A Few noob questions

[brettt777]

- Is the Apache suppose to be so erratic on take off or am I just not doing it right? I have one heck of a time getting airborne. The thing just wants to go everywhere until I can finally get it moving in a somewhat forward direction. Once I get a bit of airspeed built up, I can fly it just fine. It's just take offs I have an issue with. I honestly haven't tried landings yet but I hope they're a bit easier than in the Huey.

- It seems like I can't get much more airspeed than about 110-120, maybe 125 kias unless I'm going downhill. I thought the Apache was faster than that. Am I missing something here? Should I be getting more airspeed than that or is that about normal? I am flying with a full weapons load so maybe that's it...?

- As I am moving along at cruising speed, I have a constant slow wobble that appears to be in the roll axis. no matter how still I hold the stick, it always does this. I have never noticed this in any other helicopter. Is this normal in the AH-64?

- Does the Apache have some kind of hover mode?

- I might be getting a bit ahead of myself, but is the FLIR lens in the nose ever suppose to follow the pilot or gunner's view like the cannon does, or does that only move manually? Thanks in advance.

[Akiazusa]

Sorry,it's hard for me to help you with some of the questions.

But there is a hover mode for Apache.

You need to manual fly the aircraft into a hover and trim it well,pushing the 4 way trim button to the left while your ground speed is below 5kts,then the aircraft will hold the hover for you within it's limit. You can check the airspeed display is boxed and an attitude hold message displayed on EUFD to conform the "auto hover" is on.

 

Remember it only works when your ground speed is less than 5kts,otherwise you will enter other "autopilot" modes.

 

And for the MAX airspeed I think it's depends on a lot of complicated stuffs.The weapon load will affect it a lot of course. But I believe the Apache now in the sim is already a pretty fast heli when compared to other helis in DCS.

Edited June 14, 2022 by Akiazusa

[admiki]

3 hours ago, brettt777 said:

- Is the Apache suppose to be so erratic on take off or am I just not doing it right? I have one heck of a time getting airborne. The thing just wants to go everywhere until I can finally get it moving in a somewhat forward direction. Once I get a bit of airspeed built up, I can fly it just fine. It's just take offs I have an issue with. I honestly haven't tried landings yet but I hope they're a bit easier than in the Huey.

I guess you are using hover symbology? If so, stop doing that, remove IHADSS altogether and just look outside.

It is heavy bird and consequently, there is a lot of inertia and it takes time to respond to your inputs. Relax, and make small inpouts.

3 hours ago, brettt777 said:

- It seems like I can't get much more airspeed than about 110-120, maybe 125 kias unless I'm going downhill. I thought the Apache was faster than that. Am I missing something here? Should I be getting more airspeed than that or is that about normal? I am flying with a full weapons load so maybe that's it...?

All those things dangling into the slipstream equals a lot of drag. So, that's the speed you are going to get.

3 hours ago, brettt777 said:

- As I am moving along at cruising speed, I have a constant slow wobble that appears to be in the roll axis. no matter how still I hold the stick, it always does this. I have never noticed this in any other helicopter. Is this normal in the AH-64?

FM is still work in progress, but once you get to 120 knots range, it will start to fly eratic. Cruise up to 100 knots are just fine, at least on my end.

3 hours ago, brettt777 said:

- Does the Apache have some kind of hover mode?

Explained above.

3 hours ago, brettt777 said:

- I might be getting a bit ahead of myself, but is the FLIR lens in the nose ever suppose to follow the pilot or gunner's view like the cannon does, or does that only move manually? Thanks in advance.

If you are talking about NVS, yes, it follows LoS.

[glen.a.williamson]

Virtually all the answers you are looking for can be found here ... in these basic videos.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dcs+apache+take+off

[Recluse]

10 hours ago, brettt777 said:

- I might be getting a bit ahead of myself, but is the FLIR lens in the nose ever suppose to follow the pilot or gunner's view like the cannon does, or does that only move manually? Thanks in advance.

All others are answered above.  This one caused me some initial confusion:

 

The TADS is below the visible part of the nose from the crew compartment and shielded within a housing. You cannot see it move from the Pilot or CP/G seat but it DOES move with the crew member's  head when TADS is selected (either as the TADS  as sight slaved to the GHS as ACQ or as the Night Vision source for the Pilot/Gunner) OR when the TADS is moved manually.

The PNVS, on the other hand, is mounted ABOVE the TADS and you can very clearly see that moving with your head from the Pilot's Seat when PNVS is selected as the night vision source.

Edited June 14, 2022 by Recluse

[GrEaSeLiTeNiN]

- Is the Apache suppose to be so erratic on take off or am I just not doing it right? I have one heck of a time getting airborne. The thing just wants to go everywhere until I can finally get it moving in a somewhat forward direction. Once I get a bit of airspeed built up, I can fly it just fine. It's just take offs I have an issue with. I honestly haven't tried landings yet but I hope they're a bit easier than in the Huey.
- It seems like I can't get much more airspeed than about 110-120, maybe 125 kias unless I'm going downhill. I thought the Apache was faster than that. Am I missing something here? Should I be getting more airspeed than that or is that about normal? I am flying with a full weapons load so maybe that's it...?
- As I am moving along at cruising speed, I have a constant slow wobble that appears to be in the roll axis. no matter how still I hold the stick, it always does this. I have never noticed this in any other helicopter. Is this normal in the AH-64?
- Does the Apache have some kind of hover mode?
- I might be getting a bit ahead of myself, but is the FLIR lens in the nose ever suppose to follow the pilot or gunner's view like the cannon does, or does that only move manually? Thanks in advance.

Takeoff -> The cyclic should be a little down-left and rudder halfway left and raise collective slowly to observe response and counter gently. (You can’t take off with controls centered as it will yaw right due to rotor torque and slight tendency to roll right. But I am guessing you know that already.)

Speed -> Yeah surprisingly the Apache isn’t very fast as some might expect. Max cruise speed about 130 IIRC depending.

Wobble -> Current FM does seem top heavy with a roll or “capsize” tendency. Watch out for those unexpected rolls. If it happens just complete the roll 360 assuming you have enough altitude. Not sure if the real aircraft behaves this way.

Hover-> There is no magic hover mode/button. You have to get trimmed and stable below 5knts and activate ATT hold and ALT hold. The latter will be available soon.