Cowansims B206B Released

So, after update 1.0.3 i have to say something really positiv:

The heli now feels MUCH more realistic! If they are able to include failures, VSR and stuff and that you can not fly a looping without consequences…

But really, flying in VR feels good now! :+1:

edit:
forgot to mention:
i find the ground effect a little too much, with the weight the heli has it shouldn’t dance like that.

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Yeah tried this update - much better. She’s not leaning over massively to the left to go straight now!

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With latest patch, this is now my favourite heli (Still not pleased with the H145 and 500e), mainly flying it now. Removing the doors to enjoy more the view in VR. Loving the N206JL livery.

Only thing so far is, i was not able to find a way to keybind the Spot light switch to anything, would be awesome to bind it to a POV, even trying to manually play with the direction of the spotlight using the mouse on the switch is pretty impossible. Anyone knows if or found how we can keybind it?

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Any idea where the manual is for this? All I could see when I’ve downloaded it was a checklist pdf?

A bit older released in ‘92 revised in 2000. Manuals are getting harder and harder to locate. Often you need to be a client with a serial number.

Found a maintenance manual as well that’s fun to poke around in.

Bell Maintance Manuals

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Is anyone else having trouble making the spotlight/searchlight appear after the latest (28 April) update? Everything else seems to work - floats, spray kit, cineflex cam, etc except the spotlight which I believe is supposed to appear at the base of the tail / rear fuselage. Thoughts?

Update: It appears that the spotlight only shows up when the agricultural spray kit is active. Testing continues but that is repeatable. I cannot display the spotlight independently of the spray kit.

Update RESOLVED: For those wanting a fix, the 206B3_EXT.xml file in the model folder has the following:

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<ANIM_NAME>LIGHT_Search_Rotation_UpDn</ANIM_NAME>

<ANIM_LENGTH>100</ANIM_LENGTH>

<ANIM_CODE>(L:206SearchLightDown, percent) 25 (A:CIRCUIT ON:41, bool) ?</ANIM_CODE>

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<ANIM_NAME>LIGHT_Search_Rotation_LeftRight</ANIM_NAME>

<ANIM_LENGTH>100</ANIM_LENGTH>

<ANIM_CODE>(L:206SearchLightRight, percent) 50 (A:CIRCUIT ON:41, bool) ?</ANIM_CODE>

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<VISIBILITY_CODE>(A:PAYLOAD STATION WEIGHT:6, kg) 13.6078 > (A:LIGHT LANDING ON:3,bool) or</VISIBILITY_CODE>

The highlighted section regarding payload station weight is originally is set to 7. Change this to 6.

I find that I need to double click on the weight for the item to add or remove so that it is highlighted in medium blue. Then enter the weight. Then double click on a different item’s weight and the previous item should appear on the model.

Not sure if it’s a viable work around, but using the W&B tab in this order for Cowansim helicopters always works for me.

Just bought this and just noticed compared to the stock bell it learches left or right quite a lot compared to the stock bell with even the slightest movement on the collective.

Also I struggle to keep the thing level during flight, I never get any rpm warning under full load of the collective lever.

Not had these things on the stock asobo bell so wondering if there’s something I need to set up differently or is it just how it is? I am new to choppers so it’s all a learning game at the moment.

Well, helicopters are still a work in progress for msfs. They will get better. In the meantime, they are all mostly flyable and enjoyable. I am looking forward to a Stability Augmentation System (HeliSAS) for the larger helos like the 206B to make longer flights easier.

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Yeah I gather there still improving just wondering from more experienced heli pilots which currently is more realistic the asobo or Cowan bell? I heard they both use the same flight model but they seem way different? :thinking:

They are way different helicopters. The difference in how they fly is realistic.

The B206B3 is a 2 bladed teetering rotor system while the MSFS stock B407 is a 4 bladed fully articulated rotor system.

The B206 will have a lag in the control input and is less stable. You really have to be ahead of the aircraft.

The B407 will be more stable and more responsive at the same time. It is also more modern with improved engineering.

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I looked into getting one of the Cowan sim choppers (xbox), but I think they still need considerable work. I’ll stick to the stock Bell 407 for now. Do you guys see a huge benefit in the payware helis?

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I’ve gone back to the stock bell after buying the Cowan at this point in time I can’t see where my money went really…

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While I do like flying the Nemeth B407 after its recent update it just feels too sterile.

The Cowan helicopters all have character and quirks that are unique to those rotorcraft. The Astar has the squirrelly tendencies, the 206B has the teetering main rotor with delayed input characteristics, the 500e is a sports car and has all the power to play with.

Those are the benefits for me with addon helis from Cowan. It ads immersion to feel out the different rotorcraft.

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Hello All

The Helo Bell 206B3 has floats. I also found the lever on the ceiling panel that gives power to the floats. It just doesn’t do anything. Do you know how to inflate floats with this Helo?

I think they inflate when your skids hit water.

I asked their support. They said that the will inflate but they are purely cosmetic - so - it seems that they will not make you really float? Gotta try out tbh ^^

No you will not float. You’ll have to hold a hover or be in very shallow water. These are not floats a heli would land on like pontoon floats. They are emergency floats for emergency landings/ditching. I had to hover to capture this screen shot.

What is the name of the key bindings for steering the search light? I searched for “search” in the key bindings, but got no hits:(

I haven’t seen anyone successfully find a way to manipulate the search light so far. Seems like it’s a work in progress.

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