Two-seat piston trainer
$14.99
Overview
The R22 is the light two-seat trainer that a lot of helicopter pilots learn on, and this is our original version for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Use it to get ready for real-world training, practice precise hovering or just go sightseeing, and switch on the CowanSim SAS autopilot when you’d like help holding heading, altitude and speed.
It comes with 22 liveries, doors you can remove one by one and a choice of G530, GTN or analog panels, and it works with the PMS GTN and TDS GTNXi on PC. It also remembers your weight and balance and your options from one flight to the next. Want the version rebuilt as a native MSFS 2024 aircraft? That’s the R22 Beta II.
Flying it in MSFS 2024
It’s made for MSFS 2020 and runs in 2024. Starting cold and dark in 2024? Press Shift + C on PC, or LB + B on Xbox, to get into the cockpit. You can change options on the EFB tablet, though a few things may still overlap. A native MSFS 2024 version is planned.
Features
Take advantage of the CowanSim Stability Augmentation System (SAS) with integrated autopilot modes designed to improve handling and precision:
Photos
Download
After checkout, download it from your Downloads.
Unzip into Community
Unzip it straight into your Community folder, not inside another folder. When you update, delete the old version first.
Fly
Start the sim and pick it from the aircraft list.
Paste the line for your sim into the File Explorer address bar.
Microsoft Store / Game Pass · MSFS 2024
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community
Steam · MSFS 2024
%APPDATA%\Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024\Packages\Community
Microsoft Store / Game Pass · MSFS 2020
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community
Steam · MSFS 2020
%APPDATA%\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages\Community
These are the default folders. If you chose another location when you installed the sim, use that one.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Ask us on Discord, where we answer questions and show what we’re working on. The manual might have your answer too.
The fleet
Jannik Stein (verified owner) –
After just about one hour of flying (.9 according to the hobbs), I can say this is the most fun I ever had in a helicopter in MSFS.
Cowan Simulation –
Awesome!!! Thank you!!!
Jeremy Surre (verified owner) –
This is the most realistic and functional MSFS helicopter so far! I have been practicing autorotations and am super excited that this model actually responds and you can manipulate the rotor rpm just like the real thing.
Cowan Simulation –
Awesome news!! Thank you!!!
Christopher Gall (verified owner) –
Feels a very realistic flight model – just like the real helicopter, this is rather sensitive on the controls but a real fun challenging helicopter once mastered. Auto rotations are realistic. Just a very nice helicopter to have in your virtual hanger. Thoroughly recommended.
Cowan Simulation –
Awesome!!!! Thank you!!!
Stefano Rutishauser (verified owner) –
As others said before – very realistic flight model! I was looking for a R22 / R44 to train and this model is the closest I’ve found so far in comparison to the real one. Thank you so much for your effort!
Cowan Simulation –
Thank you very much!!!!
Peter Novorolnik (verified owner) –
I’ve been waiting for r22 since I got MSFS. I finally got it :-). It flies nicely. The sounds are nice too. But… there are no dust swirl effects… it takes away from the realism. I firmly believe there will be an update 🙂
Cowan Simulation –
Thank you!! FX will be changing as things move along.
nigel mcelwee (verified owner) –
Fantastic helicopter! Only 1 issue I have is with the throttle. On other helicopters, it works fine but when I roll the throttle fully open on this one, the governor constantly tries to manage it back to 100 and it stays pegged over 110% and the throttle constantly moves.
The r66, 500e, 206, etc work perfect.
RadiusFox (verified owner) –
Coming at this as someone getting started in MSFS 2024 with a focus on VR. I’ve tried the R22 that comes with X-Plane 12, but I wanted to try MSFS 2024 for its world map so of course I had to find a way to get my beloved R22 into 2024! This model has worked perfectly and I’m very impressed. I find it’s actually much better than the helicopters included in 2024, even without features like opening up compartments from the outside. My experience with helicopters in 2024 wouldn’t have been nearly as good without this. Thank you so much for your effort!
Cowan Simulation (verified owner) –
Thank you!