

i'd probably reconsider my opinion if we had a threat environment that allowed flying the huey in the close support role, but as it is now it basically eats it immediately as it's outsticked by every AA system in game and doesn't have enough flares for prolonged loiter where MANPADS may dwell (unlike MI-8 which can chill out over MANPADland for significant amounts of time due to crazy dispenser qty)

 

 

get MI8 imo, best of all worlds unless you really, really must fly an american helicopter.

[Frag]

I really really tried to love the Gazelle but I couldn't for few reasons. It's all about the feeling you know. The flight physic seems fake but I can't say why ... I can't make that thing auto hover without fighting with it for 10 minutes even though I am really stable. I always end up restarting a game and trying to land the Huey instead LOLL.

 

I bought the chopper package of September so I have the MI8 as well, but I did not try it out yet. I would like to fully handle the Huey before doing so.

[unknown]

...the radio and the cockpit lettering are in Russian...

You have some options for the Mi-8.

 

From all 4 i prefer the Mi-8, it's the module i have spend most of my virtual flight hours in. (helicopter and aircraft) :thumbup:

[BaD CrC]

I would highly recommend watching this to understand the concepts for flying choppers (IRL or DCS):

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG13vqdYSapylJU53JD8yEQ

 

Huey is a good chopper for beginner. Perfect to apply what you learn on chopper aerodynamics. Then you will feel furstrated by its limited firepower and speed. Time to move to Mi8, then Ka50 and eventually Gazelle.

 

@Frag, for hovering, I highly recommend using the last mod of the HSI. When the 2 HSI bars are about centered, it's time to hit the stationary button. Got her into hover almost all the time now.