Some tips & differences you can appreciate from the existing helos on your Apache flight. Voice recorded before release. If you have a low threat environment, you can get away with a lot. If there's threat to you, you'll need some tactics to stay safe.
My tips are on keeping you safe and gunning/hellfiring. So you absolutely *could* a hit with the cannon from 4km out. Or take a few maybe even 23mm rounds and survive depending where it hits. But I wouldn't roll the dice on that.
Rockets could also work on light-skinned threats from outside their range, although don't expect direct hits or splash damage to take them out necessarily.
Regrettably I didn't touch on the Gazelle and it's FLIR/pop-ups.
Sim environments can have it easy - instant resets for training in the exact environment you want. And if you're starting out I recommend you set up a quick & simple mission to feel out the helicopter with minimal distractions like wind. Here's how.
Part 1/4, giving you insight into what every control does and how to coordinate them to fly smoothly. It's a VERY simplified crash-course in helicopters. Yes you can go inverted briefly. But for your early training, maybe hold up on doing that. Get control first, the you can practice acrobatics. Also, the flight model is early early access. Strong bets on the flight model's going to change and tweak for a while.
00:00 Series Intro
02:30 Controls Indicator
04:26 Cyclic - rotor disc tiliting
05:56 Collective (~power / lift)
07:52 Anti-Torque Pedals & being 'in trim'
13:52 Nothing to see here. No secrets of the universe. No mystery of life. Especially don't stare at it. You'll go mad.
14:57 Controls in a simple turn
16:35 Throttles
17:28 Smooth motions & RPM drops
20:03 Control Coupling/Collective changing Pitch
20:36 Pedals causing bank
21:25 Max speed & Retreating Blade Stall
21:47 Effective Translational Lift (ETL)
22:23 In Ground Effect (IGE) vs Out of Ground Effect (OGE)
23:11 Vortex Ring State (VRS)
Part 2/4, show how Force Trim Release locks in your Cyclic & Pedals to alleviate constant pressure. I see some indications ED may implement a (cheat) Trim Reset later. It's still not a hold mode allowing you to go truly hands-free for minutes at a time, but a good trim will keep you stable for a good many seconds without you cramping up your wrist and ankles.
Part 3/4, on how to get your controls so the helo is controllable, smooth and tamed. If you're running extensions, nice tensions reduced cams...maybe it's. Deskmount with springs... it's party time. So here's some of the remedies to take away those crazy times and get the Apache under control.
What I didn't mention on curves is that you can add a negative curve. Meaning it responds faster to movement initially rather than further out, though I'm not sure that applies that well for the flight controls.
Early days in it's early access and flight model, but it needs a few more tweaks than most other DCS helos. And yeah, I see the potentially for dirty jokes.