I make no bones about it, I love helicopters. Why? Well they simply should not fly, all the laws of aerodynamic aesthetic 'rightness' dictates otherwise. Saying that, I find them fascinating, especially harboring a deep admiration for the complex mechanics, to facilitate safe vertical landing/take off flight.
I have downloaded some helicopter freeware offerings in the past, which, quite frankly are deleted as quickly. Some although free are, well not very good at all. I do not want to appear disingenuous, but there are some incredible free downloads about. (Just look at Nemeth's own web site, they have some incredible free helicopter downloads for FS2004, not FSX though....shame!
Detail flight nemeth collective fsx helicopter aircraft pilots excellent. The Colibri EC 120 B is a light single-engine helicopter which can carry up to four passengers in addition to the pilot. Is fitted with crash-resistant fuel system, pilot and passenger seats. Nemeth Designs Eurocopter EC-135. FS2002/FS2004 World Aviation Eurocopter EC145 RP-C8226. The Eurocopter EC 145 is a twin-engine light utility helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. FSX native version also available. Posted Apr 16, 2012 02:39 by Eagle Rotorcraft Simulations FS2004/FSX Icaro BK-117 DRF Texture Pack. This Model is freeware like the Icaro EC-135 Required.
The default helicopter in FSX is a very flyable beast, and great fun. But, always on the lookout for a really good helo examples, I have been paying particular attention to Nemeth. Out of this virtual hangar has come a very fine example of the MD 500 with military and civil versions. It's really superb value at every level, and I had the pleasure in reviewing it in the recent past.
So, when I noticed the EC120B, I brushed a corner of my virtual hangar, counted my 'pennies' and bought one!
This helo, is used in both civil and emergency services circles, so with the quality of the previous MD 500 in mind, out came the credit card...
What Is Included
Yet again, the download from the Pilot Shop was effortless. I followed the simple instructions and hew presto, now on my computer and ready to fly. You will note a PDF file of pilot notes. These are very comprehensive, perhaps a tad too long, great info about the real aircraft, all the tech details like weight, rotor span, in fact every detail. Like I said, fantastic if you want all the tech spec, but I would have liked to see another sheet covering all the switches / commands within FSX. A Quick Guide if you will.
The Technical Points From The Developer
Nemeth Designs Eurocopter EC120B Colibri For MS Flight Simulator 2004 FSX.
The Colibri EC 120 B is a light single-engine helicopter which can carry up to four passengers in addition to the pilot. The design of the cabin/luggage hold assembly makes it particularly suitable for widely different types of civilian and parapublic missions. The first helicopter in its class to comply with the requirements of the new Joint Aviation Requirements - Small Rotorcraft regulations, the Colibri is fitted with crash-resistant fuel system, pilot and passenger seats. Very silent and with a very wide cabin featuring excellent visibility, the Colibri's flight comfort is unique in its category. This extremely modern helicopter uses a lot of composite materials and is fitted with the latest technologies: a Turbomeca Arrius 2F engine and a new-generation shrouded tail rotor as well as modern avionics.
Product Features:
* Accurate Gmax models with custom animations * Four different models (standard, police, waterfloat, wirecutter) * Different flight dynamics for the police and waterfloat versions * Realistic sound setup * Realistic starting procedure * Reflective and shiny textures * Dynamic virtual cockpit with animated instruments and night lighting * Animated rotorblades, controls, pilots, switches, buttons * 2D panels * PDF manual * Paint kit * Flight dynamics tested by real EC120B pilot Observation
So, there you have it, technical spec sounds impressive?
Installation all sorted, select the Aircraft Options Screen in FSX, and look for the picture proving a successful installation, I found 14 pictures of the EC120B. I selected one version and waited for a few seconds, and there it was running 'hot'. The first impression was incredible detail.
One thing you can ensure with Nemeth is the incredible attention to detail. I guess as with any paid for add-on, the detail should be there, and you will not be disappointed.
Exterior
Like always, I prefer to take a virtual walk around the aircraft, to appreciate the detail and effects on offer. I selected any airport, and there it is. I was firstly in the cockpit, hit my exterior view button and zoomed out a tad--wow, very tight and seemingly accurate graphics. As I have said before, the 'acid' test is zoom in and see if the detail holds. Yup, as expected no worries here.
The tail detail showing the enclosed tail rotor is superb. Moving forward, the fuselage detail is evident, with lovely engine exhaust coloration. Due to it being a gas turbine, they have captured the heat stained polished steel exhaust pipe.
The rotor hub is to the same excellent detail level.
Looking into the cockpit looks fantastic, some really excellent reflections, a feature done so well in FSX. You can see two pilots, one male, one female. They look very impressive, if not a little stilted, i.e., limited animation. OK the pilots' arms and legs move in the joystick and rudder inputs, but no head movement from any figure? This would have so easy to get perfect, i.e., random, realistic, figure annotations. Sorry to harp on, but if some freeware can get it right a la' Rick Piper's Chipmunk, then why can't all paid for titles have at least the same, or better!)
Moving on, the skid detail is again superb. You may see an area at the rear of the skids where you may feel there is a piece missing, i.e., the skid appears to have a section, the upper half removed, but this is accurate, and appears in real life.
The color schemes offered are very interesting. If you feel creative, within the download you are given a paint kit! And of course the police version and other variants provide you with seven model types. In fact you will see 14 options; they provide seven with crew and seven without, hence 14. The schemes on offer are excellent and very tight graphics. The police and military options are great. The US police helo has some very accurate 'accessories' like infrared cameras, search light; very nice detail
Please remember, if you download the package, you will see just one model on show. You have to tick the 'see all options' at the bottom of the Aircraft Option screen in FSX. I have to admit, I did not and fired off a question to the Nemeth Tech Support Forum, and a kind gentleman, reminded me about the tick all options, then all the EC120B options appeared. And I may add, all the other aircraft options of your other aircraft also appeard! (Many thanks for your prompt reply.)
Interior
The interior is truly a work of art, there is NOT one corner that has not had the Nemeth detail treatment. The instrument panel dials layout, floor seats, carpet, joystick, collective pitch, lever pedals, all are treated in the same exemplary way.
I love the door opening method. With the mouse hit the corresponding door switch on either of the front doors, select and the door opens/closes in a very smooth action. (Difficult to do if you have a passenger in the front seat.) If you select Door Open, i.e., SHIFT+E the port side passenger door slides open; again a smooth action.
The instrument panel has the usual array of easy to read instruments, with the overhead panel having the main (workable) fuel selection lever.
Sitting in the pilot's seat, the vision is excellent, all belted up, and eager to take to sky.
Before we do so, a couple more observations. As mentioned once selected, the engine is running, and the sounds are excellent, faultless, and really does provide the 'icing on the cake' moment for me, both on the ground and in flight. One thing I did note, as the rotors were 'wizing' around, I noticed a visible jump in the rotating sequence. This was a constant feature on all models, a clear 'glitch', pity.
While on my walkabout, I selected lights. While there was a very convincing anti-collision beacon strobe, I could not see any nav lights. They should be located on ends of the rear stabalisers forward of the tail rotor, they are not there?
I decided to stop the engine and re-start. As the start sequence commenced, there was a puff of smoke. I did not feel this was particularly realistic, the effect on my computer was too severe, with too much black smoke.
The sound sets are excellent, all round excellence! A great job, and truly enhances the experience.
In Flight
I positioned myself on a heliport. Confident of the flight characteristics, I hit the Squawkbox option (virtual air traffic control) and as 'luck' would have it, I was asked to hover-taxi to the active! 'Hells teeth,' I was expecting a clear lift from the heliport, but, I added some collective gentle input to traverse forward with some rudder, resulted in a fairly controllable path to the active, where I was granted permission to lift. Phew! I was glad about that!
I would say if any other aircraft pilots watched me (and there was a Cessna 172 behind me!) would have thought it was the first time I had ever been in type. Oh how true that was, so, if you were the 'driver' of that Cessna at Biggin Hill, I admit it was me!
Nose down I watched the airspeed grow and height increase, at 2000 agl, I eased off the collective, brought the nose up slightly, and let it all settle down. I did notice some lovely wind noise increase proportionately, both increase and decrease; great attention to detail.
I love 'hopping' out and watching the aircraft in flight, I pulled some fairly tight turns, I would have loved to hear the customary whap of the rotor blades so evident when any helicopter pulls such a move, yet no such sound on the 120, but easy to add next time? Oh please add this sound effect, it would be fantastic on any helicopter! Especially the Huey!
I do not have a PPL (H) so I cannot comment, on how accurate the 'feel' is, but I asked a friend who pilots Bell Jetrangers and he had some real fun, and confirmed the flight dynamics felt fairly accurate. He was very surprised at how real the computer FSX experience was. One thing he did say, when zero collective is selected in flight, the descent felt a tad slow. We are told the flight dynamics have been checked by a real EC120 pilot, and found to be accurate, so I guess there we have it.
I almost had to pull the plug from the socket to get my pal off my computer! Oh yes, I do have an RC helicopter, which cost me a lot of hard earned cash, so I have an appreciation of control input/output or response. But flying helicopters is like keeping a ping pong ball on the end of a pin! Very gentle inputs, no heavy hand...or expensive repair bills or worse!
Back to flying the 120, on the approach, bled off the speed, lowering the collective, and raising the nose to reduce forward speed, pushed the nose back down a tad, now reduced to a few knots forward sped, addressed the sink, by adding some more collective keeping the nose forward by some minor rudder input. Over the landing spot, stopped forward motion, and lowered the collective, and down. (Actually my landing may have displaced some fillings! Practice makes perfect!!)
Conclusion
The EC 120B from Nemeth is presented in superb detail and offers a great chance to continue your virtual hangar expansion in the acquisition of the EC120B. Even if you do not yet fly helos this beautiful version and flyable dynamics means it is a must.
With the previous MD500 from Nemeth in my hangar, I am very eager to keep an eye out for the new models to be drawn from the virtual Nemeth workshops..
Just a couple of observations. When the rotor is turning, I noticed a 'jolt' in the movement, a glitch if you will. This appears on every model and appears to me to be a small but noticeable fault. Also when the collective is introduced on the ground, the rotor disc remains flat. In reality, the blades would 'lift' slightly when they take the strain of lift.
Oh yes, on 0 collective with the engine running on the ground, I pushed the stick forward and left, right. As I did so the aircraft rocked / tilted very noticeably in those directions. Odd, if no collective input there should be NO movement?
The crew, well I keep saying this, but please do not use the same male faces on the pilots (like the MD500 figures). I appreciate it is a small point, but now all I do is look for the 'cloned pilot faces'. Oh yes, add some realistic animations. You are presented with stunning detail at every other level, let's follow it through. I have to say the pilot's legs and arms move when the rudder and collective are selected. But in every case no head movement, this is a real shame.
Lighting, the anti-collision beacons/strobes are actually fantastic, but where are the nav (green/red) lights? Landing lighting effects at night are effective, certainly enough to hover-taxi if needed.
I have to say for a superbly detailed helo, 78 meg download and at the cost, provides you with excellent value. Despite the points above, let's get these into perspective, they are very minor. (How about some patches to sort the out?) Without reservation, if you are into helicopters or want to fly an accurate model the EC120B is it.
Tested for approx 3 hours (FSX).
Works with Microsoft Flight Simulator X (with SP2 or Acceleration Pack) Duel Core Processor, 2 GB RAM, 512 MB Graphics Card
System used:
Microsoft Vista Ultimate
AMD Phenom 9950 Quad Core
2.60 GHz
2GB RAM
Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Flight Simulator FSX
G-Force 9500GT
AMD Phenom 9950 Quad Core
2.60 GHz
2GB RAM
Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Flight Simulator FSX
G-Force 9500GT
Nigel C. Martin
[email protected]
[email protected]
Reviews Of Other Nemeth Products:
Nemeth Designs MD500 Defender
Nemeth Designs Eurocopter EC-135
Nemeth Designs Eurocopter EC-135
Compatible with FS2004 - Size 30.4 MB
- Downloads 4 940
- Created 26-10-2005
- Changed 14-10-2012
- License Freeware
- VC 3D Virtual Cockpit
Author : Heiko No virus guaranteed
Protected by ImunifyAV Premium
The EC135 light twin-engine helicopter is a versatile produced by Eurocopter.
It is an evolution very thrust of MBB BO105 which saw a further development in the 1980s (named Bo 108) before starting to serve only as a demonstrator for new technologies.
This particular prototype was equipped with FBW (FBW) and a main rotor articulations of a new type, on the one hand reducing the maximum noise and vibration causing material fatigue and providing other advantages in terms of agility and responsiveness.
During the creation of Eurocopter in 1992, MBB brought in the wedding for the BO108 which foresaw at the time chances on the market. The French part of Eurocopter (former helicopter division of Aérospatiale-Matra group) brought his side the tail rotor type fenestron allows a further reduction of the noise level and brings great advantages from the point of view of security personnel on the ground.
The first flight took place in Ottobrunn near Munich (office and manufacturing prototypes) February 15, 1994. Production series (Donauwörth) began in 1996. The base model comes in several versions civilian and military (EC635 (en)).
It is with the squirrel and the EC145 helicopter team that forces the French National Gendarmerie. (Wikipedia)
Author : Heiko
Compatible with FS2004 - Size 30.4 MB
- Downloads 4 940
- Created 26-10-2005
- Changed 14-10-2012
- License Freeware
- VC 3D Virtual Cockpit
Author : Heiko No virus guaranteed
Protected by ImunifyAV Premium