Alpha KA50

[RobDob]

I suspect you all know already but...........

[Paul K]

Looks impressive enough, though helicopters in general are a no-go area for me in FS.

[Quixoticish]

Whilst I was initially disappointed at the included loadout (one more in the final package would suffice, preferably one with two Vikhr racks and two rocket pods - it makes it look far meaner than the current loadout) I purchased it and I must say I'm quite impressed. It's very easy on the frames (great frames in the VC as well and very smooth gauges and dials) and also rather easy on the eye thanks to a great looking model, and some rather sharp textures. A single seat attack helicopter is an interesting aircraft to model and I'm very much enjoying whizzing around in at the moment. I must say I particularly like the flight dynamics, as with all things rotary in FSX I imagine it is a botch job to get it to behave properly but whoever developed them has done a great job of co-axial rotor modelling and it really feels different to any other rotary I've flown in FS before.

Although I'm griping about the loadout I have to say thumbs up for providing a clean model as well; one reason their AH-64 doesn't get more flight time on my system is lack of a clean version with no stores so it's great to see them taking customer comments on board. My only other problem is with the start-up sounds (or lack thereof) but I think that is down to my rig rather than the aircraft as they are included and seem to work for everyone else.

[Michael davies]

Chris, you say they work for every one else but I'm not sure they do, I think people just assume there the standard silent start and stop we have been used to in the past, they should do but they dont work here either very well , there seems to be a conflict between the FDE and the sounds so both are getting a make over at the moment, the FS9 one is down pat and I'm working on the FSx version now. The FS9 one has also had a FDE make over to make it more stable and even less torque yaw, I was happy with the original but the new one is better yet, coming down to about 10knts before you need to begin kicking in some rudder, the FSx one was pretty good to start with but I might add in the FS9 tweaks to make it even more stable.

Unlike FS9, it seems FSx actually supports correct start and stop sounds for helos, having said that I tried the EH101 and got seven engine start sounds before it finished the start sequence so it may not be solved yet .

I believe Dan will set up a patch or ammend the current shop model in due time, but if you want to guinea pig this beta FSx sound set then PM me with an e mail addy and I can set a transfer up.

Thanks for the comments on the flight files, I'll have to come clean and own up to them, it is a rather fun helo to throw around isnt it LOL.

Regarding the models and loadouts, not my remit I'm afraid, maybe another version with different weapons could have been added, I dunno.

Best

Michael

[Quixoticish]

I know I'm going to get flamed to hell for this one (probably quite rightly so) but it's one of those helicopters that is so delightfully ugly that it really is quite charming.

[img]http://link%20suspended/flight_simulator/KA-5074SqnSplinter1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://link%20suspended/flight_simulator/KA-5074SqnSplinter2.jpg[/img]

[img]http://link%20suspended/flight_simulator/KA-5074SqnSplinter3.jpg[/img]

[DaveB]

Definately a 'parts bin' helicopter isn't it this one. The front end could have come off any number of Pilatus.. the tail nicked off a Tincan and anything else lying around to make up the numbers I agree with you though.. it's so odd, it's kinda nice to look at ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Garry Russell]

Supports the theory of some that Helicopters can't fly.....it's just that they're so ugly the ground repels them

Garry

[VEGAS]

Looks like the RAF would probably even buy it.

But not til it was ready for the scrap heap... :roll:

[petermcleland]

I did my first flight in it today:-

I always start test flights from stand 26 at local midday on a Thursday, so there is always plenty going on:-


There goes "Echo" taxying out.


Being Thursday the F-16 pilots are normally all on a day off...

The rest of a short sequence can be seen by clicking this address:-

http://forum.fsscreenshots.com/dcboard. ... =full&page

Like any helicopter I find it a bit difficult to fly but I'm encouraged by how it went and will persevere...Hopefully I'll soon feel as comfortable as I do in Rick's Sycamore

Thanks for looking :flying:

[Michael davies]

Peter,

Of all the Alphasim helos, the Ka-50 and perhaps the S-55 are the easiest to fly, the Ka-50 requires very little rudder input, the merest at very low speeds, so you should be able to concentrate on the other factors, if you want to tone it down a little then you can edit the realism scalar figures in the aircraft cfg, I'd initially suggest adding 0.2 to each of the three figures and see how that goes. You can be much more aggressive in the Ka-50 than the S-55, its also much more agile when you really give it a boot full, but by virtue when your nice and gentle it should feel very stable like the S-55.

The Ka-50 is also reputed to be fully acrobatic so rolls and loops are possible, but beware if you pull high G she will bleed speed very quickly unless going down hill, this trait is good for decellerating quickly, a very tight turn at low level will bleed speed rapidly to the translation speed of around 50knts, then roll level and begin the hover descent.

Best

Michael