ROOKIE Olivier Jansen (BELGIUM) for signup !!! Welcome friends !!!

[Olivier Jansen]

Welcome friends from all over the world, my name is Olivier Jansen, i'm from Belgium. I played helicopter games since i was young, and regret that i never went for a helicopter pilot. I am still considering following lessons here, to become private pilot. The rest is just way to expensive, even those private pilot course i guess :(

 

Last game i played was APACHE: AIR ASSAULT (Playstation 3) which was good, played it platinum... i liked it... then i saw a friend who made a quadcopter, which got me more intrested in drones... and then i saw this on youtube:

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUOcvQRMz2g

 

 

Probably costed a fortune, but i like it very much... so now, at age 36... i decided, to follow the dream, and that brings me here, through DCS UH-1 HUEY... now that is what i hopefully can call a simulator, the flight guide is real, it's just real :thumbup: and it's cheap too !!!

 

So i have some questions ?

 

- i still have an old PC, i have an AMD 3000+... Minimum system requirements: Operating system: Windows XP, Vista or 7; Processor: Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz; Memory: 3 GB; Free hard disk space: 7 GB; Video: 512 MB RAM card, DirectX 9 - compatible; Sound: DirectX 9.0c - compatible; requires internet activation. Would it work ? or just for a while wait until i have a new PC?

 

- it's all download, no boxes or manuals i guess?

 

- Can i compare it with real helicopter lessons?

 

 

Regards,

 

Olivier Jansen

Jozef Van Mierstraat 23

2360 OUD-TURNHOUT

BELGIUM

[Lange_666]

So i have some questions ?

 

1: i still have an old PC, i have an AMD 3000+... Minimum system requirements: Operating system: Windows XP, Vista or 7; Processor: Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz; Memory: 3 GB; Free hard disk space: 7 GB; Video: 512 MB RAM card, DirectX 9 - compatible; Sound: DirectX 9.0c - compatible; requires internet activation. Would it work ? or just for a while wait until i have a new PC?

 

2: it's all download, no boxes or manuals i guess?

 

3: Can i compare it with real helicopter lessons?

 

Anwsers:

1: Get something new, OS should be 64-bit (either Win 7 or 8). Just head over to DCS World, Bugs and Problems and then Performance. Read through some topics and then check people's specs to get an idea.

 

2: Consider it boxless, full manuals in pdf format are incorporated into the install.

 

3: No clue, never flown a real heli as pilot but it will give you a good idea of the overall avionics.

[Yurgon]

Welcome! :pilotfly:

 

- i still have an old PC, i have an AMD 3000+...

 

Get a new PC.

 

DCS is much more CPU dependent than most other games. Core i5 or Core i7 are the way to go. The i5 is quite a bit cheaper and should perform as well as (or maybe even a little better than) a comparable i7.

 

A good graphics card sure doesn't hurt, but you don't need to get the latest and greatest to enjoy DCS.

 

- it's all download, no boxes or manuals i guess?

 

Correct. If you prefer boxed software, maybe you can grab some older releases. Their serial numbers are valid for DCS World (*), but IMO there's no downside to just buying the digital download versions right here at digitalcombatsimulator.com or at Steam, if you prefer that.

 

- Can i compare it with real helicopter lessons?

 

Yes and no, I think. I've never flown a real helicopter, so first of all I simply don't know.

 

DCS is a very good and detailed simulation, so you'll learn a lot about flying helicopters, but it's also simplified in many areas (comms, ATC, ground handling, formation flying, tactical planning, to name a few) and overly complicated in others (trim behavior vs. Force Feedback and none-Force Feedback sticks, keyboard and joystick mapping).

 

It sure can't replace flight school, but I don't think it'll hurt, either (as long as you listen to real life instructors and don't think you can

just because you're good at DCS :) ).

 

Of course there's also the question which chopper you want to fly. :)

 

Currently we have the Ka-50 Black Shark, the UH-1H Huey and the Mi-8MTV2 Hip. They all have their pros and cons, but to be brutally honest: I love each and every one of them. :D

 

(*) DCS World is the core of the simulation. It's free, it includes the Su-25T, and it's available for download. Anything else is called a "module" that plugs into DCS World, and the modules must be purchased (download is free as well, but they require activation before they can be used).

 

Oh, and be sure to grab whatever module you're interested in during the current sale (still more than a week to go)! :thumbup:

[Olivier Jansen]

Welcome! :pilotfly:

 

 

 

Get a new PC.

 

DCS is much more CPU dependent than most other games. Core i5 or Core i7 are the way to go. The i5 is quite a bit cheaper and should perform as well as (or maybe even a little better than) a comparable i7.

 

A good graphics card sure doesn't hurt, but you don't need to get the latest and greatest to enjoy DCS.

 

 

 

Correct. If you prefer boxed software, maybe you can grab some older releases. Their serial numbers are valid for DCS World (*), but IMO there's no downside to just buying the digital download versions right here at digitalcombatsimulator.com or at Steam, if you prefer that.

 

 

 

Yes and no, I think. I've never flown a real helicopter, so first of all I simply don't know.

 

DCS is a very good and detailed simulation, so you'll learn a lot about flying helicopters, but it's also simplified in many areas (comms, ATC, ground handling, formation flying, tactical planning, to name a few) and overly complicated in others (trim behavior vs. Force Feedback and none-Force Feedback sticks, keyboard and joystick mapping).

 

It sure can't replace flight school, but I don't think it'll hurt, either (as long as you listen to real life instructors and don't think you can

just because you're good at DCS :) ).

 

Of course there's also the question which chopper you want to fly. :)

 

Currently we have the Ka-50 Black Shark, the UH-1H Huey and the Mi-8MTV2 Hip. They all have their pros and cons, but to be brutally honest: I love each and every one of them. :D

 

(*) DCS World is the core of the simulation. It's free, it includes the Su-25T, and it's available for download. Anything else is called a "module" that plugs into DCS World, and the modules must be purchased (download is free as well, but they require activation before they can be used).

 

Oh, and be sure to grab whatever module you're interested in during the current sale (still more than a week to go)! :thumbup:

Thanks man,

 

What i also want to know, is to learn how the chopper works etc... the inside story, parts etc... very technical... can it be found in DCS ?

 

I like many choppers... here is choose the UH-1 HUEY, for it's history, and, the sound it creates :p and because it's the only one...

 

What i thinks would be great for DCS...

 

AH-64 Apache

AH-1 Cobra

MH-6 Little Bird

 

and last but not least:

 

Stuka JU 87

 

but sadly enough, it will take some time for a new PC... can i buy now, download it all and save it on something ? i mean... look at the material. It sure isn't expensive... So for good software from which you learn, i won't mind to pay the full price so they can continue with developing more products...

[Bedouin]

What you mean its the only one...

 

There are also the Black Shark 2 (KA-50) and the newly released Mi-8MTV2... So there are 3 heli's to choose from ;)

[Yurgon]

What i also want to know, is to learn how the chopper works etc... the inside story, parts etc... very technical... can it be found in DCS ?

 

The manuals do go into a lot of detail. You'll also find some great tutorials and in-depth information on YouTube, on the ED Wiki and of course on the forum. For example, look up AlphaOneSix's posts, he works on Mi-8 and/or Mi-17 in RL. One example: Rotor System.

 

but sadly enough, it will take some time for a new PC... can i buy now, download it all and save it on something ? i mean... look at the material. It sure isn't expensive... So for good software from which you learn, i won't mind to pay the full price so they can continue with developing more products...

 

No problem, you can buy now and just make sure you keep the serial number in a safe place and remember your login data for digitalcombatsimulator.com (there you'll also find the serial numbers for all your purchases). Then when your new toy arrives, download DCS World and the modules. No need to download now and then download again when versions change in the meantime.

Or wait two weeks and buy full price if you feel like supporting ED (and Belstimtek in case of UH-1 and Mi-8). :)

[159th_Falcon]

About the question if you can compare DCS whit real helicopter lessons.

 

NO, you cant. Plain and simple.

 

This doesn't mean though that DCS is useless in aiding you to learn fly a real helicopter.

 

For example, all the principles and dynamics stay the same.

Vortex Ring Stall remains something to be very cautious off, which your better off discovering in a sim.

 

You can also learn about things like pilot induced oscillation in DCS. And how to get out of it.

 

And then there's things like optimum climb speeds and auto-rotation speeds.

And why they are important.

 

So overall, i think DCS can be a great aid in learning to fly a real helicopter. But it certainly can't replace real hands on flying hrs.

 

***EDIT***

The manuals do go into a lot of detail. You'll also find some great tutorials and in-depth information on YouTube, on the ED Wiki and of course on the forum. For example, look up AlphaOneSix's posts, he works on Mi-8 and/or Mi-17 in RL. One example: Rotor System.

 

 

 

No problem, you can buy now and just make sure you keep the serial number in a safe place and remember your login data for digitalcombatsimulator.com (there you'll also find the serial numbers for all your purchases). Then when your new toy arrives, download DCS World and the modules. No need to download now and then download again when versions change in the meantime.

Or wait two weeks and buy full price if you feel like supporting ED (and Belstimtek in case of UH-1 and Mi-.

 

To extent on that, make sure to buy ALL modules you ever buy for DCS world on the same account.

This is because you need to log in to a master server when playing multiplayer.

Meaning that if you have the Huey on account A and the Hip on account B you would need to exit the game server.

Log out of the master server and log in again using the other account whenever you want to switch airframes.

 

So get everything on the same account. Makes life easier.

Edited September 22, 2013 by 159th_Falcon

[lesnyborsuk]

I have never flown helicopter in real life, but currently I am doing my PPL(A) licence and I have just finished so-called "task A", where you actually learn how to fly an airplane. I think flying real heli vs sim could be compared to what I had in my experience.

 

Since I am long time computer simmer I knew lots of stuff and could handle lots of virtual airplanes before really flying an airplane. This helped me and still helps me a lot in my real life flying.

 

However, the important thing you just can't learn, when flying on computer, is being to able "to sense yourself in space". For instance- during landing you need to learn, by using perspective seeing, how to approach runway, when to flare, when to touchdown. You need to learn to "feel the airplane".

 

There are also some pretty suprising stuff in real world like strong and frequent turbulences over the ground which you constantly need to correct and you can feel on the yoke and with all your body.

 

So if I had only simming experience and started to flying- maybe I wouldn't kill myself but I would definitely crash my plane.

[Flamin_Squirrel]

I have a PPL(A) but have flown an R22.

 

While nothing replaces the real thing, such as all the random air currents and eddies, and most importantly the buttock clenching feeling when you make a mistake, IMO the Huey is a brilliant sim. While the weather and little atmospheric effects aren't all there yet, the way the thing flies and the control inputs you need to make are as real as you'll get on a PC to date.

 

So while it's true the Huey is no substitute for the real thing, mastering it will certainly mean you're well on your way to be able to. IMO, of course.

[KLR Rico]

I had perhaps a few dozen hours of sim time with FSX helis, and several hundred hours of R/C helicopter flight experience, before I took a lesson in an R44... Although my experience made me very familiar with the mechanics and physics involved in helicopter flight, nothing could prepare me for that seat-of-the-pants of actual flight! I didn't have any trouble with fast forward flight, but hovering was something else. When you overcorrect in the sim, you see the screen tilt, and you might go 15 feet sideways with a quickness, when you do it in RL, the feeling of impending death is much more pronounced. :D

 

I may have had an edge over someone with zero experience, but it was certainly much more overwhelming than I expected.

 

I'd like to fly another hour sometime soon, and see if my recent DCS: Huey experience is helpful, since it's a much better FM than what was available before.