Considering learning to fly the sim’s helicopters, but I’m uncertain as to what hardware I’ll need to do that effectively. I currently fly with a yoke, pedals and occasionally an Xbox type hand controller. Considering throttle, main rotor tilt axis and collective are usually done with one hand, I suspect I need a dedicated controller of some kind, whereas the pedals should work OK for the tail rotor. Any suggestions for a hardware setup (that don’t include an $1800 floor mounted contraption)? Thx
Tim
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At the more budget friendly end of the scale you can make do with more generic hardware…
A flight stick. Preferably one with a spring you can remove, disable or replaced with a much weaker one. If I were looking I would check out the VKB Gladiator NXT EVO base/stick.
Pedals - you have these. For pedals I always recommend ones that do not have a centre detent.
Collective - use an existing throttle (if you have one) and assign that as a collective. You do not really need a throttle for normal flight in most helicopters. You can therefore use the keyboard or controller buttons for a throttle if you wish.
Stepping up in realism and immersion you will be stepping into a higher level of expense…
An all in one solution is the PumaX.
Individual controls - based on what I use…
Stick - Virpil CM3 base (dry clutch system so no return to centre spring). I use this with a 200mm extension, Alpha prime grip and a desk mount. very good. not cheap.
Pedals I have MFG Crosswind pedals with damper. no centre detent on these and I remove the centring spring when flying helicopters. I also have some quick release foot rests for switching between helicopter and fixed wing use.
Collective - Virpil TCS base with chaiur mount to attach to an office chair. I have the TCS Plus base which is also has a twist throttle. Again not a cheap option.
I have the exact same hardware (CM3, Alpha Prime, TCS Base w/twist throttle, Crosswind pedals. Great stuff. It was a chunk of change, but worth it.)
Can you expound on this? I don’t understand what that is.
Check out QR4rigs dot com. 
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Absolutely. If you view it as an investment in a hobby you enjoy and do regularly it is much easier to accept the expense.
I am currently toying with the idea of taking things to the next level and taking a rather big leap with a DOF reality H6 motion platform… yeh that is much harder to swallow lol!
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The Crosswinds mount lets you remove the entire rudder assembly from a frame? Mine sit on the floor.
Blitzer303, thanks for the quick reply! The PumaX is the $1800 contraption I was referring to, LOL! Right now it seems the Virpil controller/Alpha Prime combination is the way to go, coming in at a little less than $1000.
When, and if, you have a moment could you post a picture or two of how you have these set up around your sim station.
One of my concerns is the lack of seat-of-the-pants feedback with a simulator. I’ve been able to achieve a relatively stable pick up, hover and setdown IRL but the achievement requires all your senses.
That was my first objective, to see if the simulator would allow me to do a reasonable flight.
Given my fixed wing setup, I wasn’t able to see how I’d pull it off and your reply gives me a reasonable path forward. Thanks!
Tim
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Not the greatest picture, but it shows the collective mounted to the chair where the armrest used to be. I used a MonsterTech mount - very well designed and easy to adjust.
The joystick base/grip is mounted to the desk with a Virpil desk mount. The grip is on a 200mm extension, which gives it very fine control as a cyclic. I could remove the extension and adjust the height of the mount to get quicker response in jets and aerobatic prop planes, but that takes some work, so I just leave it as is.
I’d love to have the joystick between my knees, but that puts me way too far away from the desk. It works fine to my right like it is.
You can see the Crosswind pedals below.
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Nice clean installation, is that a Virpil TCS base?
Nice setup! About 100 questions but maybe this one. The Alpha Prime hase numerous top hats momentaries and triggers. Do these all come into play when you’re flying? OMG, I hope not I’m technology challenged, I know what a doorbell does…LOL!
Yes, TCS Base. The counterbalance is standard, now (used to be an option.) Works beautifully.
I haven’t begun to explore all the hats, mini-joysticks, buttons, and switches on the Prime. I use SPAD.NeXT to map everything, and all of them are accessible. You could certainly use them all when flying an F-14. A Piper Cub? No. 
The Cub is a great plane, BTW, but I swap the joystick for my Honeycomb Alpha yoke when I’m flying GA aircraft.
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Copy that, about 100 years ago, the buttons on the sticks were for things like radio frequencies, throttle control, searchlights, etc., all of which my friend told me ‘Don’t touch anything!’ Never learned what all the buttons were for and didn’t care 
Sorry I should have been clearer. I have a quick release where each pedal attaches to the MFG crosswinds so I can remove just the pedals and use different pedals for helicopters.
I have my pedals attached to a piece of chipboard under my desk to keep them more stable, they push into a corner so they do not move.
A great addition to a set up for helicopters is definitely a VR headset. VR and helicopters for flight sims really work well together. Beyond that a buttkicker may add a little more or even a motion platform… but that is a lot of investment etc.
I do have some pictures of my system to share though…
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Thats a nice setup, I like that.
Do you also have a yoke for planes?
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I have never actually had a yoke. I tried the Honeycomb one briefly about 6 years ago, but honestly it did not really grab my attention. I see Virpil are now branching out and have a yoke in development… something I may consider in the future. For now I use a Warthog HOTAS for anything that is not a helicopter. I usually only tend to fly helicopters or G/A aircraft.
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Thanks for the pics, Blitzer303! The TC3Plus (twist throttle I’m assuming), has an additional apparatus attached to the top. What is that, an extension, a controller, etc? That and an additional button/switch/top hat device. Not sure of the purpose of those things…(as well as the purpose of most things helicopter 
)
That is the TCP Plus Base - the original version so it does not have the counter-balance as it is now supplied with by default. My personal opinion is that it is better to get the Plus base collective. At least if you like to start up helicopters from cold and dark and like the ability to practise or carry out auto rotations. It is another jump up in price but it is not as if the throttle can be added later. Not essential by any means, but I figured if I was spending that much I did not want to wish I had got the Plus base with throttle at a later date.
The piece on the end is the VPC SharKa-50 Collective Grip. I have various buttons and switches assigned on that for the starter, external lights, governor on/off and also for a comms channel for use with SayIntentions.
Really up to the user to decide what buttons and switches to assign in MSFS. I do not use all that are available, just those I use regularly which is useful in VR.
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Cool!, I think I like the idea of the throttle being at hand, but as you said earlier, the throttle, once set, isn’t an essential function. Which brings me back to the control toppers on the Collective and Cyclic sticks. So many buttons, switches and top hats. Have you found a purpose for all of these, or are they just spares?Thanks, Blitzer!