Oh yes, definitely. We are a small niche, for sure, but the community is very united, mature and loyal. It’s very rare to find someone that goes overboard.
I’ve also mentioned helicopter-specific missions (vertical reference, hoisting, firefighting) to Microsoft. I have no formal feedback on it, though, but they are perfectly aware.
Flight Simulator is a historical change in the world of simulators. Helicopters fly low, so sight is very important. None of the simulators can compete with the visual world of Flight Simulator. The FS shows every little detail and is real. There are several simulators in vain if we cannot enjoy the visual world. Flight Simulator has opened up a new world, nothing can ever compete with it in any other simulator visual world. Thanks to the developers of the simulator for the wonderful visual world, photorealism.
On this subject of niche in the niche, I am very surprised that there
were “only” 500 votes on the subject. I have often wondered what the
helicopter market represents in simulation. Does anyone have a rough
idea of the number of helicopter users in the simulation?
We have 7.700 users in our Helicopter Flight Simulation group on Facebook. I remember HoverControl had about 20.000 or so members some 10 years+. After I posted on our group, this thread got some 200 or so votes and has risen from 10th to 8th. But that’s 200 out of 7.700.
Since I started HeliSimmer.com I have seen those numbers rise a bit. I can’t say exactly how many we are worldwide as, obviously, we don’t have everyone on the group.
I don’t think a lot of people that fly helicopters in sims care about MSFS, use MSFS or is bothered to register here. Most are using other sims that actually allow them to use helicopters right now. I see that a lot.
On the website, over the last year we had nearly 230,000 new visitors, which means those persons are probably interested in helicopters somehow as that’s all that we publish about.
I know there are more people out there. Not everyone knows about the group or the website, obviously. I can’t give you a realistic estimate, though, I’m afraid.
Thank you very much for all these details. It gives us an idea of the people who share our common passion.
Sure thing. Feel free to find us on FB. It’s a really nice community. Just remember it’s not an MSFS but a rotorsim-dedicated group, so we cover pretty much all sims that have helicopters.
And maybe they will have another beta test team for helicopters… perhaps some of the hardcore chopper guys will get their feet wet earlier and help refine it.
They promised to involve us at HeliSimmer.com and our community. We’re here for them and they know it. It’s just a matter of saying the word.
That’s another reason why this will be great… they will have HeliSimmer involved. At this point patience will be the hardest thing.
I smile many times 
. Users complain that the physics and flight dynamics of the helicopter are poor. How does the user know this? Members of the helicopter community are not pilots. There are things that even our users may feel are bad. The developer must work out the physics and dynamics of the helicopters in cooperation with helicopter pilots.
I think they are pretty good already. Even real life pilots quarrel about this. 100% isn’t possible, you have no physical feedback and everyone have a different joystick.
Oh additional to say: I mean’t fixed wings, helicopters are much more complex and difficult to simulate. Here is probably a bigger improvement possible. 
It is not. And it depends on a lot of factors. Every person has a different experience, just like any helicopter is a bit different, even if of the same model.
That’s why a balance has to be achieved. People involved in the process have to come from multiple backgrounds. Both real pilots that sim and simmers that are not real pilots offer invaluable feedback because, ultimately, the sim has to cater for the needs of as many people as possible.
“Realism” is always abstract. The notion of realism and how comfortable people are using the software is what counts the most.
Of course, people need to understand sims will always be sims. Not even professional sims fully achieve to mimic reality.
How do you know?
Sad to see 2022 as date for helicopters. Guess I won’t be buying FS until 2022 then 
With the addition of helicopters eventually, will other types of rotorcraft be considered to be added, for example gyroplanes (either officially or through third parties)?
Gyroplanes, at least in documentation, appear to have flight characteristics between helicopter and planes, yet not quite either.
I’ve become quite fascinated by them.
Good luck.
I highly doubt those are all active users. Lots of short time dabblers that never return, just like every forum or hobby group. I see it all the time in music forums…“Hey I just bought a new guitar”, then 2 months later, you never hear from them again, but they are still technically an active member.
Personally, I’m surprised the number of up votes was as high as 500. I fly heli’s in X-Plane, and agree that the world in MFS is ripe for helos. What I don’t want to see is a half hearted helicopter effort by Asobo, just to appease the forum. Two years is a long time, but I’d rather wait for them, while other more global issues get resolved, setting the stage for the helicopters.
Don’t think that’s really what he said
Wise words that many of the commentators on the physics model and realism of MSFS in these forums would do well to heed.