Flying the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior | DCS World

[@joshburgin4379]

I think one of the most impressive parts of this module is seeing a fully fledged release hit DCS and not another "early access" for years. Massive props to Polychop on what looks to be an A+ release all around

[@rewmeister]

love it

[@71stMastiff]

lol, you do realize early access or not 1st release is always beta. lol just words, there will be patches. Which means early access. In my book.

[@rewmeister]

@71stMastiff it's not EA if they have all of the features implemented that were planned. Products that are not in EA get updates all of the time; getting updates doesn't make software early access. I guess I'm using 2030 AutoCAD early access edition, just packaged as 2025 because those are just words and numbers, why assign meaning to anything...

[@fastfed]

Its BS!!! its not "fully fledged release" I will give anyone 1000 dollars if they want to bet that. Fully released means no more updates, no more fixes right!! Exactly!, yet I bet every update there will be fixes and updates for this thing, and 70 dollars what a joke!

[@ImperatorTheodosius]

​@@fastfed Wrong. Grow up.

[@hybridsimrig]

Your ability to speak to real world pilots and DCS pilots at the same time without knocking either is unmatched. Kiowa purchased and using your vids for learning. Well done mate.

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

My brother was in aviation training @ Naval Air Station Pensacola (he did something stupid and washed out) but talking with him he said the hardest thing for him to do was look outside the cockpit. For a new pilot you're trying to do everything by the book so if it said "climb @ 10° or 5 AOA units" the natural tendency is to focus on the HUD or the instruments and your vision stops at the windshield. That's just a basic example but you can see his point. One of the highest stressed items in training was to look thru the HUD, not at it. You would think it would be a no brainer, but I find myself doing it in DCS. I look down and realize my skids are hitting the perimeter lights. No issue in a sim, but that would be a real pisser in reality. Great video Casmo. You are a natural teacher. Coupled with the real life experience it is doubly valuable.

[@ShotgunDexter]

Good job. Love your instuctionals. I like learning the similarities and differences between real and DCS aircraft. Awesome to have legit pilots involved. Thank you.

[@belgeode]

I get the feeling I am going to have a TON of fun with this bird, and a lot of that is due to these concise tutorials from you. THANK you so much!

[@redtailpilot]

YES! Forget about that 407 we were flying in X-Plane🤣

[@jubuttib]

For sure, these guides have been fantastic. I've barely had to even glance at the manual, and haven't done the training missions at all, yet I've been able to use this choppah very effectively already just based on these vids!

[@rubadubdubb]

I haven't been this excited for dcs since the apache first released. Having a blast flying the kiowa and have been coming back to your videos to get up to speed. Thanks for the awesome content Casmo!

[@davidpodbury8415]

A bunch of us in our group got the Kiowa yesterday and flew around with it all day. What a great and fun aircraft. Thanks again for all your videos and demonstrations! Cheers.

[@paulmartinek1716]

So excited to be able to fly something that I have so adored for so many years, and it is a complete honor to learn how to fly it from someone that trained and flew for me and my guys. Thank you for putting these amazing videos out and thank you for all of your hard work. I look forward to seeing many more videos in the future!

[@3.9L_V8]

Found your channel when looking for resources. It's awesome to know a real Kiowa pilot has such a favorable review of this aircraft, and is helping us virtual pilots learn to fly it. I started on the Huey, got all the Russian whirlybirds only to realize they all worked backwards (CW rotors, right pedal/cyclic aft right at hover, motorcycle throttle) then tried the Apache. I thought the Apache was pretty responsive, but the Kiowa is a go kart! It's a joy to fly, haven't flown around basically doing nothing this much since trying to not die in the Huey!

[@vz6235]

Bought it INSTANTLY lol, can't wait to learn it thank you Casmo

[@HMMR03]

been a huey and A10 guy for my 4 years of playing the game and have been dying to get to fly this thing since they announced it. It was a first day buy for me and GOD was it worth it. Thank you very much for the tutorials, means a lot!

[@TheoreticalApex]

Thank you for all the videos leading up to this! Been awesome to learn from ahead of release.

[@ExactPlanet0]

Man you must be so busy pumping out content for the phantom and now the kiowa! Thank you for everything you do for the DCS community, sir! 🫡

[@CueDriver]

Enjoyed flying it around setting up the controls. It's very stable bird. I fly in VR so was really nice. The only thing I would like to see added. Is the choice to have the optic or the grease pen mark on the windshield. In the rearm and refuel screen instead of ME.

[@agidotexe7167]

been flying around shooting the gun and rockets for the past 2 hours, holycrap this thing feels amazing! its such a nimble easy little thing to nip around and cruise in, even tho its a sim i can see why you loved this little helo! 9/10 stars for Polychops work! also seems like polychop has gotten around the sticky ground friction some how! forward momentum landings feel awesome!

[@redtailpilot]

Wow, so you just confirmed what I was wondering about ground friction when I saw the landing in this video! Let me go buy this thing (even though I can't fly it right now) and stop watching YT videos lol

[@agidotexe7167]

@@redtailpilot yea i did a fast hard landing on purpouse like an hour ago and im not kidding, i slid like 20 feet, it feels great!

[@redtailpilot]

@@agidotexe7167 Nice!

[@darrenwood4654]

This helicopter is great First polychop dcs aircraft Great Reminds me of when I used to work on these back in 1996 Thanks Casmo for all the terrific videos 😃😃

[@joelmulder]

Polychop has previously made the Gazelle module for DCS. Also a fantastic module! (after they fixed it)

[@LTRMCrew]

I love the casual comments Casmo drops "honestly if you fly around like this... you're a weirdo"

[@petrposelt7013]

I can imagine that the alarm saying you are drifting out of hover box might be useful under googles, when hovering in some rather confined place or close to obstacle.

[@Vakarian.]

Thanks a lot for all the videos, it has helped to hopefully get the first flight to go smooth. Can't wait to fly it...

[@heavymetalboi]

A real pro in action, huge inspiration!

[@davthacker]

Downloading it now, thanks casmo because of your videos I'm super excited to fly it! So far I've only flew the Huey and I'm super pumped because thanks to your videos I learned a lot!

[@bobcoughlan929]

Woohoo. Can’t wait to get my hands on this one. This has been the one I’ve had my eye on for a such long time.

[@sloppydog4831]

Mr. Casmo, it flies beautifully. I believe this is the way a helo with stabilization should work: stable, goes wherever you sent it to go. What a great addition to DCS.

[@tomshackell]

Great video, learnt a lot. Somehow I always get the impression (maybe incorrectly) that Casmo liked flying the Kiowa more than flying the Apache IRL 🙂

[@reverseshotgun721]

As a long time DCS Hornet Driver (and former rotor wing mechanic IRL) , rotor wing scares me. With what I've seen of the Kiowa so far, I think it's definitely gonna be my next module and my first helicopter for DCS. Not too complex like the Apache, not too unforgiving like the Huey.

[@ericforster2970]

Can't wait to reach for the Force Trim and turn off the hydraulics by mistake... lol

[@bluejoulez]

Nice to see more Army aircraft being added in. I'm a UH-60 guy myself. What Virpil base are you using and how does it feel compared to a real cyclic? Also what location are you flying around in? Thanks!

[@buzzlite3]

Wait until you get the Rhino! Fabulous for Helicopters.

[@audax333]

Although it's a bit ironic to get a nice GF stick to emulate a floppy cyclic, it just works really well.

[@PoorYurik]

After sim flying helos for 6 months or so with a force feedback stick (VPForce Rhino with a Virpil grip), I could never go back to non-ffb, spring-centered or otherwise. Can't reclmmend ffb enough, especially for people who love flying helos.

[@richardhockey8442]

flown the kiowa a couple of times last night and discovered the airbags :)

[@donno1970]

Just used your controls mapping video and took her for a spin. Very nice, will be a fun little bird to fly.

[@Mak10z]

Nifty. great work Casmo. thanks for the tutorials :)

[@fh4635]

Hi Casmo, thanks for your tutorials. I am able to fly the KW much more precisely then the Apache in DCS. How do they compare IRL in this regard?

[@uttersimba4187]

If you use force trim I recommend going to special settings for the Kiowa and change the force trim to fade in/out, I also recommend turning on rudder force trim

[@travisj2370]

i want this but the rudder controls i have are twist stick so i get a sore wrist pretty quick in choppers and i cant be stuffed buying a expensive set of pedals

[@mrshaggiest]

Dude, i am in love with this thing.

[@Joshua-by4dc]

You are having thoses snaps when using force trim becouse you're trying to do it like in real life where you press the force trim release button and release it where you want the stick to stay, but in real life the ciclic does not have a spring lol, so in the game you have to do the other way around, you have to move your stick where you want it to stay and presse the force trim release button and you have to drag the stick to the center and release the force trim release button, so your virtual stick in your helicopter will stay where you want it to stay meanwhile your real stick will stay in yhe center. If you want a more realistic experience, you have to buy a force feedback stick, the cheaper option is the Microsoft sidewinder force feedback 2, it's a very old stick and you'll have to buy it used, but has more quality than any spring based stick that you can think of, this stick has force feedback so it can precisely simulate the force trim effect in any aircraft that has force trim in DCS, like helicopters in general, flankers, migs, harriers, etc

[@JonBloor7]

P.S The "Fade In/Fade Out" trim setting Polychop included in the Special Options are REALLY nice at getting rid of those Trim Release "Jumps" 👌

[@alexfrench3748]

I didn't really even realise it was out yesterday until I was laying around after work, it gets to 9:30PM and I realise. Managed to get an hour in lmao.

[@charlesc7723]

I did fly the KW and will say for a simulation it felt pretty good. Seemed like and felt like a light helicopter.

[@countvonaltibar236]

superb video, well explained

[@Ghaek17]

15:48 I think I need further explanation on how the trim works. In my case I see the white diamond moving to where the red Diamond is placed when I hit the trim button, but the stick neutral position won't change to the updated trim position, it always goes back to the original neutral position. Do I have to engage something after trimming for it to work? Also, is there any way to trim the rudder pedals/tail rotor? Either manually or through some kind of autopilot? I find It a bit annoying to have to constantly input left pedal so that the torque doesn't ruin the flight. I find it quite different from the Apache, where you just hit the trim button and both the cyclic and the rudder will update their neutral positions to whatever input you were giving at that moment.

[@AIAffiliator88]

After I hit force trim, the white diamond has moved but I still have to hold the stick in a certain way otherwise the red diamond still bounce back to the center. My joystick as a spring that returns to the center. Is that what you were talking about in the video?

[@99AudiMan09]

lets goooo!!!! This will be my second Helicopter purchase in DCS as I only own the Apache. As I'm not as familiar with the Kiowa's capability and I'm only moderately used to the Apache(and its relatively large weapons capacity), where do you see the Kiowa fitting in the best? In regard to how people should best employ it in DCS anyway. Thanks for the videos and down to earth explanations for us simpletons, as always.

[@fastfed]

literally every other helicopter is better than this

[@99AudiMan09]

@@fastfed in terms of DCS, this has to be an improvement over the Huey and Gazelle. Much more modernized with avionics and weapons

[@fastfed]

@@99AudiMan09 haha its not, the Gazelle would run circles around this thing. And at least the Huey has a purpose in DCS, this helo literally has nothing

[@briantoplessbar4685]

You know, based on my knowledge of Honda civics I think the hellfires don’t fly correctly and the engine sounds are off. Also there are no cup holders at all modeled in the cockpit. This is unacceptable. Can you please fix Casmo? Additionally if you have any questions about the Kiowa I am happy to answer. I played janes Apache a few times on my dads computer.

[@kurothas2181]

Release Day :D well almost. Thanks for everything👍

[@CasmoTV]

Early access. You paid for it 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Aetheridon]

thank you for this tutorial series

[@hobgoblingaming9128]

when i try to trim the diamond's do not stay to gather the red Dimond just moves to center with force trim interrupted used

[@jacobtrapp3772]

Yep. I Buy NOW. I love the huey and this looks like huey but better. SO PUMPED.

[@jacobtrapp3772]

Update: Module acquired. It took me 5 minutes without a manual to learn how to arm rockets and guns and go on a patrol test mission I made. It's a great upgrade from the Huey. More modern countermeasures and weapon load outs. Very nice.

[@Marcin79W]

I'd love to see a video where you show a reasonably fast low level flying with how to "sharply" stop in place or do sharp tight turns without gaining or loosing altitude - if that's possible with helicopters - I just started and have no any idea about flying anything rotary. The only game before that was Gunship 2000 and the flight model... Well, there wasn't any there (lol). Please can you do that? Ka50, Kiowa, Apache, Huey.

[@dereklchung]

You make it look so easy!

[@Boomercore84]

Looks like a lot of fun, tempted as all hell.

[@matsadona]

I really love this module and your videos are appreciated. Just got the MOZA AB9 stick and it is awesome. However I try to find a good setting that is as accurate to the real life behavior as possible. How much centre spring force is there in an helicopter cyclic? How much mechanical feedback and vibrations etc do you actually get?

[@saiph0093]

Just saw that it came out, it's 100% a day one purchase for me.

[@coldcoffee89]

I dont know if its my settings, but my force trim is having no effect. It shows on the indicator that the point has moved, but when i release my stick the aircraft still jumps as though nothing has happened. force trim is on, scas is on, have tried cycling both... at a loss.

[@coldcoffee89]

For anyone else with this problem fix it with unchecking force feedback in the misc settings page.

[@mikeck4609]

Looks like a great module. I just learned the Gazelle so not sure I’m up for another scout (although I know this is much more capable). If it had a 20mm cannon, I’d bite. That .50 is just kinda useless in DCS. But I bet it’s a blast getting to fly a simulation of your favorite helo!

[@johnchristian664]

ok, what are your curves? and why do I shoot up off the deck as soon as I slightly touch the collective? what are your special settings for the Kiowa Trim FFB? etc.. thanks.

[@stalhuth]

how can you do force trim with the stick?, it works for me with the pedals and colective but not the stick

[@CasmoTV]

It’s coming

[@stephenhusser5240]

Great videos Casmo. Can you do a video on autorotation? I seem to keep killing forward airspeed as soon as I pull collective.

[@RAPTORACTUAL1234]

This helicopter looks so amazing i wish i could get it right now

[@kasmiller9289]

Thanks Polychop for bringing the OH-58 to life!

[@Gunfreak19]

I have a force feedback stick, so I've gotten so used to having a working force trim. That I can't really fly helos without working forces trim. So its gonna be odd turning off the force trim.

[@cmdrbigity6914]

How does she handle compared to the Apache? (Which I never got the hang of)

[@sargeklint7214]

Me also never got used to the flightmodel of the AH-64. I did like the FM of the Huey and after 30 minutes of flying the Kiowa I fell in love. For me personally best helicopter-fm i experienced in any simulator so far (never flew a helicopter in real life but the simulation 'feels' real)

[@Shiroko0516]

Actually setting force trim to “center” instead of “instant” helps a lot

[@noadc77]

how do i clear a caution? the car door chime is driving me crazy

[@CasmoTV]

Ack (acknowledge)

[@nimitzg]

Can we expect a continuous improvement of the module or polychop will be moving on to the next project?

[@tlwmdbt]

Thanks a lot. Do you like the the free BlackHawk mod by Kinkkujuustovoileipä? I love the flight model it s so smooth. Do you know if the real BH is really flying so smooth? Is it compareable to this module (its a lot of money for me, you know).

[@PiNKMuDSimGaming]

Can't get a simple answer or any answer from a dev or anyone in the Polychop discord so I'll try here. Do you know what the VRS speeds are for the Kiowa? I need the info for; VRS airspeed threshold kts, VRS onset vertical speed fmp, VRS full vertical speed fmp. Thanks for any help. Not asking in relation to flying but settings for a Telemetry App.

[@CasmoTV]

Never heard of “VRS speeds” for any aircraft.

[@PiNKMuDSimGaming]

@@CasmoTV I was referring to at what speeds does the Kiowa enter/experience Vortex Ring State. Cheers anyway m8.

[@redtailpilot]

@@PiNKMuDSimGaming Zero knots/mph ?🤔🤷🏽‍♂😅

[@PiNKMuDSimGaming]

@@redtailpilot I ended up getting an answer from polychop. Roughly speaking; airspeed threshold would be 25kts, onset at -500fpm, full at -2000fpm. Again this is roughly speaking but it should not happen outside of those parameters. FFB feels so good now.

[@redtailpilot]

​@@PiNKMuDSimGaming That's good to know. I'll have to see if I can intentionally induce VRS in the Kiowa now.😂 It was good to hear Casmo's take on it and how it's basically overdone in DCS. With no real-world rotary experience (I'm a fixed wing pilot IRL), I've always wondered how accurate it was modelled in the DCS Huey and in X-Plane's helicopters.

[@hueyfoo]

how easy/difficult is it to perform the hover and landing on this beast?

[@CasmoTV]

She flies well. It’s easy if you know what you’re doing

[@rdhii009]

Casmo thanks for the tutorials always informative! This reminds reminds me of my 206 days haha!! By the way what airport were you shooting at?

[@rdhii009]

Found it Bodo on the Kola map. Thanks again for the great tutorials.....

[@redtailpilot]

OMG, I know everyone want to shoot and blow up shit (me too lol), but I just took this baby for my first flight (in VR)..........OMG flying her around in VR, landing on hangars and building rooftops is a ton of fun! Wow, now I see what all the hype is about. Flying aorund, hoovering and approaching the runway like a fixed wing is just joy! If anyone ever needs a reason (or excuse) to get into VR....THIS IS IT! 😂 Gotta turn it off and go to work now...dang lol

[@mfrochon]

Where are you flying? Kola? which airport, thanks

[@johnja9017]

Hi Casmo, The part about Force Trim didn't work for me until I turned off the "Force Feedback" check box. I found this comment on the DCS Forums. "Cyclic Trim may not function correctly if the ‘Force Feedback’ checkbox in OPTIONS > MISC is not correctly set."

[@CasmoTV]

Yeah DCS made it default. More on that coming

[@71stMastiff]

Thanks! 🎉😊

[@quantivepllc]

Where was all of this back when I was a Kiowa pilot?!!

[@BHDEric]

Goddamn it, it's 0220 in South Korea and this shit is one week earlier than I expected!!! Ahhhhh Kiowa!

[@jimhansen1245]

what is the alarm for that never turns off?

[@TheEaglePilot]

hey casmo, just cause you get mad, if i get a heli platform, the kiowa is going to be it, and im going to fly with the vid/HSI mode

[@alaskanstrat6618]

anyone else not able to get their force trim to work ? Holding that button and moving the stick where i want but the stick doesnt stay .. any ideas ?

[@radekpecka8340]

Check DCS miscellaneus settings - uncheck Force Feedback

[@mastergunner309]

Bob up would probably be best at night when you do t have the outside visual references

[@oates76]

Are there two versions of the landing skids? Is this included in the Polychop model?

[@CasmoTV]

Yes

[@oates76]

@@CasmoTV Thanks for answering. Were they from different eras of the Kiowa or was it dependent on the armament being carried? Thanks for all the vids, looking forward to flying this next week.

[@vigo4ever]

Hey guys, why cant trim the joystick? The rudders trim works fine but i cant get the joystick trim to work. ANy help?

[@rick3461]

Were you call sign "Banshee" "Longknife" or "Sheamus" in Kandahar by any chance? I fucking loved when you guys came on station. Respect from 🇨🇦.

[@naloxone04]

Sorry if I missed elsewhere, are you using any curves or sat on your axis?

[@j.b.8840]

now we are talking :D

[@Solo6R]

My view seems to be much higher, like my seat is a lot higher. I don't see an option to lower seat in the controls though. How did you lower your seat?

[@CasmoTV]

Reset track IR

[@Solo6R]

@@CasmoTV You mean re-center it? I of course have already tried that.

[@drewapple9681]

Wow I bet flying these in real life had to be an awesome job. My dad flew in Viet nam. I went down in a Ranger 206 L model in the Gulf of Mexico working on the oil and gas platforms breaking my back. Yeah it sucked.

[@CasmoTV]

Yikes

[@drewapple9681]

@@CasmoTV that’s what I said. Well it was more like ohhhhhhhh shiiitttttttttt!

[@chrisrh281]

Yo Cas another question for you. I was reading Steam reviews on this module and there was a lot of negative comments. Talking about rolling 90 degrees and it doesn't lose altitude....It's reminiscent of the Gazelle. What's your take on it? Is the flight model accurate?

[@CasmoTV]

The aircraft -10 states the aircraft shall not exceed 30 deg of pitch and 60 deg of bank. Can it? Yes. I’ve done it irl. But… should you? If you fly it the way it’s meant to be flown, it’s fantastic. If you fly it like a UFO it will do things it probably shouldn’t. Does than negate the first part of this paragraph? If you think yes; then no it’s not accurate.

[@chrisrh281]

@@CasmoTV UFO is a good way to put it. Thank you sir, I'll probably end up getting it soon.

[@redtailpilot]

@@CasmoTV "if you fly it like a UFO". hahaha that had me cracking up and I don't know why 🤣

[@FuzzyKedama]

The wait was worth it.

[@Spindrift-m8n]

Make sure, when you are in the hover, to use outside references. You will find it all very difficult if you are chasing the symbols about a little screen……..!

[@randomclipsmilitary9056]

Should i still buy it if i dont have rudder pedals?

[@CasmoTV]

Probably not

[@tanberjan]

​@@CasmoTV Or you could try the Tuuvas method ;)

[@indyjons321]

Literally released as I'm on my way to Rucker...... FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[@dustinholden9682]

Any chance for an auto rotation video sir? Enjoying the videos have been a great teaching tool.

[@dannytak3584]

THKS MAN

[@felixf4613]

Why do helicopters use km while fixed-wings use nautical miles?

[@Crazy-Bear-Gamer-Channel]

I will take this very soon! ❤😊

[@redtailpilot]

Well heck, this thing is gonna cost me more than 70 bucks, because now I have to buy an M4 prop for my mancave. Gonna mount that sucka to the top of my motion rig to enhance the immersion 😂 Congrats Polychop and the entire team... NICE !

[@redtailpilot]

Thanks again Casmo! I honestly wasn't all that interested in this bird until I started watching your pre-release videos and your real world experience with it in combat. That's what sold me!

[@mdu2112]

Hmmm I have a couple of Airsoft M4s...

[@davidbradley3227]

And I’ve got a custom nerf m4 that breaks things hehe

[@86abaile]

Rather than ED's current implementation of force trim functions, I think it'd be far better (for sprung joysticks) to be able to map a button that disconnects physical stick inputs while you move it back to the physical centre. For example: You move your physical stick to a desired position which moves the in game stick. You then press and hold the "disconnect" button, which leaves the virtual stick in place and ignores all inputs from the physical stick, allowing you to move it back to centre and relieve spring tension before releasing the button. After releasing the button, the stick becomes live again and the resumed inputs now act upon the position the virtual stick was held at when the button was initially pressed. With this method, there wouldn't be any large jerks the moment the button is pushed, or players crashing into the ground with a dead stick because they couldn't find the centre. Even if they released the button not quite at centre, the input spike would be small enough that it wouldn't matter. Of course there will be those who'll complain it's not a realistic implementation of force trim, but without force feedback, neither are the other two methods.

[@CasmoTV]

I think that’s what center trim does? I’m not sure. It’s always wonky to me

[@bird.9346]

@@CasmoTV Basically, but it doesn't depend on a button. The stick will not input anything until it hits center again. It avoids the jerky movements, but in certain situations I've noticed it can be quite dangerous

[@86abaile]

@@CasmoTV Centre trim is the one where it waits for you to centre the stick after you release the button (it's the one I use). The problem I've had with it is that the centre target is very small and if you mis the centre, it's very easy to lose control and crash (especially if you're flying low down at speed). My idea would be to have it function similarly but only when the button is held (not released) and releasing the button would instantly reengage the stick inputs and apply whatever deflection you currently have physically to the virtual stick. It's very similar to centre trim, but it avoids having unintended dead stick situations.

[@tobiasvanhuffelen1717]

Hi Casmo, I really like you're video. But still i cant get airborne with the Kiowa, i'm drifting everywhere =(

[@Sven2157]

Straight up! If I can fly this in DCS, can I fly it in real life?

[@redtailpilot]

With proper training, yes. Without, I'm almost certain you'd end up in a fireball! 🤣 (edit: I don't think that's the appropiate emoji LOL). I flew PC simulators for years (decades) before I got my PPL, 25 years ago (fixed wing) and I can assure you, I would have killed myself if I didn't have a competent CFI (Certificated flight instructor) in the Cessna 172 cockpit with me on my first few flights! Rortary wing is magnitudes harder to learn and master. At least, that's what I'm told by every pilot who has. My only real world flights in one has been as a passenger.