Helichoppers 101 - Instructor Pilot Flies in MSFS - Lesson 1: The Basics

Today we begin a multi-part series on the basics of helicopter flight. We're in the Bell 407 which I've never flown in real life, but is very similar to most other helicopters.
We will start out simple and eventually use advanced features from MSFS to show how air flows through the rotor system! What a time to be alive! It's normally very difficult to conceptualize helicopter aerodynamics without the aid of 3D models showing exactly what is happening in real time. Enjoy!
00:00 - Intro
01:13 - Flight Control Basics
05:12 - Instrument Display
07:02 - Nav Stack
07:37 - Overhead Panel
08:53 - Main Rotor and Tail Rotor
12:24 - Hover IGE vs OGE
14:43 - Torque effect
15:08 - Translating Tendency
17:00 - Take off to Directional Flight
20:34 - Control Touch Exercise

[@kennethmartinson5317]

Great video I was a 50 year Aircraft Mechanic and commercial pilot started in army aviation1964. Keep it up thanks

[@SnakPakFlight]

Wow Kenneth! Great to hear from you. Thanks for paving the way!

[@wyntje83]

this has to be the best series on helicopter flying I've seen. absolutely ridiculous that this didn't pop up 4 weeks again when I start learning about helis.

[@SnakPakFlight]

Thanks for the kind words. I have lots of videos up and more on the way!

[@samsuh]

you should do a series researching of all the flight controls out there. it'll incentivize the manufacturers to send you ones for review.

[@SnakPakFlight]

I'm currently weighing options, lol. Thanks Sam!

[@stuguy2]

Snak Pak , if you like it (fully tested and bla bla bullshit ) I will purchase it! I have the same pedals as you. Sorry, I stopped using less than ok flight sticks many a moon ago.

[@HeroOfTheDay16]

As a kid i always wanted to be a military pilot when i got older, i did 3y of AFJROTC, SLS at WPAFB and planned on making it my career to be denied at 18 for astmha. Needless to say watching you talk about your passion of helicopters makes me super happy to hear how well they trained you and how much enjoyment you get in your job in the army 😀 i live vicariously through you as i begin my journey into the world of civil aviation instead. Love the vids keep em coming 😁

[@vaudevillian7]

Similar story here but in the UK

[@TheoreticalApex]

Subscribed for this series! I have about 36 hours of fixed wing time in real life but my passion is helicopters. Unfortunately my wallet doesn’t allow me to pursue helicopters in real life just yet so I’m building a sim rig for DCS/MSFS2020 to start learning helicopters as much as I can at home before pursuing real life training. I will be watching and learning from this series!!! Thanks for making these videos!!

[@elusivemite]

Great video. Well explained. Watched a few recently while getting back into heli Sims after a few decades and helped a lot. Look forward to watching the rest over the week.

[@ryanw1433]

I commented on your flight controls, but it wasn’t criticism! I was impressed with what you can do with entry level controls vs the rest of us blaming the controls for our lack of skill :)

[@SnakPakFlight]

Thanks Ryan. It's not easy using this GARBAGE from 2010!

[@kylekranz38]

What controls do you recommend that aren't prehistoric?

[@TheoreticalApex]

@@SnakPakFlight the Pro Flight Trainer Puma X2 seems to be an excellent product!

[@ryanw1433]

@@kylekranz38 I treated myself to virpil during the pandemic. The downside with their controls is the amount of programming and fiddling you have to do - I spend more time monkeying around than in the sim.

[@HeliSimmer]

It's very nice to see more folks making content for helicopters. Thanks for doing this!

[@AVVideo247]

Thank you this is the best tutorial I’ve seen so far on helicopters in the sim.

[@konturgestalter]

Best series in a long time! please make more of this! so good

[@amberthesalamander]

Love these videos. Learned so much that I didn’t know about helis. I definitely wanna see more

[@samthomas3883]

Dude thank you so much! So easy to digest and understand! Wanting to be a pilot, I hope my trainers are like you! Great work

[@SnakPakFlight]

It's the best job in the world! Keep at it.

[@jakesvrfightclubnetwork3718]

Great video, I love practicing the pedal turns and sliding right.

[@pabloescobar7802]

Spent 10 years as 11B .. caught many rides on the Blackhawk and CH47 .. it was the best feeling seeing you guys coming to pick us up .. we always knew no matter how far out we were we could count on dedicated skilled pilots like yourself to risk their lives to help others .. what you pilots do isn’t unnoticed and never goes unappreciated.. thank you for your service..

[@SnakPakFlight]

Thank YOU Pablo. Love me some 11 bang bangs.

[@skylerrockey5656]

I second this comment, I am currently a recruiter and a huge talking point with today's youth is video games. I share your videos with them consistently. Lastly, I agree with pablo above, pilots have more street cred than most think!

[@jakeshumaker2489]

I'm getting my CFI/CFII rotor in the next year and I think I'm going to use this whole video as a script.... excellent description of everything and very basic. good job!

[@SnakPakFlight]

Very kind. This is just episode 1. Much more coming.

[@skinnyTheCat]

Seriously Good video & great explanation! Thanks man!

[@supergeorge2752]

This is one of the best explanation of heli basics. thank you for posting these videos. I've piloted many helis, but never from the inside. lol... RC helis only. Subscribed, thank you

[@LFD-zb8to]

Fantastic video. Thanks for helping out us flight Sim enthusiasts. When learning to fly fixed wing in the Sim everything is about power, attitude and trim. The confusing part about helis is the relationship between collective, throttle and governor.......perhaps you could give a basic overview of that. I subscribed and look forward to more vids....

[@SnakPakFlight]

Great idea! I realized that I didn't go too in depth on this topic in this video. It usually takes a couple flights for my students to master this but it's pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Great suggestion. Definitely coming in one of the next videos.

[@eflaaten]

Very clearly and well explained!

[@copper_115]

Super helpful vid. I’ve loved Army aviation from my first NOE ride in a UH-1. Hoping to get a good Chinook to fly in the simulator at some point. All the best to you!

[@jonathangalloway6796]

Any ideas how or if you can download military helicopters, I understand snakpak is using a PC and its easy to download a zip file etc..but I'm using an xbox s with the Thrustmaster Hotas One flight controls. The x2 helicopters on MSFS are great but as you say something like a Chinook or MH6/AH6 little bird would also be the dogs nads!! Cheers 🍻

[@gatoindio2000]

this series is SOOO good man.. I need more fr

[@budddyboy100]

Great and informative video! I just ordered a separate throttle quadrant so I could try out some of these new helicopters! Looking forward to building my sim skills!

[@SnakPakFlight]

Hell yeah buddy! Have fun!

[@gtamediaproductions1]

Man, I cannot believe how good this is! Thank you! ✌🏻

[@SnakPakFlight]

Haha, thanks dude! I need to get back into making videos like this.

[@Pboy7272]

Loving these videos. Longtime sim pilot and helicopter lover. While in the army, was lucky enough to have a ride in a UH-1 and the pilots were "discussing" who was faster at the exercise you demonstrated at 20:45 🤣

[@molliesfmfurry2284]

Glad I found you channel, first time flying helos. Great training!!!!😀👍🇺🇸

[@artavenuebln]

Great video. Lovely shoes. VERY interesting explanation of the concepts.

[@ragingsamster]

Such a great primer on helicopters - thanks for sharing your experience and talent (subscribed)

[@SnakPakFlight]

Thanks for the sub!

[@HowiesAdventures]

This was great thank you!

[@rinzler9775]

Fantastic episode. I'm also glad you used the correct scientific term for the instruments and controls - which is "dials and gizmos".

[@rackum44]

I will definitely be watching this series cuz I have no clue about helicopters Thanks for the videos

[@chrisxetal]

Very good tutorials. Thanks a lot.

[@angrypandaification]

Snak, love the videos man. Keep up the great work.

[@SnakPakFlight]

Appreciate it!

[@valeriik9135]

Thanks for the extra camera. Cool video!

[@MAXFLYING7]

PPL A/H from Munich, Germany here, I just found your channel and subscribed immediately after I saw your DCS Blackhawk landing video! In my opinion the MSFS models still don't simulate the physics (aerodynamics) as good as DCS does, but let's see what the future will hold! You seem to be a cool and chill guy who can explain very well and effectively and hope to see more videos in the future! Also, @Virpil or @WinWing please sponsor this man and give him the peripherals he deserves! :D

[@SnakPakFlight]

Thanks, Max! Love Germany. Beautiful country. Some of the best flying I've ever done.

[@kitt28]

Thank You for doing this, lesson 1 i knew already, but you did a great job teaching. i need to get a VR setup, it will help me in my flight school, when weather is stopping training:-(

[@moonasha]

17:00 only seeing this video after I suffered and learned the hard way in MSFS... but the whole small movements thing when hovering is so important. Once I figured that out, something clicked and I could hover easily. You just kinda go with the flow, make tiny corrections, and if you make a bigger correction, make sure to compensate a tiny bit after. Also seeing you explain things with the fluid dynamic simulation on was really helpful. Great video.

[@SnakPakFlight]

Thanks man! Much more coming.

[@starman8471]

First off Thank You for your service and Happy late Veterans Day. Ever since I was big enough to be Snoopy chasing the Red Baron on our doghouse and weird enough to be Flash Gordon with my Dad's Dodge Ram hood ornament turned backwards, I've wanted to fly. About 23 years ago that was supposed to happen when I signed the dotted line as a 67T, recruiter convinced me I could have my pilot train me and cross over to Warrant. I didn't trust him so twenty years later I retired in the AF and currently fix medical equipment in good ole Music City. After a tour in Iraq, where I worked close enough to feel the down draft as med choppers came in to land, I started having vertigo issues so guess it will always be just a dream. In any case, keep up the free training, my budget can't pay the $15k or more for the real deal!

[@SnakPakFlight]

Thanks for serving Star Man. I promise you that I don't take this job for granted. Music City is my old stomping ground! I was in that area for about 8 years. Great place.

[@delllbooy]

For those wondering the aircraft commander is always on the right so they can maintain control of the cyclic at all times with their right hand. This allows them to have their left hand free, at certain times, to operate any buttons switches they may need (and the collective of course).

[@Tacticaviator7]

Well not always, in some countries, russia for an example, the commander would sit on the left.

[@afterburn2600]

I have both the TM Warthog HOTAS in a full on sim pit as well as the Logitech 3D stick you're using and to be honest I use the Logitech more. It's just more fun since it's less serious. I love the full on experience, but a more expensive setup does not always equate to a better experience. Equally I have a racing setup with top-hung pedals, gear shifter, etc for my rig and at this point I just use an Xbox controller most of the time. I guess getting older, having more household responsibilities, and becoming a dad have all added up over the years to me not wanting to fiddle as much any more. Everything I've added to increase realism has simultaneously made it less light-hearted. I added the super realistic pedal setup and now I have to drive with my shoes on. I added the cockpit and now I have to crawl into it as opposed to just sit back and relax. I added a much nicer shifter and the shift force has gone up which fatigues my arms more. I'm now working harder so I'm hot so I added a fan and that's a whole thing. And in the end it's still not near as cool as just going for a drive. My point is, you keep adding realism and then you realize you're just playing a video game. If you want real, go out and do it. If you want to relax to a cool experience, make sure it's easy to just start playing (which is the goal, right?).

[@oneill6291]

W00t thanks for another great video!

[@SnakPakFlight]

You got it. More coming soon!

[@flightswithjoel]

That cyclic is perfect!

[@SnakPakFlight]

Agreed Joel. And it has lasted the test of time!

[@vsTerminus]

Great video! Nice use of the computational fluid dynamics display to show the tail rotor thrust and other changes in airflow. That's an extremely helpful tool for demonstration eh? It's amazing how many things in this video could warrant their own "deep dive" video too. One suggestion? If you put timestamps in the description youtube will generate chapters in the seek bar. Makes it easy for people to know what's in the video and find what they are looking for quickly. Cheers!

[@SnakPakFlight]

I will do that right now. Forgot for this vid. Thx.

[@SnakPakFlight]

Also, thanks for teaching me what CFD stands for!

[@brutifullroast2548]

In New Zealand and Australia socks and slides is a normal thing so you go bro👌🏽

[@peterthomas9919]

Fantastic video thanks for the lessons how to fly a helicopter in msfs 2020

[@helicopterovirtual-msfs6254]

Excelente

[@mehdidjeebet4614]

You will get'em...

[@mountains_beaches98]

Hi Snak, you can adjust the sensitivity of those controls in options, the default sensitivity profile is not at all responsive until you give larger movements on your controls which you can change in the settings(it's a curve). Also my friend had that logitech control and it's so hard to move, I hate it and I have thrustmaster Airbus yoke which is pretty good for Aeroplanes but there are several good ones on the market if you're looking to get one in the future. I recently got my CPL and have very little idea on helicopters but thanks to your videos I'm starting to learn a bit more of them from the expert! Have a good day, cheers!

[@SnakPakFlight]

Thanks for the tips MSG! Congrats on the CPL. That's YUGE. Much more coming. Also more fixed wing stuff coming.

[@mountains_beaches98]

@@SnakPakFlight thank you, can't wait for the videos.

[@ArnisKaliFlow]

thank you very much for this video, so helpful and informative, I kept spinning and spinning at take off without the assistance, now it's much smoother so is the flight. I still haven't got the landing though, I always come in too hot...

[@SnakPakFlight]

When you initiate your approach to the ground, pull back on the cyclic a bit and drop out most of your collective. Try to get on a glide slope to your intended point of landing. Follow the glide slope down and slowly add collective as needed. Eventually, you'll get to your hover torque when at the bottom and should have zeroed out your airspeed at that point. It's all in Lesson 2!

[@ArnisKaliFlow]

@@SnakPakFlight thank you for this, yes I looked at your second video, I managed to hover for the first time yesterday!! I am slowly getting there, I'll keep training and working on it BTW, I have requested team Asobo to see if they could add the AH-64 and UH-60 Blackhawk/ MH-60 Jayhawk, that'll be amazing if they could do it.

[@LoneWolfZ]

Nice lesson. I was happy to not have a lesson in gyroscopic procession included. Thanks!

[@SnakPakFlight]

Lol, whelp that's coming soon....I'll try to make it interesting.

[@deus_ex_machina_]

Just found your channel from the Blackhawk landing video, dropped by to suggest inverting your _Aviation Simulations_ playlist, so that previous videos show up first and newer ones later, this is especially necessary for series like this one, where it makes no sense to watch Ep.2 of the basics before Ep.1. You might also consider splitting off the Helichopper 101 series into a separate playlist.

[@SnakPakFlight]

Great suggestion. Thanks!

[@adamthompson8432]

Watching the guys around you was hilarious

[@shaunmartin7123]

From a seasoned flight-simmer (I can't fly in real life because I have type-1 diabetes) helicopters have always seemed way more difficult to fly. I reckon instructors must have balls of steel to hand over the controls to someone for the first time. Awesome video, man. Look forward to seeing more.

[@Tatsukoa808]

You give them one system at a time so they can get use to it. Then once they are comfortable let them try all of them at once. You are usually riding the controls with them, but there have been times when you just say "sit on your hands and don't touch anything."

[@SnakPakFlight]

My first flight with a student, he tried to roll the helicopter over in parking. I was setting the parking brake and looked down for one second. I felt a rolling motion. Looked up and he had a shit ton of torque in with a bunch of right cyclic. So yeah, it's a bit nerve-racking. Especially when performing roll-on landings and AFCS off flight. I also am rated in airplanes and I would agree they are easier to fly.

[@michaelfrock2473]

@@Tatsukoa808yeah really depends on the students. I took to helicopters real quick but that might be because I approached it like a motorcycle. No crazy movements just be smooth and controlled while paying attention.

[@CharlesDSmith-mv7zi]

LOL, read the book "Chickenhawk." It's both exelerating and depressing, and It should be required reading for anyone who wants to fly helos in a sim or in real life.

[@jaromirandel543]

22:07 - The X-plane have this feature since its first release - 25 years agol

[@SnakPakFlight]

Wow. Whelp, I suppose I have awoken from under my rock! Thanks!

[@Red80008]

Did you really say "attitude indicator" at 6:38? Great video, thanks so much! Since in this life I probably won't be able to fulfil my dream and learn how to fly a Blackhawk helicopter, this is gonna be the next closest thing and I'm REALLY looking forward to your classes! Thank god Christmas is getting close, so Santa is gonna have to bring around A LOT of fancy tech ^^

[@SnakPakFlight]

Yeah attitude indicator. Is that not what they call it in a Bell 407?

[@SnakPakFlight]

And what's stopping you from flying Black hawks?

[@danielroncaioli6882]

Hueys were horizontal stabilizers and vertical tail fin

[@michaelfrock2473]

I think you will like Virpil controls. Hopefully they send you some to try one day.

[@vidaamericana360]

best video teaching .. watch the full video! amazing bro.. can you also send the link for the controllers and pedals? Thank ytou brother!

[@yourhandlehere1]

My favorite has always been the 47. It's the most helicoptery helicopter. No doors, full view. It's like sitting on a bench in the sky. You can FEEL yourself hanging from the rotor. Chop chop chop. Just fucking awesome. The new stuff is just too smooth, too enclosed for me. (and too frickin loud with a turbine right behind your head). I always wanted to try an old biplane too. Haven't run across any. My same joystick...works just fine.

[@DriveSMR]

The new static-rotor variation yep

[@Business12man]

Very nice.... Question. How did you bind your cyclic/collective and rotor pedal controllers in MSFS? Can you do a video on that? Your controllers seem dead on...

[@helicopterovirtual-msfs6254]

👏👏👏👏

[@ws-eq5kl]

would be interested to see your joystick set up and sensitivity for flying the Bell 407

[@SnakPakFlight]

Default

[@Earley405]

My favorite part is he's not using 40k in sim gear.

[@LuLeBe]

I always wondered about the rotor-as-a-fan analogy: Why is it wrong? To push the helicopter up, it has to push air down with equal force. The blade geometry is vastly different and the physics that lead to air being pushed down are thereby completely different as well, but a rotor, and an aircraft wing as well actually, has to push enough air down so that the force equals the force required to push itself up.

[@SnakPakFlight]

That's not really what's happening. It's really about Bernoulli's Principle. It's the static vs dynamic pressure differential between the top and bottom of the rotor blade (airfoil) that is generating lift. It all plays into the lift equation. A blackhawk is 8 tons without cargo or passengers. You would have to have tornado force winds pushing down underneath for it to lift off. Think about a Harrier jet. It is doing more along the lines of what you are describing. Leave something behind to propel upwards. In this case, a jet engine with an extreme force pushing down. Same concept as a space rocket. But not a helicopter. Different aerodynamic principle.

[@EpicAttracting]

Do you have assistance turned on all the time or just for that part of the video where you mentioned it?

[@SnakPakFlight]

Just that part so I could get an outside view. Not sure I could fly that thing from the side without it. But I turned it off after so people can see what really happens and how to overcome it.

[@CCWSig]

This guy is my spirit animal. What drum set you got in the background?

[@SnakPakFlight]

Lmao, it's just some electric drums and i record with Logic

[@SnakPakFlight]

Another guy said it sounds like "cheap bar music" lol

[@MrSunlander]

any controller settings to use? or just default? I'm happy with my X52 set with the H-145. dig the sox.

[@SnakPakFlight]

Default. And yeah, of course. They're the best socks on the planet

[@Flamer584]

It would be nice to show us all how you set up the Sensitivities options in the Control Options section. Thanks.

[@SnakPakFlight]

Default

[@Flamer584]

@@SnakPakFlight Ah okay. Thanks.

[@SnakPakFlight]

@@Flamer584 I may do a live Q&A soon and can address this question and many others. Check out the "Community" tab on my homepage and vote!

[@Yonlawlawlaw]

it is possible to connect that saitek throttle without the yoke?

[@SnakPakFlight]

Yes. You can connect any of these devices independently and MSFS recognizes them each in the controls menu.

[@frankn8151]

Does the helicopter fly in msfs like it would in real life to you? Sometimes I have trouble with rudder, I’ll be in full left and it doesn’t want to yaw around at all. What’s your thoughts?

[@SnakPakFlight]

Yes. So you probably can't yaw to the left sometimes. Right? Probably because you have too much torque in for that given profile. If you can't yaw left, try reducing collective. There will likely be a bit of a lag.

[@frankn8151]

@@SnakPakFlight thanks for the help!!😎🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@MD-on9fi]

That heliport looks like Cairns full of week 1 primary students in TH-67's going all over the place

[@SnakPakFlight]

LOL

[@MD-on9fi]

@@SnakPakFlight tell me it isn't so... they use Lakota's now in primary? Where did my beloved 67's go? Those Lakotas are so stable they practically hover themselves.

[@jonathangalloway6796]

Just a quick question chum, I know that your military flight simulators are extremely expensive but every time I watch a pilot using a military sim the details as in scenery etc looks basic, I understand that military simulator have hydraulic platforms and msfs does not but apart from that which would you say is better for visual simulation? Many thanks, I'm an ex British Paratrooper from Northern Ireland 🇬🇧 and have had the pleasure of flying in the back of a Black Hawk a few times. I used to have a good friend that flew Pumas for the RAF and I'd get up in the jump seat a good bit which was super cool but nothing like your job!! Respect brother!! 🇺🇸 🇬🇧

[@SnakPakFlight]

The sims we have are older so the scenery doesn't look nearly as good as MSFS. But the cockpits are identical which makes them superior for EP and IFR training.

[@jonathangalloway6796]

@Snak Pak Thanks buddy for your prompt reply! I always wondered why highly skilled pilots like yourself and commercial pilots enjoyed so many hours on MSFS. I get your sims cockpits are a 1:1 for realism and many times better than what is available to the regular flight sim user. Have you heard if the military etc are looking to collaborate with MSFS or update the visual graphics to the out dated graphics used in professional flight sims? Thanks for your time 🙏

[@deekamikaze]

You're over 1k subs! Let's hear how you got your name! I'm assuming you're the guy who always has a goodie bag wherever he goes 😂 that's me at work too. I ride a motorcycle at work and my coworkers make fun of me because I fill the personal bag with snacks. It's the way to go

[@SnakPakFlight]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJezlKeLecuCZqM

[@unclealig]

would have been interessting to see, how you set up your controls (axis sensitivity, expo,...)

[@unclealig]

and do you put force trim on or off?

[@SnakPakFlight]

Watch more of my videos. I explain how I use trim in the trim video. My setup is mostly default

[@stuguy2]

I've been flight simming since 1995 .First flight Boeing 747 MSFS 95 .Those were the day when I knew nothing but, I had a 21 inch screen that weighed about 40lbs and a video card made by ATI: Markham Ont, Canada. So anything with wings I can wrangle some better than others. Helachopters not so much...till today and subsequently in the next upcoming episodes. Great delivery! Of course I subbed~~~~

[@ThomasGrillo]

Awesome Tutorial! I noticed your connection dropped. I get that a lot. But when mine drops, the NIC gets turned off, too, and I end up without internet connection, until I reboot. Any idea for a work around? Oh, I'm using an Aurora R14 by Alienware, unfortunately. LOL Thanks.

[@SnakPakFlight]

Idk, never had that happen before the update. I dropped ethernet here in my closet so I get great speeds. Update messed a lot of things up. I can't even play in VR anymore!

[@ThomasGrillo]

@@SnakPakFlight Wow! That's serious. Initially, I had some problems getting into VR, but I think those issues were Quest 2 side issues, which seem to have been fixed by the latest update. Still wonky, to get into the virtual desktop, but sometimes the sim hangs when quitting to desktop. Main issue here is the NIC cutting off, when the sim loses it's connection. I'm starting to think it's a Dell issue. LOL Hope you're able to resolve your VR issue soon.

[@norbertwenkel9139]

Could you please let us know your controller profiles and/or setups you are using. Maybe some screenshots or a quick video. That would help a lot to follow your lessons and not fail because of wrong bindings. Kind regards out of Germany

[@SnakPakFlight]

Default

[@norbertwenkel9139]

@@SnakPakFlight thanks a lot. I imagine you mean the default helicopter profil which is present since su11.

[@paristo]

11:38 I so wish that DCS World would allow player to see all the simulation factors like X-plane and now MSFS allows. Because that visualization effect gives the player not just understanding of the current state, but as well more trust to the engine doing things properly and even debug the problem. Like there are means for developers to see the radar beam scanning and IR missiles seeker lock-on methods etc. And somewhat these physics parameters, but it is not given for player to be seen. How much easier it would be to debug errors or mistakes by seeing example sensors LOS and FOV? You would immediately see user errors or programming errors when radar beam would be in wrong place or it would be painting the target but not detecting anything...

[@mariohnyc]

lol, i got the same joystick and pedals.

[@stachowi]

I'm trying to transition to rotorcraft from a fixed wing using flight simulator 2020 in VR... how realistic would you say the flight model is (Cabri G2 specifically)? i'm trying to get checklists down and maneuvers in the sim first before paying to learn in the air firsthand. Thanks!

[@SnakPakFlight]

I didn’t really fly the cabri. Mainly fly the H145 and B407. Flying helos in the sim is never gonna be perfect. They still don’t have the trim set up right. I fly In multimillion dollar sims in the army and they are still not accurate as far as how they fly. Gotta get in the real aircraft for the real feel

[@SnakPakFlight]

But yeah you can get a lot done in the sim as far as checklist, runups, getting your scan down, and basic maneuvering.

[@stachowi]

@@SnakPakFlight wow, i really appreciate your real world feedback (especially about multi-million sims). Love your channel!

[@SnakPakFlight]

@@stachowiThanks! Been on a bit of a hiatus. I’m actually in Pensacola working on my fixed wing instrument rating. I’ll hopefully have some new material coming out soon.

[@stachowi]

@@SnakPakFlight fantastic, are you still in the military or are you a civilian now?

[@Steevee5k]

When I fly online, the aircraft around me unfortunately are not depicted correctly. When there is a helicopter passing me by I can only see a single engine Piper, or when I come along an F/A 18 all I see is some twin jet engine airliner. The models almost always wouldn't match the tags. Is there anybody knowing what I can do to remedy this issue? And just to make it clear. Yes, I have most of the aircrafttypes in my Inventory.

[@jacopx]

How are you able to use Bose a20 for gaming?

[@SnakPakFlight]

flightsounds.com/collections/all/products/solo-ga-general-aviation

[@philipphellmich7644]

Have you tested the h135 and h145 help from hype?

[@SnakPakFlight]

Yes! I actually trained in the H145. First helicopter I ever flew. I will have videos coming out on that soon.

[@philipphellmich7644]

@@SnakPakFlight that’s great to hear. I am also interested to know if their flight model feels arcade or of this is the same in the real heil…

[@SnakPakFlight]

@@philipphellmich7644 If you put it on the real setting, it's pretty close. The H135 didn't really incorporate the SAS as I remember it. i.e. you don't actually have to add the left pedal when taking off. Should do that for you. It's been a while though.

[@davidhorobin1060]

Very useful - thanks - but why the ‘cheap bar music’?

[@SnakPakFlight]

I actually recorded that myself. I'm a musician as well. Wasn't feeling super creative I guess. I'll do better next time.

[@rackum44]

I'm assuming throttle isn't a word used in a helicopter that would be called collective, Is that correct?. In other words, collective is throttle? Awesome video by the way.

[@SnakPakFlight]

Basically, yes. Technically, no. Maybe I’ll make a video on that soon!

[@Kenny-vb4qr]

Where do you map the collective

[@why_did_1_download_this]

What peddels do you have

[@Tatsukoa808]

Is it me or does the ball always seem out of balance in forward flight requiring constant left pedal.

[@SnakPakFlight]

Yeah probably. It's just keeping you in trim. Mostly because of the torque on the rotor system. The blackhawk has systems that do this for you. Bell 407 isn't quite as advanced. Never flown one IRL so I can't speak to the accuracy. But the faster you go, should ease it up. In a real helicopter, it feels like you are falling to the side when out of trim so it's easier to notice. That ball is just a simple level.

[@Tatsukoa808]

@@SnakPakFlight my experience is with the 206. I can't remember if the ball was always out like that. It's almost like the weather vane effect is not quite correctly modeled. I shouldn't be flying 20 degrees nose off course unless there are some serious winds going on. I'll play around with it more later on today.

[@jaromirandel543]

Does the magnetic brake work in MSFS?

[@jaromirandel543]

@@SnakPakFlight So, is the magnetic brake in MSFS simulated?

[@SnakPakFlight]

@@jaromirandel543 Uh sorry about that. I tried to reply to a different guy and something got messed up. I honestly don't know what you're talking about. Is there magnetic brakes on the Bell 407?

[@jaromirandel543]

@@SnakPakFlight magnetic brake is something like trim. But helicopters have something bit different. Magnetic brake which disconnects cyclic stick from centering mechanism to be able to "trim" the cyclic stick.

[@aaronanstett8987]

Your profile picture looks like a 1956 cessna 172. Is that correct

[@SnakPakFlight]

Can't remember the year but it's a 172. That's the plane I took my PPL checkride in.

[@allenmatte5870]

Where is the torque and tot gauge? They are just important as to power avaliable!

[@poiu477]

better watch out man, gonna get yourself on wikifeet

[@poiu477]

in all seriousness, you legit gave me the lightbulb moment on lift at 13:00, I kinda got it, but now it makes perfect sense and how it is separate from the airstream generated by the rotor. I always knew rotors were more of a wing than a propellor, but now I totally get it.

[@Doug_Narby]

Obviously my ineffective piloting is due to my incorrect choice of socks. Noted.

[@SnakPakFlight]

Could be!

[@thats-no-moon]

I predict your channel will have >100k subs in no time, especially once you get better gear and start wearing more fun flipflops. Make it your thing :-D JK, thanks for great content!

[@SnakPakFlight]

Hope that is the case! Thanks man.

[@skyhawk21]

R u in pnw?

[@Gamerxwolff]

You have just shown us how you could even use a garbage joystick to fly a helicopter properly. lol

[@zaelu]

Funny how at 14:30 the gauges just sit still not caring you've just moved out of ground effect :D - Asobo launched the helis so porked that they pretty much feel the same for a GTA pilot coming from Play Station or whatever. I hope after they make their quote of newly attracted players with this: "See? it's not that hard?" BS they will actually patch the helis so they resemble the real things.

[@SnakPakFlight]

What were you expecting to happen on the gauges when I increased collective?

[@zaelu]

@@SnakPakFlight Shouldn't the turbine struggle as it loses the help from ground effect? I mean is not that powerful that engine so it should show some "pain" isn't it? I am not real life helicopter pilot like you but "as a sim one" and "heli enthusiast" I've learned that the helicopters struggle when losing help from ground effect or from translational lift etc. My opinion is that beside the nice visualisation there is not ground effect. I actually "felt" some just when hovering over some high roof... as the heli slid away from the roof or above it the helicopter lost altitude or jumped up a little respectively. There are many things that are not present in current simulation of MSF although they kinda bragged how complete it is. IE ground effect, retreating blade stall effect, even VRS, etc. Currently you can really do crazy things in MSF (assists off) like arresting a 3000fpm descent with just a yank on the collective even if you only have 60% RPM in the rotor, LOL. The 407 seems to do autorotations with some effect on rotor rpm but the Cabri only decreases the RPM no way to maintain it but it flies no problem LOL. Etc etc. Maybe you will have the time to go deeper in future videos and provide your opinion. Thanks for reply! Cheers!

[@earthb67]

You know what I really liked? Not doing this vid with the latest, greatest, most expensive stick / collective. Keeping it real for (probably) most of us. I hate to be a grinch, but suppliers, please do not send high-end products for 'review'!

[@rafaeljacquez2318]

What about the persons that only have a keyboard and a mouse? Where are instructions for us?

[@SnakPakFlight]

Buy a joystick. Logitech extreme 3D is cheap and I used it for years!

[@jaromirandel543]

He fly in helicopter with 3D pro? Seriously? That stick is damn too short to be precise.

[@SnakPakFlight]

Have you ever heard of the term, "Sky God"?