If you are curious about the previous articles, here’s the one from 2016 and you can find the one from 2019 here.
You will notice FSX was removed since it was replaced by MSFS (2020). Even if folks are using it (and being sold on Steam), I decided to go with the latest versions of each sim, and MSFS is the last one.
If you are still interested in checking out the pros and cons, you can check out the previous articles, which are linked above.
I have also decided to remove sims that are a bit older and/or are less active, meaning they have not had updates for a long time or are not that relevant. This is a bit tricky for me but, seriously, I am trying to focus on the best options out there and I have to be realistic with what goes on this list.
If you just want the TL;DR part, scroll down to the end of this article.
I would like to thank the community members that sent me their screenshots. Credits are under the images below. The screenshots without any credits are our own.
Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)
Screenshot by community member Alwyn Cooper
The new kid on the block, for this year’s article. Microsoft Flight Simulator or MSFS was released back in 2020 and, therefore, the community started calling it MSFS 2020, although that is not the official name. Funny enough, the team started to call it that way over time too.
Helicopters were not present from the beginning, and that was a deliberate choice by the team that wanted to add them later as they needed to get the foundation as solid as possible before adding the complex, crazy flying machines into the sim.
Screenshot by community member Damien Gaze
And so they did. Helicopters finally got into MSFS in November 2022, with the 40th anniversary edition of the sim.
Microsoft Flight Simulator has a lot of very interesting and complex features. The scenery is impressive as is the overall graphics quality. The flight dynamics are quite good and the team has been improving it over time. There are quite a few things that still need work but Microsoft and Asobo – the team behind the development of the sim – have been very active, communicative and the sim saw over 35 updates already, between sim updates (that improve the core sim) and world updates, which cover countries or larger regions, to further improve the scenery.
Screenshot by community member Mike Luchia
With MSFS you can fly the world with unparallel VFR visuals. Just like its predecessor (Microsoft Flight Simulator X – or FSX for shorts), it brings thousands of airports, navigation aids, and everything else you need to fly the world.
There is also a nice selection of aircraft (which depends on the version you buy) but all of them will allow you to fly the 2 default helicopters – the Bell 407 and the Guimbal Cabri G2.
Just like with helicopters, VR was not shipped with the initial version but was added later (before helicopters) and MSFS is one of the sims with better VR performance for me.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (this time, it actually has the year in the name) was announced and it will bring performance improvements and expand on what helicopters can do.
Where to get it
You can find MSFS in the Microsoft Store.
In a nutshell
Pros
- Excellent world scenery available;
- Lots of excellent free and paid scenery, aircraft, and other add-ons;
- Fully VR-compatible with great VR performance;
- Very active development team and constant updates (1 per month);
- MS promised long-term support to the platform;
- Out-of-the-box native multiplayer (no voice features though);
- Most of the cockpits are interactive (depending on the aircraft);
Cons
- It can still be considered a young sim so it has a lot of room for improvement;
- A good computer is recommended, especially for VR but it performs surprisingly well in medium-range rigs;
- Requires internet connection for best results;
Lockheed Martin Prepar3D v6 (P3D)
Screenshot by community member George Arana
P3D is one of the veterans and Lockheed Martin (LM) has released the 6th version of the sim.
Not much has changed since 2019. The sim continues to be developed as what could be called a base for commercial projects. It’s still based on Microsoft’s ESP, which was the engine that powered FSX, although there were some rumors in the community that the next version of the sim could be done in Unreal. Unfortunately, I had already confirmed that it wouldn’t happen, at least just yet and it seems like LM doesn’t have any plans to do that in the near future.
Screenshot by community member George Arana
LM still relies on the SDK to build custom solutions and this includes better flight dynamics. Prepar3D didn’t seem to change that and we are not seeing advances in key areas such as flight dynamics. Helicopters continue to not be exactly stellar.
With Prepar3D you can also fly the world, just like with MSFS, but don’t expect the same quality.
Where to get it
You can find it on the official website.
In a nutshell
Pros
- World scenery available;
- Lots of excellent free and paid scenery, aircraft, and other add-ons;
- Fully VR-compatible;
- Most of the cockpits are interactive (depending on the aircraft);
Cons
- The helicopter flight model is not great;
Laminar Research’s X-Plane 12
Screenshot by community member Nico Pienaar
X-Plane is now on version 12, after a huge overhaul by Laminar Research (LR), the sim has been going through some growing pains but LR was able to add some great features.
Photometric Lighting Engine, 3D Water, Seasonal Effects, Tropical Water Colors,3D Forests and Vegetation, Ambient Sounds, Volumetric 3D Clouds, Real Weather, Wake Turbulence, Microbursts, Thermals and Snow, Rain, and Ice Accumulation are a few of the things that were added or improved to the sim.
Screenshot by community member Nico Pienaar
The flight dynamics are fantastic. This is still one of the best sims for helicopters but I have been having serious performance issues with VR.
X-Plane also allows you to fly the world and no, it’s not the same quality as MSFS.
Screenshot by community member Nico Pienaar
Oh, and the default R22 is quite the beast. It’s easily one of the best helicopters out there right now.
Where to get it
You can buy X-Plane 12 at the official website.
In a nutshell
Pros
- World scenery available;
- Lots of excellent free and paid scenery, aircraft, and other add-ons;
- Fully VR-compatible;
- Great flight model for helicopters;
- Free demo available;
- Cockpits are interactive (depending on the aircraft);
Cons
- When this article was released, X-Plane 12 still struggles (a lot) with VR performance;
Eagle Dynamics Digital Combat Simulator 2.8 (DCS)
Screenshot by community member Alwyn Cooper
DCS is still considered by many the pinnacle of combat flight simulation and helicopter flight simulation. That’s the same sentence I used back in 2019, and it holds 4 years later.
That still comes at a toll and all aircraft are still more expensive than those we usually find on other sims (let’s not get into the $100+ aircraft talk here). But, let me tell you, they are of great quality, even if most of the time they are being sold as ‘early access’.
Screenshot by community member Damien Gaze
You can’t fly the world like with other sims in this list but the maps are almost hand drawn. Being small areas, it’s easier for developers to focus on details and hand-positioning objects, so you can expect great-looking areas to fly at – although limited in number.
Since 2019 we got 2 new helicopters, the AH-64D Apache and the Mil Mi-24P, raising the number of helicopters available in the sim to 6. Polychop Simulations also updated their SA342 Gazelle and they have been working on the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior which, we hope, shall be released later this year, but no promises can be made at this time.
Screenshot by community member Alwyn Cooper
Oh, and you can share some of the helicopters with other users. You can fly with 3 other simmers in the Huey or partner up with another person in the Apache. Of course, everyone will have to have the helicopter installed as well.
Where to get it
You can download it for free at the official website. I recommend you get the Open Beta version as that is usually quite stable and always up-to-date with the latest stuff.
Pros
- Great flight model for helicopters;
- Fully VR-compatible;
- Free demo available but only for fixed wings (come on, ED!). It will allow you to see how it runs on our computer, though;
- A must-have for any military aircraft fan;
- Cockpits are interactive;
- Powerful mission editor;
Cons
- Limited (and paid) scenery (no flying around the world);
- Limited (and paid) number of helicopters;
- Perhaps not exactly a ‘con’ but it is advisable to use the Open Beta since you’ll be able to use the latest modules (aircraft), some of which may only be available on this branch;
FlightGear 2000.3.18
Screenshot by community member Stuart Cassie
FlightGear is an open-source and free flight simulation software that has been around for quite a few years.
There are a lot of free helicopters out there and FGUK has been quite active in the development and distribution of these machines.
Screenshot by community member Stuart Cassie
You will find great flight dynamics and constant sim updates but don’t expect anything like what MSFS has been doing. Updates in FlightGear may or not be hugely impactful and you won’t get shiny new stuff the whole time but the team does bring some cool stuff now and then.
Unfortunately, it does not offer VR yet, but it seems like the team has been taking a look at it.
Where to get it
Download it, for free, at the official website.
In a nutshell
Pros
- Worldwide scenery available;
- Free and open source;
- Good choice of helicopters;
- Good flight dynamics;
- Some cockpits are interactive;
Cons
- It’s an open-source product, managed by a development team and that means they are not looking at it commercially. Don’t expect them to do stuff to “please the masses”;
- Not exactly easy to set up and use;
- No VR support;
- Scenery is not very detailed;
Bohemia Interactive ARMA III
Screenshot by community member Alwyn Cooper
No, ARMA 3 is not an actual flight simulator, but it does have aircraft – namely helicopters – and, right now, it’s the product that allows you to do the most. You can share the helicopter with other players, fly them around, drop them somewhere, provide CAS, get them to fast-rope on top of buildings – and they will actually get IN the building.
Screenshot by community member Alwyn Cooper
There’s just so much to do and the flight dynamics are not too bad either if you use the Advanced Flight Model.
The scenery is limited but handcrafted so there are lots of details although you will not be able to fly around the world.
Screenshot by community member Alwyn Cooper
It’s a lot of fun with a lot of stuff to do.
Where to get it
You can get it on Steam and you will it on sale quite often.
In a nutshell
Pros
- Good flight dynamics, if you use the Advanced Flight Model.
- Amazing scenery and performance even in very detailed areas;
- Ability to interact with other players, have them board the helicopter, etc.
- Amazing multiplayer abilities;
- Very powerful mission editor;
Cons
- ARMA III is not a flight simulator but an infantry simulator. Helicopters just happen to be there;
- No helicopter systems or very basic ones;
- No VR support;
- You can’t fly around the world;
IPACS Aerofly FS 4
IPACS threw us a curved ball by releasing version 4 of the sim. Why a curved ball? Well, because the version before v4 was… v2. Yes, they went from 2 to 4. Why?
I have no idea.
Aerofly FS4 comes with 3 helicopters, the R22, H135, and UH-60 Black Hawk. The flight dynamics on the sim have always been absolutely fantastic. For some time the R22 was the best helicopter in any sim out there (yes, really) but I have to say the X-Plane 12 one is pretty close to it.
Performance is also fantastic. VR is pure bliss with very high framerates but there is a reason for that: the world of Aerofly is pretty stale. Water is still not water, there’s no ground traffic, no boat traffic, and no actual weather system, for example.
The sim has progressed a lot with the release of v4 but it’s still not the sim I would like it to be.
You can fly the world but the scenery is quite poor, although there are some areas (such as portions of the US and Europe) that are of high detail.
Aerofly FS4 is a great helicopter sim but if you find the aspects I mentioned above to be important, it may not be your thing.
Where to get it
You can get it on Steam. You can also find it on sale now and then.
In a nutshell
Pros
- Fantastic flight dynamics;
- You can fly worldwide with great scenery quality in some areas;
- Fully supports VR;
Cons
- High-quality scenery is limited;
- Not a lot of helicopters are available;
- The world is quite stale;
The verdict
All right, here’s the TL;DR part of this.
This is where I express my opinion on the subject based on what I am looking for in a sim. After all, the sim I use is always better than yours.
Except for v6 of P3D (I do have v5), I own all the sims I mention in this article. I may get P3D v6 in the future but, honestly, I haven’t seen any reasons to upgrade as I didn’t find anything that will improve helicopters in it.
So, my opinion will be based on 2 things:
- My experience with the sims;
- My needs;
And it all comes down to a balance. No sim is perfect. They are all flawed somehow. The trick, for me, is to find a balance between the several things I value and go with the one that offers me the most.
Here is my reasoning:
Combat operations are not vital to me. So DCS and ARMA3 are not something that I would consider mandatory. If I wanted to go with military stuff, I would choose DCS. It’s a no-brainer. But, I can use DCS and ARMA 3 as civilian sims so they are not off the races just because they are military-focused pieces of software.
The next thing is flight dynamics. Unfortunately, this means we will have to remove Prepar3D from the list as we don’t have a good supply of helicopters with great flight dynamics.
The next thing to check out is the scenery. I want to be able to fly anywhere in the world and this shortens our list.
ARMA3 and DCS do not offer this at all and Aerofly FS4 has quite limited decent scenery.
This leaves us with 3 choices: MSFS, X-Plane, and FlightGear.
The 3 sims have good flight dynamics, we can fly the world, but only 2 have VR, which leaves FlightGear out of the race.
So, yes, for me, it all comes down to X-Plane and MSFS.
Unfortunately, X-Plane is struggling with performance in VR, and, let’s face it, MSFS has gorgeous, recognizable scenery.
The flight dynamics are not that far apart either. This will trigger some folks out there for sure, but that is my opinion and you are free to disagree.
So, putting both sims on the scale, I would have to say that, in my opinion, weighing every factor that I value, the best sim for helicopters in 2023 is Microsoft Flight Simulator.
No, MSFS is not “the winner”. There are no winners and no losers. This isn’t a competition and we are not fighting for the survival of our tribes.
As I said, I have all these sims installed on my computer and I use more than one. But MSFS is the one that I have been using more and more because it offers me the best compromise and quality on the things that I value.
You may value different things and have different opinions. If you do, I would actually love to hear from you and know what is it that you value and how you made your choice. Please let me know in the comments below.
I hope this article helped you somehow. If you were curious about my opinion, here it is and I also told you how I reached there.
All sims have their weaknesses and strengths. It’s up to us to evaluate them and see how they respond to our needs as simmers. This is my story. Let me know about yours below.
