DCS: Ka-50 Mastering the Trimmer

In this, my first DCS short Tutorial, I take a shot at helping those who have been struggling to get full control of the trimmer system of this awesome Attack Helicopter.

[@nateweter4012]

Complete game changer. I had about 7 hours in the Hokum but was struggling with it. This thing makes the Hind feel like a clumsy and top heavy flying armored school bus. This thing is like the helicopter equivalent of a nimble ninja assassin. Seriously, helpful. Thank you! So, this is how the aircraft is able to fly sideways, I assume. That is to say, it can fly “forwards” while facing 9 O’clock or 3 O’clock. I saw a demonstration of the real aircraft on YT. It was in Russian but had subtitles. The camera man and commentator where flying in an Mi-8 while the Ka50 kept up with it but was FACING it! Lol. I’ve read that this thing is meant to go out, stay low and kill enemy helicopters, act as recon and cause chaos for the enemy’s forward ground units. Little by little, I’m getting a better understanding of how it does that through your videos Edit/Update: I love this!! I’m a helo ninja assassin! I can use the tree lines and buildings to sneak around and pop out with my 30mm Shipunov. Great fun.

[@djviperx]

Best Kamov tutorial I've found so far! Thank you for this!

[@Chaos8282]

In love with this machine. I didn't have a rotary wing aircraft for years and ended up in the apache for my first one. Bad place to start when I could have got this first. I have been making the trim work but this will make it even better.

[@MILSIM530]

Thanks mate

[@angrypandaification]

Simple and effective. Wonderful video.

[@writerrhino166]

Super helpful, thank you!

[@LordNano]

Very well explained

[@ryansta]

Thank you, going to give it a go 👍

[@FernandoLXIX]

Well explained

[@DanielRieder00]

Great tutorial! I've had a lot of fatigue from holding the trimmer, this helped make that better. :)

[@iamrxh]

nicely explained!!

[@josefwitt9772]

Good tutorial, thanks.

[@Graham183]

Thanks mate......hated the trim on this heli until I watched this tutorial 👍

[@nietsevar9470]

Great video! Especially regarding the flight director.

[@davidelliott8364]

Hi there. What a great vid! I do not yet have the KA50 but am in love with it. As soon as I can find the funds, I'll be applying what I've learned from you today. I've subscribed so I hope to see a lot more of your content. Congrats on a great video. All the very best. Dave

[@TheActualChosenOne]

Thanks for the video, completely changed how the Ka-50 flies with trim.

[@jimmy8x541]

I'm just now starting to learn the Ka50 and totally loving it. I have some experience with helo's in MSFS and the autopilot trimmer on the H145 Airbus helicopter operates pretty much the same way and =)

[@NorthernGrim]

Direct mode is great for low flying through valleys, AP mode is better for operating with the weapon systems, hold trim whilst you manoeuvre then let go when you're facing the way you need to be, if you want to go full evasive, turn off all the AP modes and you become ultra agile and way easy to avoid missiles with the AP turned off.

[@goldnav]

You explain things the best.

[@russm3831]

Brillant, thank you so much. I love your pace and detail of instruction.

[@alheeley]

Thank you - very well explained - Love the KA-50, esp for sniping airfield defences from behind a hill

[@jimmybob1234]

Good video easy to follow along. cheers dude 👍

[@andrewedward5020]

Really nice video. I learned a lot. Keep those coming, I have already subscribed to your channel.

[@--Valek--]

Finally a vid that helped me. Thank you sir

[@musarm]

Thank you for this.

[@DrewDaBear]

Great stuff. Please add more content.

[@bullant3370]

Nice video .. subscribed. What airfield is this?

[@SquawksHead]

Thank you. It's Wujah Al Hajar AB on the Syria Map

[@notsurejr4957]

is flight director still accurate? I trim it and the bars move but it does not hold the position. the nonFD trim works ok.

[@BlueBaron3x7]

It seems the KA-50 there is far more to it than just aiming the aircraft. From a non copter pilot.

[@jc7606]

Would this fix the violent shaking when slowing down and going into a hover? Seems like that happens a lot with me then the helo crashes to the ground

[@SquawksHead]

If shaking, your descent rate is likely too high and / or you are entering a vortex ring state. This is where you are entering the downwash from the rotor. Add strong / decisive collective input and pitch forward. To avoid, try not to pitch up too high when entering a hover and smoothly slow down.

[@vicius9269]

Hi thx you! In your options, do you use pedals trimmer? For the long distance, if you want to change direction, do you reset the trimmer before? I always have trouble with rudders.

[@SquawksHead]

Hi. I personally use the rudder trimmer setting, so that I know when I trim, everything is set at that position. So basically with this on, every time you readjust trim, you need to also make sure you have set your anti-torque (rudder) pedals to where they need to be. Just be careful to recoginse if you have fully expended the rudder, especially if you are not using flight director mode. Remember, as per the video, there are 2 trimmer states. One (with flight director on) where you trim and then quickly return and all inputs (inc rudder - if turned on) to the neutral position and the other (flight director off) where you press the trimmer first and move inputs to where you want before releasing the trimmer.

[@Fershky98]

I have a problem, i do have the trim and trim reset button bound to some buttons on my hotas, but after moving the joystick and clicking it it doesnt stay there, it just go back to 100% neutral i stopped playing dcs for like 7 months, this didnt use to happen before, any ideas?

[@SquawksHead]

Hi Fershky, my advice to you would be to initially 'unbind' the 'reset trimmer switch' because I believe this may be your issue. The 'reset trimmer' switch is rarely used and pressing it could cause a violent reaction from the Ka50 if you are not ready for it. The 'trimmer switch' however is regularly used and how it is used depends on the 'trimmer mode' you have set. In this video I explain the two different trimmer modes for the Ka50. In essence....with flight director off (see vid) you put the stick where you want it then 'click the trimmer switch' once whilst at the same time returning the stick to the neutral position. In the default 'flight director off' mode you PRESS AND HOLD the trimmer switch and keep it held until you've set your heading, pitch and bank angle. Once set, you let go of the trimmer switch and the Ka50 will attempt to keep the setting. The best uses for these are...'flight director on' for close quarter operation / fine tuning the trim. 'Flight director off' for longer cross country flights such as pointing the Helicopter at a lake and flying in a straight line towards it. I explain all in the video and hope this helps you. It really is a stable platform and a joy to fly.