For FS98, Aerospatiale Ecureuil 350 helicopter with animated rotors. Updated from previous model.



  This model is painted in the colors of Table Rock 

Helicopter Tours of Branson, Mo. and is used to fly tourists over the Ozark Mountains. 

Specifications:

         Length: 42'7"

         Rotor Dia. 35'

         Cruise: 110kn

         Load: 1847lbs

         Engine:  single Turbomecca turbine





Installation:  Using explorer place the A350 folder in

the aircraft directory of fs98.   That's it. 



Operation:  In fs98 select the AS350. The included air file  is very stable and should allow you to master the fs98 helicopter.

 

Trimming:  To trim your stick place the aircraft in slew mode using the Y key. This is to help in trimming your joystick accurately which is very important in hovering a helicopter. Use the Q key to raise the copter a few feet. Stop it and observe if it moves in any direction. Use the trim wheels to zero out any movement. Return it to the ground and unslew it. Go to the custom control menu and reduce the null zone to zero.



Flying: We are first going to fly the copter as if it were an RC model to become familiar with helo controls and quirks. Very slowly advance the throttle/collective until the machine becomes light on the skids and then even more slowly apply power until it lifts off. Then when at about 5 ft back off just a hair. If your stick is properly centered and trimmed the copter should float in the air at about 5ft altitude. The more perfect the trim the less drifting about you'll encounter. First concentrate on the power required to smoothly lift off and avoid bobbing up and down. After staying more or less at 5ft watch which way the copter wants to drift and make very tiny trim changes on the stick each time letting the copter settle or resetting the flight. When you have mastered the altitude thing concentrate on staying in one place. Very small nudges on the stick are all that are required to keep it centered over one spot. You almost have to anticipate which way it's going to move and correct before it starts! Watch the rotor disc and try to keep it level. Avoid over controlling and getting into tail chasing oscillations. They are very hard to get out of. Just back off and let it either settle or crash and start over. Hopefully you have foot pedals or the MS joystick with rudder control as that is the last and most difficult control in hovering. Again very little input is required and you must apply control input in advance of the place where you want to stop the yaw.

Strive to be smooth and precise in your actions and the copter will respond in a more realistic manner. Slow flying is sorta drifting in the direction you want to go, keeping it on a leash and not letting speed or altitude get way from you. Get in and out of the cabin while moving about to get a feel for the appearance from inside and out. Cruising is a further extension of drifting but higher and faster with more nose down attitude. Pick a large tarmac or spot and practice approaches from both inside and outside to become familiar with them. Balance your rate of descent with airspeed so that you can stop a few feet over your landing site and slowly settle for a soft touchdown.    One final note: Practice and then practice some more as the reward of watching your copter sit motionless in the air is worth it. Enjoy!



A special thanks to some great folks who have been instrumental in developing the animated rotors and other moving parts aircraft by this author. Mr. Manuel Medina and Mr. Jack Hill have contributed countless suggestions and help in working through this new and difficult process. Their friendship and skills are very much appreciated. Thanks very much, guys!! 



 By Bill Lyons, March, 1999. All questions and comments are always welcome, 

           Bill Lyons

           billy14@concentric.net