How are you preparing for helicopters for MSFS 2020?
I am not coming from FSX days, so I am new to flight simulators. I am more of a GA guy and training with the C152/C172, but I have always had an interest in helicopters. To prepare for the upcoming 40th anniversary, I have been reading and reviewing the FAA Helicopter Flying Handbook (https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/helicopter_flying_handbook) and testing out the new features/improvements of the flight model in MSFS 2020 and learning to fly helicopters in other sims.
I am hoping to be able to master hovering and low flights to really enjoy the scenery to flight simulator and looking forward to see how Asobo can implement the rotorcraft flight model.
Any other helicopter fans out their? What are your go to resources and training?
Let me know what 3rd party developers you are following for upcoming helicopters as well!
Well thats a great investment and pretty penny. I have been getting by using the Honeycomb Alpha/Bravo and MFG Crosswind V3 pedals for now until I get save up enough for heli flight controls.
I could Google and look at YouTube, just trying to make discussion.
Should be interesting to see how they helicopters fly on an Xbox controller. The Dpad should be fun. I am sure they will have a easy version of the flight model as well.
A useful feature of the Crosswind pedals, that i’ve used on existing MSFS helicopters like the FlyInside Bell 47G, is that you can completely disconnect the spring, making the pedals act more like those found in a helicopter.
If you haven’t already, maybe give it a try, as it could save you a bit of money and space on buying dedicated helicopter pedals.
Well I’m looking forward to it but more so how third parties can benefit from the core CFD features to create even better (more accurately behaving) stuff.
I’ve flown a few choppers in the sim already and purchased a couple of the Payware offerings and enjoy them for a change of pace.
I do hope they can work fine with a HOTAS though! I really do not have space for proper controls on top of what I’ve already got in place.
Ah so THAT’S what you call it, hmm, good excuse
Yea so we’ll be able to get a REALLY good look at why all the buildings are melting
Maybe time for that firefighting chopper to get to work.
"Well I’m looking forward to it but more so how third parties can benefit from the core CFD features to create even better (more accurately behaving) stuff.
I’ve flown a few choppers in the sim already and purchased a couple of the Payware offerings and enjoy them for a change of pace."
I’m confused how 3rd party developers can create a 3rd party helicopter but no rotorcraft flight model yet in the SDK.
While bespoke helicopter controllers are going to provide a much more authentic experience than a HOTAS and rudder pedals they are not absolutely necessary. The MFG Crosswinds are a really good all-round option for flight sims that. I have my spring set pretty weak so the pedals light to use for helicopters but have just enough resistance for other aircraft. MFG also have a damper kit available for the pedals that would suite helicopter use even more.
As starting point it is worth having a joystick that you can either remove the centring spring from or compress the spring with cable ties so the spring does not return to centre. A centring spring for helicopters becomes tiring quite quickly and hinders very small control inputs needed with the cyclic.
I would say you are definitely right to be using other sims with good helicopter support (XP/DCS/Aerofly) right now. Like lots of other people I really hope when native helicopter support comes to MSFS that it will be a transformation and in time we will see high-quality third-party helicopters.
By using their own external flight model really, no doubt lack of native support in the sim does not make this easy and perhaps limits just how much can be achieved.
I have been using simulators and flying helicopters for 20 years. I know several pilots, I have flown with them a lot. I experienced the best helicopter physics and flight dynamics in the DCS simulator. DCS UH 1 helicopter is the best. It is important that the pilot feels the inertia of the helicopter in the simulator. The helicopter must be driven continuously.
I will be very curious about the physics of the Asobo helicopter, the flight dynamics of helicopters. The most important thing is that the helicopters are able to fly sideways and backwards. For different turns, special maneuver combinations. I’m a little afraid that Asobo will be able to implement these.
I am thinking of these maneuvers and flight combinations:
have two versions ( the wooden one (3th version) and the first all metal(4th version)) and very pleased with the metal one.
flying heli became better once using these… thinking of buying the new version because I think they use “hall sensors” input now? these magnetic contactless potentiometers? will be better, had to change already some in my 4th version.
