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Helicopters in DCS any good for fixed wing pilots?


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Posted

I thought about buying a mi 8 or a huey... No chopper experience. Any suggestions?

HagarTheHorrible
Posted

I've always found helicopters to be a bit tricky in flight sims. The DCS ones are very good, I've certainly enjoyed the Huey but I think until the Oculus Rift, or similar, comes out I'll leave it parked on the hanger. I think that helicopters are going to be one of those things that will really benefit from that feeling of presence or being in the cockpit. It might not solve all of the issues, like the lack of tactile feedback, but it might just make the difference to being aware of what the aircraft is doing that it feels more natural and intuitive.

Posted

have you tried the mi-8?

Posted

Of the two, the Huey is probably easier to fly, though I've not really mastered it yet - I'm still struggling with the transition between forward flight and the hover, which needs a lot of care with the collective to do with any precision. The Mi-8 is a much heavier beast, with a lot of inertia, and accordingly can't easily be hoiked out of difficulties once it starts to go wrong - you need to know what it is doing, and avoid pushing it into problems in the first place.

 

With either of them, I think you'd struggle if you don't have rudder pedals - a twist stick isn't going to be precise enough.

 

Though both have weaponry for ground attack, the Huey is much better suited to it, being more manoeuvrable.

 

In true DCS fashion, both have lots of gadgetry to master. In particular, the Mi-8 cockpit is rather daunting if you want to learn all the systems - there is an unofficial English-language cockpit mod which helps (particularly useful as the English translation of the flight manual isn't out yet, though there is a fair bit of useful material available elsewhere). On the other hand, it has an autopilot, so for long flights you can just set it up pointing in the right direction (checking drift with the doppler radar) and let it fly itself. The Huey is much more hands on, and more of a seat-of-the-pants machine, so probably better for learning the basics on.

 

 

Posted (edited)

Thanks Andy. I think I could get a yugoslav airforce i.e. serbian original manual for the mi-8 so the russian cockpit is no problem though I don't speak russian I can figure that part out -i.e. read it. The mig descriptions in the original yugoslav RL manual and the serbian DCS manual are in russian, too, But yet, the huey smells like napalm in the morning. Iconic bird ;)

Edited by indiaciki
Posted

have you tried the mi-8?

 

The Mi-8 is, IMHO, easier to fly than the Huey. The thrust generated by the engines is simply mindblowing. The rotorcraft itself is a bit less stable but a tad more forgiving than the Huey as well. What I like about the Mi-8 is the fact that the cockpit itself is HUGE! You really feel like you're into a living breathing "thing" with a crew that is right there with you.

Posted

That's what I thought. I saw a couple of mi-8 some days ago. They are really huge and they are amazingly quiet. I guess they have an AP - the huey doesn't have one? They have a ventilator in the cockpit for sure :)

Posted

I find the Helos in DCS just an absolute blast to fly. A Very different Flight Sim experience from flying a fixed wing AC. There is a healthy learning curve, but nothing too daunting. For me taking off and maneuvering is fairly easy - landings however are a real challenge.  

Posted

what helicopter would you recomend? Just downloaded the RL manual for the  Mi-8. It's just 168p

Posted

what helicopter would you recomend? Just downloaded the RL manual for the  Mi-8. It's just 168p

Indiaciki, I agree as stated above that the MI-8 is a bit easier to fly and land, but 90% of my helo flight time is an the Huey. 

Posted

Since I'm new to helicopters I'll try the Mi-8 and the go to the huey. The Huey is the chopper I'd love to fly. Charley don't surf :) But I'm new to helicopters

Posted

Im sure you'll enjoy it.

Posted

I see it like this: you can't go wrong with a Huey.

 

I didn't learn to really appreciate the Mi-8 until I was much more proficient with the UH-1H.

Posted

it's just a process of systematization and learning controls. i don't understand the question. are you saying flying fixed wing is mutually exclusive to flying helicopters? i fly both in sims.

Posted

I was saying that transition from fixed wing to helicopters might be pretty tough.

Posted

Get the Huey first in my opinion. For starters it doesn't have any flight assists like the Mi-8 does. You have to learn how to fly completely on your own which will stand you in good stead later if you get the Mi-8. The Huey is a more complete product at the moment too as the Mi-8 is still in open beta. Also as others have mentioned it's a more nimble and flexible helo for just zipping around. The campaign for the Huey is pretty good too and gets you to use various different aspects of the helo. 

Posted

I certainly think the Huey is easier to fly the the MI-8 (I have them all, ant the Ka-50 easiest to fly.) In startup it's from fast and easy to harder to remember Huey, MI-8 and KA-50 if you do the full manual startup.
I'd say buy them all while on sale!

Posted (edited)

I love the huey. Very good to fly with him, and hard. But a great experience.


I hope you will be too long will be news for the cobra. But the great desire of the Apache, and the mil-24.

Sorry my Englis. :unsure:

Edited by Sakkay
Posted

I was saying that transition from fixed wing to helicopters might be pretty tough.

I don't really think that its  that difficult of a transition , Indiaciki, as much as its a New Flight sim experience. And yes, if you are only going to get one Helo at this time definitely make it a Huey.

Posted

I am going to suggest the KA50. Still the most fun helo to fly IMO. Not to hard getting it started up, but hard to master the flight and more in depth systems, especially during a battle. The nice thing is, when you learn the ins and outs its very rewarding.

 

The neat thing about the Blackshark is the fact its a single seater and it almost needs the work of a 2 pilot crew. The mix of older tech with newer tech. Such a blast.

 

But all in all you cannot go wrong with any DCS helo. The only drawback is you will want them all...

Posted

Helicopters that don't interact with trees seem to lose a bit of their charm :) has this been sorted yet, have been not keeping up, maybe there is a chance this can be sorted with EDGE?

 

Cheers Dakpilot

Posted

I just got my hands on Mi8 yesterday.Did first tutorial how to start that thing and after several restarts due to messed procedure I finally managed to lift my butt up in the air.Then I crashed :biggrin:  It is challenging but thats what is best in it.Challenge and "back to school" feeling.Will try more crashings this evening.

Posted

There are always the easy starts for people just wantign to get in the air. Hit the keys and step away for a few mins while the aircraft goes through the procedure. I did this a lot when I started DCS out of pure frustration lol.

Posted

It would take me more then an hour to re-learn the startup in the MI-8 .. and another <30 mins to remember the controls (since in the setting you click on a joystick button and it tells you what it does and you don't have to try it out 20 times) :rolleyes:

Posted

I think that this guy won ;)

 

Posted (edited)

I don't really think that its  that difficult of a transition , Indiaciki, as much as its a New Flight sim experience. And yes, if you are only going to get one Helo at this time definitely make it a Huey.

 

I did...

 

 

 Charlie don't surf :D

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Edited by indiaciki
  • Upvote 1
Posted

I did...

 

 

 Charlie don't surf :D

good for you Indiaciki, I hope you are enjoying your Huey. 

Posted

very much !

Posted

Good to hear.Although I did not make it very far in the Huey Campaign I did find it challenging and fun. It starts off easy and the first few missions are really a training aid.  There seemed to be a good deal of variety in the missions and enough "story" to keep it interesting. Plus, you get to fly in formation with other Hueys,which is pretty cool. So, Give the Campaign a try when ready.

Posted

I'll do. I'm surprised that I can land her easily after just 30min. Transistion isn't that harcore as I thought. Didn't do a cold start yet but flying is not that hard as I thought. Love that aircraft.

MiG21bisFishbedL
Posted

Ka-50 and Huey are p.baller. Mi-8 needs to be *actually* finished.

Posted (edited)

Is the Mi-8 still in beta? I totally got addicted to flying helicopters...it's really a challenge. It makes you a better fixed wing pilot after a couple of hours balancing gyroscopes around the air  - don't know why... works for me.

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Edited by indiaciki
LLv34_Flanker
Posted

S!

 

 The amount of coordination required to fly a helicopter for sure helps you in a fixed wing plane.

Posted

DCS helicopters are all excellent in my opinion, KA-50 Black Shark especially; with all of its modern HUD instruments (SHKVAL) and FLIR. Take On Helicopters is another great helicopter sim - no combat but flying "missions" for your own helicopter company; and you can lift / carry cargo (sling load). It is quite inexpensive too: $28 for the bundle which includes the Hinds helicopter (so there is actually combat! my mistake).

Posted

DCS helicopters are all excellent in my opinion, KA-50 Black Shark especially; with all of its modern HUD instruments (SHKVAL) and FLIR. Take On Helicopters is another great helicopter sim - no combat but flying "missions" for your own helicopter company; and you can lift / carry cargo (sling load). It is quite inexpensive too: $28 for the bundle which includes the Hinds helicopter (so there is actually combat! my mistake).

I can totally agree....I love the Blackshark.

 

I could NEVER get Take On Helicoptors to work right. Got frustrated and uninstalled. I know its not DCS level, but it looked fun.

 

Too high tech ;)

 

 

DSC helicopters are addictive !

x100000

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