Worth Buying?

Hi all,

Lunar sale on steam right now, and I'm wondering if it`s worth buy the module now or wait for BS3, since seems is going to be released this year...

Btw, I don`t have rudders pedals and find the huey really hard to fly, is the same with this bird?

Thank you!!

ED have said there will be a discount for owners of BS2.

As far as rudder pedals go, I personally found it better with pedals, but the majority of reports I've seen have said they flew it fine with a twist grip. :shrug:

I used a twist grip for a long time and it’s fine once you get used to it. Honestly the hardest thing about flying this chopper is learning how the trim works.

You might want to wait till BS3 unless you're really itching to get it. Great module but the cockpit is really dated and the lighting's kinda messed up.

P.S. I use a twist grip fine with it.

Its probably my favorite DCS helo module. And what everyone else said on price/BS3, though I can't imagine using a twist grip for choppers, but in this case figuring out how the AP is trying to kill you is the most important thing, and once that's solved its fairly easy to fly compared to the huey.

Lunar sale on steam right now, and I'm wondering if it`s worth buy the module now or wait for BS3, since seems is going to be released this year...

Yes, it's a good buy any time it's on sale.

The main 2.5.x issue that I'm aware of is it's "deferred lighting" and the Ka-50's cockpit panel lights i.e. Auto-pilot heading, roll, pitch buttons don't illuminate or are reversed (light when off).

Ricardo's cockpit mod fixes most of it but is imperfect.

Btw, I don`t have rudders pedals and find the huey really hard to fly, is the same with this bird?

The Ka-50 makes extensive use of it's auto-pilot, so is "easier" to fly but you'll still use the trimmer switch to disable the auto-pilot/use the rudder, when taking off or landing.

If you are able to fly the huey, you should be ok.

Indeed, regarding the twist-grip. "Normal" helicopters like the Huey have the anti torque rotor that needs constant (sometimes static) adjustment due to several phenomena, tedious with twist-grip.

The Ka-50 on the other hand has the coaxial twin rotors, effectively canceling the need for anti torque, hence much easier for twist-grip users.

I'll be frank in that I'm not sure why you'd want another helo if you don't enjoy the quintessential helo, that is the huey. Rotorwing is rotorwing. The Ka-50 has autopilots and systems to make it way more stable than the huey, but it is still a helicopter and not a fixed wing. I wouldn't want you to waste your money is all. Maybe helicopters aren't your thing? I dunno. I got the Ka-50 because I love helicopters.

It’s a great module, and you’ll get the cockpit/model/lighting fixes free regardless of whether you buy BS3 or not.

The 3rd edition has some systems added the real aircraft never had so that people can use it as it was never intended to be used...

If you’re happy with having only systems actually fitted, and flying it within the circumstances it would actually have been used in, no reason not to get it now.

Also - it’s fine with a twist stick - the only tricky thing is the AP, so depress the trimmer, change attitude, let the aircraft stabilise THEN release the trimmer.

Edit, why you’d like it more than the Huey is that it’s easier to fly, easier to land, easier to hover, faster, tougher, has better weapons, has a targeting pod and has stand-off capabilities...

And GPS and a real auto pilot :-)

Yes.

It's the first module I bought (back when it was just Ka-50 Back Shark and DCS was a glint in Oleg's eye) and it's the only one I really use. In spite of spending hundreds of pounds on several others.

The Gazelle is good but is just a trainer to me (because it's what I learned to fly a helicopter on). The Huey and Mi-8 don't really have missions or mission configs that light my candle so until the Hind arrives it's Black Shark all the way...

Do it for sure.

Part of the reason to choose this even if you aren't super in love with the huey is that it's a WAY more capable aircraft in every way aside from transport.

It kills the ever loving heck out of a LOT of stuff. If you run VR then the HMS is super, SUPER fun.

Yeah it's got its warts, but those will be fixed soon :). "soon" :).

Its probably my favorite DCS helo module. And what everyone else said on price/BS3, though I can't imagine using a twist grip for choppers, but in this case figuring out how the AP is trying to kill you is the most important thing, and once that's solved its fairly easy to fly compared to the huey.

Yea, I agree with all this. The shark is a blast to fly. I can't imagine flying any helo without pedals, but of all of them blackshart would be the easiest to do so

Interestingly, it's the only one I've managed to autorotate so far, largely cuz it can keep flying with damage that would send any other copter to the ground in flames...it's kinda funny to watch an autorotation after the whole book has gotten blown off!:megalol:

Soon we'll have an updated cockpit, like the one for the a-10c; BS3 will come later and there will be a discount for BS2 owners, while it's likely that when BS3 will be out it will be sold full price, so it's ok to buy it now: maybe you can save some money buying BS2 now with sales and then upgrade to BS3 with BS2 owners discount. No worry for the pedals because in the black shark, since it has no tail rotor, the use of pedals is not so important as in huey or mi-8.

I find the pedals are most important on the busy, followed by on the gazelle. You can get by in most situations with out them on the flying school bus .. unless you're trying to land precisely or doing slingload...ka50 gets some use out of them, but they're least needed on the shark compared to the other 3

That being said, the pedals are a worthwhile investment that enhance all the aircraft, once I had them I wouldn't want to do without (kinda like vr :). )

Definitely worth the money Especially since it's on special.Once you figure out the trim and stop feeling like the helicopter hates you and want's you dead you'll have a ball in it. The Vikhr Missiles are no joke either they wreck stuff, Very Satisfyingly.Enjoy:pilotfly:

I'd say go for it. This is a mean looking killing machine that can devastate enemy units rapidly and once you master the trimming on it (a few good videos on YT explaining) you'll have a great time. ED will look after you discount wise when the upgrades arrive pretty sure they said the new cockpit is free.

No question, great price for a great module. BS is one of my favorites. I would strongly encourage pedals. I plan on getting the BS3 myself,,, I started with BS1, no regrets. For the price, you at least get a handle on it so you can decide if you really want BS3.

Thank you all for the advices! I went for it and it seems a very interesting module. Didn`t have much time to fly it, but I saw why everybody talks about trimming. I reset the trimmer and the Bs went 90º nose up!!

@Relic, don`t get me wrong, I love the huey, is the chopper I grew up seeing in the sky, but without peddals is hard to master.

I recommend getting yourself some pedals once your budget allows, you won't be disappointed. Useful for all aircraft, especially so for helos

Yeah you won't generally need trimmer "reset" much... unles something quite bad has happened...

You will need the trim button though. A lot :).

The idea is to hold the trim button while changing the aircraft's attitude, then release trim when the airframe stabilizes. You'll be HOLDING the trim button IN a LOT.

You'll be HOLDING the trim button IN a LOT.

I just hopped back in this module last night, took off from the Kuz, and landed in the Petr Veliky. I bought the original when it was stand alone almost 11 years ago. It was overwhelming to me then, twist grip Saitek, etc. Now it feels better than the other helos, I have pedals and VR. Incredible experience. Still can be a handful in normal flight, (though it helped I learned to fly a real helo). Go for it, much enjoyment there!

It is easy. You have to press and hold the trim button while you are performing a maneuver, and release the trim after you finish the maneuver and stabilize the helicopter. For your understanding of how the trim works: when you are pressing the trim button autopilot is giving you control on the helicopter, and when you release the trim the autopilot takes control over the helicopter again.

Yes my favorite module I invest a lot of time to learn it... still not fill comfortable for 100% ;) but pedals IMHO is a must I have "Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals" not the best but they do their job, better then nothing...