Am I falling for the Flight Director? Apache pilot learns the KA-50

Another video here I apply some lessons learned flying in the Army to DCS helicopters, primarily the KA-50. Left the control indicator on by popular demand. Also played a bit more with the flight director... maybe I'm starting to get it.
Sorry for lack of content lately- just moved to my new place a few states away so its been a long week.
Low Level Hell Discord: / discord

[@qthemerrybandofanons4481]

The autopilot in the KA-50 is simply amazing. It was a huge pain in the ass at first, but once you learn how to use trim and stop fighting it, it becomes amazing.

[@Karza_357]

Well.. i need to learn that. Currently ka-50 feels like a dumpster fire compared to the huey.

[@kasperv967]

Agreed! The KA-50 is such a joy to fly once I learned to kind of "ride" the autopilot and judiciously hold that force trim when the missiles inevitably fly at my face and it's time to dive back behind cover.

[@therocinante3443]

I'm still at the "hate it stage." I've only had a few hours in it though. Sticking to it though, I want to be good at this bird.

[@sahhull]

Ive flown the KA-50 since the starforce DVD release Its still my fave DCS module in 2021. I will not buy the Apache. Im a single seat guy. Still impatiently waiting for the KA-50 III If you are looking down at the trees, you are flying too high.

[@theonefrancis696]

Oh man it's good to see some real choppa pilots play dcs.

[@sahhull]

There's more real pilots than you think

[@theonefrancis696]

@@sahhull Depends on the server too I guess, most people I see just plant their face on the runway.

[@kenhelmers2603]

I flew pipeline inspections with an Vietnam era Huey pilot in a Bell 212. He made great "acrobatic" style moves SO smooth, never a lurch or shudder. I watched his hands and feet - very controlled movements. An artist.

[@cmm3338]

Some chopper pilots are magicians, different level of hand eye coordination, and coordinated movement. Flew with a pilot doing heli skiing ops out of Utah once in a 205, the way he was able to predict inertia somewhat blew my mind.

[@mikesolyom6884]

Keep these videos coming. Good info on DCS helicopter flying isn't as common as it is for fixed wing. So I appreciate the tips presented here (as I'm sure many others do). And I don't care what those Black Hawk drivers say, you're alright in my book Casmo!

[@CasmoTV]

Blackhawk drivers are people too. Bored, but people. Thanks for watching!

[@bertrandbarbe245]

nice stuff ! the problem is to figure out that the ka-50 flies 160knots and weighs 10 tons so it won't stop on a dime once unleached. to stop it really quickly when going fast you have to "handbrake" turn it its rotor system alows quite hard stuff . i love this chopper , its so good without the dampers on.

[@ShuRugal]

I know i'm a year late to this party, but i'll throw in my 2C on FD usage/function. With the 3 autopilot/SAS channels on, and FD off, the flight computer operates in a "commanded attitude" mode. It treats the attitude of the helicopter at last trim release as the target, and actively applies up to 20% of the control authority to get there. To make an anaology with gyros on RC model helicopters, this is like running a gyro in Heading Hold mode, but for pitch and roll as well as heading. FD mode changes from "attitude/heading hold" to "rates hold" - in FD mode, the flight compute only functions to achieve a steady rate of roll/pitch/yaw, not to force them to a selected value. the FD additionally gives you cues on the hud for what the selected value is. One interesting thing to do is to trim it for flight in normal mode, then go to FD mode and start maneuvering. watch the FD cues on the hud whil doing this, and it will show you all the movement the flight computer wants you to be making to get back to your last trimmed flight profile.

[@cyborgbadger1015]

i think this spot on actually, as an rc heli flier myself. I never thought of it in those terms before.

[@maykay.jaykayman9647]

I guess someone who is familiar with WW2 dogfighting (prop aircraft) would be quite good helicopter pilots, as it's all about conserving energy. Also I won't be surprised if coaxial aircraft can do those extreme rudder manuervres, though I'm no Pilot.

[@therocinante3443]

I AM falling for the flight director. Finally after a year of trying to make the KA-50 stable under my control, I've got it under control. Thanks dude.

[@LaggerYT1337]

Awesome video as always, you're becoming one of my primary DCS channels. For helos that is pretty much already the case. I like how you're steering people away from yanking helos around and imply that deliberate movement pays off more than being hectic about things. At least that's the vibe I get. Smooth flying is more fun, too. :)

[@CasmoTV]

Thanks buddy! Hard to know sometimes if what I’m working on is worth anything so every comment is greatly appreciated.

[@LaggerYT1337]

@@CasmoTV Oh, it's working. Keep doing what you're doing. If you ever run out of topics, I'm sure you just need to ask for a flood of questions. :)

[@CasmoTV]

I’m always open to ideas!

[@chucku.farley5093]

@@CasmoTV Mate, it's definitely worth it. Thanks for doing this, you've certainly helped my helo flying in DCS!

[@agostonbazmajer1100]

It's great that you posted this on Hoggit, otherwise I never would have found it. Terrific video and so is the rest of the stuff, very helpful. To be honest, I never really understood helicopters in DCS, I just used the KA-50 in an more intuitive way and it more or less works but it's sloppy and an actual helo pilot would probably get an aneurysm if they saw how I control a helicopter, so these videos are extremely helpful. Also, not sure if you can answer this, but as you may have heard, ED is hinting heavily on the Apache coming soon to DCS. Now, based on Ed Macy's book and a technical manual I skimmed through a while ago, the Apache just seems to be something else entirely. Dozens of MFD pages per system, each with a lot of stuff to change and the manual only listed non tactical, communication and navigation related pages and symbology. I couldn't even imagine how many pages and settings that bird has. Do you think it would be feasible to have it in a sim or is it really simply too complex and it's impossible to develop without dumbing it down significantly?

[@CasmoTV]

Thanks for watching. I think the Apache is doable BUT they gotta get their multiplayer cockpit sorted. That is a two man show for sure. The pages are complex; I’d say along the lines of the A-10. End of the day the Apache is not a single pilot experience without a heavy dose of AI support.

[@CakePrincessCelestia]

@@CasmoTV They clearly should get into working with Heatblur who did the multi cockpit quite well for their Tomcat. That will open up a ton of new possibilities, and they wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel. It's there already. Also, getting an Apache into DCS is very likely and they keep saying it's a "when", not "if". Literally, they already had been working on a block 49 A model in 2007, a few screenshots can be seen here: www.simhq.com/_commentary/all_037e.html That was over a year before Black Shark had been released. Also, around the early access release of the Hornet, Wags said they signed a contract with Boeing that's not just for the Hornet. They'd very much have to redo it anyway to meet current requirements. And, of course, a D model would be cooler anyway, especially since it would add a type of engagement that you can't have in many other helos ;) I can imagine they'd pick you as one of the SMEs then... :)

[@sheeplord4976]

@@CasmoTV they have been quoted in saying that the MI-24 gunner's AI will be more advanced than Jester, and with the addition of high quality Huey multi-crew, it is seeming more and more to me that ED is trying to do the apache right.

[@craigmoran893]

Thanks champ, getting back into the Ka50 and re-learning all its systems (again).

[@macieksoft]

I am using FD all the time during combat, so I am not fighting with autopilot that's trying to hold attitude. FD disengages autopilot but leaves damping active, which is very nice thing. I fly with FD off during cruising, when it is nice to have attitude hold, sometimes during longer cruises i also engage enroute mode. I rarely ever use autohover, but using autohover with FD on makes it a sort of bob up mode (you have kind of bob up display on HUD but you still control the thing manually because FD disengages autopilot). I have never used descend mode, I think it is close to useless.

[@alexsachse]

Great video even after three years. Thanks for posting. After watching what seems to be 100s of videos of how to use the trim on the Shark, I finally figured it out some time ago and it makes it so much easier to fly this machine. I love that it lets you fly an entire flight plan automatically when route mode is engaged. It really frees up time for SA and to manipulate the various systems, which I think was part of the idea behind the creation of this helo as a single seater in real life. I find flight director very useful when navigating flexibly and freely. Also, the adjust the trim in FD mode, I found out that you don't need to hold the trimmer and then releasing it but I can adjust my flight characteristics and then just press the trimmer momentarily. I also like the cues FD gives you on the HUD related to attitude and altitude relative to the last time the helo was trimmed. Very helpful. Overall, I really like flying the Shark although the learning curve is pretty steep compared to learning the basics of fixed-wing aircraft. But I found that flying helos in DCS also lets me enjoy the maps quite a bit more because I actually get to see all the map detail.

[@M0R4NT4R]

Great video! Keep up with the good work. I'm glad you're starting to enjoy FD 😉

[@CasmoTV]

Enjoy is a strong word lol. I see where it has value but I also have some issues with in in certain flight regimes.

[@M0R4NT4R]

@@CasmoTV Of course. It has only a specific role. I use it about 10% of the time. Maybe even 5%.

[@CasmoTV]

Well that makes me feel better about clicking my trimmer.

[@M0R4NT4R]

@@CasmoTV I'm clicking trimmer A LOT while in FD mode 🙂

[@colinboyd9121]

Great stuff. Trying to do these horizontal low level stops without ballooning, if I go too quick in the KA50 I sometimes think I get into something like VRS where I'm flying into my own downwash. It's not exactly VRS but it is a feeling of uncontrollability. IMHO definitely the most important skill for taking up a battle position in my experience. You've got to be able to do it unconsciously in the KA50 while thinking about spatial awareness, threats, navigation etc etc.

[@CasmoTV]

Yep. Gotta stay ahead of the aircraft, start slowing down early and take your time.

[@benbenbeartrax]

Sounds like you are experiencing "retreating blade stall" at high speeds, it is one of the peculiarities of helicopter aerodynamics and a section in the manuals and Chuck's guides.

[@CasmoTV]

Yeah the KA-50 will give you an audio warning prior to exceeding what it calculates as your VNe (Velocity Never to Exceed) which is proof to RBS. I actually need to read up on how blade stall works in a coaxial rotor system... seems it would cause blade meshing.

[@CakePrincessCelestia]

It's rather easy in the Ka-50 though. And somehow, when Casmo did that, I heard Lester Cambre say "kwik stahp" in my head :D It's wise to practice that, nice and smooth - it's one of the vital phases of an autorotation.

[@Power5]

@@CasmoTV yes high speed and high collective will allow your rotors to meet up and have a heart to heart moment that should end with you having a heart to heart moment with your rocket seat.

[@fabry55]

This channel is becoming a favourite for me too...I'd love to know your imput on the Gazelle that brings so much controversy for his flight model. Thanks!

[@CasmoTV]

So I don’t have the Gaz. Can’t say I’ve flown it. But my buddy barundus has it and says once you mess around with the FFF in the joystick settings it feels much better than people say. Maybe have a play with that. One of these maybe I’ll get it...

[@Wolfhound_81]

If you like to discuss about this in some more detail, join the Low Level Hell Discord linked in the Video description and PM Wolfhound | RotorScout. :)

[@sahhull]

It's janky AF. Polychop agreed its not right too

[@RustyRacingUK]

Great Vid thanks, think I might try using the flight director myself!

[@hmleao]

great video as always. thanks for the tips

[@simisg2121]

I never flew with the FD.. Always turned that off..

[@felippejonsson6078]

Really nice! Got the Black Shark for dcs.

[@HCRCMFlying]

The firebirds thumbnail I chuckled haha.

[@jaromirandel543]

I suggest to turn on the FD mode. Or when you will not press and hold the trim button, you will fight with AP.

[@brunotvrs]

One of the videos that made me try the FD and one of the youtubers that made be stop fighting the AP lol. Thanks! I was wondering about how one would actually fly this thing IRL. I've seen the ka-52 video from Ukraine and it goes fast and does strafing runs with rockets and the autocannon, but it's mainly fighting infantry (and gets shot down by a manpad). What I mean is: you say "keep your altitude low and your speed high", but how am I supposed to manage the systems (optical, laser, aiming) while doing that? The only alternative is to hover and pop up behind trees/hills? And how does one defend itself from other aircraft? I've been trying to fly it on multiplayer and just get randomly exploded without warning after a 100km flight by some random dude in a jet?

[@RadoslavMalinov]

The Best DCS Channel. 👍

[@sheeplord4976]

High rudder input James Bond nonsense seems surprisingly fitting for such a helicopter. Seems like the perfect helicopter for some evil villain to confront a hero in.

[@bigcat514]

"You do You" wisdom

[@TomReidarGrndahl]

I guess the buttons & settings in cockpit is harder to learn in KA-50 than flying it. LOL

[@CasmoTV]

Flying is easy. Systems are always the killer

[@user-ii2jo4nh4j]

I fell for the Речевой Информатор

[@butterfliege885]

how the ever livving hell can you fly it its so hard to fly it just keeps turning into the wrong direction and away from my targets.

[@CasmoTV]

The flight director will follow your flight plan so if that’s not pointing at your target if turn it off.

[@zaelu]

for 10:00 ish kzbin.info/www/bejne/al7EpYaXa6aKatE min 2:18 there and it looks loaded.

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

​@CasmoTV >>> 👍👍