FC3 Style Helicopter package!

[Xeemix]

With all of the excitement around the new FC3(FC4?) content going around I wanted to suggest some content I always thought was missing from the FC3 assortment, helicopters!

Particularly a pack similar to the existing FC3 pack but focused towards rotary craft, in that vein I would suggest a mix of blufor and redfor aircraft!


Starting off swinging I would like the suggest the absolutely Gargantuan Mi-26.

Used by over a dozen countries the Mi-26 is a massive transport helicopter thats capable of going pound for pound with the C-130 in terms of cargo capacity, I think it would be an absolute rad addition to the game alongside benefitting from the simplification of being a FC3 helicopter.

Switching over to the blue side, we have what I consider to be the poster child for piston-powered helicopters the H-34.
A medium transport helicopter the H-34 served in the Algerian war, Vietnam, the Six-Day war and even the Falklands war in the form of the British Wessex varaint. This super cool helicopter has one of the meanest start up sounds and even has the means to launch a massive bullpup missile! If you wanted to get cute with it you could even include a long hull Essex that carried these types and repurpose it for other aircraft in the future!



Right, back on over to the red side we've got another distinct helicopter, the Ka-29.

This adorable baby boy and brother to the already existing Ka-50 is essentially the equivalent to a naval hind in terms of capabilities. It served in the Chechen war as well as its Ka-27 base model in the Syrian civil war. Of course its got the unique coaxial rotors Kamov craft are known for and could be a perfect pair for the much smaller Moskva-class heli-carrier!


Now, for the grand finale! The one, the only, the flying banana, The H-21!

The H-21 served in Algeria and Vietnam armed with a plethora of different rocket and machinegun systems, however she served largely as an amazing transport craft. But, turns out she could take a lot of punishment which led her to be used more and more in ground attack roles until her eventual retirement. Used by a surprising amount of countries I think she'd make the perfect last quirky copter to our list.

I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on these suggestions and to hear what kinds of FC3 helis you'd like in DCS!

Edited June 19, 2024 by Xeemix

[Beirut]

That's.......................... actually not the worst idea I've ever heard. 

 

An FC3 Mi-26. 

 

Yes, I would. 

[ANDR0ID]

I do think a flyable Mi-26 in DCS would be fun. 

[Hiob]

Well, I like the idea! I very much like the selection of Choppers!

But I doubt, that that particular selection would offer a reasonable cost to benefit for ED.

[Beirut]

5 minutes ago, Hiob said:

Well, I like the idea! I very much like the selection of Choppers!

But I doubt, that that particular selection would offer a reasonable cost to benefit for ED.

 

An Mi-26, a Ch-53, some of the big bad boys. Maybe the Sikorsky SkyCrane even.

 

Yes, I would. 

[Hiob]

....yeah, me to! Of course!!! 

[Exorcet]

From the info we have on module development, it might be more realistic to get the above as full fidelity rather than FC, at least for the blue side. There doesn't appear to be a clear cost savings from FC modules in terms of development work, or at least it's not a 50% savings. It may only be 10-25%. Based on that, FC might make more sense for more modern vehicles, or for red side aircraft, but this is speculation on my part.

[bies]

Helicopter's flight model is really tricky, requiring lots of work, time, testing, tuning. If someone would invest such a big amount of time and money making high detail cockpit, external model - and especially high fidelity flight model - (all mandatory for FC3 module), it would be stupid not to finish its avionics and not releasing full fidelity module. That's why ED was selling Huey, Mi-8, Ka-50 and Gazelle as a pack. Full fidelity pack.

A helicopter is mostly its FM. And a helicopter with simplified FM wouldn't be enjoyable. Spitting a pack of FC3 style helicopters with high fidelity flight models would require many years of hard work - for a few bucks as revenue.

Normal DCS full fidelity H-21, Mi-26, Ka-27 or H-34 would be great though.

Edited August 19, 2024 by bies