FSX

I have FSX+Accel. I am having a very hard time controlling helicopters in
the game. Planes are no problem.

Whenever I am in full power the Bell Jet Ranger in this case pitches up and
I start moving in reverse. If go to medium or low power I can fly somewhat
level, but I will fall out of the sky.

Is there a fix for this. Mu joystick is a MS Sidewinder Pro and I
calibrated it at least a dozen times.

TIA

K2NNJ1 wrote:
> I have FSX+Accel. I am having a very hard time controlling helicopters
> in the game. Planes are no problem.
>
> Whenever I am in full power the Bell Jet Ranger in this case pitches up
> and I start moving in reverse. If go to medium or low power I can fly
> somewhat level, but I will fall out of the sky.
>
> Is there a fix for this. Mu joystick is a MS Sidewinder Pro and I
> calibrated it at least a dozen times.
>
> TIA

Helicopters ARE more challenging to fly than fixed wing aircraft.

It is NECESSARY to push the joystick forward to establish forward
flight. Don't pull the stick back the way you do when you "rotate" a
fixed wing aircraft. The ONLY time you want to pull the stick back
beyond the center point is when you want to reduce your forward
velocity. ALWAYS return the stick to center by the time forward motion
ceases.

On takeoff push the stick forward a little as soon as you have enough
altitude (even if only a few dozen feet) to clear any obstacles.

Hovering, even when associated with landing, is MUCH easier when there
is a relatively detailed texture on the ground below the helicopter (at
LOW altitude) or some object like a building or tree a few dozen yards
in front of the helicopter. The texture or object help you distinguish
between a hovering climb and the nose pitching upwards. I discovered
that in an earlier version of Flight Simulator that had a blurry Miegs
Field apron texture (where I had a terrible time hovering) and suddenly
had a MUCH easier time once I reached the more detailed runway texture.

In nearly all cases maintain some forward motion as you approach your
landing point. Only slow to a hover within a few feet of your intended
landing point a FEW feet above the ground. You might even want to allow
yourself to be moving forward at a FEW knots upon landing early on.

Turn the helicopter to face directly into the wind to hover or land.

Don't try to move sideways with more than very minimal velocity. Use the
pedals (twist grip on many joysticks) to turn the helicopter in the
direction you want to travel in.

It WILL take a significant amount of practice before doing very well
with the helicopters.