Helicopter sim?

I know this sounds like a goofy question, but is FS2004 a realistic Helicoptor simulation or did our boys at Microsoft just throw that into to keep us busy?? Anyways, I was just curious if it was an accurate sim for Helos.

Whoa now, not everyone at once...

I haven't any idea, I can't fly the %&(*#$@ things if I tried harder.
Once I had one take off and fly for quite a period of time but when I tried to land on a roof...disaster.
It seems when ever I take off, reach a fair altitude it starts to spin out of control, hey maybe I should take lessons.
I never took one up again.
Try Airwolf...cool looking if you remember the TV show.

I don't think there are many helo pilots here, but if you're patient, I'm betting that someone will be able to give you a reasonable answer.

Now that you mention it I haven't seen too many posts about them, wait like you say.

Yeah im more on the aircraft side of the line. Everytime I take off she starts to spin, i figured it was that "gyro", "torque" effect in the realism settings. They are wicked hard to control. But I was just curious as to what everyones thought was.

and I thought it was just me

I found this site

http://www.hovercontrol.com/

It has a forum and training sections (and d/loads)

I have the Eurocopter AS332L2 G-JSAR from this site and I can fly it without spinning madly out of control as long as I don't have to turn too quickly

Anyway you may find that site better for this question

Hope it helps

TTT

I find the gyro and torque effects to be somewhat realistic. A helicopter is inherently unstable and will kill you if you don't stand ready to pounce on any little movement. Thing is, you have to catch the upsets quickly, but you have to make small, precise corrections to maintain the equilibrium or the dam thing will immediately head off in the opposite direction.

You cannot fly the helos in FS without antitorque (rudder) controls, thats probably why you guys are spinning around on takeoff. A twist grip will wear you out, so I got some CH rudder pedals.

The autorotational model is where I have a problem with the sim. You can be in a low torque descent at 50 knots and shut the fuel off and instead of just holding what you got to flare altitude like you would in a real JetRanger, with minimum transition to autorotational flight from powered flight required, the FS model immediately bleeds off rotor RPM. Its like the aircraft wants to die. Of course I'm doing this with all the realism jacked up, since I'm a glutton for punishment. Its easier than sticking pins under my fingernails and doesn't hurt as much.

I found a HH-60 PaveHawk model that I downloaded that is pretty sweet too. I enjoy flying it on "vertual rescue missions." Of course who could resist the many UH-1 "Huey" models out there? Great sound in the Evergreen version

kifaru,
What's the "easiest" copter to fly, I know there may not be such a thing but I can ask.
Which should I start off with.
Signed,
Just-a-joystick

pedals eh
There must be a keyboard command?

TTT

Tom you could try it.... sounds kind of tough. NumPad "0" and Numpad "ENTER" are the defaults.

If you dont have pedals for antitorque, set the Bell JetRanger to "EASY" mode. Crank in about 70% torque and as you leave the ground ease the cyclic (stick) forward to move out of hover into translational lift. You can then fly the JetRanger around.

However, to translate back into a hover... erm...

Look, dont try to hover, just fly around

Dont try to hover
So its the usual landing then

TTT

I've never had helicopter training, but it seems realistic to me. The aircraft is very sensitive to power settings (ie- when you power up the tailroader also recieves more power, meaning you have to apply the appropriate rudder to compensate), and if you practice enough you find that just as the lessons say, anticipation can really help keep your aircraft under control.

As Rod (the FS built in instructor) says in his helicopter lessons : If flying a plane is like riding a bicycle, then flying a hellicopter is like riding a unicycle -- while juggling.

Try these and see if they help. If they do, let me know and I'll read them also.
Helicopters

http://www.planesimulation.com/articles/heli1.htm