H125 Cargo hook missions physics, weight and logic issues


ISSUE DESCRIPTION

Description of the issue:
First, to keep in line with the forum rules, the issue I consider a bug:
When flying a general cargo hook mission, the weight and drag of the load is (of course) limiting the H125 to reach high speeds and high climb rates. In general, this is true. However, when delivering the load, right at the moment of release -although the load should be on the ground having delivered it- the aircraft bungees upwards like the load was now removed from its “onboard mass” and now there is more lift simply.
No! Wrong! After you place a load on the ground with a helicopter the carried mass is no longer pulling on the aircraft, since it stands on the earth again. The helicopter is tethered to the load until released, but given a relaxed sling (as should be done) the aircraft should hover as if only carrying the crew.

Speaking of the crew: why the heck is there a co-pilot on every cargo hook mission? I checked, I cannot see or edit the weight for the craft inside the mission, so I haven’t found an option to throw out the co-pilot. It matters because this being another 80-100kg dead weight I have to lift!
The guy is only there to deliver the same dialog on every mission. He doesn’t guide me in, he operates no controls, nothing!
And on top, on a real cargo mission (and every mission essentially) -every kilo counts!!

And finally: when having completed the delivery and heading back the H125 is then occupied by two men/women, with a sling dragged along on the under side -no other weight or drag creating object. Yet I cannot exceed about 100kts -even when in a 2000-3000fpm nose dive!!
What is creating the drag? The cargo load mirror that doesn’t help in any way, yet has some cheap low res mirroring effect on it?
The sling can’t be it either, not enough surface area. Both might be relevant, I presume, but after delivery the helicopter should feel empty and should go as fast as it can in the other missions or free flight.

[PC Only] Did you remove all your community mods/add-ons? If yes, are you still experiencing the issue?
No mods install

FREQUENCY OF ISSUE

How often does this occur for you (Example: Just once, every time on sim load, intermittently)?
As of yet every mission flown

REPRODUCTION STEPS

Please list clear steps you took in order to help our test team reproduce the same issue:

Issue #1

  1. Fly a cargo mission
  2. Get to the delivery point and the “stay in a hover” prompt until the prompt changes to green color.
  3. Wait until the cargo is detached
  4. Notice how, even though the cargo was delivered, the helicopter increases altitude with no collective change

Issue #2

  1. Head back from the delivery point to the airport
  2. Notice the craft is not reaching more than about 100kts maximum even when having collective on max. and decreasing altitude!

YOUR SETTINGS

If the issue still occurs with no mods and add-ons, please continue to report your issue. If not, please move this post to the User Support Hub.
Realistic flight model

What peripherals are you using, if relevant:
Pedals, Collective and Stick

[PC Only] Are you using Developer Mode or have you made any changes to it?
Dev mode not active

MEDIA

I recorded two missions showcasing these issues and. I am thinking about making a youtube video about it if I have time. If yes, I will share the link.

[END OF FIRST USER REPORT]


7 Likes

I agree with all thing you sad. I can add the problem with cargo being invisible once in the air.

1 Like

Just got the hook endorsement, flew 5-6 missions, totally agree with you, exact same problems.

And yes, they should get rid of that other guy (who looks like a male but has a female voice) and that idiotic chat, it is stupid when hearing it the first time but the same dumb remarks are really annoying the third, fourth and fifteenth time, whoever thought this is funny should be listening to this until they drop dead…

I also think there should be a vertical reference window when flying sling load missions.

It is a shame, because this could be a great simulation, only they need to fix about 10,000 bugs before. If at least the helicopter ground effect and career mode wind/turbulence was fixed, it would be enjoyable (with the volume turned down)

1 Like

A few more issues I saw when flying sling load missions in the mountains:

  • Pick up area in an airport building
  • Pick up area on the middle of an active runway, and those guys still standing around there when I return…
  • In general, pick up way too far from the drop site. It isn’t economical to fly 10 miles with a sling load, IRL they would bring the load on the road as close as possible to the drop site and the helicopter would pick it up from there.
  • Drop area on a building, ground crew hovering 10 m above ground.
  • Plus all the other annoying helicopter bugs, like Helicopter side of Career Completely Unplayable
2 Likes

You got a vertical reference window :smiley: look in the floor to the right. Drag the leather cover to the side then you got the window.
When using the window you are going to experience something extremely difficult :scream: it suppose to be hard as it is in real life but I can’t understand how you suppose to handle the helicopter and look down through the window as they do in real life :scream:
Many hours training a suppose.

1 Like

Oh, wasn’t aware of that, will give it a try, thanks.

I tried in 2020 with the Cowansim H125 which does have such a window, and indeed, I found it extremely difficult to stay in a stable hover looking down that window (I fly in VR only).

Sure, one needs lots of practice, but my hunch is that in IRL it is likely easier than in the sim, due to the much wider field of view and that the pilot feels the movement of the aircraft.

I don’t think I’d ever be able to fly in the sim for minutes looking down that window, like they do it in IRL. But for a quick look to assess my position it could work.

1 Like

If you haven’t, look at this skilled Norwegian sling load pilot.

I’ve seen tens of hours of his videos, those are one of the reasons I was so excited about 2024 (until it came out …)

2 Likes

Ive been trying to complete this cargo mission in the mountains by Tahoe and the cargo is invisible and once i get to drop zone, the H125 just cant seem to climb, throttle is at 100%, power stays around 67 and I’ve tried looking up how to increase power. Can’t find anything on it. Even when the invisible cargo is on the ground i still lose altitude. Way to frustrating

The copilot in SU2 is gone, although he speaks to you at the very beginning, the usual cringey stuff someone thought is funny, but the seat is empty and you don’t hear the guy speaking ever again.

Still can’t get over 100 kts even without the load.

But I love those oil rigs, one of the highlights of 2024…

He sits in the engine compartment. Have a look there during preflight, you will find him :sweat_smile: And yes, the dialog is so unnecessary… There could be someone talking to you on the radio with informations regarding the position of your load, but no, we get that stupid „I have delivered bla bla to oil rigs so supplying a shelter should be a piece of cake“ :see_no_evil_monkey:

OMG, really, there he is:

Hilarious. I mean, either something is fundamentally broken in this sim, or someone is sabotaging it.

And my favorite, at 2000 AGL in the middle of nowhere: “Lots of new faces down there …”.

2 Likes

IRL you can actually feel what the helicopter is doing, so you are less reliant on visual references.

1 Like

The dual mirrors should be allowed to be rotated so that I can actually see underneath. Also the mirrors need to be convex enough to have a somewhat wide field of view.

Oh, those mirrors, those are my pet peeves… They don’t work at all but at least they are big: H125 Cargo Mirror Way Too Big. Must be coming from the same universe (or same incompetent modeler) as these sheep: Sheep are as big as cows :slight_smile:

Ok, upvoted your referenced bug, hope Asobo accepts it soon.

But big or not, I want working mirrors for hook missions. It is already difficult enough to hover a turbine helicopter with an xbox 360 controller and then if I can’t see below then that’s bad.
I am stuck at the hook endorsement certification, unable to pass it.

Thank you.

Someone linked a great YouTube channel here in this topic where you can see how it is done IRL.

In the game, I’m using VR and after a quick glance down the vertical reference window to ensure I’m about the right position, I look up and use some other visual reference (oil rig, ship mast, trees) to hover in place. When looking down directly I tend to overcompensate.

2 Likes

Watched this brilliant video:

and was trying to use his sight method. My problem is that I can’t see the hook (well, FS2024 has no hook, just a rope end, yet another unrealistic detail…) when I look down. I have to lean way forward and to the right to see it. The pilot in the video clearly does not lean forward just looks down to the right.

Wondering why this is, is it just the rope in the simulator too short or something with the geometry of the H125 model is off?

I think its a bit of both. I have also noticed that the pilot seat is not centered with the cyclic and pedals. That may have something to do with it. Line lenght also plays a factor