Hi Mike!
Great news you like starting with the whirlybirds!
As you already mentioned, the big problem in FSX is some strange limitations on helicopter flight characteristics. So most payware and freeware helicopters for FSX don`t offer any of these heli-FD`s like Torque Induced Yaw. Their Flight behaviour isn`t correct at all and are all easier to fly than most helicopters in FS9 were.
I recommend using HTR Helicpter total realsim - This tool adds heli-FD`s to some payware and freeware helis. It really adds more challenging and fun. Check Hovercontrol.com for informations on it.
You can change control response for your own needs with it. If you think the heli is acting too hard on your control inputs, just lower the settings in HTR and the Heli is easier to fly.Though only 100% responsivness is the real challenge!!!
You can get very good results even on the FS default Bell206 JetRanger with HTR!!!
Good news, there are some heli`s avaible which offer Helicopter Flightdynamics`s.
Payware (I personally fly payware helis more often than freeware one`s.):
Most realistic and authentic FSX chopper is for sure
The
Dodosim FSX Bell206.
It offers lot`s of heli-FlightDynamics which makes it flying a real challenge. Starting the systems can be some tricky.
But it also offers different difficult levels, so can start on low level and when getting used to it you can try flying it on higher level (max. level is 5).
IT´s not cheap but full worth the money. This is the king of FSX choppers!!!!!
Other payware I know (and have purchased) with Torque Induced Yaw :
SA315 Lama from fsheli.ch - It´s really nice flying with it.
The real world Lama was loved by pilots for many,many years for their high mountain cababilities.
Cerasim Bell222 - it also offers a nice Flightmodel.
Other Payware Heli`s I have (All these one`s are best flown with HTR):
Cerasim 212 and
Cerasim 412 Generally I like the Cerasim Heli`s 212, 412 very much, because they also offer a great system depth and smooth flightmodels. Even without HTR they are really nice to fly and earned lots of reputation in the heli-simmers hearts. You can add HTR Helicopter Realism MOd to them - ans so they offer a great Flightmodel.
Nemeth Designs BO105 - easy to fly
Nemeth Designs MD500 - no realistic startup procedures, so very easy to start and flying.
Both helis are really nice and challenging flying only with HTR active. Especially the original Nemeth MD500`s Flight Model is no good.
Since a few weeks there are new aircraft.cfg and airfiles for the MD500 adding some better Flight Behaviour. Download from hovercontrol.com.
The BO105 and the MD500D are my favourite heli`s in the real world. The BO105 for it`s flight capabilities, thought it isn`t really a nice helicopter! I´ve hard some people saying it looks like a brick!
But the most I love is the MD500D. I love Design of this flying egg!
Nemeth Designs EC120Nemeth Designs EC135 - all Nemeths in general offer very good 3D-Models. Flight Models are less complex.
Justflight schweizer CB300iJustflight Robinson R44 - And yes, I also don`t like the Robinsons Design!
The Schweizer and R44 are included in HTR. Their 3D-models look very good and they got quite good votings from he community.
BTW: I purchased the
R44 just today on simmarket.com. You can get it there
till 28.11.2011 on 50% sale (for me in Germany 6,63 Euros). So haven`t flown it so far.
Freeware:Default Bell206 - with HTR a very cheap, good and challenging flying!
This is the moment I have to say that I have with the Jetranger and same problems as with the Robinsons.
I never didn`t really like it`s design.
Hovercontrol Bell412 by Jordan Moore. The FREEWARE HELI ITSELF I`d like to say. Great model and smooth Flightmodel.
Itis also included in HTR and Jordan Moore released recently a new patch adding Torque Induced Yaw to the Flight Modell.
Nemeth Aerospatiale AS350 - Conversion from FS9 to FSX avaible on hovercontrol.com
fspainter AS350 - also a conversion from fs9 tp FSX of the A-Star, new on simviation.com
Both are included in HTR!
Dirk Stuck`s BO105 - Easy to fly. The 3D-Model is very hungry on FPS. Also the Cockpit layout is based
on the german military BO105`s and converted in some different civil versions by him. Avaible on hovercontrol.com
Summit:If you don`t like to spend much money. first try out the default 206 Jetranger and the Hovercontrol Bell412.Especially the 412 is easier flying. after some Time try adding HTR and learn some new challenges.
If you like spending money, buy:
1. the Dodosim206 - and gett a full package with the offer of different difficulty levels on flying and systems
2. the Cerasim 212, 412 and/or 222 - great ones with even better quality by adding HTR.
3. the Lama from fsheli.ch - old but good lady
4. one of the other one`s I mentioned
Oops!! lots of words!
I hope it helps!
BTW: Yes, i noticed release of the Bell47. But didn`t buy it so far. The 47 is a classic and oldtimer, so I think it`s very interesting getting it into my virtual hangar.