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.
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…
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 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 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 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 ModelThe Mi-6 Hook adopts a Zibom MI6 2D cockpit panel with gauges from An-12Bk and An-26, and Kazunori Ito's MI-12 Homer sound set replaces the original audio, by Michael E. Roberts. No VC panel appear…
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…
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 ModelThe Bell 47 On Skids FBXXJ uses a Gmax-based visual model featuring an operable cockpit and gauges, refined by Danny Garnier, building on Mermaz’s original framework. The design omits autopilot to …
Base ModelTwo designs for the EC-135 rotorcraft present German Rescue and Space Ship themes, gauges shift to xml gauges, and the model credits go to Heiko Richter with textures by Samy Fay and Sebastian Heck…
Payware RepaintBernhard Lechner documents a United Nations variant for the CH-53E, designed to operate with Nemeth Designs’ CH-53E FSX/SP2/ACC-aircraft. A UN-specific folder sits in SIMOBJECTS/ROTORCRAFT/ND_CH53E…
Base ModelRegistration OY-HDZ anchors a blue S-61 operated by Greenlandair, with Greenlandair leasing it from KLM Helicopters in 1988. David Harcastle provides the original model, while Jesper Isbosethsen su…
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…
RepaintNamed variant VH-71 pairs with the Agusta Westland EH-101, while Kaveh Payandeh creates the artwork. An accompanying image file VH71.gif anchors the presentation to a specific graphic asset, clarif…
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 ModelAn MH-6 variant reengineered from Tim Conrad’s OH-6A, Mark Rooks presents a Night Stalkers tribute. It uses the built-in rotorcraft panel and includes six components—Model, Panel, Sound, Texture, A…
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…
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…
Nemeth Designs' EC120B features a cockpit revised by Danny Garnier, gauges by Peter Nemeth, and an Australian demo variant, delivering a compact, well-detailed model that reflects the Eurocopter li…