Why we don't have Blackhawk, Cobra, Early version of the Apache, etc?

[Dangerzone]

Just curious as to why these helicopters weren't considered (or were, but dismissed) in the beginning, or even now?

 

Are these helicopters way more complex than the Gazelle, Hi-8, or black shark to develop?

 

Does the DCS engine not have the capabilities of them?

 

With a little to no understanding of simulation development (and maybe too much thinking time on my hands) - I'm just curious to know possible reasons why effort was decided to be put into other helicopters without at least one of these being considered. When I think of military's helicopters, besides the Huey (which I think more Vietnam era) - these are the ones that come to the fore-front of my mind for more closer-to-modern day military choppers.

 

Don't get me wrong - I'm not having a go at what we have..... I'm just kinda curious why when a developer sits down and thinks "Let's do a helicopter" they would choose what was chosen over these as the ones to focus on, and why none of these are even considered now.

[SilentGun]

The Cobra is in development, and the Apache is coming to DCS (we have no information on when development will start or if it is currently in development as it is far out, but coming eventually).

 

The development of DCS aircraft is based upon what information can be acquired. Eagle Dynamics is a company that was originally founded in Russia so I'm assuming the information available to them started there with the Ka-50. The Mi-8 and UH-1H was developed by Belsimtek which merged with Eagle Dynamics a few years ago and those aircraft are easy to find information on because they are used by civilian agency's so not much (if any) of the information is classified. Systems in the UH-60 and AH-64 are still very classified and I'm sure it is difficult process to secure licenses to produce these products.

 

ED doesn't produce an aircraft because they haven't considered it, but rather on the information and licensing they can obtain.

[Gruman]

Apache is basicly 95% confirmed. With a bit of luck EA in 2021? Cobra was acknowledged to be a module ED likes to do after the Apache (-> WAGS AMA many months ago).

I really like a UH-60/MH-60 Blackhawk as well, but to this date there was no talking about that airframe. Would like a CH-47/MH-47 as well :smilewink:.

Probably have to hope for some flyable mods in the future to get those aircrafts.

[ebabil]

We have been using ancient uh1 for 7 seven years. And they haven't added a thing to it or improve its textures.

either they don't have enough source or they are not in helicopters too much. because despite there is a big potential, they are using it

[Dangerzone]

LOL - this was the last post I've made and then I got a "You have been permanently banned" message come up when I logged on this morning. Looks like a software glitch - but I was thinking "Strewth - there must be a covert super secret reason why these haven't been developed and I've just put my foot in it". Thankfully it seems like a forum glitch, and not something deeper going on. :)

 

I'm excited by the replies! Cobra is in development? Sweet as! Do we have anymore information on this (such as who is designing it, etc). Same with the Apache?!?

 

I started off on the FA18 (which I still enjoy), but after switching to VR and trying out a Helo, I'm hooked on the choppers now. I get back in the FA18 and fly it for a bit but it's not long before I find myself beating the air again. I seem to get far more satisfaction being low level taking them into combat with stuff happening all around me than releasing weapons at 20,000 above the targets. Not that I don't enjoy the FA-18 or other fast movers - (still find them just as fun as always) - but had no idea just how much more satisfaction I would get out of helo's being down in among it all!

 

Just kinda find myself wanting something that flies like a helo that's a little more armored / suited for combat. (The KA50 is great at combat - but I don't get the level of satisfaction of 'flying' it like a helo). Kinda looking for something inbetween that would take more of a beating, go faster but at the same time - still fly (and have the same challenges) as a conventional helo.

 

I'll be looking forward to those releases. Pitty there's no word about the blackhawk out though. I would have thought with so many countries operating it that maybe it would have been more declassified than I thought. I guess not.

[Dragon1-1]

It's probably because Blackhawk is mostly a transport helo, and the combat role is secondary. Honestly, ED devs have quite a bit on their plate, and if I know anything about creating any sort of content, it's that trying to do everything is the best way to never get anything done. It's better if they focus on finishing what they started, and then start on new things.

[Mars Exulte]

For the same reason every other ''pet plane'' isn't in the game. You have a list. You pick a plane. You do a plane. It is not possible to do everything all at once.

 

If we had these instead of the current roster, we'd be seeing threads demanding to know why we don't have the iconic F-16, F-18, A-10, etc @@

[Furiz]

Why don't we have an FC3 helicopter module?

[erniedaoage]

Just kinda find myself wanting something that flies like a helo that's a little more armored / suited for combat. (The KA50 is great at combat - but I don't get the level of satisfaction of 'flying' it like a helo). Kinda looking for something inbetween that would take more of a beating, go faster but at the same time - still fly (and have the same challenges) as a conventional helo.

 

Don't worry mi-24p should be inbound in Q1 2021. :D Another suggestion on my side is try older airframes which are not fly by wire. If maybe ED does a freeweek or even freemonth again to try out some modules, hop into the f14, f86, mig-15, mig-21, f5, viggen and the warbirds, those are all modules where you really have to get up close to your target. Except for the aim-54 in the cat i mean that should be obvious :D I don't know but a successful hit with a dumb bomb and an historic aiming device gets me way more satisfaction than a quadruple release of weapons where i don't even have to maneuver the plane at all.

 

Why don't we have an FC3 helicopter module?

 

Because FC dates back way before the ka50. Everything after the ka50 were full fidelity modules, they just made lomac compatible with dcsworld. At the beginning you could only fly FC, or Ka50 or A10c in multiplayer, at a later stage in development ED created DCS and merged them all together.

They are going to do MAC and seperate it from DCS because MAC is gonna be like all FC modules. Maybe they add the choppers also in there i don't know there hasn't been much information for MAC where the last info was that it would release somewhere last year and than it got postponed because they wanna release a AAA title and need more polishing.

[QuiGon]

Apache is basicly 95% confirmed. With a bit of luck EA in 2021?

 

Ha, keep dreaming. While it is true, that it is pretty much confirmed, work on it hasn't really started yet AFAIK. I wouldn't expect it before 2023. More like 2024/2025.

[Northstar98]

Another suggestion on my side is try older airframes which are not fly by wire. If maybe ED does a freeweek or even freemonth again to try out some modules, hop into the f14, f86, mig-15, mig-21, f5, viggen and the warbirds, those are all modules where you really have to get up close to your target. Except for the aim-54 in the cat i mean that should be obvious :D I don't know but a successful hit with a dumb bomb and an historic aiming device gets me way more satisfaction than a quadruple release of weapons where i don't even have to maneuver the plane at all.

 

I wholeheartedly agree, they might not be everyone's cup of coffee, but IMO they're worth it - plus there's the bonus that many of them are feature complete, or at least pretty darn close to it.

 

 

 

[Gruman]

 

Ha, keep dreaming. While it is true, that it is pretty much confirmed, work on it hasn't really started yet AFAIK. I wouldn't expect it before 2023. More like 2024/2025.

Similiar thing was said about the F-16. which was suddenly released into Early Access. ;). But it doesnt really bother me. 2022/23/24 is soon enough.

[ebabil]

Why don't we have an FC3 helicopter module?

 

for transport helos; what would you do in an fc3 transport helicopter? If you are not shooting something, you gotta mess some buttons and switches :D

[Furiz]

 

for transport helos; what would you do in an fc3 transport helicopter? If you are not shooting something, you gotta mess some buttons and switches :D

 

Did I say transport?

Doesn't have to be transport, a helo of whatever kind, just to get a feel for a helo. There's a warplane with no guns in basic game, full fidelity cockpit, to get a feel of how that looks like for example

[Evoman]

 

Did I say transport?

Doesn't have to be transport, a helo of whatever kind, just to get a feel for a helo. There's a warplane with no guns in basic game, full fidelity cockpit, to get a feel of how that looks like for example

 

ED did mention that they have been re-evaluating the free aircraft to bring in new people to DCS. And one of those considerations should be a basic trainer helicopter. With the OH-58 Kiowa coming soon, ED should take advantage of the development that has been done to add the trainer variant that the military uses called the TH-57 Sea Ranger to the line up of free aircraft. Something like that would really increase interest and sales on the helicopter modules.

 

 

[Furiz]

Yea that is exactly what I had in mind.

[Dragon1-1]

Do note that the OH-58D is not an ED module, and they probably would not be able to use it. They would need something developed in-house, such as a Huey variant (Bell 206, anyone?).

 

 

[Evoman]

Do note that the OH-58D is not an ED module, and they probably would not be able to use it. They would need something developed in-house, such as a Huey variant (Bell 206, anyone?).

 

 

That is true but I just found out about that ED has a contract stipulation that requires in some form or another that all product models/files/etc are released to ED if a dev drops. Even with out having to be forced to provide the data it would be in Polychop's best interest to work with ED anyways to essentially give themselves a boost in sales of the OH-58D that would result from it. I can even imagine Polychop more than happy to do the work themselves as it would benefit them a lot.

[Dragon1-1]

They have to provide data, however rights to actually use it, especially to release it free, are more murky. Also, that would mean ED would have to maintain the derivative module, which is something they likely won't be so keen on doing. No, I would not expect them to pick a 3rd party helo for inclusion.

 

This clause is purely an "emergency" one to allow ED to maintain compatibility after the Hawk debacle. However, do not expect that should this happen again, you would get any sort of proper updates to the abandoned content from ED. They're already spotty on updating their own modules like Yak-52.