Again, I’m not a pilot. I hope the following observations help an IRL pilot (that also observes similar behavior) provide helpful feedback to the developer:
** since the addon’s objective is to provide as realistic experience as possible in MSFS **
- There does appear to be ground effect. Its very subtle and fluid. If they ever adjust the flight model, I hope the ground effect experience remains close to what it currently is.
- Vortex Ring State: It isn’t modelled. At 10 kts or less while dropping the collective to zero for about 10-15 seconds, you can still recover by only reapplying collective. [Although, maybe this helicopter can actually do this]
- Retreating Blade Stall: at about 107+ kts indicated, the nose will start pitching up as expected. If I force the cyclic forward, the addon will roll right. This seemed unexpected as the retreating blade is on the left (at least from the animation and the typical U.S. design of counter-clockwise rotation). However, reducing the collective, as one should, immediately returns the addon to normal flight and avoids the departure. [The roll right might also be that I never reached an actual blade stall of any sort, and the uncontrollable pitch up slowed the addon down where the torque pulled me over to the right]
- The Turbine Audio: I like to fly with my eyes out at low level. However, it is very difficult to adjust my inputs because the turbine audio doesn’t seem consistent with what the addon is doing. Specifically, in tighter turns, the turbine, rotor rpm, and governor seem to sound out of sync. Although the addon still handles beautifully, it is relatively more difficult to understand what that addon is communicating via the audio feedback. Specifically, the load and energy state of the rotor relative to the turbine and governor via the audio feedback. I have no idea how it should sound, but the audio feedback doesn’t seem to correlate to the instruments.
All of the above are just peculiarities to me relative to other helicopter addons I have. They would be nice to have and experience with this addon in the future if deemed desirable by TacFlight, but they are not “game breaking” at this point in the addon’s development - IMO. If I fly “normally” and casually under 100 kts indicated, the addon is still the most fluid helicopter flying experience in MSFS - IMO.