EC135 engine upgrade / weight reduction?

  • I am continuously blown away by the new EC135 that we now have to play with. It is a superb model and will drive heli / VR enthusiasts to the AFS2 platform in droves. I have but one simple request, after having put it to work out of Lukla - an engine upgrade, or alternatively an option to reduce weight. What would be a superb platform to use on missions up to Everest basecamp (or beyond) is simply put - to anemic to be of much use at these altitudes. We really need a helicopter that is able to hover in ground effect up at basecamp, something the EC135 is currently unable to do. Which brings me to the question in the thread title - can we possibly get a P3 version of the EC135 with the the upgraded PW206B3 engines? These engines are putting out 528kW (708 shp) (TOP rating) to improve the high altitude capabilities, or - alternatively - could we get an option to ditch unnecessary weight to improve the performance? I fully realize that this is no Llama (nor did you set out to create one), but with the superb Mountain scenery for the Himalayas (with helipads Galore), we really need a chopper that can fly up there. So please, preddy please - give us an engine upgrade?8o

    Flying A330 as a day-job and enjoy VR-flying with PIMAX 5k+. NextLevelRacing v.3 Motion platform, Watercooled and overclocked i9-9900k, 32Gb 3600RAM, Samsung 970EVO Pro 2Tb m.2, nVidia RTX-2080Ti FE, Thrustmaster HOTAS, VKB pedals, Cockpitforyou motorised throttle quadrant, Precision Flight Controls Jetliner column

  • I totally get (and appreciate) the quest to be "realistic" but - the thing is, we have great base-sim in AFS2, with a superb add-on in the EC135. The aftermarket scenery for Lukla and Everest Park is the most immersive mountain scenery of any platform, with dozens of helipads. It's just that we have no way of combining the 3. Could you not indulge us with a version of the EC135 with beefed up engines and transmission, that make this playground available to us? Or, perhaps a way to reduce the weight of the helicopter to a minimum, so that a solo pilot with minimum fuel onboard could have a play up at altitude? I'm not having a whinge and I totally appreciate the work you guys do. This is just long-time customers feedback and request for some lee-way with the quest for realism, as it is after all targeted at consumers. As far as I have been able to ascertain - you do not currently sell a Professional version to the flight training industry, but when (or if) you do, let me know, as I'd very much like to invest in and buy such a product.

    Thanks again.

    Flying A330 as a day-job and enjoy VR-flying with PIMAX 5k+. NextLevelRacing v.3 Motion platform, Watercooled and overclocked i9-9900k, 32Gb 3600RAM, Samsung 970EVO Pro 2Tb m.2, nVidia RTX-2080Ti FE, Thrustmaster HOTAS, VKB pedals, Cockpitforyou motorised throttle quadrant, Precision Flight Controls Jetliner column

    Edited once, last by Ozav8r: typo (September 8, 2020 at 2:59 PM).

  • Hi jan

    Speaking as a novice here... would it be possible for the simulator to have 2 TMD files, one for weight and balance plus the standard TMD/TMQ.

    If the sim read the weight tmd first and then carried this data over to the standard file would this be allowed. Most of the required data is already at the beginning of the TMD/TMQ at present and that would leave only the fuel data. A little more work for us designers ( as if we don't have enough already ;)) I agree but perhaps something we could introduce into the work flow from day 1.


    Hmmmm

    Now I sit and think some more I see where the complications start to enter. This would require a further menu from where to input the data and this would need to be sent to the weight tmd and now were getting way past my pay grade.

    I guess my ramblings may well answer Ozav8r opening question.

    Steve

  • As shown in the attached sales blurb from Airbus Helicopters, the T3/P3 can hover in ground effect at 13.300’ at MTOW. I don’t have access to a Flight Manual for the EC135, but it wouldn’t be stretching “reality” too much that hover in ground effect could also take place at Everest Basecamp, elevation 17.598’ at a significantly lower weight! Basic Empty Weight for the T3/P3 is only 1.482kg, so with a 80 kilo pilot and a fuel load of 400 kilos, you could model the EC135 at an operational weight below 2.000 kilos, a full 1 Tonne below MTOW. I would bet the EC135 would easily Hover in Ground Effect at that weight, with the power output of the P3 model.

    C’mon IPACS - I really urge you not to dismiss this suggestion - it would allow us to fly the brilliant EC135 in the best mountain scenery and the YouTube scenery generated by the enthusiasts would drive new customers to the sim. It’s a win-win!

    Images

    Flying A330 as a day-job and enjoy VR-flying with PIMAX 5k+. NextLevelRacing v.3 Motion platform, Watercooled and overclocked i9-9900k, 32Gb 3600RAM, Samsung 970EVO Pro 2Tb m.2, nVidia RTX-2080Ti FE, Thrustmaster HOTAS, VKB pedals, Cockpitforyou motorised throttle quadrant, Precision Flight Controls Jetliner column

  • The current EC135 that we have been given by IPACS is a superb model, and I hope my request is not seen as a child that was given a bike for his birthday, and now cries because he wanted a different colour. I don’t think anyone had any expectation that the next aircraft model developed by the IPACS team should be a freebie, and we all understand that you need to monetise the ongoing development and support work within the sim-platform. The thing though, is that as we have access to the (payed add-on) of a brilliant Himalaya mountain scenery, with a liberal inclusion of helipads at strategic locations (including Everest Basecamp) there is an unfulfilled need to go and explore it with a helicopter. I was really hoping that the EC135 would be that helicopter and I am merely trying to build an argument that it COULD be, without spoiling the REALISM of the current model, by adding engine power or reducing the modelled weight (or a combination of both). I’m certainly not expecting anyone at IPACS to jump up and humour every request or whim we have, so I’ve just put it out there for your consideration, hoping that you might see the logic in the request. I will certainly continue to enjoy all the other good aspects of the sim.

    Cheers - Eivind

    Flying A330 as a day-job and enjoy VR-flying with PIMAX 5k+. NextLevelRacing v.3 Motion platform, Watercooled and overclocked i9-9900k, 32Gb 3600RAM, Samsung 970EVO Pro 2Tb m.2, nVidia RTX-2080Ti FE, Thrustmaster HOTAS, VKB pedals, Cockpitforyou motorised throttle quadrant, Precision Flight Controls Jetliner column