Simviation Forums

Hi all,
    I recently jumped on the FSX bandwagon and was pretty impressed with the game on the whole. However, the handling characteristics of the helicopters are not just way out - they're embarrasing. I'll admit that with only 1000 hours of real life rotary time logged up, I'm no veteran, but I can at least say that with full left pedal and full left cyclic, a helicopter should not remain wings level and yaw at maximum rate to the right. I could go on listing things, but suffice to say, there are no polite words to describe just how wrong FSX has got things. However, I downloaded a Huey from Simviation which is much closer to the mark and really saved the game for me. I've also downloaded a Hind and a Merlin Mk1, but for some reason ,on pressing Ctrl+E, the engines refuse to start. Any ideas, anyone?
   Many thanks in advance!

I wouldn't know how, but you could probably modify the flight characteristics to how you like them by messing with the aircraft.cfg file...

As for the control+e thing, I have a few prop aircraft which always stall right after startup unless you give them 5% or more throttle while pressing control+e... maybe try that?

I'll give that a go - thanks very much for your help!

These helicopter problems are because FS wasn't originally made with rotary wing models in mind. You mustn't max out the realism settings or it goes a little haywire. Tis well worth visiting our friends over at Hoversafe as they know everything there is to know about whirlybirds in FS http://members.shaw.ca/hoversafe/Hoversafe.htm

These helicopter problems are because FS wasn't originally made with rotary wing models in mind. You mustn't max out the realism settings or it goes a little haywire. Tis well worth visiting our friends over at Hoversafe as they know everything there is to know about whirlybirds in FS http://members.shaw.ca/hoversafe/Hoversafe.htm

I think this was valid for FS9 only, because of the exagerated (ridiculous) instability of the default Bell 206. In FSX, the flight model of the copter has been modified a little bit to make them more stable, but again they are now TOO stable

However, at Hovercontrol.com, somebody has created a little freeware called Heliforce, a program that modifies the flying caracteristics of the copters at low speeds to make them feel more realistic. You might want to give it a try, I have seen a lot of positive feedback on this stuff.