OK.. lol

[DamoclesX]

So okay I admit I'm useless at helicopters, but I totally support DCS and anybody to create content for them simply because I'm a huge sim junky, from back of the days of f-19, janes strike fighters ect ect.

 

But I own this and the Huey.. are they REALLY that impossible to fly?

 

I'm using a standard stick with twist and throttle setup, x52 I think, and I swear if I don't keep the rudder cranked the Uh-1h keeps wanting to just spin itself to death and the few times I managed to get the m8 into the air.... I actually had a few times where I COULDNT turn right unless I increased the power?

 

Like I said I'm not a helo guy, but since the only fast movies in this game seem really... well lets just say until they get to the level of the goddamn amazing a-10(yes I have that also, and no, I cant operate any of that wtf you nuts? I'm already going to school I don't need another class!) I've decided to spend time with the helos.

 

I have the black shark down decent, I can move her, fire weapons find a target use track ir and the helmet kickass thing to designate a target ect ect but these two.. wow.

[lorenzoj]

The Huey was kicking my butt at first but then you find the groove and it's really sweet and responsive. The MI-8 also has it's own unique requirements but you "get it" too after some period of practice.

 

Each has it's own distinctive Trim / Auto Assist system that you have to learn and make friends with. And remember that the rotor turn in opposite directions in each helicopter.

 

I get the impression that you are using "twist" instead of a good set of pedals and I honestly think that is going to be a problem and a frustration for you. Helicopters with tail rotors require a lot of pedal play at times and I don't think I could do it well without real pedals.

Edited September 14, 2013 by lorenzoj

[DamoclesX]

The Huey was kicking my butt at first but then you find the groove and it's really sweet and responsive. The MI-8 also has it's own unique requirements but you "get it" too after some period of practice.

 

Each has it's own distinctive Trim / Auto Assist system that you have to learn and make friends with. And remember that the rotor turn in opposite directions in each helicopter.

 

I get the impression that you are using "twist" instead of a good set of pedals and I honestly think that is going to be a problem and a frustration for you. Helicopters with tail rotors require a lot of pedal play at times and I don't think I could do it well without real pedals.

 

 

Yeah, you are totally correct, I'm using the twist on my stick to keep it straight.

 

I think a lot of this is I don't really understand how these birds fly, is the pilot really expected to constantly keep pressure down to counter these forces? Why isn't the computer doing it?

 

Perhaps I need to real a lot more, but, its giving me a lot more respect for them and frankly I love every second:)

 

Hopefully I can get good enough at some point I can join some MP matches and somebody can be board enough to teach me a few things lol

[dooom]

Trim , trim and more trim

[Flagrum]

Why isn't the computer doing it?

:megalol: Edited September 14, 2013 by Flagrum
hint: there ain't one! :o)

[DamoclesX]

:megalol:

Ok I admit fail... hahah well played:)

[Flagrum]

Ok I admit fail... hahah well played:)

Hehe, well, you really might want to read up about the flight dynamics of a helo. The Huey flight manual is already quite good for that.

 

Then start practicing. For taking off and transisting into a stable and controlled flight, it is imperative to start from a stable base so to say. That is a stable hover. Use very little collective at first. Watch how the helo behaves when she gets lighter on the skids without actually lifting her off the ground. Counter - again, very carefully - with the rudder pedals and with the cyclic. Then give slightly more collective. Rinse and repeat ... :o)

[159th_Viper]

Post a track and we'll get you on the road to recovery and eventually proficient in piloting the Iroquois.

[TurboHog]

When I got the Huey I tried to fly it without pedals - very difficult. Within the first week I bought a set of pedals and now I consider flying both easy. That is after hours and hours of practise of course!

[b00ce]

Going from a twist grip to pedals is a bit of a trick. But well worth it. Its a lot easier to "trim" your yaw with pedals.

[TimeKilla]

Helicopters take some getting used to watch some youtube videos of first flights if anyones in any doubt once you get the hang of them its very rewarding.

[Cibit]

My pedals broke just after buying the huey, I can't fly at all well using a hybrid x52 warthog combo till Thrustmasters fix my joystick. A good set of pedals is as neccessary as track Ir for this sim IMHO:)

[Mogster]

Yes I think pedals really help.

 

Someone also posted some heli flying tips from a real world instructor. Its a tribute to Belsimteks flight modelling that the tips also translate well into the sim.

 

The main things were if you're trying to hover then don't move the collective as that'll result in you having to change the pedal position which makes things hard. Basically if you don't change the collective position the heli will settle to a constant altitude and will stay pointed with a constant pedal position. All you have to worry about id the cyclic. Also when hovering make sure you return your stick to centre if you make an attitude correction. Move stick slightly, centre, move centre move centre. That way you don't end up over controlling and chasing the heli.

 

From pilots reports I still feel the Huey is too unstable in the sim and the vortex ring drop and translational lift shaking effects are too great. Pilots talk about stability, the Huey doesn't feel that way in the sim. I still feel Belsimtak has a great heli flight model though.

[genbrien]

My pedals broke just after buying the huey, I can't fly at all well using a hybrid x52 warthog combo till Thrustmasters fix my joystick. A good set of pedals is as neccessary as track Ir for this sim IMHO:)

They are necessary for max realism/fun, but you can fly it without

 

I'm able to take off/fly/land the huey with my laptop's keyboard. It's not pretty but very doable. :thumbup:

[Phantom88]

I think Rudder Pedals are a Great investment if you are serious about flying Helos.Also They Hugely add to the Immersion factor.

 

For me,The hardest thing to get used to in both The Huey and The Hippo is staying out of VRS,Very tricky trying to make a spot on decent.

[lorenzoj]

"I think a lot of this is I don't really understand how these birds fly, is the pilot really expected to constantly keep pressure down to counter these forces? Why isn't the computer doing it?"

 

Taking off, hovering, landing, and other transitions tend to require a lot of attention and pedal. A stable cruise not so much.

 

The two bladed Huey had little in the way of automatic aids to help fly it and only very basic trim.

 

The MI-8 has more stabilization assist built in but still far from modern computer control systems.

 

But the sense of accomplishment for the sim pilot is that much greater I think too. Amazing how much different you feel after 20 - 40 - 60 hours. So far I haven't found a time ceiling where you stop feeling like you are getting better. Took me 60 in the Huey to feel good about landing on buildings. Others much less time. Kinda like in real life.

 

Great Sims !

[PeroperoDokkiri]

I cannot imagine flying Huey w/o separate rudder and cyclic. On the other hand once You get these and spend some time practicing You will find Mi-8 boring. That's how much fun You can have flying twin blade Huey. Nothing in sim world beats winning with machine that apparently tries to kill You every second!

[Darkwolf]

Dear,

 

The Huey, Mi8, and most of helicopters are quite hard to fly.

 

I suggest you set the joystick curve with the saturation for rudder/cyclics only going to 60-65% at first. (100% input on your stick will only gives 60% in game).

 

That will dramatically reduce the sensitivity of the helo, but will allow smoother control and accurate flying. All the people i trained tried that and finally got to handle the Huey quite quickly. :) You will not be able to make "hard" manoeuver, yet you will fly.

 

Then, after a fews hours, when you get used to the aircraft, smoothly increase saturation step by step.

 

And also, train, train, train, train, train, train, train, train, train, train, train, train, train, train, train, train, train, train...... Training is the way to go. :D

[DamoclesX]

Ok so I read through all this and I feel like a dog trying to learn calculus lol.

 

Wow I have a lot of reading/learning to do here, hehe joystick curve.... saturation lol.. uh.. yeah yeah I got that:)

 

I will look into pedals, I didn't even think it would matter but I guess I can see how having an input system for the rudder that doesn't effect what's going on with the stick could help a lot.

 

Sure are correct with these being harder, I mean I'm not expert but I can get the ka-50 off the ground, fly around a bit, hover, shoot stuff and land with little difficulty, well its not graceful at all... and I use the autopilots a lot but it works, these two, wow.... its just a matter of how long until they horribly explode all over the ground haha.

 

Worth it tho.

[lorenzoj]

The KA-50 has counter rotating main rotors and no tail rotor and a lot of onboard computer assist so in real life it is an inherantly stable one man gun platform.

 

The Huey and the MI-8 though different in some ways are both hands on, seat of the pants, "real" old school helicopter flying. A challenge for sure but you can learn and master them and therein lies the reward.

[DamoclesX]

Ah, ok.

 

I actually started looking into info on the net, reading ect, I always knew helos were complex I guess I just didn't really understand how little I knew about them...

 

The whole reason I decided to go helos for dcs is because I didn't like the slow moving a-10.. wow... rofl.. I had no idea I was walking into something way more complex lol.

[Darkwolf]

Well - Flying the Blackshark is as hard as the others. It is more stable due to the counter rotors.... but those rotors have tendency to break so easyyy on hard manoeuvers... :lol: If you can fly the shark, you will eventually fly the others.

 

Keep it up. It has been really hard for me at first, i was desperated when i compared my flying skills to the videos of people you can see on youtube.

Eventually, after some flying hours, i could make some nice flights. :pilotfly:

[TimeKilla]

Ah, ok.

 

I actually started looking into info on the net, reading ect, I always knew helos were complex I guess I just didn't really understand how little I knew about them...

 

The whole reason I decided to go helos for dcs is because I didn't like the slow moving a-10.. wow... rofl.. I had no idea I was walking into something way more complex lol.

 

I really like that buddy, It's very true as well that keeping control means making the smallest adjustments while watching out for helicopter traps like VRS makes up for the lack of complex systems in the A10. :thumbup:

 

Helicopter pilots are a different breed. :pilotfly:

[number3]

As others have said get rudder pedals. I can't imagine flying (mostly landing) the Huey with a twist as my rudder controls.

 

I've been wanting to upgrade my old x45, but the the twist rudder has steered me clear of it. The x45 has a rudder rocker switch under the throttle, so it's easier to control in my opinion.

[lorenzoj]

I also have the X45, still in almost like new condition. No kids around - ever.

 

The rudder paddle on the front of the throttle is not bad but as soon as I got my new Saitek Combat Pedals I disabled that. The increase in fine control is like night and day. No comparison. Get pedals for helicopters for sure