UH-60L Black Hawk Mod ("Official" Thread)

[sgetti]

1 hour ago, SolvableAlmond said:

With SAS on (or trim, I can't remember which system, I haven't flown a Lima model since 2018), the Black Hawk has a heading hold function, which will automatically keep your heading within a few degrees until the trim release switches on the pedals are depressed. So you can (in theory) hover with you feet off the pedals. However, at least in my old unit, it was really rare. Most of us would just hold the trim release to hover, because we could hover better than the system could. The issue I'm having with it, is it doesn't ever seem to want to let go of the previous heading. If I do a slow pedal turn from a hover, then let off the pedals, it veers wildly back to the original heading from when I took off (or last time I clicked trim release on the cyclic). It behaves as if you were moving the pedals without putting your feet on the microswitches that are on the pedals. I don't know if it's a setting I'm missing, or a bad install, but if anyone else has had this issue, and been able to fix it, I'm all ears.

 

Thanks! I'll have to try it trim off and see how that feels. I was more thinking when I'm pulling up into a hover, in the last bit of your approach to a hover, or at the end of a quick stop there should be a lot more left pedal required. When I'm in forward flight or more or less steady power the trim/pedal response feels about right but I should be having to work the pedals more as I'm going into those high power settings. This is mostly based on flying the MH-60 but there shouldn't be much difference between the UH and MH in this regard.

 

I haven't run into the heading hold issue yet but I'll mess around with it a bit more.

[GrEaSeLiTeNiN]

Just tried this nice mod (with the Armed addon). Does sling loading work? I selected the "All cargos" menu, got the smoke, commanded "hook" but nothing happens. No rope. Then when I command "Unhook", it says "Cargo unhooked" though it had not hooked up any cargo to begin with. 

[Jenrick]

14 hours ago, SolvableAlmond said:

It behaves as if you were moving the pedals without putting your feet on the microswitches that are on the pedals. I don't know if it's a setting I'm missing, or a bad install, but if anyone else has had this issue, and been able to fix it, I'm all ears.

Per the manual:

Quote

In the real UH-60L the pedal trim is controlled by pressure switches on the pedals. In order to simplify this for DCS, pedal trim is also controlled by the Trim Release switch when pedal trim is enabled.

So, for the moment, press trim release to activate the microswitches.  Hopefully at some point they'll add a button/keybind like in the Mi-24 to operate the microswitches separately from the trim release.

[sgetti]

Given that those microswitches are right in the middle of the pedals, heading mode should probably just be disengaged everytime the pedals are moved and reengaged when stopped. Though for that to be realistic I think you would need to remove the centering springs from the pedals.

[jubuttib]

5 hours ago, Jenrick said:

Per the manual:

So, for the moment, press trim release to activate the microswitches.  Hopefully at some point they'll add a button/keybind like in the Mi-24 to operate the microswitches separately from the trim release.

Hmmm, interesting, kinda wondering how that plays together with unsprung pedals, where pedal trim must be off.

[Jenrick]

8 hours ago, sgetti said:

Given that those microswitches are right in the middle of the pedals, heading mode should probably just be disengaged everytime the pedals are moved and reengaged when stopped. Though for that to be realistic I think you would need to remove the centering springs from the pedals.

I think that's actually how they did it several versions back, but I could be misremembering.  

7 hours ago, jubuttib said:

Hmmm, interesting, kinda wondering how that plays together with unsprung pedals, where pedal trim must be off.

It can be a pain as you're fighting the heading hold with your pedals.  I don't like having to press trim button and risk messing up the rest of my trim when I'm on a centering spring stick.  When I'm flying with out the spring it's not that big a deal, as you know exactly where you're trimmed already.

[heloguy]

In the real helicopter, when doing a pedal turn at a hover, not only do you normally press the microswitches on the pedals to re-reference the heading hold, you also press the trim release on the cyclic to get rid of the force gradient on the pedals.  Otherwise you are fighting the force gradient (spring tension) while making heading changes.  I don't know anyone in the actual aircraft that makes heading changes at a hover without pressing the trim release on the cyclic.

[trev5150]

On 10/8/2025 at 3:59 AM, heloguy said:

 I don't know anyone in the actual aircraft that makes heading changes at a hover without pressing the trim release on the cyclic.

People who like to work hard and look bad doing it. 

[heloguy]

1 hour ago, trev5150 said:

People who like to work hard and look bad doing it. 

Ah yes, same people who fly instruments with the trim release pressed.

[ANDR0ID]

On 10/4/2025 at 1:46 PM, H60MTI said:

Gotcha! My heart kinda stopped there for a bit when I saw that the older, I guess legacy style, of DAP ESSS wings weren't there. Are you by chance doing a stubby pylon in the new style ESSS wings that SOAR runs are you?

Something like these? I think the major variants are covered now. 

Edited October 11 by ANDR0ID

[H60MTI]

Android, that makes me happy in my pants!!!

[trev5150]

On 10/9/2025 at 6:06 PM, heloguy said:

Ah yes, same people who fly instruments with the trim release pressed.

Cretins. 

[jojojung]

Is it realistic that I dont need any rudder input while hover start and landings? I think it was different with the old FM, right?
I only need the rudder paddles tu turn the nose but not to counter the torque form the side rotor.
Or is fly by wire so sophisticated in the UH60L that it does all by it self.
What is that Cyclic resistance slider in the special options used for?

Thanks!

[GKOver]

I can’t solve the problem that the door gunners are not working: AI dooes’t do anything and if I am sitting on one of the gunners seats, the Gatling can’t be moved by me.

But as a pilot I can fire/use them if the doors guns are in pilot-mode.

 

May be that I made a mistake when I have installed the mod by using the downloaded file UH60L 2.1.5 BACKUP IF INSTALLER FAILS.zip .

Both folders (aircraft and script) are under the folder „mod“. 

 

Besides: the dispenser doesn‘t dispense automatically under the setting PGRM but may be the real helicopter also doesn‘t support automatic dispense if a SAM is firing at you….

 

I really love this mod although I have bought 4 helicopters in DCS.

Edited October 19 by GKOver

[sleighzy]

1 hour ago, GKOver said:

Both folders (aircraft and script) are under the folder „mod“. 

The Scripts folder (if that's what you mean) doesn't go under the Mods folder. The bhHook.lua file under those folders goes into the Saved Games\DCS\Scripts\Hooks folder (same structure as in the zip file). This is so that when DCS exports stuff like the enemy units the hook is used by the mod for the gunners to know where they are.

Edited October 20 by sleighzy

[GKOver]

21 hours ago, sleighzy said:

The Scripts folder (if that's what you mean) doesn't go under the Mods folder. The bhHook.lua file under those folders goes into the Saved Games\DCS\Scripts\Hooks folder (same structure as in the zip file). This is so that when DCS exports stuff like the enemy units the hook is used by the mod for the gunners to know where they are.

Thank you very much for your help. Now my AI Gunners are shooting.

[H60MTI]

On 10/13/2025 at 5:45 PM, jojojung said:

Is it realistic that I dont need any rudder input while hover start and landings? I think it was different with the old FM, right?
I only need the rudder paddles tu turn the nose but not to counter the torque form the side rotor.
Or is fly by wire so sophisticated in the UH60L that it does all by it self.
What is that Cyclic resistance slider in the special options used for?

Thanks!

Yeah, in the real-life version of the -60 the mechanical mixing unit, MMU, does that for you. The MMU is designed to put in flight control inputs for you, for lack of better wording. It will automatically do collective-pitch, collective-roll, collective-yaw, yaw-pitch. Basically, when you pull collective, it will add pedal and cyclic to maintain a level attitude.

 

All H-60 variants still use flight control rods and cables. Sikorsky has an experimental version that has a fly by wire system but that's it. It hasn't been pushed out to the fleet yet. I wish they had a fly by wire when I was crewing on them. Wouldn't have had to do full flight control rigs anymore! LOL

[H60MTI]

On 10/19/2025 at 7:28 PM, GKOver said:

Besides: the dispenser doesn‘t dispense automatically under the setting PGRM but may be the real helicopter also doesn‘t support automatic dispense if a SAM is firing at you….

 

The real bird does automatically dispense for SAM threats. I'm not positive whether or not the game simulates the data cards for both the APR-39 and the CMWS, but I'm going to assume so. Real life version has data cards that contain missile profiles on them and have giant red stickers that say CLASSIFIED on them and get inserted into the APR-39 and the CMWS processors so it can fire the right cocktails of flares and chaff. Definitely make sure that all your systems are on. APR-39 on, CMWS on, chaff dispenser armed, AAR-57 armed. There is also a safety pin by the ICS box for the left rear CE. I don't know if that's modeled or not in DCS. If it is, that pin needs to be pulled for the dispensers to work as well.

[jojojung]

vor 4 Stunden schrieb H60MTI:

Yeah, in the real-life version of the -60 the mechanical mixing unit, MMU, does that for you. The MMU is designed to put in flight control inputs for you, for lack of better wording. It will automatically do collective-pitch, collective-roll, collective-yaw, yaw-pitch. Basically, when you pull collective, it will add pedal and cyclic to maintain a level attitude.

 

All H-60 variants still use flight control rods and cables. Sikorsky has an experimental version that has a fly by wire system but that's it. It hasn't been pushed out to the fleet yet. I wish they had a fly by wire when I was crewing on them. Wouldn't have had to do full flight control rigs anymore! LOL

Thanks for your reply! As far as I understand this there is no movement from the controles by the MMU and it does not move the paddles like the MI24 when the microswitches are released (foot of the paddles) right? Or does the MMU have the ablility to move the controles like the paddles in the Mi24. When it does not move the controls, what kind of authority does the MMU have until it cant counter anymore?
Is the trim released pushed down all the time while maneuvering and only let go for level and straight flight?

Thanks!

[H60MTI]

The mixer will still move the controls in the cockpit since everything from the cockpit up into the hydraulic deck is hard tubing style flight controls. Even when trim is engaged and you use the china hat to adjust the trim, the cyclic will physically move. The mixer doesn't counter anything. It's a physical part of the flight controls placed in between the SAS actuators and the primary servos. It has full range of motion.

I would assume so for the trim. I wasn't a pilot, just a crew chief who got to hang out the window with the M240H Lol

[heloguy]

On 10/25/2025 at 6:20 AM, H60MTI said:

Yeah, in the real-life version of the -60 the mechanical mixing unit, MMU, does that for you. The MMU is designed to put in flight control inputs for you, for lack of better wording. It will automatically do collective-pitch, collective-roll, collective-yaw, yaw-pitch. Basically, when you pull collective, it will add pedal and cyclic to maintain a level attitude.

 

All H-60 variants still use flight control rods and cables. Sikorsky has an experimental version that has a fly by wire system but that's it. It hasn't been pushed out to the fleet yet. I wish they had a fly by wire when I was crewing on them. Wouldn't have had to do full flight control rigs anymore! LOL

In the real aircraft, this is really only true for a design gross weight of 16,825lbs.  Anything above, or below that, requires some coordination of pedals with collective movement.  The further from that, the more input required.  (example, if you're 20,000lbs, expect to need a lot of left pedal in a 10ft hover)

[PoliticalPuffin]

Hi all ,

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that contributed to answering the question I had. I'm always amazed at how knowledgeable the wealth of people in the community are, but what really confirms my thoughts on the human race is the way everyone is very generous and accommodating to those of us that need help and guidance. Once again, thank you all. I trust this message finds you and yours all fine and dandy. Take care, Dave

[MAXsenna]

Hi all ,
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that contributed to answering the question I had. I'm always amazed at how knowledgeable the wealth of people in the community are, but what really confirms my thoughts on the human race is the way everyone is very generous and accommodating to those of us that need help and guidance. Once again, thank you all. I trust this message finds you and yours all fine and dandy. Take care, Dave

I concur! I learn something every day reading this forum!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[- Sonic -]

is normal that is quite impossible to takeoff from farp/ground on caucasus map? on airport/paved surfaces all go good, but on groung seem that gear are into the mud; the left one causes the helicopter to flip over even while taking off