Microsoft Flight Simulator for Helicopter Pilot Training

[mderdem]

Hello Rotorheads,

What is your take for using Microsoft Flight Simulator (2004 or FSX) for helicopter pilot training ? It is hard for me to say how realistic the flight model is. I am not a heli pilot. It might be perfectly realistic but I can't say it. It might also be all unrealistic. I can't say that too. Probably only the pilots who fly a R22 or Bell 206B helicopter in real life could say. Those are the ones available in FS2004 by default.

Do you think FS can be used (seriously) for :

Learning hover skills (e.g. landing from a hover, hovering turns)
Straight-and-level flight
Vertical reference training
Shallow and steep approaches
Autorotations
Take-offs
Engine failure


What do you think it is missing or completely wrong in FS ?

[rotorspin]

totally unrealistic - and nothing like the real thing either in 2004 or X.

there has been a lot of discussion on this in the rotorheads forum, so do a search for more info

I personally am a fan of flight sims, but none of the items you have listed come close to being the physics of flying for real.....

[mderdem]

Thanks Rotorspin. Did you have the chance to compare a specific helicopter ?

I have actually searched the forum and read some of the threads. That is why I have tried to write down a list, because it looks like most discussions are based on very personal opinions and factors like fun and personal liking are involved.

[IanHud]

I agree not realisitc at all (even with a pedals, cyclic and collective controls).

I did find it (FS4) very useful for navigation practice (with VFR scenery). It also really helped me with multitasking during simulated cross country runs i.e. establishing a good routine for scanning outside, instrument scan, DI aignment and navigation.

I also added in radio calls for good measure. Strangely I never got an answer except once when my wife said that my dinner was on the table. I walked away from the controls at 2000' and lived to tell the tale !!!

Ian

[helimutt]

The FS2004 software is used for IR training (FNPT2) at a couple of the UK IR training providers so it can't be that bad!

[nrh]

The best FS2004 can do is the "Advanced 206" Jetranger from Dodosim:

http://www.dodosim.com/enthus.html

Flightsim is fun and good for procedures/nav but feels "dead" compared to the real world....

[rotorspin]

Did you have the chance to compare a specific helicopter ? - mderdem
yep, trained on 22's and 44's and now fly 206's / 350's

neither the 22 or the 206 cut it for me in the sims

real shame, flight sim x was major disappointment for rotor flying

[brett s]

The FS2004 software is used for IR training (FNPT2) at a couple of the UK IR training providers so it can't be that bad!
What they are using is far from stock, it can't be compared to what you get out of the box.

[BaronG]

The FS2004 software is used for IR training (FNPT2) at a couple of the UK IR training providers so it can't be that bad!

Actually yes it can..... I've spent a fair bit of time in these sims and they are entirely useless for learning the mechanical skills required for hovering and the transitionary periods. Once in the cruise, the pedals are far too sensitive and the torque vs pedal relationship is not accurate.

Also, in the 2004 version try an auto - if you lower the collective all the way down, the RPM goes down - raise the collective a bit, and you can maintain the RPM :}

However, once you're in the cloud, and being extremely careful with pedal inputs, the basic sim is OK for teaching procedures and scan.

BG.

[Barshifter]

These guys in the US have gone a step further than flight sims and are using a "Heli-Chair".Sort of a cross between flight-sim and model helicopter flying.They claim it does the trick.Theres a video on the webpage showing a student hovering the R22 after only a couple of minutes flying time in the aircraft.All this after using the "Heli-Chair" first.
Have a look for yourself
http://www.heli-chair.com/

[Johe02]

I found Microsoft Flight Simulator good for VOR tracking training. There is an option to view the radial you are tracking as "boxes in the sky" to help you get an idea of where you should be.
Also found you need to increase the sensitivity of the controls so much to make it realistic in straight and level flight that it makes it impossible to hover.
The "fear" factor that some new students have is also difficult to simulate on a PC! :eek:

[helimutt]

The heli-chair might be useful in some respects but to take it out into a field and fly your model heli seems like a bit of overkill to me. Either cough and learn to fly helis or just use a hand held RC box. Why the extra expense? So you can be comfortable down at your local RC heli meets? :)

[brett s]

Ask yourself what happens in that Heli-chair if you lose control of your model & it's coming at you - no thanks! People forget sometimes that models can kill you...

[KevinLonghurst]

Possibly the best chance of any sim reality is here www.heli-simsation.com

Cheers

Kev
www.WhosGotWhat.co.uk

[KevinLonghurst]

oops...seems that was an older version of the site... www.HeliSimsation.com is the actual one

Cheers

Kev
www.WhosGotWhat.co.uk

[mderdem]

The best FS2004 can do is the "Advanced 206" Jetranger from Dodosim:
http://www.dodosim.com/enthus.html
Flightsim is fun and good for procedures/nav but feels "dead" compared to the real world....
My understanding is that DodoSim has improved the flight dynamics simulation of FS 2004. So when you mean "dead", would that mean, it is also unrealistic (their web site looks like they have made improvements like "Vortex Ring State", "loss of tail rotor effectiveness", etc.)

[nrh]

mderdem

What I meant was that sitting in front of a PC wasn't like the real experience where feel is everything - FS relies only on visual cues :)

The dodosim package is a big leap forward over stock FS - torque yaw modelling is pretty good. I only forked out the forty quid to buy it last week and haven't had the time to explore Vortex Ring, LTE etc. The engine start procedure modelling is very good however.

From what I've seen of non-motion commercial sims, the one at Helitech '05 (not sure who's?) and a Mil-8/17 one in Russia, the dodo gives them a fair run for their money!

Cheers

nrh