SurClaro Flight Simulator Resources

Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2002 5:24 pm Post subject: How do you fly the Bell

Can someone please tell me how you fly the bell. Im really stuck on it!

Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2002 4:34 pm Post subject:

please tell me someone Crying or Very sad

Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2002 3:17 pm Post subject: The Bell

I'm not too good at the Bell myself, but I'll bet you have a problem something like this... You punch the throttle to take off, but all that happens is you go forward or backwards... not up!

Increase yuor throttle gently, just enough to get off the grouind. As you lift off, increase it more, gently. You then will gain altitude. when you get to where you want to be in alt, then do full throttle and foward stick.

The rest is banking and twist of the stick which can be a pain in learning!

I've been on line with a guy I met here. We've flown on line together many times. Between us we've helped each other out a lot in learning stuff! he's in Texas, I'm in Oregon. We're trying to get a few guys together to learn from each other. We do the msn messenger thing too in oreder to talk quickly with each other before we fly, etc. If interested PM me. Maybe with 3 brains we can help each other out a lot. Smile

Hey there,

I find that the best way to handle helicopters in flight simulator is to take off the autorudder and use it manually either using your joystick (if has such a feature available) or using the Num-Lock OFF rudder controls (0 and ENTER, number 5 to centre it).

As you turn up the collective (the trottle in a helicopter) to the point of lift off, the engine and main (lift) rotors generate a substantial amount of torque. The result is that the helicopter will swing to one side (in the direction of engine/rotor rotation) if you do not correct for it. The stronger you engage the collective in single movement (slamming on the throttle) the more severe the torque, and the faster you'll lose control of the helicopter if your not very careful.

I usually increase throttle very slowly and when I know I'm at the point of takeoff, I apply some left rudder (the yaw rotor at the rear of the helicopter) to keep the chopper in line. I smoothly increase the throttle to keep me heading up ward while closely handling the rudder controls to keep everything straight, until I get to my main flight altitude. I tend to keep the nose pitch level for the first 10 to 15 feet then pitch forward and while handling the rudder to turn in the direction I want to go.

I hope some of this helps, if you need more suggestions just let me know - also, tell me if you have the autorudder selected, because I find that while takeoffs are not a problem with it engaged, landing is a *beep*!

Kyred

Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2002 10:58 pm Post subject: Bell Helicopter

Hey again,

I just left you a message above here, talking about the rudder/torque, etc. After posting my message I went back into flight sim and tried to fly the Bell Helicopter.

With all realism settings set to "ON" (Torque, General, P-Factor, etc.) I find that it is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to fly (unless others have mastered it - I certainly can't. The rudder controls are so half assed (well, the button method is) that it is extremely difficult to centre the helicopter...it sways ridiculously even when the smallest amounts of throttle are given, in zero wind conditions, and it's more aggravating than fun to fly.

I fly the full realism settings for planes without problems - but the helicopters are pure evil (I've got some Huey's, a Hughes, etc.)

Try turning off all the realism settings (except crash detection perhaps) and fly it again using manual rudders....with practice it becomes more fun to fly and is a lot more stable to work with.
Landings take time to master too....practice controlled descents when you're up high in the air....

One more personal beef - the views from the helicopters. First, the control panel - they take up more than half of the screen (though you could edit it and make it smaller) I think you can press 'W' to get a full screen/with instrument layout....

Helicopter flying is heavily dependent on being able to see in front of you, to the sides of you and immediatedly below you (that's why most have clear plexiglass below your feet) and the single screen, two dimensional format of the flight simulator makes it extremely difficult to get all the visual information you need to make good landings.

I'd be amazed if someone could fly and land one of these simulator helicopters on Instruments alone in zero visibility conditions (especially in the vicinity of buildings and trees!)

Well, enough of my ranting, hope you have better luck with the Bell (remember the settings!)

Kyred

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2002 9:36 pm Post subject:

Thanks alot for your replys, I can can now fly the thing! Very Happy

and ive PMed about the flying Smile

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2002 10:30 am Post subject:

Hi
I find turning the sensitivities way up and reducing the tourge factor helps alot.
Regarding landings; When useing a normal runway I fly the approach prety much as usual comming to a hover before touching down.

I almost always aproach helipads i Spot plane view useing ctrl-x to show airsped and altitude. That way you can make some very nice landings atop buildings , ships and oilrigs. PUS you get to enjoy the beautiful paintjobs on some of those choppers
Regeards
The Swan