CFrag's "Hover, Damn" (Helicopter hover trainer)

[cfrag]

Version: 20240812 (added Kiowa)

 

(DOWNLOAD PLEASE CLICK HERE)

(This is the discussion thread)

 

A Helicopter Hover Trainer (all helicopter types supported, plus Harrier)

To be able to hover is like being able to parallel parking a car. Difficult, unimpressive, and a prerequisite for flying any helicopter.

Well, here's a small mission that helps you hone that skill with any of DCS's currently available flyable Helicopters.

The mission also throws in some element of scoring to keep you on your toes. Or rather, to keep you keep your toes on your rudder. Oh, and Instructor/Trainer MP setup is tentatively supported (requires more testing)

-=-

It's the small things. "The enemy gate is down", "Walk before you run" - with helicopters it's "Hover before you Soar". Hovering is not only a quintessential skill, it's also decidedly difficult to learn. Which explains the abundance of training tools available for budding rotor heads... Errrr...

No more. Named after the favorite exclamation of all levitationally challenged chopper jocks-to-be, "Hover, Damn!" is a helicopter hover trainer. It won't teach you how it's done right (only time can do that), but it provides you with an environment to train up and hone your "just the effing stay there!" skill. 

In this mission you choose a Helicopter (all current DCS flyable helicopters supported) and the use the F10 Option in Communications to request a hover exercise from Central. A second later, your helicopter - wherever it may be - is surrounded by a ring of cheap disposable objects to mark the zone. Increase cyclic, and once you hover, try to stay centered in this ring. Every second you are scored, and the score is added to your total -- until you touch down, explode, or drift out of the ring.

That's all. 

Simple, right? 

So when do you know you are good at hovering? The sad truth is: probably never. Good enough? When you start noticing just how much else is going on at Sochi around you.

 

"Hover Damn" supports Instructor/Student setup. Instructors can fly the helicopter anywhere and initiate the mission there. Perimeter marks will be constructed on the spot (after touch down of course).

Mission Designer Notes

You can add any client-controlled helicopter anywhere on the map. The mission will automatically work with that helicopter as well. 

INSTALLATION
To install, download and move "CFrags Hover damn!.miz" to
    C:\Users\[your user name]\Saved Games\DCS\Missions\
or
    C:\Users\[your user name]\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Missions\

TO START A THE MISSION
Start DCS, then click
    - Mission (Note: NOT Training)
    - My Missions tab (upper left)
    - CFrags Hover Damn!

 

Enjoy,
-ch

Edited August 12, 2024 by cfrag

[cfrag]

Mission deleted. 

 

Too many people downrated this mission without bothering to say what to improve. 

[sobe]

Has the Hind been added yet?

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

Can we have it back?

[cfrag]

It's back

Now also supports Hind, and (as suggested by @VFGiPJP) I have added the Harrier. Since I really suck at harryhovering, please let me know if there's something wrong with the Harrier's setup (it starts with 40% fuel, no arms, so should be light enough to initiate hover).

Changes

• Added Hind
• Added Harrier
• Updated all libraries 

 

Have fun,

-ch

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

(Don't look at me) I dunno Harrier hovering either...so I shall see what I can do.

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

I know it is basically against the idea of @cfrag, I manage to add the UH-60L mod to the mission. It is much more easier rotary plane to hover. I am keeping it to myself.

Edited January 22, 2022 by VFGiPJP

[cfrag]

Hey, if you are looking for easy, hover the Ka-50  -- but to quote the incomparable Tina Turner: "we never, ever, do easy"

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

At least it did not try to murder every 30 seconds or so like the Hind does...well, I always break the engine of the Black Hawk, i.e. Now back to practice.

Edit: Are you suggesting I should get the Ka-50 ][ also?

Edited January 23, 2022 by VFGiPJP

[cfrag]

Update: 1.2.0 - 20220317

Apache.

 

Edited March 17, 2022 by cfrag

[jomonto]

@cfrag

I just wanted to thank you for this trainer.

I'm a new helicopters and still learning the basics. Aside from hovering, I've used it to explore, practicing slow controlled taxis down to other aircraft, pedal turns around parked aircraft. Taxing sideways too. Exploring off the coast has been fun too. It's a content rich environment that helps with practice (instead of just a long empty runway).

thanks again,

john- 

[cfrag]

Update 20221225

• Added Ka-50 III
• Moved to ED's User Files

Enjoy,

-ch

 

[cfrag]

Update 20240606

• Added Kiowa

Enjoy,

-ch

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

Thanks!

[cfrag]

BUG NOTIFICATION: DCS 2.9.6.57650 and 2.9.6.57656

Please be advised that DCS 2.9.6.57650 and 2.9.6.57656 (update from July 11 and 22) completely breaks this mission. A 'fix' for a previously reported bug has rendered central functionality of this mission inert: the mission can no longer detect if a helicopter has landed. Until this is fixed by ED this mission is unplayable.

Hopefully a fix in the future can restore this mission back to working condition.

Edited July 22, 2024 by cfrag

[cfrag]

UPDATE 20240812 - Power restored, Chinook added

This update works around the "features" of the Jul-11 and Jul-22 DCS patches and restores "Hover Damn!" back to operational status - and adds the Chinook in time for you to practice your favorite curses.

Enjoy,

-ch