My first chopper, some advice please!

JimboG · September 18, 2013

Hi there,

I'd like to dip my toe into flying a helicopter in X-Plane - having not tried it ever in XP. I really enjoyed some of the FSX helicopter missions, which I found to be a steep but very enjoyable learning curve - more so than airplanes.

I'd like to start off with a helicopter that I can use for exploring scenery with - I am starting to build a good collection but tend to whiz past it a lot in jets!

So if anybody could make some recommendations I would be grateful.

I am a bit of sucker for eye candy too, so a nice cockpit would be cool in terms of considerations.

Thanks for your help.

Kind regards,

James

Hueyman · September 18, 2013

Yo James

Personally, I would recommend you to start with the Dreamfoil's R-22 ! As it is the simplest helicopter and also the more difficult to handle. What I'm trying to say here is, when you can precisely pilot the R22, any chopper will be easy for you afterward

Some people here ( Nicola being the first ) will say the Nils's BK-117... it is a great helicopter, but very very assisted ( Stability Augmentation Systems, great avionic etc )

I would say it really depends on what you are aiming, if it is just great flights, without struggling to fly correctly, and explore, I would say the BK117

If you really want to become a great virtual ( or real ^^ ) helicopter pilot, doing some high precision work such sling load operations, very stable and fluid hover etc, then you should start to fully know the R-22, then go with the Bell 206 single-turbine helicopter, then the 117, S-92 and future Sea KingI

If you need any help with joystick/control configuration for helicopter operations, I would be glad to help ;-)

Nicola_M · September 18, 2013

Hueyman Today, 09:35 PM
Personally, I would recommend you to start with the Dreamfoil's R-22 ! As it is the simplest helicopter and also the more difficult to handle. What I'm trying to say here is, when you can precisely pilot the R22, any chopper will be easy for you afterward.

+1. It's the most rudimentary heli in the box, but also the most demanding to fly.

Hueyman Today, 09:35 PM
Some people here ( Nicola being the first ) will say the Nils's BK-117... it is a great helicopter, but very very assisted ( Stability Augmentation Systems, great avionic etc )

Actually, I would say Aubrey's MD-902 Explorer is probably the easiest to fly, if you just want an easy-to-fly heli to explore scenery with.

JimboG Yesterday, 08:03 PM
I am a bit of sucker for eye candy too, so a nice cockpit would be cool in terms of considerations.

The BK117 has probably the most convincing cockpit, and has more tune-able items to get it how you want it (interiors etc).

Edited September 18, 2013 by Nicola_M

MartinM · September 19, 2013

Well. From 0 to 100% in a minute. No-Go

Like in real life, get trained first before changing to larger choppers.

Dreamfoil Jetranger or R-22 are both well suitable trainers. I fly on Jetranger on XP and in real life. handling is truly fantastic

Cheers

Martin

Nicola_M · September 19, 2013

Dreamfoil Jetranger or R-22 are both well suitable trainers.

The reason the R22 is used in real life as a trainer is because it is basic. Not because it's easy to fly.

In xp the R22 and JR are not the easiest to fly. Jimbo wants to explore scenery, not spend his time fighting to keep in the air.

The easiest models to fly are the EC135 and EC120, but you may find their cockpits disappointing.

For this reason, the next that ticks your boxes (easy and eye-candy) are the MD-902, followed by the BK117.

My advice would be start on one of those with the sliders to the right (yes, assisted) and once you get used to it start moving the sliders to the left for more realism.

Then advance to the JR or the R22. If you just start off with the R22 you will find it frustrating, hard work, and you'll certainly be seeing your scenery.......... as you pile into it. A lot.

This is my rating from easy to difficult. Putting sliders to the right makes them easier still. (Can't comment on the AS350 or the Mil, as they're xp10).

1. MD-902 (and EC135 & EC120 but no eye candy cockpits)

2. BK117

3. HUGHES 500

4. JR & R22

Edited September 19, 2013 by Nicola_M

JimboG · September 19, 2013

Hi there, Hueyman, Nicola and Martin,

Wow! This is really helpful, thanks for the advice.

I can certainly empathise on the steep learning curve - it took about 2 years of "very now and then" picking up the FSX heli-missions, very gradually progressing up to the oil rig recue mission - not for the faint-hearted!

To start off yes I would like a fairly easy-to-fly/learn helicopter as it will likely maximise my enjoyment as I explore my scenery whilst building up some skills on the stick and collective!

If I may ask another question, is there any X-Plane-centric "missions" or training exercises that I can look at that you'd recommend?

Many thanks, looking forward to getting started! (I'll update this thread with any relevant feedback if that's OK.)

Kind regards,

James

Edited September 19, 2013 by JimboG