Yo ppl,

Almigty Discovery channel once taught me that a Hind was so heavy it could hardly take off without gaining some forward speed on the ground first. I already noticed this the very first time when I tried to get the flying piece of concrete airborne in EECH. Also, when I try to get the damn thing into a hover, I notice it's weight too. It can't remain at the same altitude, let alone ascent. Is this indeed the aircraft's weight or is there something wrong with my engines? Perhaps not running at 100%?

The Mi-24 is more underpowered than the other helicopters, yes. Particulary at higher altitudes (and several of the maps have bases at fairly high altitudes).

But if you're doing a manual start up then make sure you've increased governor RPM all the way. If you do then rotor RPM (gauge 14 in the image below) should show 97.5%. If do get that then you have all the power you're going to get.

Ok, then it's indeed the machine's mass which makes it unable to maintain a hover without moving in any direction. Thanks.