Autopilot?

[Shavron117]

This might sound like a stupid question, least it does to me since I am an aircraft mechanic, but do helicopters have autopilots? :-?

[ashaman]

Good question. A good question that deserves an answer I cannot give. Yet...

I've been trying to pilot virtual helos for a while now and ramming my head on various problems said simulated helos have. The adding to my sim config of a pedal controller having had the same effect of light rain on a roof. I've been studying the theory of helos to better understand them and have reached the conclusion that while I've gone out of my way to understand helos, helos have obstinately gone out of their way to remain out of my reach.

So in the end it's either a congenital abhorrence on my side, or FS stinks to heaven while simulating helos. Not that it matters here.

My struggle in trying to understand them, though, has made so that theoretically I understand how helos work and how they should be piloted. Reasoning on my knowledge I can only postulate that for a helo to have an autopilot is possible, but said autopilot is bound not to be very simple nor to be very cheap.

Nothing like the simpler ottos in little fixed wings planes, helos' ottos' MUST be a lot more complex and MUST have a throttle and collective control, while in real Cessnas (or Pipers, or whatevers...) ottos' with autothrottle and automatic control of prop are unknown.

In the end it's all matter of money, I guess. With money you can find the madman that will build an autopilot even for an helo.

[Shavron117]

Oh, I've no problem flying helos in FS, it just takes light inputs and ALOT of patience.  But on long flights, I'd like to just set the autopilot and step away for a minute or two rather than just pause my flight ya know?

[Jakemaster]

In real life, no they don't.  The systems that would be needed to make a heli autopilot are way too complex.  Some have FADEC systems for the engines, but I am pretty sure that an autopilot for a helicopter does not exist.

[ashaman]

If your question was about simulated helos with autopilot, well... I can't really help you there, having left that part of simulated flight behind me for good.

The only thing I can tell you is that I remember having seen a autopilot gauge for helos on SimV itself, and for FS2004, but really don't remember a lot more about it. :-/

Sorry not being able to be of further help beyond telling to try and go browsing about on this very site.

[Conan Edogawa]

In real life, no they don't.  The systems that would be needed to make a heli autopilot are way too complex.  Some have FADEC systems for the engines, but I am pretty sure that an autopilot for a helicopter does not exist.

Well, I've heard of military helis which actually have one. And if not, I think it would be quit possible to create one.

[Shavron117]

Good info.  I was just curious.  I've flown in a few and never recalled seeing one.  Haven't seen on in FS either and was curious.

[jimcooper1]

This might sound like a stupid question, least it does to me since I am an aircraft mechanic, but do helicopters have autopilots? :-?

Some helicopters do indeed have autopilot.

[Conan Edogawa]

Good info.  I was just curious.  I've flown in a few and never recalled seeing one.  Haven't seen on in FS either and was curious.

There are some helis on SimV which actually have an autopilot. I guess the SeaHawk from Sikorsky has one.

That's strange. I'm crazy after planes and helis, but never was in an helicopter (but very often in planes ).

[Conan Edogawa]

This might sound like a stupid question, least it does to me since I am an aircraft mechanic, but do helicopters have autopilots? :-?

Some helicopters do indeed have autopilot.  Next time I'm in an AS350 (Squirrel) I'll take a photo!.  That particular one has a heading hold channel and height hold channel.  However it does not do Vertical Speed nor VOR course holds.


Here are some articles on helicopter autopilots:
http://www.cheltonflightsystems.com/PDFs/Chelton_offersHeliSAS_Autopilot1.pdf
http://www.sagem-ds.com/pdf/en/D426.pdf


Regards

Jim

If you post a photo of it, that would be very nice! Thank you

[Shavron117]

Well, some are equiped with an auto-hover unit, like the Erikson Skycrane, but you pretty much have to be at a stable speed and hover to engage it.

[Nexus]

[quote]In real life, no they don't.

[jimcooper1]

Some helicopter autopilots are even able to hoover...

What about washing and cooking???

[Mees]

Some have, I know the Dauphin has one 8-)