MSFS - Learning to Fly a Helicopter Tips

In this video, we give you a few different ways to learn to fly a helicopter and some of the common tips to make it a little easier.

[@hassobasso7067]

One of the biggest biggest tips is Zoom completely out in the cockpit, you see and "feel" the small movements and inertia so so much better and it makes everything much much more easy when learning.

[@LifeisbetterwithaMalinois]

Thank you great video, just started flying helis on msfs with new gear..getting everything sorted is a mission😊

[@raywalsh5414]

The real world flight manual for the G2 can be downloaded online for free. There you will learn the correct procedures, power settings and speeds etc. for the G2. There are also lots or real world training videos for the G2 to be seen on youtube also. It looks like a proper collective control at a reasonable price for the sim is very hard to come by for the time being so we'll just have to make do and adapt as best we can.

[@ryanpannell3725]

G2 is what I’m learning on, and I am building a sim rig, so this was super helpful for me. Thanks for taking the time to make it!

[@stachowi]

i'm trying to get my helicopter rating on a G2 (have my fixed wing), i just built a high-end flight simulator rig to learn how to fly this helicopter in VR... any insight on how real the flight model is or how much it will help in getting a helicopter rating?

[@neth77]

The G2 is a well done model for this, if you can use VR it makes it much easier. Also turn off the Helicopter assists in the options because why bother otherwise? Real helicopters have long cyclic from the floor, your HOTAS has a short stick so a set distance movement on your desk is more than in a helicopter, you need to reduce curves and sensitivity to make life easier.

[@volkerjansen3901]

Wonderful video! Loved the last tip :) While looking at the curves and sensitivities in MSFS, I would really recommend reducing the dead zone to 0%. I guess the most important part in learning to hover for me was not returning the joystick to the middle position all the time, as I was used to from flying fixed wing planes.

[@gregorydayton5428]

Thank You, just started flying Helicopter. Looking forward to your next video about Helicopters.

[@RC-Heli835]

This is awesome! Does the system warn you of mast bumping?

[@cyclicalobsessive]

Interesting Cabri G2 moment this afternoon - started using MSFS e start engines key, let it warm up a little, set carb heat to auto and then noticed rotor not up to speed (3-o’clock). I have collective mapped to my joystick throttle (fwd is collective down fully). But I didn’t have anything mapped for the G2 throttle so I had to use the mouse to manually juice the throttle just enough till the governor kicked in. I think I need to map two buttons to increase and decrease throttle.

[@Catinthehackmatrix]

I have tried, and the keys i assign, won't allow the increase or decrease on the helicopter's throttle, i dont know whats wrong anymore..I have no problem using the collective, just the throttle on helicopter assignment .

[@cyclicalobsessive]

@@Catinthehackmatrix In Controls Options - I see that the default keyboard maps F1,F2,F3 to "Throttle", so need to make a "Heli Keyboard Profile" and change these to CUT/INCREASE/DECREASE "Helicopter Throttle", or if you have extra buttons on your joystick, create a HELI Joystick profile that maps buttons for "Increase Helicopter Throttle", and "Decrease Helicopter Throttle". (I have generic HELI Joystick and HELI Pedals profiles, a generic AIRPLANE pedals profile, and specific airplane model joystick profiles because I fly several airplane types but only one heli.

[@michaelflaherty3202]

If I could get it to go 50% throttle like you can, it would solve my problems with this thing. I’m able to increase and decrease throttle on all the airplanes but in this one, when I increase it goes straight to 110 and if I try to decrease it at all it goes to 0. If I try to override it by looking down and grabbing it with the mouse, it doesn’t control it and the number it gives for the throttle keeps fluctuating and won’t let me change it. Is there a setting that fixes this?

[@АлексейЛ-д6х]

You should not manually control the throttle in a helicopter after starting the engine and turning on the clutch (the thing connecting rotors to the engine). You should turn your Governor ON and only adjust the Collective - the Governor will auto-adjust the throttle for you to keep it in the green. But I think you ALREADY have your Governor on, that's why it auto-corrects when you try to adjust the throttle. Your issue is you try to adjust the throttle and you DON'T NEED TO DO THAT in the helicopter. You should adjust Collective instead. Think this way: in practical terms, what you achieve with the throttle in an fixed-wing aircraft is achieved in helicopters with collective instead. So you don't mess with the throttle at all*, you adjust your Collective! *you touch throttle only when you do the "clean" start with engines off and only once. Hope that helps.

[@gotywi967]

Awesome video!

[@jarrodclyne707]

Excellent

[@johnmann8253]

What flight control set up do you recommend? I am retired airline pilot and I’d love to learn to fly a helicopter. Before I head to the airport and pay high dollars for aircraft flight instruction, I like to try it first on the Microsoft flight simulator. BTW, I have not purchased the MSFS yet. I’m not sure what Hardware and associated controls I need to purchase. Thanks for your help.

[@oliverengstrom5552]

MSFS i the best game its the most realistic what i can feel and i would say that buy any joystick at first. I bought a logitech and then if you like to play you can build a much bigger setup then.

[@whatthesigmaW]

why is it that as soon as i barely lift off, my helicopter starts spinning to the right?

[@rotten_sun]

probably because of the main rotor's torque. you need pedals to compensate for it

[@whatthesigmaW]

@@rotten_sun cheers mate, im starting to understand this

[@ProsciuttoJoe1]

Check your settings that is sweet to tail rotor axis in setting

[@matthewweitz1949]

You don't use trim?

[@toribarron5700]

Helicopter gear doesn’t exactly need it. Trim for most is a workaround for having airplane gear.

[@jimbobwiththebiggestaround5563]

With me playing on console. I push forward as if a demons controls my heli and starts trying to do spins at an angle 6:18

[@AbberjamUK]

Most choppers are manageable at -45 vertical trim, 10 or -10 lateral trim and around 65% collective. Also for auto-centering Tail Rotor, clear controls for "Increment/Decrement Tail Rotor" and instead map to "Rudder Axis Left/Right"

[@jimj2683]

@@AbberjamUK Thanks! Those tips fixed everything for me. Before that my heli was just spinning around with little control.

[@AbberjamUK]

@jimj2683 You're most welcome. Glad to help 😁👍

[@HelicopterSim]

❤

[@SauloMogi]

I cry everytime i try to fly an helicopter with my HOSAS

[@kimber45auto77]

To much i just want to know the basics 90% of this is irrelevant for beginners

[@Smallblockdaddy69]

it's a simulator. simulating realism. it's all relevant.