Reviews (by Chris)

I am new to simulation helicopters. This one caught my attention since, as an older (60!) simmer I wanted a helicopter that dated from the days of my own youth. I remember building a scale model of the S-55 as a kid way back in the 60's. I always admired the macho look of this machine. This is by far superior to the helicopters that come standard with Prepar3D. It is NOT easy to land, but if you configure a second joystick to replace (for helicopters, at least) you current throttle, this bird will reward you with a fair bit of challenge and realism. The collective (pitch) can be configured separately from the throttle if you have a twist-grip second joystick, which adds to a more realistic helicopter "feel." I think the visual model, while not quite as top-notch as some other offerings, is quite good. The VC is also good. On the downside, the manual could be a little more complete ( I still can't figure out how to open those clamshell doors hiding that big radial engine) and I wish they had included a few more liveries (US Navy would have been nice), but for the money, I am having a blast with it and would buy it again. If you are looking for a respectable, enjoyable vintage helicopter that is Prepar3d v.4 ready, you won't go wrong with this one.