How to get started with helicopters?

[KiubekPL]

So far i flew only airplanes so i am looking to branch out into helos. I want to learn them decantly well and then trail all the helos to see what i like the most. So far i only messed around with uh60l, landed a few times but overall it was quite "bumpy". Which helo would you recommend to start with and what guide should i use to start my helo journey?

I have t16000 hotas with throttle but no pedals and i play in VR.

Edited July 14, 2023 by KiubekPL

[SharpeXB]

I just picked up the AH-64 on the summer sale. Wow You will definitely need rudder pedals. 

[Kang]

I generally suggest the Huey.

[jnr4817]

I suggest starting with the UH 60 L mod it’s free and pretty easy to fly. They have a Discord after you’ve tried that and if you like it pick up the Huey, the gazelle has a new flight model and it’s really fun to fly now you’ve got options as long as you have a joystick and a throttle and pedals, it becomes pretty intuitive. There’s all kinds of videos online that can get you started. 

[MAXsenna]

You should really consider getting pedals. The "cheap" ThrustMaster ones are decent, a little narrow, but you can open a lid on the bottom and remove the spring, so they become perfect for helicopters.
The Hip will make you a better pilot faster than the Huey.
The new Gazelle's FM will make it the best starter IMHO when they have sorted out the new issues.

Cheers!

Edited July 15, 2023 by MAXsenna

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

If you've never flown a helicopter before, whether that's real or digital, I'd recommend starting with getting a grasp of the basic aerodynamics that apply to rotary wing.
That's because when it comes to helicopters, you need to throw out everything you know about aircraft and start over since it will be completely different.

I recommend looking for YouTube channels that talk about common problems that occur when flying a helicopter, but don't shy away from getting technical.
This one for example helped me:

https://www.youtube.com/@helicopterlessonsin10minut10

[AG-51_Razor]

If you're looking for a simulation of what it feels like to fly a helicopter, I suggest the Mi-8 Hip. It is by far the most realistic representation of what it looks and feels like to fly a helicopter of that size and weight class. But the folks above are right about pedals. Sure, you might be able to muddle through without them with some sort of key mapping work around or even twist stick but it wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

[Dragon1-1]

Pedals are vital, good pedals are really helpful. For the first module, I'd suggest the UH-1H. Iconic, capable and flies like a dream. Good for getting to grips with how helos work, and it can do most things a helicopter needs to do, except shooting missiles. Probably the easiest one to learn, and avionics are dead simple. Mi-8 is great, but its switchology is complex and it's a little hard to fly, because it's so heavy. The Mi-24 is quite similar to Mi-8, but has more weapon options and a proper CPG. The Apache is still in EA, and it's kind of weird to fly, should be a lot easier than it is now. Ka-50 is bizarre until you figure out how to work with the autopilot, then it almost flies itself. The Gazelle is pretty great now, but there are some annoying bugs in the latest OB because it got its FM overhauled recently.

[Hiob]

The most fun to just fly for me is still the hip. It‘s definitely not harder to fly properly than the Huey. Gives me the „best“ helicopter feeling of all the choppers in DCS. The switchology is part of the fun for me and realistically only applies for a coldstart. 

The visuals are a bit outdated by todays standards to be honest but that doesn’t need to keep you from having fun with it.

 

[KiubekPL]

20 hours ago, jnr4817 said:

I suggest starting with the UH 60 L mod it’s free and pretty easy to fly. They have a Discord after you’ve tried that and if you like it pick up the Huey, the gazelle has a new flight model and it’s really fun to fly now you’ve got options as long as you have a joystick and a throttle and pedals, it becomes pretty intuitive. There’s all kinds of videos online that can get you started. 

Yea UH60L was pretty easy to fly and land. Very fun to just mess around with.

 

5 hours ago, Raven (Elysian Angel) said:

If you've never flown a helicopter before, whether that's real or digital, I'd recommend starting with getting a grasp of the basic aerodynamics that apply to rotary wing.
That's because when it comes to helicopters, you need to throw out everything you know about aircraft and start over since it will be completely different.

I recommend looking for YouTube channels that talk about common problems that occur when flying a helicopter, but don't shy away from getting technical.
This one for example helped me:

https://www.youtube.com/@helicopterlessonsin10minut10

I know just the basics (collective, vortex ring state, rpm and such) so will defently check it out.

 

3 hours ago, AG-51_Razor said:

If you're looking for a simulation of what it feels like to fly a helicopter, I suggest the Mi-8 Hip. It is by far the most realistic representation of what it looks and feels like to fly a helicopter of that size and weight class. But the folks above are right about pedals. Sure, you might be able to muddle through without them with some sort of key mapping work around or even twist stick but it wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

I managed to do quite fine using the padals on the throttle, they are more accurate than stick twist and defenetly a lot more comfortable. Will look into some pedals once i get the cash on hand.

 

 

31 minutes ago, Hiob said:

The most fun to just fly for me is still the hip. It‘s definitely not harder to fly properly than the Huey. Gives me the „best“ helicopter feeling of all the choppers in DCS. The switchology is part of the fun for me and realistically only applies for a coldstart. 

The visuals are a bit outdated by todays standards to be honest but that doesn’t need to keep you from having fun with it.

 

1 hour ago, Dragon1-1 said:

Pedals are vital, good pedals are really helpful. For the first module, I'd suggest the UH-1H. Iconic, capable and flies like a dream. Good for getting to grips with how helos work, and it can do most things a helicopter needs to do, except shooting missiles. Probably the easiest one to learn, and avionics are dead simple. Mi-8 is great, but its switchology is complex and it's a little hard to fly, because it's so heavy. The Mi-24 is quite similar to Mi-8, but has more weapon options and a proper CPG. The Apache is still in EA, and it's kind of weird to fly, should be a lot easier than it is now. Ka-50 is bizarre until you figure out how to work with the autopilot, then it almost flies itself. The Gazelle is pretty great now, but there are some annoying bugs in the latest OB because it got its FM overhauled recently.

3 hours ago, AG-51_Razor said:

If you're looking for a simulation of what it feels like to fly a helicopter, I suggest the Mi-8 Hip. It is by far the most realistic representation of what it looks and feels like to fly a helicopter of that size and weight class. But the folks above are right about pedals. Sure, you might be able to muddle through without them with some sort of key mapping work around or even twist stick but it wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

5 hours ago, MAXsenna said:

You should really consider getting pedals. The "cheap" ThrustMaster ones are decent, a little narrow, but you can open a lid on the bottom and remove the spring, so they become perfect for helicopters.
The Hip will make you a better pilot faster than the Huey.
The new Gazelle's FM will make it the best starter IMHO when they have sorted out the new issues.

Cheers!

 

22 hours ago, Kang said:

I generally suggest the Huey.

I plan to start with the huey and then try the hip (both using 2 week trails). Huey seems like the easier one so i will start with it and then move onto the hip, for as you described it the "true" helicopter feeling. I play mig21 frequently, so i am fammiliar with redfor insturuments and having a ton of switches.

I want to trial a bunch of helis after that to see what i like and what to pick up on the next sale.

Thanks for all the help and advice!

[Exorcet]

On 7/14/2023 at 5:53 PM, KiubekPL said:

Which helo would you recommend to start with and what guide should i use to start my helo journey?

 

The DCS free trial, ie all of the helicopters. Take the time to learn the basics, which is helped with variety. When you feel confident then narrow down and pick your favorite. You don't have to risk buying something you won't enjoy or find too difficult to use.

 

Though if you're going to pick one to learn, the Ka-50 is pretty comfy. It's single seat, it's coaxial, and it's heavy on flight assists. You can learn how to fly a helicopter by focusing on the basics without worried about being punished for messing up (as much).

[Dragon1-1]

I wouldn't really recommend the Ka-50 for beginners, since it won't actually teach you to fly a helicopter. Same reason the F-16 is easy, but isn't the greatest aircraft for a beginner. Too many flight assists obscure from you what's really happening to the ship. The Ka-50 also has an autopilot system that's normally supposed to be flying it, which works great if you understand it, and fights you every step of the way if you don't. It's a great helo, but a lot of things it teaches you won't transfer to other helos. Coaxial rotors also make it handle differently than conventional designs even in flight director (manual control) mode. It lacks torque effects and translating tendency of tail rotor helos, but it also has a nasty "rotor crash" effect that will tear the rotor apart if you mishandle it, particularly when maneuvering at high speed. Other helos tend to be a little more benign at the edges of their envelope (not so say they won't punish you if you exceed it, but you do get more warnings, a rotor crash is typically very abrupt).

[KiubekPL]

1 hour ago, Exorcet said:

The DCS free trial, ie all of the helicopters. Take the time to learn the basics, which is helped with variety. When you feel confident then narrow down and pick your favorite. You don't have to risk buying something you won't enjoy or find too difficult to use.

 

Though if you're going to pick one to learn, the Ka-50 is pretty comfy. It's single seat, it's coaxial, and it's heavy on flight assists. You can learn how to fly a helicopter by focusing on the basics without worried about being punished for messing up (as much).

Thats exacly what i plan to do (trial all helis to see what i like). As someone else said i will start with huey, as ka50 flight experiance just wont transfer to other modules i want to trial which is why i will probably trial it last.

[Hiob]

The free trial is a good option to test, which helicopter suits you best and starting with the Huey is certainly not a bad choice. Just keep in mind, that the rotor spins in the oppsite direction with the eastern models. So that might mess with your muscle memory (you need to apply opposite torque pedals when pulling collective) - especially as a beginner with choppers. Personally I don't have much issues switching back and forth but some people might be more sensitive to such things.

Either way. Chopper flying is fun! ...and in my humble opinion much more rewarding when it comes to the flying itself. The first steps may be a bit harder and frustrating for a first timer, but when it clicks at some point, it becomes addictive! 

[Grodin]

With modern jets you dont really need pedals, twist joystick is fine - but for helicopters, i would start with getting pedals. VKB for example, they are nice for the price.

 

After that i would spend few weeks just doing basic manouvers and hovering. Ka-50 or Ah-64 if you like lots of gadgets and fly-by-wire, huey if you want a more traditional experience.

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

On 7/15/2023 at 12:22 AM, Kang said:

I generally suggest the Huey.

This. Learn the basics of heli flight envelope, and then if you are willing to, learn complex systems like hind, apache or hokum, which are far away from the way a huey flies. They are more like small aircraft.

[BitMaster]

With helicopters it a bit different in from what you can learn from just flying it. An airplane can pretty much teach you how it wants to be flown over some hours, you will eventually get the idea what works and what not and you should also be able to understand why it is as it is...with a Heli it is not that self explaining and it really really pays to look at the rotor head and how it works, both collective and cyclic moves and why the Ka can do well over 350 in a dive and how to pull out w/o breaking anything...if you understand what the rotor does.

There are plenty videos on YT explaining how Helis fly, with and w/o flybar, Tail rotor assisted or Coax driven, it pays to know what the mechanics can do, how they work and what they don't like.

Having had R/C helis for years made it 10x easier for me to adopt to the Mi-8 or any other heli I own.

[razorseal]

On 7/15/2023 at 11:13 AM, MAXsenna said:

You should really consider getting pedals. The "cheap" ThrustMaster ones are decent, a little narrow, but you can open a lid on the bottom and remove the spring, so they become perfect for helicopters.
The Hip will make you a better pilot faster than the Huey.
The new Gazelle's FM will make it the best starter IMHO when they have sorted out the new issues.

Cheers!

 

I have an obutto cockpit and the foot pedal area is very small (because it's designed for racing sims) so I didn't have alot of room for pedals. I got this because they're narrow.

 

It isn't the best, but will def help you get situated in helicopters. having pedals is very important in helicopters because they naturally want to rotate on your, and trying to control that with a rotating joystick while moving the stick around gets little overwhelming

 

I suggest spending the moeny and getting pedals. it'll also help with some older jets like F14 and F15 where they are not FBW so stick input really helps at slower speeds.