How to fly helicopters?

[DogTailRed2]

With all these Helo's being produced I wonder if someone could briefly explain in flightsim terms how to fly them correctly.

I'm having difficulty transitioning from flight, to hover, to landing.
I'm having trouble maintaining altitude and airspeed.

I can't get to grips with the relationship between throttle, pitch and forward movement. What's the purpose of the pitch control on helo's.
Unlike an aircraft slight changes in throttle have you heading for the ground or climbing stright up.
Finally how do you land when you can't see underneath?

Is it possible to fly them correctly or is flightsim a compromise?

[basys]

Hi Folks

DogTailRed2 -
Yes its possible to fly them correctly.



Set all axes on your joystick to maximum sensitivity and zero null.
Set autorudder off.

All joystick inputs should be tiny and often.
With your joystick centered,
imagine a 50p piece hovering above it,
all joystick movements should be within that 50p's circumference.



In response to a similar question
posted in another forum -

Flying choppers successfully,
requires practise, practise, practise.

Though initially setting a 5kt wind,
and locking FPS at 20 will substantially assist.

Suggest -
a) Concentrating solely on flying the FSX default B206
b) Taking a look at -
- Hovercontrol - Information Center
- Dynamic Flight
and working your way through the tutorials at both sites.
c) Performing your test flights at a non-fps impacting location, (i.e. remote from any addon or airport).



HTH
ATB
Paul

[Nigel H-J]

Hi Dogtail2, just like to add one more point as Paul has said all that you need to know. In the aircraft menus set realism to half way point otherwise your helicopter will end up like a demented rodeo ride (that's the only way to really describe it).

Remember also that helicopters are inherently unstable and require gentle control inputs especially when hovering try this link which gives a greater insight and explanation of the controls and how they work.

http://www.thaitechnics.com/helicopter/ ... ntrol.html

Regards
Nigel.

[Tomliner]

They seem too much like hard work to me! EricT

[Garry Russell]

With my type of flying I find them easier than aeroplanes

I crash aeroplanes frequently but with helipcopters I find them so much much easier to crash I do it all the time

Garry

[migman29]

If you must hover something DTR2,then go get one of UkMil's superb Harriers.

I've got the FRS.1 and F/A.2 and they're both great "hoverers"

Mark

[Wildbillkelso]

Additionally to the remarks above, I'd suggest to start your hops with a gentle hoverer like the Alphasim freeware Sikorsky S-55.
It's available at AVSIM:

alpha_sikorsky_s-55_fs9.zip
alpha_sikorsky_s-55_fsx.zip

The stock Jetranger is far too 'nervous' in my eyes...

Cheers,
Markus.

[Paul K]

They seem too much like hard work to me! EricT

You and me both. Maybe its my Saitek X52, maybe its my varifocals, maybe its just me, but after many serious attempts to stop the damned things skittering off sideways and fetching up in a hedge, I've pretty much given up on them.

[Garry Russell]

The problem I get is completly losing control no matter how hard I try.

Within minuets I'm spinning . The Alphasim Whirlwind is the closest I've ever managed to control one but still far too sensitive for me, but no doubta as FS Helios go a good one

This is all in FS.9 but I'm told it is a lot easier in FS.X.

I get the impression there's no real answer apart from quick reaction, steady hand and lot's of practice.

[spatialpro]

I'd second the recommendation to start by reading material at Hovercontrol. Hovercontrol is an excellent community and they can provide multiplayer instruction for you.

I also second the recommendation to set sensitivity to maximum for all axis... although I'd add it is often best to set them to Max, then drag back one notch (as Hovercontrol recommend).

I learnt to fly them in FS9 and did so with realism at max (at the risk of contradicting Nigel). This is how I continue to fly them in FSX. Much like Max for sensitivity I believe you need all the input and output possible... but then starting afresh in FSX may be different. I don't know because its impossible to un-learn how to fly them!

I sincerely hope that helps? I wish you all the best and if you have any questions let me/us know...

Oh and NEVER GIVE UP!

Andy