Flight Simulator X: Flying Helicoptors

Flying helicoptors in FSX can be a fun experience. There are a few things a helicoptor pilot should know to be sucessful.

Unlike fixed-wing aircraft, helicoptors will not hold a constant altitude, speed, and heading automatically. It requires constant user attention to the controls. It also has the ability to hover, spin on its axis, and fly sideways. Another advantage is that it is a VERTOL (VERtical TakeOff and Landing) aircraft, meaning that it doesn’t require a long runway like a fixed-wing aircraft.

Using Your Joystick:
If you have a good joystick, this can make all the difference. I personally use a Saitek Aviator 1. This controller allows me to make both fine and coarse adjustments to pitch, roll, and yaw.
The throttle of the joystick is the collective control stick, meaning that it controls both engine power and blade pitch. Pushing the throttle forward makes the helicoptor climb, while pulling back will cause the helicoptor to descend. Always keep one hand on the throttle during any manuevers, as you may need to add or reduce power quickly to avoid crashing or drifting in midair. You can usually let the helicoptor run at full power during level flight, making adjustments to pitch to maintain altitude.

Quirks and Peculiarities:
Helicoptors in FSX are touchy things. They will respond to the lightest touch of your controller, and so using a gentle touch is advised. The wind will affect hovering and low speed manuvering greatly. If you have to hover for long periods of time, point your nose into the wind. This allows you to maintain control while holding your position over the ground. Also, if your pitch the nose up too far at too low a speed, this will cause the helicopter to spin violently until the nose is pointing below the horizon.

Landing the Helicopter:
Landing is difficult in Flight Simulator. It requires you to maintain five axis of flight; Pitch, roll, yaw, airspeed, and the rate of descent. The first four should be flat zero, with everything level and your airspeed at 1 or 2 knots. The rate of descent is more tricky to master. You should be sinking about 250 feet per minute towards you landing pad, slowing to almost zero about 3 feet over the ground. You should be in a perfect hover here, and slowly reduce power until your skids (or wheels, depending on the chopper) gently touch the ground.
The approach for landing is a little easier. As you approach the pad, reduce power to idle and pitch the nose about 10 degrees up. This attitude bleeds off airspeed quickly without increasing altitude. When your airspeed is about 15-20 knots, you can pitch the nose down and line up on the pad.

Some Good Sims to Try:
I’m going to deviate a little here and suggest a few great add-ons for you download.
ALPHASIM’s AH-1 SuperCobra
The other ones, I can’t remember the author’s name, only the aircraft type and paint-scheme.
-CH-47 (RAF ZA-705)
-Sikorsky HH-3 (Austrian SAR)
-UH-1 Huey (pack of 7-8 different schemes)
-Piasecki H-21 “Flying Banana” (comes with several schemes as well).

I accept no responsibility for malware or anything else downloaded to your computer. These sims gave me hours of problem-free enjoyment! Hope you learned something!