What is the best helo to start with?

[Whiskey11]

2 hours ago, S. Low said:

I have to say you should buy the mission and not the airframe.

 

Normally I’d just say go get the Huey because it is simple to operate and teaches you all the basics of whirlybirds , but I’ve been convinced to change my thinking.

 

if you come from janes and are in to gunships, I don’t think you’ll enjoy the Huey as much as the ka50 or the hind.

 

The ka50 shark will prep you for the Apache and I’m assuming you’ll want to jump on that. The ka50 will fly mostly like a jet too once you understand the autopilots and trim, so most of what you’ll be doing is managing your optics and weapons. It has several campaigns and lots of content, updating cockpit and great audio. Honestly I think ka50 is where you should go if you love gunships

 

edit: to clarify, if you want general utility like transport plus gunning then go for Huey. If you want utility with extra challenge in landing go with mi-8. If you want scouting go with gaz. If you want Hunter/killer gunship go with ka50. If you want aerial artillery and fun multicrew go with hind.

 

 

Interesting, I disagree... I came from many of those video games and I find the Huey to be the most satisfying helicopter in my DCS Inventory (admittedly, just the Ka-50 and Huey, but free flew the Mi-8 and the Gazelle and liked neither).  The challenge is entirely in figuring out how to use the woefully inadequate weapon systems to their maximum effect.  Add in sling loading and other utility helicopter flying and it's quite a lot of fun.  The MP server I play on has a CSAR script going which adds another layer to the game.

It's also the most "lively" helicopter I've flown in the game too.  I just love the damn thing, and who doesn't?  That twin blade rotor makes such a distinctive noise that you can't help but love it!

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

Since I like flying low and jump onto the target(s), I guess Ka-50 is the way to do, but I love the Huey cockpit. Humm.

 

Anyway, Shark, Huey and FC3 are all US$24.99 for the time being, it would make a rather difficult choice...

 

BTW, would Ka-50 gain further update(s)?

Edited July 6, 2021 by VFGiPJP

[M1Combat]

I would do the Shark hands down...

 

If you do a second...  I'd do the Mi24 for various reasons...  those being that since you'll also have the shark you'll likely be on RED side in various servers and if you want to troop transpo you'll do that with the HIND, along with some CAS...  but you'll clear threats with the KA50.  the other reason is that the Mi24 feels/flys/fights with a very nice feel.  I still prefer the shark in every way myself...  but the Mi24 is a good one.

 

The other way to go would be to do the Huey now, and wait for the Apache for the CAS part.

 

But...

 

Honestly...  Just get them all.

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

1 hour ago, M1Combat said:

Honestly...  Just get them all.

"This part will happen defnitiely" -- Wash, Serenity

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

I am flying both for free at the moment. Huey definitely give more "authentic" feeling. The office there is simple, neat, bright and makes the best use of natural lighting, whereas the Ka-50 office is a bit modern but all-over-the-place.

 

The worst part is, if I am going to LB Apache in the future, why should I fly a chopter with similar profile? I know the Huey profile is nothing to write home about... (sorry)

[Eldur]

On 7/6/2021 at 7:05 PM, M1Combat said:

But...

 

Honestly...  Just get them all.

 

That one definite answer.

[shake307]

Update?  Did you get one?  I actually have great interest in these types of posts.  I enjoy seeing peoples' choices and why they made them.  If you have not decided, I say get the Mi-8 or Ka-50.  Mi-8 is terrible, until it clicks for you, then it is just awesome.  Trust me, I hated that turd until it "clicked" and now I fly it all the time.  Ka-50 is a damn fine ground pounder but actuall requires much more stealth and patience than you would expect.  DO NOT RUSH WITH THE SHARK!!  Think of it like a main battle tank, that can fly.  Huey is fine, but everything it can do, the Hip can do better.  I also think the Gazelle gets a bad rap, but it is good.  It is just way too quick and jittery for a noob to fly.  I find the Gazelle easy to fly, but I am fairly good with the other rotaries.  Gazelle is a good second or third rotorcraft.  No idea on the Hind.  Seems like a heavy Hip with more boom.  I do not own it so I've no clue.  Anyways, just my two cents.

[Mr.Scar]

Hope im not late for the party, but i will throw in my few cents. I am mostly a Helo pilot in DCS, but in general i prefer aircraft that provide hands on flying experience. So more flying, less systems management. Also what is worth mentioning, i have discovered that A2G is my cup of coffee. A2A, not so much. 

 

Anyway, coming back to the topic. Back in time, i was also thinking which helo to fly and I will provide some insight how it looked from my side.

 

1. Huey - that was the first helo i have chosen to learn in detail. It provides massive raw experience on flying, is very easy to start up, forces you respect the engine limitations, but there after learning it, there is nothing more satisfying than doing a clean smooth manoeuvre and landing it in a small spot between trees, to deploy troops. Then all the gimmicks start to kick in, how to "climb" a mountain in difficult weather condifions, taking into account ambient temperature. All in all it is a very agile, and very light frame that contratry to belief allows you for some crazy manouvers as long as you respect that collective input and engine gauges. Loadout wise, its not a monster, but it has claws of its own. Miniguns and rockets are a great thing to clear out hot landing zone, but still you are not an assault chopper and even a shilka, or guys with rifles will and can kill you.

 

2. KA-50 - i was trying to fly that thing before i started to learn the Huey, and i hated it for trying to kill me. After the Huey, i could not believe how easy this thing is to fly. It was because i was trying to fly against the autopilot systems. Now although both are helicopters, the design is something that you need to take into account. Meaning, in the KA-50 does not have a tail rotor, and it makes a huge difference. Plus the autopilot systems which you really start to appreciate, what they do and how they literally babysit you. Best thing to do, after flying the Huey, try flying around the KA-50 with the autopilot systems off. You will see what i mean, because of the lack of the tail rotor. Loadout wise, its a monster. A lot of ATGMS, cannon, and almost pinpoint accurate rockets can make short work of everything from a relatively safe distance. Flying the KA-50 is a bit like being a Predator from the sci-fi movies, you need to be patient, stalk prey, use a lot of terrain masking, be aware of your surrounding and kill targets one by one. One flaw is that it does not have thermal imaging systems, so its best used in day or low light conditions. It can be done at dark, but requires a lot of tinkering with the screen brightness, extensive use of NVG and flares. Best thing for night ops is having a buddy to light up the targets with flares and you doing the killing or vice versa. Hunter-killer tactics. 

 

3. Mi-8 - Very similar to the Huey. It is heavier, but once you make it rolling it is much more stable and less trim extensive in a straight flight. It is also very agile for its size, but  because of the weight, the landings are more tricky to pull off. Once you pick the place you want to land on, you really need to focus on a stable approach angle, making sure you are not descending too fast or too slow. Its because of the mentioned weight of the helicopter, sudden or too late made corrections can make you smash into the ground or get into a Vortex Ring State. On the upside, the Mi-8 is much more resilient against harsh weather. Its good for climbing mountains, it has dust protection, anti-ice too if I remember correclty and also you have Yuri sitting in the back and making some mean coffee while you cruise to your destination. The M-8 is a very zen airfract once you get the grips on how to fly her. Also she aint pretty, but she is very tough. Weapon wise, also similar to Huey, but bigger callibers and more rockets to level a small village and deploy Spetsnaz for mop-up work. Last thing to mention, dont get scared of the amount of buttons in the cockpit. Once you go through the tutorials, she is very easy to start up. 

 

4. Gazelle - dont own it, least amount of hours in in, just a few in fact. Tried it during one of the free periods. Its a wild dog that one, that can be compared to a dragonfly in my opinion. I though the Huey is light, the Gazelle is paper light. Its basically a cockpit attached to an engine with rotor blades. It does not carry much ordnance, but once you figure out how to fly it, its a total blast. It does not do sling loading of course, and is best used as a scout helicopter in conjunction with other attack helicopters, but it does have ATGMS that will kill MBTs. In comparison to the KA-50, the Gazelle is a scalpel, and the Black Shark is a hammer.

 

5. Mi-24P - I own it, but have not yet flown it. So cannot give an opinion on that one.

 

6. Honorable mention: Waiting for the Apache, which will be most probably my bread and butter in DCS once it is there. Advanced systems, but still, hands on flying experience because it is a helicopter. 

 

Currently I am re-learning the Harrier since it provides more ground pounding, sub-sonic speed and helo-like options thanks to the VTOL. Its also very capable in heliping out helicopter pilots in Helo Escort duties. But that is a different topic. 

 

One thing I love about helos, that you basically have to worry about everything on the ground and the need to be constantly aware of the surroundings. Its easier to avoid a AMRAMM  at 40.000 feet than a manpad hiding in the bush, when doing NOE flying. 

 

Like Chuck Owl wrote it in one of his guides, helicopter pilots are batshit insane. And you know what? I love to be batshit insane. 

 

Edited July 26, 2021 by Mr.Scar

[VR Flight Guy in PJ Pants]

Thanks again, everyone. End up getting the Huey. I like blasting stuff, but Huey is a good change, the cockpit gives the best view, great when you want to enjoy the terrain.  Also, it can do something only Hip can do -- but I don't like the Hip (sorry).

 

If I want to move some mud, I would be waiting for Jane's Longbow DCS AH-64D.

Edited July 26, 2021 by VFGiPJP

[Auditor]

I'm going to second the person saying to get the Little Bird mod, it's a ton of fun and it teaches you the fundamentals very quickly. 

 

[Gambit21]

Huey is my only chopper - it’s a blast.

It’s the only helicopter that has Jumping Jack Flash, Gimme Shelter or Fortunate Son playing in the background when I fly it.

 

I’ll be all over a Cobra, but until then it’s the Huey when a chopper bug bites. Whoppa Whoppa.

[evilnate]

IMO the Ka-50 is the best DCS helo. Lethal, agile, and more modern.