DOF Reality H4r 4-Axis Hero Motion Platform with Heave (Heli)

Four axes of true-to-life helicopter motion — pitch, roll, yaw and heave — on a full platform where your seat, collective and cyclic move as one. The "r" variant adds the smooth SFU gearbox built for the slow, deliberate movements of flight at the hover.

The H4r is DOF Reality's 4-axis Hero platform tuned specifically for rotary-wing flying. On top of pitch, roll and yaw, it adds heave — the vertical lift and sink that defines helicopter flight. When you pull collective and the aircraft climbs, you feel it in your body; when you settle into a hover or take an unexpected drop, the platform translates it the moment it happens.

Because this is a full-platform Hero rig, the seat and all your controls move together. Your cyclic and collective stay locked to the same reference frame as your body, so the cues feel honest instead of disorienting — exactly what you want when you're managing a delicate hover or working a tight approach.

The "r" in H4r is the part that matters most for helicopter pilots. It uses the extra-smooth SFU gearbox tuned for the slow, precise, low-speed movements that flight and heli sims demand. Where a standard rig can feel notchy at a crawl, the H4r glides — and at $4,399 it's the most refined 4-axis heave platform we recommend for serious rotary-wing immersion.

What’s in the box

• Rigid commercial-grade steel rig (supports both a normal and an F1-style seating pose)
• Mounts for your seat and sliding rails
• Integrated power-drive motors
• 100–240V control unit with USB
• SimRacingStudio software license
• Quick-assembly tools
• Full 1-year warranty

Not included (buy separately): a seat, your collective, cyclic and anti-torque pedals, and a VR headset (optional).

Technical specifications

How it moves

This is a full-platform rig: the seat and all your controls move together, so your hands and feet stay locked to the cockpit exactly as they would in the real thing.

• Pitch — tilts you forward and back so you feel acceleration and braking.
• Roll — tilts side to side so you feel the lean of every corner.
• Yaw — rotates the platform to reproduce rear traction loss — oversteer, drift and coordinated turns.
• Heave — drives the whole platform vertically for curbs, kerbs, bumps and (in the air) runway texture and turbulence.

Who it’s for

Built for the helicopter pilot who has outgrown a static chair and wants real heave plus a smooth, low-speed feel for hovering, autorotations and precision approaches in DCS World, MSFS and X-Plane.

• Step down: If you mainly want pitch, roll and yaw and can live without dedicated vertical heave, the 3-axis H3r saves you money while keeping the same smooth Hero feel.
• This rig (H4r): The sweet spot for rotary-wing sim — adds heave on a full moving platform with the SFU gearbox, so the hover and the climb both land.
• Step up: Want the two remaining axes of motion for the most complete envelope? The H6 adds surge and sway, and you can upgrade into it later from $2,875 — three extra motors, frame parts and a new control box.

Games, platforms & compatibility

The H4r is built to run the helicopter sims that matter:

• DCS World — the full rotary-wing lineup, including the Apache, Black Shark, Huey and Gazelle, where heave and smooth low-speed motion make hovering and gun runs come alive.
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 & 2020 — helicopter flying with native telemetry.
• X-Plane 10, 11 and 12 — helicopters across all three versions.

PC (Windows) is fully supported across every title. Console (PlayStation/Xbox) works for the select games that send telemetry over the network, and the MagicBox adapter bridges motion for many others. VR is supported through OpenVR Motion Compensation, so your headset stays locked to the platform with the Valve Index, Quest and Quest 2, Reverb G2, Vive, Pimax and more.

For a full breakdown of supported titles and setups, see our DOF support page.

Complete your rig

• Flight controls: HOTAS Mounts Kit and Honeycomb A+B adapter to bolt your stick, throttle and yoke straight to the moving cockpit
• Seats & harnesses — DOF Reality seat, Sparco R100/R333/Sprint, 4-point harness
• Immersion: SRS UShake 6 tactile cushion, SRS Hurricane wind package, Buttkicker mount
• Practicality: monitor mount, floor mat with DOF shield, protective covers, transport wheels, cable extensions
• Console: the MagicBox adapter bridges motion for PlayStation and Xbox titles that don’t send telemetry natively

See the full Options, Add-Ons & Upgrades guide, or browse all accessories.

Future-proof: upgrade later

Upgrade to the full six-axis H6 from $2,875 — three extra motors, frame parts and a new control box. Every DOF Reality platform is modular — see how the upgrade paths work on our Options & Upgrades page.

Shipping & delivery

Your rig is built to order and ships insured from our European manufacturing partner, door to door with tracking. The current lead time is in the Shipping and Returns tab. It arrives disassembled in two boxes (commercial-grade steel, so it is heavy by design = rigid and durable) and bolts together with the included tools; then you install SimRacingStudio and connect by USB. Any import duties, taxes, or customs charges set by your country are the customer’s responsibility and are not included in the product or shipping price — in line with the manufacturer’s policy. Full details on our Shipping & Delivery page.

Warranty, support & financing

Every platform includes a full 1-year manufacturer warranty, with an optional Extended +1 Year. As an authorized DOF Reality dealer based in the USA, we back every order with free pre-sale consultation and hands-on setup help — and you can split the cost with Shop Pay, Affirm, or Klarna at checkout. Questions before you buy? Talk to us or call (952) 649-5710. See Warranty & Support.

Frequently asked questions

What does heave add for helicopter flying?

Heave is the vertical axis — the lift and sink of the aircraft. On the H4r it means you physically feel the climb when you pull collective and the settle when you reduce it. For helicopters, where so much of the work happens in the vertical, heave is the cue that turns a hover from a visual exercise into a felt one.

Why the "r" variant for a heli sim instead of a standard H4?

The "r" uses the extra-smooth SFU gearbox tuned for the slow, precise movements that flight and helicopter sims live in. Rotary-wing flying is full of tiny, deliberate inputs and gentle hovers, and the SFU gearbox keeps that low-speed motion glassy-smooth rather than stepped — which is exactly the feel you want at the hover.

Do my cyclic and collective move with the platform?

Yes. The H4r is a full-platform Hero rig, so the seat and all your controls move together as one. Your cyclic and collective stay in the same reference frame as your body, keeping the motion cues honest during delicate hovers and approaches.

Can I add more axes of motion later?

You can. The H4r upgrades to the full six-axis H6 from $2,875, which brings three extra motors, frame parts and a new control box to add surge and sway. It's a real path forward if you want the most complete motion envelope down the road.

Does it work in VR?

Yes. VR is supported via OpenVR Motion Compensation, which keeps your headset view locked to the moving platform. It works with the Valve Index, Quest and Quest 2, Reverb G2, Vive, Pimax and more — ideal for the immersion most heli pilots are after.