Arma 3 Helicopter Agility & Landing Guide - Art of Flight, Episode 12

[@veteran35th]

This is actually the guide that I think 95% of heli pilots need to spend 99% of their time doing. Flying is easy in comparison to landing, bleeding off speed, hovering etc. Yet I bet most of us don't practice it enough because nap-of-the-earth at 200km/hr is cooler. Thank you Dslyecxi.

[@RevPVP]

*Tries to land in Arma 3, the heli hits the ground a bit harder than it should* **ENTIRE HELI BLOWS UP**

[@d.dizzy1]

I breathe on my helis and they blow up. I can fly and escape anything but land? nah. no can do.

[@coppermouth8965]

@@d.dizzy1 same man same...

[@d.dizzy1]

@@coppermouth8965 A day after I posted this comment I managed to land a heli after getting my main and tail rotor blown out.

[@Roebuck325]

@@d.dizzy1 :) NoiCe

[@qwefhj3011]

@@d.dizzy1 landing should not be that big of a problem. Anything goes up will eventually come down... right?

[@jocko8136]

I watch a video or two of your flights and get all motivated and ready to go to war. I load ARMA, jump in a helo and proceed to get pissed off :) You make it look so easy.

[@kittypewpew]

+Chad j These maneuvers are really hard to do on keyboard and mouse, you really need a joystick/throttle/rudder pedals.

[@jocko8136]

+kittypewpew He rarely uses a HOTAS for ARMA. Most of his videos he's using M/KB. ARMA isn't really HOTAS friendly like flight sims and DCS.

[@YoshiroPoh]

+Chad j He only has his pedals.

[@jeremycallahan7773]

Man Dslycxi could play Hole in the Wall with a littlebird

[@1mag1ne23]

Thank you.

[@Qarlo99]

Watching these, and all your flight videos, I'm like a little kid watching a skilled magician--my jaw drops, and I shake my head, knowing that I'll never be able to do the amazing things I'm watching you do.

[@Graknorke]

I will never stop being amazed at those snap stop landings you do. They're mesmerising.

[@allantotti]

Awesome video Dslyecxi. As a real life pilot, I love messing around with the Arma 3 helos, specially the MD500 (little bird). Your tips definitely helped me improve my skills in the game. Thumbs up!

[@foxtrotsierraproductions8626]

As a Real Life Pilot can you tell me are the Arma 3 Heli physics realistic ?

[@yehanmudalige6596]

@@foxtrotsierraproductions8626 same here bro i wanna know as well

[@Nevins1331]

@@yehanmudalige6596 They aren't. To be honest the biggest difference is the lack of slipping/true out of balance flight. There are a lot of aviation terms used in the video that aren't really used as they are understood in the wider aviation community, and the one thing that sticks out the most to me as "wrong" is when rockets are employed and consistently hit the point of aim while they are doing some very dynamic maneuvers. This just isn't how those systems work.

[@rosie8059]

@@foxtrotsierraproductions8626 Arma should definitely not be looked at as a physics/flight simulator. It's a *combat* simulator, first and foremost.

[@wistfulherbz]

I fly sideways all the time, though it's usually after my tail rotors been shot out :P

[@jivadaya6439]

Just wanted to say that after watching this series and putting in several hours of practice in the editor, I am finally starting to get the hang of the hummingbird. These tutorials have been helping/inspiring me a lot and I seem to pick up a little more each time I watch them. Thank you for producing this material and sharing your talent and interests with us :)

[@Nooshy]

Dude helped me master Bleed flairs in 5 days. This dude give such detailed advice. Thats a sub and like from me!

[@arattactician5697]

Such an informative video, thank you! + Bonus points for the soothing voice.

[@dslyecxi]

For those wondering, the Littlebirds in this are from: forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?192279-MELB-Mission-Enhanced-Little-Bird

[@mackereldude6666]

***** How is the flight difference between the vanilla MH-9 Hummingbirds in comparison to the MH-6s from the MELB pack? Are the little birds in MELB more maneuverable like in arma 2 or somewhere in between? One day I hope BI also changes the flight model a bit to give you a chance when your engine goes out and you're falling from the sky to at least use the collective you have left rather than fall like a brick and lose control of the helo.

[@TML340]

***** Haha, I downloaded this awhile ago but literally just tested them out. They're pretty sweet. I was thinking, "Dslyecxi really needs these in ShackTac", and what do you know? Here they are.

[@Mr00Ted]

LeMackerelStudio with the DLC there is a VR scenario specifically for landing with engine failure in arma3. I tried it earlier tonight, practicing how to helicopters. Had to lower collective and use pitch to try control the descent

[@nNicok]

***** Anything about dog-fighting techniques in a armed heli?

[@_Hymmnos_]

***** Did you guys modify the MELB to add in the FLIR cameras or was this an early release from the developers for your usage in this video? I've been flying these since their initial release and waiting for the updated versions which have the mounted FLIR camera.

[@rand0m0mg]

This was so well made, seems so official and awesome! GOOD JOB!

[@dslyecxi]

+rand0m0mg - thanks!

[@MichaelSmethurstdageek]

Awesome video. The shots here help me aspire to stop crashing helicopters and really gain some control and skill.

[@Nikolai-wu8nv]

flying truly is an art. it takes about an hour to learn and years to perfect such as any other art. what hardware are you using? and how well does it compare to mouse and KB?

[@pewpewcachoo3730]

Awesome Flight video... back to VR training till i develop butt sores

[@StephanEilert]

Glad I was doing most of things right, using just intuition and logic. Great video!

[@BigMike0331]

Excellent teaching man. I will be watching more of your videos. Thank you for the details.

[@AFOKHAOS]

I've also learnt something new, never knew about the idea of scissor flares. Seems to be a very effective method of killing speed.

[@ryancroslin7359]

Just have to say this was an amazing well put together video and you have a very peaceful instructor voice. What bindings are your stick are you using for trim control?

[@skynat247]

I hope to be some day as comfortable as you seem in these videos. I do similar maneuvers, but not yet with the same degree of aggression.

[@nicholasdaviner7249]

Your channel is so awesome and informative. You empower your watchers with ingame and real world information. Wow! Keep this stuff up!

[@jfkshfjrbd1174]

This was the first video I have seen from your channel, you do some good guides and also a smoothing voice :O

[@simoneklund3410]

Thanks for the video! Do you play on advanced flight control?

[@georgemavsbs]

absolutely great vid Dslyecxi, keep it up man !

[@TheDespairbear]

Awesome video, totally made me feel like a helicopter n00b. What kind of controller setup do you like? Gampad? Mouse/keyboard? Joystick w/peddles?

[@PilotMan23456]

I'm so excited for the MELB pack. They look so promising at such an early release.

[@MrBrodude3000]

You seem very passionate if the art of flying. I really enjoy your A+ content you've been releasing! Just wondering though if you could fly any aircraft IRL what would you choose? Keep up the great work man!

[@dslyecxi]

stranger Z Already flew it - an OH-6, which is shown in my "Day Two" of Flight ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/sICrZ4hoqdqjhJo ). After that, though? Next step would be something like a modern A/MH-6, or an MD-530 or similar.

[@MaxPowerFilthcrud]

Great video, once again! Can't wait for the next :) I'm greatly interested in a comparative video where you point out the differences between the traditional and the advanced flight model. I experienced them myself while playing but didn't really understood why something happened. Keep up the great work.

[@bergonius]

Those dust clouds during low-level flight are mod or just high video settings? I don't remember seeing it in Arma myself.

[@Norkeys]

bergonius Stock Arma.

[@Lordstephen7813]

Awesome! Thank you so much for these tutorials. Just ordered a Track ir and can't wait to use it

[@mysterria_com]

Maaaaan, your vids are awesome. I'm just learning to fly transport heli in Arma3 and your flying is a sheer miracle for me to see. Could you please be so kind to say what hardware do you use to fly (I have saitek x52) and what key bindings setup do you have? I'm really eager to know how did you achieve that level of camera lookaround while still controlling your heli, I mean from my perspective you seem to have 3 hands or so :)

[@dslyecxi]

I just recently did a video on my current controls, you can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZvaq2inh6mbjJY

[@alexace31190]

4k, that resolution- holy hell, awesome!

[@BlueSkiesVinny]

very well done, I just bought a joystick and am getting into flight in both DCS and arma 3, so these videos will help alot. I also use your Track IR profile, it's very good

[@handleitgaming]

Still a great video. Learned a lot from this video vs others. Best part is that this video applies to other games as well. If you can get the flares and bleeding down in arma you can do it easily in games like Squad.

[@saracenrush2010]

Great video. My helo skills are currently shite, but at least I now have direction and understanding. Cheers!

[@ryanm.191]

A perfect landing in a helicopter is one where the back of the skids touch the ground when your speed hits 0 after a flare that increases in angle overtime, then reducing it. Perfect angles would go from nose down from cruise to nose up to 45*, then reducing to 15-20 (and up to 25)* in touch down

[@ThrottleFox]

Fantastic video Dslyecxi

[@Valkyness]

You say that funnel maneuvers have very little combat employment but I find myself using it a lot in engagements with little AA capabilities. Its especially useful for pinning down or bombarding vehicles and structures when you want to spend maximum time on target. I usually find myself doing it most with immobilized vehicles or infantry.

[@SuperMrminecraftdude]

I only use the ”switchback turn” when deploying troops, you can go in at almost full speed, and when you have landed, youre already facing the right way to quickly accelerate. Deffinately the safest option IMO when youre close to the combat.

[@america8706]

I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this. I wish I could play it on repeat while practicing. I’ve been flying since Arma 2 and I’m still only able to do the straight in and flare landing regularly. I’ve practiced for hundreds of hours but still have problems landing lol. Strange thing is that I can fly like a hawk on steroids though.

[@skynat247]

Dslyecxi, I know you don't like using the AFM instruments, but would you consider enabling them for the 'Art of Flight' videos in the future? It would give us a very insightful peek at the kinds of input you're giving to the collective and cyclic, as well as climb-and-decent rates for those of us interested in how you use those to your advantage. Thanks!

[@xoon1337]

Forester155 But then he uses the standard flight model. I dont know of a way of enabling them in SFM

[@baronburgamot243]

You're a great pilot dude. Really enjoy your helicopter videos. Do you play DCS at all?

[@dslyecxi]

I do - if you search my channel for DCS you'll find some videos.

[@baronburgamot243]

***** I'll do that, cheers

[@darkfhunter7464]

Hey Dslyecxi,I'm confused on how to do the switchback.Do you ascend when you are in the middle of it then descend or just always descend?

[@s3fron]

Well done man, professionally delivered. Like always,

[@stuartmack7658]

Great video. Very informative. I was wondering, do you prefer to fly Arma helos using keyboard/mouse or joystick/throttle setup? As a flight simmer I'm a fan of joystick/throttle of course, but I've also heard some people say keyboard/mouse is easier to control, especially for a game where you may need to quickly switch from flight to infantry movement. Just wondered if there was a general consensus among Arma pilots over what's best.

[@Zman6258]

From experience, it depends on the flight model you use. With the default flight model, I prefer simply using mouse/keyboard (with rudder pedals), while the advanced flight model is more suited to a stick. I believe Dslyecxi's stated that he also flies KB/M with pedals, and TrackIR.

[@MediHusky]

on MP servers helo pilot flares always crack me up, it's either... flies at 50m altitude all the way to LZ, perfect flair, drops collective to -500m and boom or... flies at 2m altitude all the way to LZ, flair and gain 700m altitude, lower collective for 2 minutes into a perfect landing surrounded by gunfire, pilot drops us off for an ok insertion, gets locked and destroyed at 1ft upon takeoff. Also one time I played with a perfect pilot to the point where it took me 3 hours to realise this same pilot was using the same chopper for the duration without having been gunned down or even taking fire. Blowed my mind.

[@SilverSkullGamer]

Awesome video. Thank you so much. This will be my bible as I just got into Arma3 and want to be a hot helo pilot!

[@Nebulorum]

Exceptional work. I was wondering what you use to capture the flying. You have shots inside and outside of the same maneuver.

[@drewskidoo1433]

You should fly on the "advanced" setting and talk to us about the catastrophic effects of settling with power, mast bumping, Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness (LTE), Low RPM, and high torque/power settings. Arma III does a really nice job incorporating these situations in the game, which simulates true/real helicopter flying characteristics.

[@dslyecxi]

I did a video on the Huey in DCS, but I don't find Arma's AFM to be enjoyable to use. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nou8fp59a5iWgLc

[@drewskidoo1433]

Yeah that's true. I find the trim to be incredibly inaccurate, especially in the little birds.

[@TheSuperSouthpaw]

This was extremely informative and very enlightening! Outstanding video Dslyecxi! (Btw, The new MELB looks amazing.)

[@iafscx]

Gread Vid as always! Did you use the "Advanced flight model" in those examples? Thx

[@dslyecxi]

iafscx No - much of it would apply to the AFM, but there are some additional things you'd have to consider as well.

[@32keihin]

iafscx Advanced? What a joke xD.

[@madsv7429]

Great video, but i would love to know when you should go in to a balance flying before landing ( meters ). Thanks!

[@americankid7782]

@Mads V 5 years late but 5-10 meters works for me.

[@IdioanFromWallmart]

I know this video is 8 years old but, how do you do a quick stop with pedals?

[@cptairwolf]

Amazing video man. What server do you play on most? I'd love to fly with you sometime.

[@tensecondproductions7099]

i finally done it i landed a helo great tutorials keep up the great work many thanks

[@HeliRy]

Good series and well explained. You a pilot by chance?

[@VMEcycle6]

3:27 damn! look at dat smoke! ArmA is beautiful.

[@msquared3912]

Amazing flying and video. Do you use sticks or keyboard/mouse? If sticks which ones do you use? Cheers! Scrub that as just read through the previous comments.....ha. Was interested as looking to buy HOTAS for Arma 3. Also just read that it doesn't work so good. Anyone say why?

[@Rolley189]

19:55 Bruh. Life changing advice.

[@alanlawz]

love all of your content, please continue, thank you very much

[@christerjohanzzon]

Excellent video! How do you set recording camera angles like that while flying?

[@Saputra_Chan]

Thank you for the informative video. Very useful

[@granpajestaz292]

As an ok pilot using the skills you show already i give a 👌👍 to this

[@granpajestaz292]

If you want to combat land learn to flare

[@Travis_125]

Love your work! My queston is one that comes from a lot of frustration using the AFM. Are you pulling collective back in as you transition into ground effect? I'm using mouse and keyboard and find the collective response very slow causing me to bounce severaly at times. I'm a noob but damn your landings are silky smooth. I have pretty good control in other areas of flight but when it comes time to land I usually find myself reloading after a crash. Help?

[@dslyecxi]

MrScaryMan This is all the normal flight model. AFM is similar yet different - I haven't been doing videos on it, as ST uses the normal FM for our sessions, and when I want helo simulation, I tend to just play DCS instead.

[@davidamosphotography]

Awesome instructional video mate, good work

[@karmamuscle]

I have two problems flying. Knowing the timing to shift from higher flight state to balanced flight state. I also do it too early or too late. :) And controlling the wobbling just after flaring for landing. I hate it! :D

[@slyderace]

Any chance you could redo some of these while showing your Collective input settings? I'd love to see how you handle the collective while performing these moves. Just as in DCS's "show controls" setup.

[@gumby9840]

This video editing is just the best shit ever. Keep up the great work friend.

[@americankid7782]

I can take off and fly fast but do not expect me to land on a hot LZ or anything smaller than a small field.

[@inlawetruss9458]

You have earned my subscription Iz not easy to get i had to watch 20 of your vids

[@farfar474]

Hi! Great video, lots of help from it. I was wondering if you could make a training map/mission for littlebird landings? I havnt really found any, and i dont know how to make one myself. It would be very helpful :D Also if you know of any could you link them? *****

[@nyx3181]

@Dslyecxi Do you use mouse and keyboard while flying or do you use a joystick (with or without throttle or/and foot pedal)? witch one do you recomend for beginers?

[@mrkiwi6611]

How do you get the cinematic shots??! It looks so cool!

[@jakubszlosarczyk3916]

Is it possible to obtain any documentation that describes procedures of engaging ground targets from air? Manuals and that kind of stuff? If so, what is good place to find it? Especially for choppers that are in common use in arma, like uh 6 and uh 60, and those russian sukablyats?

[@UnconventionalDIYprojects]

Excellent tutorial 👍

[@f.r.a.parmaiii948]

nice videos man! ¿which mod you use to record these scenes in the third person?

[@IsThisRain]

I actually am also wondering. Hopefully someone knows.

[@guardianexe_30]

Hey Dslyecxi do you use mouse and keyboard to fly or the joystick setup

[@kevincaro7184]

Hey. I had this quick question. Do you play with mouse and keyboard or do you use a joystick? if you use Mouse and Keyboard. what controls do you use in the heli?

[@demonhuntermoonwolf244]

You should do a collaboration with Misconduct. Hands down one of the best Helicopter pilots in Arma 3 . Personally have not seen anyone else fly like he does.

[@dslyecxi]

I don't do collaborations outside of ShackTac, and even then, it's extraordinarily rare. As to Misconduct - I'm not familiar with them aside from that they play KOTH in the Pawnee. The Pawnee is *hilariously* maneuverable to the point that you can do things in it that you wouldn't see in other aircraft, which is why it fits so well into crazy KOTH shenanigans. I'm sure they're good at what they do, it just doesn't have relevance to what I play or fly.

[@haz9472]

Actually best video on yt

[@bwmeeks3995]

Good info. Thx. BTW, you sound just like the "How it's Made" Narrator

[@Primaate]

Best content i've seen yet. WD

[@WilliamBrumble]

Great video, thanks for it! What's your FOV set at?

[@dslyecxi]

Default

[@WilliamBrumble]

Thanks, I can only flare in advanced flight mode. Are you using that as well? If yes do you have everything on in the advanced options?

[@tommythevideomaster]

Do you recommend using a joystick? Why or why not?

[@jahnkaufman4781]

Hey Dslyecxi. What is that rifle that a soldier on the front left bench of the mh9 is using ?

[@hitchy98]

Is that the new MELB?!? I've never been so excited...

[@Urlog922]

Damn good video, but I find the most common theme is about the little bird. Can you please do some of these specifically about the chinook and ghost/black hawk (maybe call it bigger helicopters or something). Also is the black hawk In arma 3 already or is that a mod of the ghost hawk?

[@Daishi0861]

Urlog922 Most of the techniques described in this are helicopter-generic capabilities. The degree to which one can do them varies, but the concepts remain the same.

[@dslyecxi]

Urlog922 That's the RHS Blackhawk, which is a port of the OA one. As far as applicability goes - learn how to fly a Littlebird very well and then just slow everything down the larger a helo is. There's nothing significantly different between helicopters aside from their fundamental performance characteristics, techniques apply across them, just increasingly limited as size/sluggishness increases ala the Chinook.

[@gnsilll5076]

Doing a funnel would actually be quite useful if you're piloting a gunship. It lets you keep up sustained fire on the target without having to constantly pass over back and forth. Why didn't you mention it?

[@Nucl3arDude]

Do you feel that the littlebird's massive rotor RPM drop doing any spiral, switchback or scissor landings is realistic in the AFM? I feel it kills the littlebird's ability to even be a useful aircraft, and manoeuvring becomes a slow but painful process.

[@JohnnyDoeDoeDoe]

3:10 "This is a landing flare" Ah if only that was a flare instead of a smoke grenade...

[@Rocknoob49]

John Doe Are you joking? Because if not, you didnt grasp the content of this video^^ "Flare" in that case is the name of the maneuver he performs to bring the helo to a halt.

[@lolzoutload]

Rocknoob49 The joke was that it should have been a flare complementing the maneuver :D

[@Rocknoob49]

Max Williams i see. I just wanted to make sure :P

[@SERGUMUM]

Fantastic video. Thanks.

[@pim1943]

Epic video. Helped me a lot!

[@Memnon-ro4cl]

Its kind of funny because i learned all of these manoneuvers unintenionally :D I have a question though :) the problem i have is that i cant find the right settings to use the full range of my throttle ( i am currently using a hotas x flight )...its just impossible for me to make precise changes so i keep crashing while using the joystick.....so i went back to the "arcade" flightmodel with my mouse and keyboard setup ( with that i am way more precise at flying and shooting) So, do you guys have any solution for that ? And my second question is : Is dsylecxi always flying with a joystick ?

[@Blainorama2]

Great stuff as always! Thx

[@therealbliitz5427]

In the barrier flare, I find that as I nose up, I am limited by the amount I can reduce collective. The "z" key can only be pressed so hard and there are only two options, down or nothing. So when I nose up, I end up gaining about 20-50 metres.....

[@dslyecxi]

You should be reducing your collective prior to that point, as you would in a bleed flare to transition to the balanced state. A barrier flare happening from a balanced state should have minimal altitude gain.

[@SloxcsProductions]

hey Dslyecxi, im wondering what do you use for flying, mouse + keyboard or a flight stick?, when it is a flight stick which and do you have and can you recommend me one for Arma 3?

[@drm857]

I know you like to fly without them, but for tutorial videos it would be very helpful to have the gauges turned on so we can see where your speed and other things are while you're doing things. Thanks for the vids!

[@dslyecxi]

+DrM - Gauges are only a thing in the advanced flight model, which I don't use.

[@Sagnak91]

+Dslyecxi i think the scissor flare might bust your rotor in advanced model

[@Fantasy_____________________]

This is goof stuff. Thanks.

[@jahnkaufman4781]

Hey Dslyecxi. What is that gun that the soldier on the front left bench of tge littlebird is holding ?

[@Alex-kp6gm]

Hey Dslyecxi, how do you record yourself flying like that? Do you just have someone recording you fly, or is it possible to do in the editor? Thanks.

[@dslyecxi]

Miles You can use the unitRecord/playback features to do this, they're from Operation Arrowhead originally.

[@Alex-kp6gm]

***** OK, thanks for the reply. Apreciate it.