As an experienced Unturned player with over 500 hours in the game, I have mastered piloting various helicopters. Here is a detailed guide on flying helicopters effectively in Unturned.
Table of Contents
Getting Started with Helicopters
Acquiring a Helicopter
Before you can fly a helicopter, you need to find one first. Helicopters spawn randomly at military locations across all official maps. Common spawn locations include airfields, military bases, checkpoints, and police stations. The most common helicopter is the Transport Heli, but you can also find Police Helicopters, Hummingbirds, and Attack Helis.
Once you locate a helicopter, make sure it has fuel. Refuel it with a gas can or Jerry can if needed. Equip a blowtorch to repair the helicopter before flying if it has damage.
Familiarizing Yourself with Controls
Helicopter controls can be complex for beginners. Spend a few minutes sitting in the parked helicopter and practicing the various controls. Refer to the keybinds menu to understand what each control does.
The basic controls are:
- W/S: Throttle up/down
- A/D: Yaw left/right
- Mouse: Pitch and roll
Practice hovering at a low altitude first to get a feel for the sensitive controls. Expect to crash several times while mastering the controls!
Taking Off and Flying
Finding a Good Takeoff Spot
Before taking off, locate a wide open area free of obstacles like trees, power lines, buildings. Try taking off from airfields, fields, or parking lots. Position the helicopter facing your takeoff direction.
Vertical Takeoff
To take off vertically, hold W to steadily throttle up until the helicopter lifts. Use the mouse to keep it hovering upright. Gain a little altitude, then start pitching forward slowly with the mouse to transition to forward flight.
Running Takeoff
Alternatively, build up speed on the ground first by pitching forward with mouse while holding W. As you accelerate, the helicopter will lift off. Adjust orientation with mouse movements to maintain control.
General Flight
While flying forward, continue holding W to maintain airspeed. Use the mouse to pitch nose up or down to change elevation. Pitching up will cause the helicopter to climb, while pitching down causes descent.
Use A and D keys to yaw left and right for turning. Practice keeping the helicopter level using mouse movements. Overcorrecting with mouse inputs can cause crashes.
Landing
When finding a landing zone, approach slowly in a controlled descent. Level off at around 5 meters altitude and reduce airspeed if necessary. Gently set down on the ground using the mouse to pitch up once the wheels touch the ground.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some useful tips to handle helicopters better:
Practice makes perfect
Expect crashing a lot when starting out! Practice hovering and flying circuits around an airfield to get used to the controls before attempting long flights.
Adjust mouse sensitivity
A higher mouse DPI/sensitivity setting can give you better control over precise helicopter movements.
Utilize landing gear
Use N to toggle the landing gear on helicopters so you can land safely without damage.
Avoid obstacles
Crashing into trees, power lines, buildings damages helicopters and kills you. Maintain situational awareness and avoid obstacles.
Manage fuel
Always monitor your fuel level using the UI or by checking the fuel tank/engine. Carry extra fuel cans when possible for longer flights.
Use landmarks for navigation
Lacking GPS systems, use roads, coastlines, lakes, railroad tracks and other landmarks to navigate.
Bring a friend
A co-pilot in the side seats can provide extra lookout and operate door guns!
Customizing & Modding Helicopters
You can customize helicopters visually and functionally using mods.
Skins
Reskin default helicopters with custom paint schemes. Or add decals like unit insignia.
New Models
Replace existing helicopters with completely new high quality 3D models. Russian Mi-8 helicopters are a popular choice.
Enhanced Performance
Some mods tweak helicopter physics for more realistic control and flight. Test different ones to find the right feel.
Weapons
Certain mods allow equipping door guns, rocket pods or homing missiles on civilian helicopters!
Experiment with helicopter mods to refresh the gameplay experience after mastering the base game.
Conclusion
Learning to effectively pilot helicopters in Unturned provides tactical mobility and opens up new gameplay opportunities. Use this guide to understand the basics, hone your flying skills through practice, and utilize tricks to master these complex vehicles. Customizing and modding helicopters can also enhance the experience for veterans. Stay safe from zombies out there survivors!
