Let's just start with I'm very old. Just had a PC built and still learning how to use a PC. I'm in the process of purchasing my collective from Virpil. But I'm also still trying to figure out all the settings for my thrust master warthog throttle and stick and the Tpl rudder pedal. I'm having a hard time due to each jet and each helicopter has different settings. So I'm still struggling along learning how to set them all up. One of these years I might even be able to figure out how to use the Lazer and lock it into something and fire a rocket. But I love your videos and hope they help this old fellow out. Thanks and keep the helpful videos coming.

Hey there - We found this video to be quite helpful and even the manual link you posted was helpful as well. So thanx so much for creating this video and for showing us how its done. Truly a great video dude :)

Glad to see I'm not the only Coast Guard Chief into DCS.

This angle you're using it in the end is very rough. Doesn't look very ergonomic and you'll have problems being able to use the dual stage apache collective in this configuration. I recommend raising the base itself so that it bottoms out without you having to reach down and moving it forward. The collective grip in a normal seating position would then be "in line" with your crotch roughly and the arm just extended, no leaning forward or something. I'd also suggest dropping the limiter down down to 40° or keeping it at default if you have the throttle variant. The angle is just way too steep if the collective arm is elongated - which it is in your case with the throttle grip. The apache grip worsens that problem. Virpil also did an oopsie on this - the counter balance kit can NOT go on it if it's vertical. The spring is supposed to be screwed and fixed in the round hole in the bracket - you can measure and will see the distance of the round and square holes is different. Seriously the biggest flaw of this hardware that must be addressed on a v2 version.

Thanks for posting. I followed your video step by step, and it worked out very well. Great job thanks.

The HIND is my favourite helicopter entirely :D

Great video many thanks very useful. 👌I am waiting for mine to be delivered.

Good choice for the Helicopter

Thanks for the detailed video, one thing that bothered looking was the collective angle in the end, your arm does not look comfortable to me sir. Maybe try installing the collective mount higher and slightly forward, so that your elbow doesnt go behind your back. But if you enjoy it this way, then this is how you like it. cheers

Just found this, i got mine setup probably about the same time you did. I also got the blackhawk grip and twist throttle, ( i actually dont use the twist, only for the look). Have you flown the Blackhawk mod, I love it, definitely my favorite. Nice to see virpil came out with their own counter balance, i got the one the guy makes and sells on etsy, with the little bolted weights, it works perfectly, anyway, thanks for the videos, oh the only other thing i did differently, (I also have the same chair, by the way) is i mounted my collective on some 2x4s that i screwed directly to my floor, so super solid, that chair isnt going anywhere so it works for me. Also for head tracking i use , AI Track and Open track, but not with the ir lights they didn;t work for me. I use the one that just sees your face, not perfect but good enough.

Thank you for your response to my message you are the only one I follow that does so I might just cancel those other u tube subscriptions and just wait for your next video thanks again

Ugh, this is the last thing I need. My wallet is already trying to hide in my couch with my computer aging to a point that DCS is struggling a bit, and now with the Apache collective out, it's ready to jump off the roof. I need to grab the Virpil rudder dampener attachment for the rudder pedals when it comes out. That thing looks like it will make helicopter flying a lot easier. Watching it, this is definitely why I was thinking about using that kind of piping to build my own little throttle/collective stand. I usually just use desk mounts, but it would be nice to have something I could slide under my desk and out of the way that would allow me to have my throttle on top and then mount a collective on the side to use as needed. I also didn't see the appeal of the helicopters initially, but then once I found the joy of the hand flying fun that is the Mi-8 and Mi-24, I was hooked on helicopter in general. The Mi-24 really does feel like you're throwing around a massive murder bus.

Hey there, I've got the Thrustmaster Warthog I use on a "goose-neck" extension for flying helis in DCS, MSFS and X-Plane and I have just ordered the VIRPIL TCS Rotor Base Plus with the UH-60 grip, both of which I now see as on "Back-Order" - goddammit. That gives me time to work out how and to what I'm going to mount the base as the VPC Chair Mount won't work with my office chair. I am thinking of drilling holes in the covered wooden base of my office chair to enable me to mount the VPC Base's bracket directly to the underside of it with the bracket as shown in "Option #1" of the online Rotor Plus TCS Base User Manual, probably with a couple of metal sheets on either side of the chair's wooden base for re-enforcement - if that works I don't care if it looks ugly!!! But I don't know the size and spacing of the various pre-drilled holes on the bracket. The bracket itself it is 152mm x 83mm as depicted in one of the images on the Rotor Plus TCS Base product page so I want to make a template and have the holes drilled for when it all arrives from VIRPIL UK. Are you aware of any such drawings/schematics? Also, what pedals are you using? TIA, Guy

Ok, so I'm gonna be a bit lazy and ask, what are you using for head tracking? TrackIR or is it full VR? I have the HP VR rig and I like it, but using switches and such is a pain because you can't see your controls and such. Was thinking of trying trackIR and wondered what you thought of it? Oh, and yeah, the Hind is a blast... 🙂

What's the length of that extrusion you have there?

I would suggest your collective is mounted too low... never had a collective lever that low in any helicopter I've been in.