FSX doesn't only allow users to fly fixed-wing aircraft; they can also download and install helicopter and rotorcraft expansions too. Most people buy Microsoft Flight Simulator X in order to pilot large, commercial aircraft and civil jets, however there is also a market and niche group for helicopter add-ons.
Image shows a Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft in FSX. While not technically a "helicopter", this does fall under the rotorcraft section.
In this section, there are many well known and popular helicopters from manufacturers such as Bell, Eurocopter, Hughes and Boeing. Featured in this section are a range of civilian passenger helicopters, as well as military and combat choppers such as the well known Apache attack helicopter which has been used in many desert combat operations around the world.
There are also many helicopter missions available to compliment the add-on packages, which are viewable here.
Installing these downloads is just as easy as any of the other aircraft or packages on the website and most of the files come with detailed installation instructions and "readme" documents inside. If you are having a hard time, there are many tutorials on our forum which will explain in detail the procedure - users can also create a new topic specific to their own problem.
Helicopters are much harder to fly in any flight simulator package, and in real life for that matter - there is a lot more going on in the cockpit of a helicopter compared to that of a fixed wing aircraft. As well as controlling pitch, rotor angle and engine speed - pilots also have to control many of the other systems that go with it.
Many users complain that "helicopters are impossible to fly in FSX", but they really haven't given them a chance. Users must be patient, persistent and once they get used to the different method of flying, they are usually very happy and include rotorcraft flight into their daily "flight simmin'" routine.
Over twelve Huey models and six finishes populate the lineup, derived from Jordan Moore's original model today. Wayne Farrell assembles them, aligning the designs with the source and preserving the…
Base ModelTwo U.S. Army CH-47D Chinooks bear markings of the 1st Cavalry Division, 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, while U.S. Marine Corps variants reflect details from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. …
Base ModelTwo named variants, Medivac and NY Police Dept., accompany multiple finishes. The cockpit features a Virtual Cockpit and a 2D panel, with external views included, and original contributors include …
Base ModelTolga Piskin creates the helicopter model, while Eric Buchmann provides adaptation, and the project centers on a Huey lineage design for reference. A bell_h1.gif image accompanies the work, offerin…
An AH-1S Cobra helicopter configuration includes a minigun effect and lacks a virtual cockpit. Wayne Farrell composes the work, updating Kim 'Zeki' BoHyun's original version, and cobra.gif is shown…
Base ModelTwo variants exist, German Rescue and Space Ship, for the EC-135. Heiko Richter provides the original model, while Samy Fay and Jason Sparkes handle surface work, reflecting collaboration among cre…
Base ModelThe Bell 214, a medium-lift helicopter derived from the UH-1 Huey, appears with Iran Army markings. Developer Mohammad Faali delivers a complete model that includes the aircraft itself, aligning th…
Base ModelThe EC145 REGA variant features a 3D model, a virtual cockpit, and a flight model credited to Laurent Hadorn, with sound by Christian Spaltenstein and a 2D panel and instruments by Franz Haider. Th…
Base ModelAS332L2 offers moving parts, a virtual cockpit, and new gauges. Rain and ice effects accompany realistic night lighting, and Dirk Fassbender and Hauke Keitel contribute the model that supports a va…
Base ModelUKMIL presents the Gazelle AH1 under the UKMIL label, and a detailed README.PDF is available for full details. A cover image accompanies the Gazelle AH1, referencing the same README.PDF for full de…
North-Cal Prop Club handles the work for the Ecureuil variant helicopter, credited to Daniel McCarthy, with model work by Tamas Nemeth and Peter Nemeth and repaints by Batki Zoltan, plus a 2D panel…
Base ModelAlan Devins crafts the A109A helicopter, shaping models, textures and flight dynamics, while Tonni Jorgensen handles panel views and Steve Hanley tunes engine gauges. Danny Garnier adds a thumbnail…
Base ModelPiasecki H-21C, nicknamed Flying Banana, adds a virtual cockpit and custom gauges, plus new flight dynamics and audio, along with checklist procedures from pre-flight to shutdown, while introducing…
Payware RepaintGerman Army search and rescue helicopter UH-1D SAR 71 operates around Hamburg and is based at the Hamburg-Wandsbek military hospital. Its historical window runs from 1973 to 2006, and the aircraft …
Base ModelTwo-seat Kamov helicopter receives cockpit changes by incorporating Daniel da Silva’s Hokum B panel and Vladimir Zhyhulskiy’s An-12BK gauges with Henry Kelsall’s TSR2 HUD, credited to Michael E. Ro…
Base ModelAS350 rotorcraft, original by FSpainter and Florian Laroye, appears with a thumbnail by Danny Garnier and the image file name n350ba.gif, and it receives compatibility testing to verify operability…
Base ModelBell 430 variant carries a 1968 marking, with flight model credited to Alan Devins and contributions by David Grindele. It remains virus and malware free and shows no known issues, reflecting stabl…
Payware RepaintA CAF Bell 412 variant family builds on the Bell_412_EP base, presenting ten variants such as 422, 420, 475, 493, and 489, each linked to distinct atc_id values like 146422 and 146489. Cera Simairc…
Three model variations exist for the AS350B3 family: AS350B3_trans, AS350B3_hoist, and AS350B3_hoist_b, each presenting alternate configurations. The base payware model is from Nemeth Design, and t…
Payware RepaintA Nemeth Designs base helicopter receives a Chilean navy color treatment with a dedicated ui_variation for Chilean service. It relies on the original Nemeth design airframe and credits Nemeth Desig…