Low and Slow, with a Difference

[Wing_Z]

I never got to grips with the Alpha Merlin, it flew like a wallowing pig, and was Big.
So for 5 years it languished in the standby hangar, untouched.
The other day I was fiddling with a helo autopilot install, and thought "Why not try adding it to the Westland?"

It totally transforms this big bird; while I was at it I included a hover gauge, and you fly it like an airliner, all autopilot and slow manoeuvres.
The model came with a brilliant TCAS radar, in my opinion better than Marciano's because you can read it!

Of course it crosses country at the same pace as a little Cessna, so it's ideal for sightseeing.
I took it across Italy, from Rimini LIPR in the East, over to Genoa.
A real alternative to small GA flying, I have a shedload full of old 'copters to convert...

 

[racartron]

Share, share!!! Please, please!!!

 

[SgtT]

Here, here, would you mind sharing?

T.

 

[Wing_Z]

Me and my Big Mouth

I'll dig a bit deeper for the hover gauge, but the autopilot package that finally made sense to me is at AVSIM:

Category: Flight Simulator 2004 - Helicopters
Easy Helicopter Autopilot

File Description:
This package will allow you to add an autopilot to nearly any FS2k4 helicopter. It is very easy to do but please read the instructions. The gauge was originally created by Antti Pankkonen. It has been extensively tested in FS2k4, but should work in 2k2 also (Not tested, however it was originally written for 2k2)

Filename:	easy_hap.zip
License:	Freeware, limited distribution
Added:	22nd November 2003
Downloads:	7559
Author:	Martin Benson
Size:	143kb

EDIT: The hover gauge I installed is by Arne Bartels, but I don't see it anywhere.
However it is included in other helicopter packages for example Jordan Moore's Blackhawk update at Hovercontrol.
I think I ripped it from there.

 

[phantomx1]

Bless you ***** for pointing to the autopilot, I fly helos less because of hand gets tired trying to hold forward flight while trying to cover some miles. Would be nice if helos could have simple trim controls on them.

What benefit does the hover guage bring? Does it allow you to hover hands off or just make hovering less tedious?


edit: Why in the world when I type your username it turns to astericks puzzles me! W-i-n-g-Z

 

[AndyG43]

edit: Why in the world when I type your username it turns to astericks puzzles me! W-i-n-g-Z

Yes, I wondered that as well.

 

[Tako_Kichi]

I fly helos less because of hand gets tired trying to hold forward flight while trying to cover some miles. Would be nice if helos could have simple trim controls on them.

There is a helicopter trim gauge that has been around for a few years. I put it on all my helos and it works great in FSX even though it was made for FS2004. It works just like a trim in a fixed wing aircraft and allows you to maintain forward speed without having to keep the stick pushed forward. Search the AVSIM or Flight Sim libraries for 'helitrim' or 'heli trim' and you should find it.

 

[phantomx1]

Alright! Thanks Larry! That would be very useful. I will search for it.


edit: Found it Larry ----- helitrim[dot]zip over at Flitesim. Thanks!

 

[Wing_Z]

...What benefit does the hover guage bring? Does it allow you to hover hands off or just make hovering less tedious?
edit: Why in the world when I type your username it turns to astericks puzzles me! W-i-n-g-Z

The hover gauge in question kind of damps oscillations in the hover, you still have to hand fly to some degree. There are others which take over completely, Rob Barendregt did a few.
But I have just found HC075DI_AFCP_UPDATE.zip which appears to update the autopilot mentioned above, with a hover function.
I assume the install works as described above, will report back if not.

As to WingZ ...it was classed a swearword by the forum software long ago, I am told, because of a pirate site.
So there is an underscore between the g and the Z!

Larry: thanks for the pointer to the trim gauge, I've long wanted something like that, didn't think it possible.
But, all things are possible...

 

[Tako_Kichi]

Larry: thanks for the pointer to the trim gauge, I've long wanted something like that, didn't think it possible.

No problem, glad to point people in the right direction. Don't forget to back off the trim when you want to land otherwise you will need a lot of back stick to maintain a hover!

 

[Navtech]

Resetting the clock

There is a helicopter trim gauge that has been around for a few years. I put it on all my helos and it works great in FSX even though it was made for FS2004. It works just like a trim in a fixed wing aircraft and allows you to maintain forward speed without having to keep the stick pushed forward. Search the AVSIM or Flight Sim libraries for 'helitrim' or 'heli trim' and you should find it.

Methink it's the exact contrary

Alright! Thanks Larry! That would be very useful. I will search for it.


edit: Found it Larry ----- helitrim[dot]zip over at Flitesim. Thanks!

and it's not in the flightsim library but instead in the Avsim library

Helicopter Trim Gauge

File Description:
This gauge allows trimming of any helicopter in FSX in the same way fixed wing aircraft are trimmed, using the same keystrokes or axis assignment (the latter for elevator only). It also adds a little 2D panel to show current trims positions and allows separate configuration for different rotocraft. It is designed for FSX and is totally incompatible with previous versions of Flight Simulator.

Filename:	helitrim.zip
License:	Freeware, limited distribution
Added:	25th September 2008
Downloads:	2870
Author:	Mike Krawczyk
Size:	84kb

Work certainly fine in FSX ...
So ... how this can work in FS2004 ?

 

[Tako_Kichi]

Hmmm I could have sworn it was a FS2004 gauge. I guess I was confuzzled! :isadizzy:

EDIT: Looks like this one may be the FS2002/4 version.
http://www.flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=66701

 

[phantomx1]

The helitrim I downloaded from Flightsim, says it is by, Mathias Elsaesser. Also says it is for FS2002. Maybe that's why I couldn't get it to work, maybe!

I'll download the one from Avsim and try it out.

No! wait! the one by Mike Krawczyk states his is for FSX and is totally incompatible with precious versions of FS, yet it has the exact same zip file name.

The one I got for for FS2002 did indeed come from Flightsim but I think I may not have pasted the info in the panel cfg correctly for it. Tired now will work with it after resting and if I get it ironed out I'll post what I did to get it to work.

Cheerio!

 

[Wing_Z]

Time for a Screenshot

I downloaded helitrim.zip from flightsim.com - it is the one by Mathias Elsaesser for FS2002.
I added it as a window into my Bell 206 (the least fussy helicopter in the fleet) which doesn't have too many mods, other than a 2D HUD.

Bingo!
Note the v/s indicator, flying hands off!
Very nice, and thanks, shows there is always something to learn in this hobby.

As to the autopilot, Dirk Fassbender shows a more advanced one in a readme I have, but the accompanying gauges don't produce the required result.
I'll keep looking...

 

[Navtech]

Hmmm I could have sworn it was a FS2004 gauge. I guess I was confuzzled! :isadizzy:

EDIT: Looks like this one may be the FS2002/4 version.
http://www.flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=66701

Thank you
That is weird as I made a general research in Fligtsim with helitrim and helitrim.zip and no result showed

 

[phantomx1]

Thank you
That is weird as I made a general research in Fligtsim with helitrim and helitrim.zip and no result showed

I just checked Navtech and if you put in a search for - FS2002 Helicopter Pitch Trim Gauge - it will take you directly to helitrim (dot) zip

or if you find that doesn't take you to it, do a search for the author's name - Mathias Elsaesser - and it will bring you up with one page full of his works.

 

[phantomx1]

No wonder I couldn't get the helitrim guage to work, I had forgot to put the guage in the FS9\guage, main folder!

This Helitrim really takes a load off of the cyclic and makes flying helos much more enjoyable while in cruise and also fine tunes the cyclic when in hover. Like it very much!

Not to confuse the helitrim with the autopilot download, the auto pilot also opens up another spectrum of enjoyment, especially flying cross country. With this autopilot once you get it turned on and set your altitude,heading and speed, it is fun to, if you have a walk around function like active camera, to move to the back seat while your pilot keeps her on the cross country coarse.

I have the AP installed on a Bell Huey UH-1H, the one with the side guns. You can cruise over flat terrain fields or jungles or glades traveling at 40-50 knots at 80 ft above the terrain, while you are sitting back at the gun with that big side door open looking for the bad guys or some venison while your trustful pilot keeps her moving right along on an even keel in surveil mode.

Very glad ya'll pointed out these two add ons. Both have opened up and increased the enjoyment of helo flying. Thanks very much! And a big thanks to the authors of these add ons!