Real Control Forces - Question to Real Pilots

Hi Guys,

Just courious: could a pilot with real MI-17 experience somehow describe the control forces on this heavy wonder? Is it heavy or rather a "fingertip" aircraft like the Bell Jet Ranger or AS350?

Cheers ,

Tamas

The controls are fully hydraulic so the pilot is shielded from real physical forces I'd guess. But I'm not a RL helo pilot so what do I know :)

As mentioned above, due to the hydraulics, the only control forces are those required to moved 12 feet of control tubes. So not much.

You'll also have to account for the stick force gradient which looks to have fairly strong springs, relatively speaking.

You'll also have to account for the stick force gradient which looks to have fairly strong springs, relatively speaking.

Yep those forces are shown clearly in the manuals, but I don't have them in front of me. And remember those are only there if you don't press the trimmer button. They might be in the flight controls powerpoint that I did, but I don't remember.

You wouldn't happen know where I could look for some actual numbers? I've been going through the Mi17 manual but it doesn't have much in terms of specifics.

Thank you captains,

I know that is hydraulic, I read about artifical control load by springs, trim, etc.

What I really asked is not engineering thing, just the subjective feeling of the controls by someone who has flown the Magnificient.

Cheers,

Tamas

Well it's going to be very subjective. What I think is "light" you may not think is so light. But I think it's very light as long as the trimmer is held in. I rest my arm on my leg and just make most movements with just my wrist.

(EDIT: Just to be clear, I am talking about the real helicopter. Although I am not a rated helicopter pilot, I have many hours flying the Mi-8/17)

Thank you Alpha, that's what I wanted... and you are lucky!