FSX Kamov KA-50 Black Shark

This is my Review of Alphasims Kamov KA-50 Black shark. High detailed VC and a very realistic handling, makes this Add-on for the Flight Simulator X a must-have for all helicopter fans.

The Kamov Ka-50 Black Shark (NATO reporting name: "Hokum A") is a single-seat Russian attack helicopter with the distinctive coaxial rotor system of the Kamov design bureau. It was designed in the 1980s and adopted for service in the Russian army in 1995. It is currently manufactured by the Progress company of Arseniev.

General characteristics

* Crew: One (for Ka-52: two)
* Length: 13.50 m (44 ft 3 in)
* Rotor diameter: 2x 14.50 m (2x 47 ft 7 in)
* Height: 5.4 m (17 ft 9 in)
* Disc area: 330.3 m² (3,555 ft²)
* Empty weight: 7,800 kg (17,200 lb)
* Loaded weight: 9,800 kg (21,600 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 10,800 kg (23,810 lb)
* Powerplant: 2× Klimov TV3-117VK turboshafts, 1,660 kW (2,226 shp) each
* For Ka-52:
o Loaded weight: 10,400 kg (22,930 lb)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 390 km/h (204 knots, 242 mph) in dive
* Cruise speed: 270 km/h (146 knots, 168 mph)
* Range: 1,160 km (720 miles)
* Combat radius: 460 km ()
* Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,000 ft)
* Rate of climb: 10 m/s (1,970 ft/min)
* Disc loading: 30 kg/m² (6 lb/ft²)
* Power/mass: 0.33 kW/kg (0.20 hp/lb)

Armament

* 1x mobile semi-rigid 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 cannon (240 rounds, dual feeding AP or HE-Frag)
* A variety of payloads on the four wing hardpoints, including UPK-23-250 23-mm gun pods (240 rounds each), APU-6 9K121 Vikhr anti-tank missile racks, Vympel R-73 (NATO: AA-11 Archer) air-to-air missiles, S-8 rocket 80 mm and S-13 rocket 122 mm rocket pods, Kh-25 semi-active laser guided tactical air-to-ground missiles, presumably S-25/S-25L high caliber rockets, 4x 250 kg (550 lb) bombs or 2x500kg (1,100 lb) bombs, 500 L (130 US gal) external fuel tanks. Reportedly, twin Igla light air-to-air missile launchers under each wingtip countermeasure pod (total 4 missiles). Maximum total payload 2,000 kg.
* Two pods on the wingtips with flare and chaff countermeasure dispensers, 64 cartridges each (total 128).