HeliNews

The HeliNews theme tune is crafted from a selection of whirlybird sound samples. The HeliNews anchor sits behind a desk made from an AH-64 stub wing, and, after delivering his topical snippets, is winched out of shot by a Pegasus Rescue Hoist mounted on the studio ceiling.

Owners of the latest DCS flyable are lucky enough to have a real CH-47F pilot as an unofficial tutor. ‘47Driver’ flies Chinooks for the US Army, and has made a series of illuminating instructional vids about Eagle Dynamics’ tandem-rotor WIP.

Jimmy Arcade’s likeable sim-cade hybrid, Helicopter Gunship DEX, will be getting a CH-47 soon. The heavyweight will join a roster of flyables recently enlarged by a version of the profoundly weird AH-56 Cheyenne.

Like a better-known cancelled military chopper, the Cheyenne could get a wiggle on when necessary. However, unlike the Comanche, the AH-56 relied upon a tail-mounted pusher prop and sizeable wings for its bursts of speed. Technical problems, political friction, and lessons learned in Vietnam, led to the costly Cheyenne programme being terminated in 1972. Of the ten machines produced, two were destroyed during testing, and four survived the cutter’s torch.

Thunder Helix, a very acceptable Early Access alternative to Helicopter Gunship DEX, comes with a surrogate Comanche in addition to Apache and Huey lookalikes. Yesterday evening, tempted by ‘Alpha Strike’, a new scenario that generates different objectives, threats, supply caches, and start and end locations each time you play it, I spent a pleasant hour hiding behind hills, and savaging Scud and SAM launchers, in the stealthy ‘Raven’. If the other eight scenarios and three campaigns David Walters has planned are equally enjoyable and replayable, Thunder Helix will leave EA in great shape.

Another light nostalgic heli sim that’s maturing nicely is RotorSim by Immaculate Lift Studio.

Completely free and resolutely third-person, this solo project offers simplified yet challenging aerodynamics, a small but charming environment, and – via its growing selection of missions – an endearing dash of story.

As in all the best heli games, winching is encouraged and you can land almost anywhere including atop any flat-roofed buildings.

Defender Patrol felt like a long lost Digital Integration prototype without 3D RPG grenadiers. With them, Apache and Hind flashbacks are guaranteed.

Currently, in preparation for steeds other than the MD 530, developer Hijong Park has been working on door gunners and head-tracking gun turrets.

The news that Flight Sim owners now have access to a rather lovely Westland Scout/Wasp isn’t exactly fresh, but the following promotional vid was much too pretty not to include it in this round-up.