From 5:40 to 7:00 is a good segment that shows some straight flight. This was recorded from the V1.0.2 version.
There was a noticeable lean in prior versions, acknowledged by the developer, and I have an earlier video you can definitely see it. However, I haven’t seen the behavior since V1.0.1.
I’ve only flown V2.0 for about an hour, and the FM felt even more refined.
I use a PFT puma 1:1 control set. I don’t use cyclic or tail rotor trim in the sim because the cyclic doesn’t have a spring and it stays where I leave it. There aren’t any control forces to trim out. That may be a factor in why my experience is different…
I’m sure this will upset some people…
DCS helicopters are good, but not any better than MSFS, or XP11/12. Each sim has its strengths and weaknesses. I wouldn’t use DCS as a point of argument in a discussion with a real helicopter pilot.
I notice that the rotor has that odd behavior that we were speaking of earlier. Almost as though someone were filming it. I’d love to get rid of that effect which doesn’t seem to happen in external view.
I haven’t made a video with the latest V2.0 yet. It was noted in the change log that some animations were fixed. Maybe the rotor blur was one of the changes?
You won´t be able to change that in marketplace version as content is encrypted but the tunning to prevent excessive lean deals with cyclic pitch scalar, as pushing grip is what induces the leaning effect. The two variables that control de stick inputs are the following, inside flight_model.cfg:
The original value is 5 which multiplies by 5 your joystick input in game for the Y axis. I have mine set to 3 and that´s still too much anyway. Best would be to keep them near 1 and balanced and induce the effects in the flight dynamics, not forcing control inputs artificially. I think this is what they did on latest v2.0.0 releases of their other products (and comes natively on R66 as well) and that works much better.
In latest releases (R66, 206L3/B3) both variables are close to 1, which gives much better results in game. In other Cowasim products (not yet updated) they are crazy high as well and in 500E they weren´t updated with v2.0.0 release. For the time being you can try to reduce your joystick sensitivity to -50% in MSFS, at least for the Y axis.
I really hope all your concerns about the flight model(s) really are being considered within CowanSim. I bought this 500E, and like everything about it - except flying it in MSFS.
CowanSim is clearly showing they are committed to contunued development of their products, and they have shown (with their H125 and R66) that their helicopter flight models are capable of flying straight and leve. I have now bought all the rest of their helicopters during the holiday sale. I am betting that the rest of their product line will eventually improve and be enjoyable to fly. But, I would really like to see the 500E to be even better and more fun than the controllable “Ferrari” they made their H125 out to be - if that’s realistic per say.
After spending some time in all of the updated Cowansim helis, I am positive I am experiencing the left bank in cruise bug with the 500E that others are seeing (@phobos8287, @fhog1) . It seems to be back to the way it was in V1.0.1, around 7-8° of bank when the tail rotor is in trim at speeds 75kts and above.
In previous discussions with the developer, they were balancing the left skid low behavior at hover with how it affected bank in cruise. They must have made some progress, because the V1.0.2 version didn’t display the same bank, only 1-2°ish.
The other aspects of the flight model feel good. The developer is working with 500E pilots, so we’ll have to see how they address it. I posted over on the official Cowansim forum at helisimmer.com.
Yeah I’ve noticed the same. For me I’d rather have it fly level than hover left skid low, so I edit the flight model to give it a static bank angle which allows it to fly level. I can’t help but keep thinking this is an issue with the main default FM, since the bell 407 which it’s based on has a static bank to the main rotor in real life. I wonder if it’s hard coded into the FM this affecting all helis.
cold and dark and STARTER RELAY key is already in forward position (ON)
GTN OPTION switch’s position seems to be remembered (eg. pushed forward to select GTN750), but the GNS530/430 are displayed and power up instead. I need to toggle GTN OPTION switch back then forward again to get the GTN750 to appear.
Nothing major just annoying. Interestingly it does seem to remember the main panel config settings OK.
I should point out that I have the PMS WTT mod (pms50-gtn750wtt-aircraft-cowansim-500e) enabled. maybe I’ll try again without it.
I experience all 3 of those issues. It’s why this addon currenly doesn’t exist for me.
Amongst the other issues I have with only this addon:
Reversed physics on pickup (have to bank away from wind in order to fly into the wind - until out of ground effect)
Required excessive “Cowan Lean”
Constant heading progression to the right that can’t be compensated for using slight tail rotor input. The wind vane effect cancels out any tail rotor input made at speed, so you have to increase the “lean” and constantly turn left to maintain a track. Flying a corrected heading doesn’t help, because you can’t hold a heading - due to the constant progression to the right
I’m not a pilot, so the above additional challenges I observe with ONLY this addon make it too frustrating for me to fly in MSFS, and my observations probably have no credibility since real 500E pilots vetted the addon before Cowan released it. Luckly, none of their other products exhibit these “extreme” behaviors.
I’m just learning all these details. I just got my heli trim set up on my Hotas and it sure makes a huge difference to for level flight I also have a button assigned to cancel the trim too. Also in the middle of decreasing sensitivity on my Hotas axes now too, so I’ll check for these effects afterwards. I’m enjoying this heli despite the issues I’ve seen so far.
If one usually flies like they are “engaged offensive/defensive” (i.e. for fun), they probably won’t notice any issues with the addon. However; if I really want to fly a 500, I currently choose the 530F from Blackbird Simulations.
Has anyone had troubles with the 500e since SU15 dropped? She’s lost her flight model for me and the Rotor RPMs and Torque are pegged over 120. I know Cowan made the announcement about SU15… perhaps this was an issue. Can anyone replicate?
I’m Series X with HOTAS, pedals, mouse and keys. Not an issue before SU15. I didn’t seem to have a problem in the Astar/Squirrel H125/as350 either…
*Edit - seems the only Cowan ships doing this are the 500e, Bell 206b3 and L3, 222B when started cold. Starting on the runway or helipad operation is normal. Odd
My Robbie’s 22/66 are fine cold and dark as well as the AStar…
I’m sorry to say I’ve given up with CowanSim for the time being.
I was pointed at the stock 407 with the amazing Sim Focus (free) mod recently and am very much enjoying that so far.
Yeah the Sim Focus mod is great and I’ve uninstalled the 500E in favor of the Shrike 530. Regarding the CS helis post SU15, I’ve found the same issues with the 222, and both 206s. Now we’ll see how long it takes for them to get patched.
Yes I have the same issue with the RPM.
Another issue that freaked me out was while I am hovering, I can bank (about) 30 degrees to the left and the heli doesn’t move. Its like tilting into a strong wind.
