The module simulates the Airbus Helicopter SA-342M Gazelle Viviane HOT for DCS World. Systems and Flight model.
All systems and the flight model have been simulated from available data in the manuals and tuned to fit real pilots and technicians feedbacks.
Rotor System Normal flight phases and autorotation are simulated. The OA209 airfoil has been taken as a reference and then tweaked to fit the real blades lift and drag. Lift and drag coefficients of the OA209 airfoil have been recorded from a wind tunnel simulation. Then the rotor lift and drag are calculated in real time in game. Blades flapping is simulated regarding the real time flight parameters. Rotor Rpm fits the charts when in autorotation.
Fuel System The fuel system follows the available charts from the manuals. Fuel consumption is calculated depending on aerodynamics (external loads), weight, atmosphere density, temperature and altitude, flight phase ...
Flight model All flight phases are simulated : Hover, Linear flight, turns, autorotation Vortex effect during hovering is functional. Ground effect is functional.
Navigation System All real Gazelle navigation devices are simulated : NADIR, ADF Radio, ADF/Sight/NADIR gauge (horizontal situation, ADF and waypoint indications)
Radio communication system The AM radio and the Intercom are simulated The FM radio (PR4G) is also simulated with custom datas and procedures due to its classified aspect.
Sounds Sounds of the cockpit have been extracted from original videos recorded by a Gazelle technician. Sounds of the Turbine and the rotor are original as well.
Weapons This gazelle simulation features the HOT3 missile and the needed devices to fire it. Video display : The TV displays a moving map and the Viviane sight datas Video command : The Video command allows to use the moving map or to display the Viviane sight datas. HOT missile console : it allows to make the missiles up to fire and is linked to the Video command console. Viviane (APX 397) sighting device : external camera linked to the weapon system. HOT3 missile : wire guided missile, the user has to guide the missile manually to the target until the impact.
Warning Receiver The warning receiver system is simulated through the sensors and a display (DRAXX 33) The real symbology is not used due to its classified aspect, a custom symbology is used instead.
Flare dispenser The Flaredispenser system includes the Flaredispenser cockpit command (MATRA B0) and the external launcher.
Lights system Cockpit lights and external navigation/anti-collision lights are simulated.
Damage system The damage system is simulated and includes external visual damages (rotor and blades, fuselage, main cockpit glass...) The effects of the damages are taken in count and change the flight conditions (aerodynamics, lift, speed ...) All systems include the damage effects too (electric, fuel, engine ...)
Multi-Crew The player can swap from the pilot position to the board commander position. Missiles can be fired only from the board commander position.
Performances Maximum speed during linear flight fits the charts. Ceiling fits the charts. Maximum vertical velocity fits the charts.
The start-up procedure follows the pilot manual.
Autopilot More than a real Autopilot, the Gazelle features a SAS (Stability Augmentation System) This feature is simulated as well in the module, and follows the real functions.
Lights All available lights systems from the real model have been simulated, including navigation lights, formation lights, strobe light, extend-able landing light. The cockpit features instruments internal light, UV light and a roof lamp with a move-able red lens so you can have a white or a red light.
All this is subject to change and will be updated in time.
Here is a little update of the pilot. The last 2 days I worked on the facial texture. I think right now I have hit the right color tone and placed the first basic color blocking of the helmet.
Next step, details on the helmet and at last the mic.
After that is done I will add some ageing and scratches to the objects. In basic you see there the internal view, which will be used for the external too, so the textures will stay the same and only be reduced in scale so it does not hit the gpu to much.
- Uses worst possible daylight conditions because DCS looks like ass during rain and in the dark - Poor lighting fails to show the helicopter cockpit details and external texture. - Music is horrifying. - Have to skip 20 seconds to actually see the copter
Either all of these things happened by sheer ineptitude of the developers or by intention. If so, they are trying to hide:
- sounds - textures, cockpit and external - We can't see any of the weapon systems or the tv thing in action.
And dont give me that "its a teaser" or "its wip". You have to land your first impression well, which is ruined. That copter is now in a public relations hole with the Hawk and it will take some seriously high detail cockpit screenshots in GOOD LIGHTING to convince me to buy it. Would have bought it blind, but after this trailer I won't.
HAwk all over again.
As a customer I want to see the product, and I do not want anything to get in between, like #%&*$# music, #%&*$# lighting so you cant see the textures.
For comparison, the Mig-15 teaser, 4 months before its release:
Shows a great extenal texture shot in good lighting, at 0:14. Developers said gazelle is weeks or even days away from release. And in this substandard quality? Meanwhile the BST people have flawless quality 4 months before a release? You get why I am skeptical? And so far the trajectory in DCS for teasers a few months out, is usually what you see iswhat will be delivered. Was true for Hawk and the Mig-15. So I do not expect an increase in quality.
SD, Thank You for taking your time to come here and share with us this model. She is a beauty and we appreciate her. As time goes on and the model is developed we will support it more and more. We simmers enjoy a departure from the mundane world of every day Mustangs and Eagles.
Since I don't make models of this type it is easy for me to admire this work.
Too late for that. They show one #%&*$# trailer, that makes it look like #%&*$#. The aircraft is now officially in #%&*$# land where no rainbows shine. Would have been an instant buy for me because I want more copters in DCS, but this trailer is so bad I wont go near it unless that thing improves drastically with a shiny shop page, highly detailed and well lit screenshots and trailers. And all of those things BEFORE or AT THE TIME of when a pre-order is shown. I wont get a marble texture covert early access module like the Hawk.
And somehow reverting the fault of the module looking like #%&*$# on the viewer because he watched an outdated trailer is a bit off.
Now all of that #%&*$# word I posted might seem harsh, but let's not forget they sell this stuff for probably at least 40€. So, wtf are they thinking