Hovering helicopters

[yourname]

I just love to fly helicopters, but have a little problem with this one:

FS2002 AS332L2 Hong Kong Goverment Flying Service Version 3 by Dirk E. Fassbender.  (http://www.simviation.com/files/1helico ... rhk_v3.zip)

When I try to use te hover gauge it goes well, except that the helicopter starts flying backwards! No drifting to the left or right, just flying backwards. I can only stop this by pushing the joystick all the way forward.

Is this really the correct behaviour? This way you can only correct your position (while hovering) to left, right and back. No forward movement possible with the hover gauge on. Sounds wrong to me...

Anybody has the same problem?  ???

[Calb]

I dunno, when I hold a dead stable hover using out-the-front-window visual reference, my stick is where it should be, even with the so-called "hovering gauge" turned on.

The gauge is nothing more than a modified and miniaturized version of Steve Hanley's HELOHUD.  When it comes to hovering, they are a crutch -- a BROKEN crutch.  You CANNOT hover using a gauge. The reason is simple. Gauges always show you what HAS HAPPENED...not what IS HAPPENING. When it comes to hovering, this characteristic (property ?) is counter productive.  The gauge won't indicate movement until movement occurs (just as it should). By then it's too late because successful hovering relies on being able to ANTICIPATE movement based on detecting the helicopter's attitude relative to the horizon.

Just like learning to ride bicycle -- hovering is a manual dexterity is learnee by practising it over and over and over until you master it.  Did you know the average real world helicopter student takes 17-19 hours to learn to hover?

Hovering looks real easy when you watch a helicopter on TV, movies or for real but it's all an unintentional illusion. I can assure you, it is every bit as difficult as is the FS2002 Jet Ranger is (when realism is set one notch below full).

Perhaps you'd like to learn to hover ?  Visit http://members.shaw.ca/hoversafe/Hoversafe.htm. We'd welcome the opportunity to assist you.

Cal

[yourname]

Believe it or not, the old joystick was the problem. I have a brand new Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 now and hovering is no problemo (well... uh...  ;D ) at all anymore.

Happy hovering!

Thanks for te story about students who need a lot more hours to master hovering... Makes me feel a lot better than I really am...  ;)

[fisharno]

I don't fly helos much, but I was told one time that you should imagine yourself balancing on top of a basketball.
You need to keep an eye on the attitude gauge and keep yourself level with small stick and collective inputs. It's hard for me, still, but if use the Virtual Cockpit, you get a better view to what's happening.

Good luck.  ;D

[SilverFox441]

Hovering a chopper is more like balancing a golfball on a broomstick...while standing on a basketball.

[yourname]

I like the 'hat-switch' on the sidewinder stick I have now. Makes it very easy to switch views (8) . Gives some depth-of-view, wich you really need in a chopper....

But force feedback is no good for choppers (very unreal), but is nice for planes. Afterall, 2 good microsoft products (a miracle!) combined.  ;D

And hovering is not t