u/BipolarShooter

Been grinding the game for about 100 hours since launch. I’m am currently level 44 and just hit max level with the Helicopter Logistics Officer.

I am going to preface that I do not think I am an exceptional pilot by any means. I just love flying. Here are a few things that I learned from my time so far.

Heli Tips:

1: Free-Look
You are able to look around a little bit while you are flying. The best view for me is looking slightly up until the top of the windshield wiper arm is in view and the right bar of the canopy frame is covering the vehicle seat icons. I will adjust my view left or right if I am circling around for my gun crew.

2: Repairs/Resupply
Engine startup sequence is 10 seconds.

Transport and Supply Choppers will Repair everything but the Hull first.

When the Hull reaches 60%, you can start the Engine and be fully repaired by the time the Engine is done starting. Lowering your time at the HQ landing pad.

If your Engine gets destroyed you cannot start the Heli unless it is repaired. If your Tail Rotor is destroyed you will enter an unrecoverable spin. If your Main Rotor is destroyed, you will drop right of the sky like a fat sack of potatoes. If your Hull is destroyed, you blow up.

The machine guns have to be unmanned and empty in order to reload.

The Transport Chopper’s Recon Flare recharges automatically.

The Supply Chopper resupplies fairly quickly once the engine is turned off. It cannot resupply while the Engine is on.

3: Maneuvers
Best way to reduce both altitude and speed is a J-Hook Maneuver. Nose down, roll into the turn, cut hard, and lower altitude.

Instead of going full throttle on the controls, do micro-adjustments on the sticks. The controls are more sensitive than you think.

You can fly under bridges…if you’re brave enough.

You can barrel-roll and flip the chopper. Do not recommend.

The Heli’s will roll if you land on an inclined surface. You can also skip and slide across the ground…mostly leading to you blowing up.

Trees are not your friend. If you land too close to them you will take both Hull and Rotor damage. You will not have enough time to gain altitude and clear the trees before exploding.

4: Combat
The Co-Pilot will automatically have control of the Helicopter if the Pilot hops out or is killed. Control will automatically transfer back to the Pilot once they get back in.

Supply Helicopter cannot drop Supplies on inclined surfaces. The Heli’s Rotors can also destroy the Supplies if you are not careful.

The Rotor Blade can kill enemies, tunnels, and garrisons. This also works for the Tail Rotor. Do with that information what you will. The Rotors can also accidentally destroy friendly Garrisons if it is placed too close to the Chopper.

The Heli’s machine guns can kill people on the patrol boat’s guns, but can’t destroy the boat. Best to avoid them entirely, they will shred you. They also don’t do shit to tanks.

Fly as low as you are comfortable with.
You, your co-pilot, and your gunners will be able to see a lot better. Tree-top high is about as low as you want to get unless you are landing. Use the environment for cover.

A good idea to deal with Tanks is to drop off an Engineer with a Demolition Charge on top of the Tank. Fly off and pick up the Engineer after he is safely away. Tank go boom.

Keep moving and mix up your flying patterns.
Try to not make the same passes constantly over an objective. Become unpredictable. You are a priority target, a tasty 9 seater metal beater with wings.

Do not stay on the ground long. Land only long enough to drop off Infantry and Supplies, then leave. It takes about 3-5 seconds to get off the ground.

Best place to land for pick-ups is usually close to a friendly Garrison. Make sure you mark the pick-up location on the map. Don’t expect everyone to respawn back at HQ for a ride. Land your Chopper safely in front of your Garrison spawn so people can see you are there.

When you are landing at the HQ Helipads, look down and line up the middle of the “H” with your knees.

Strike fast, Strike hard. Sometimes all it takes for your team to have good forward momentum is to be an aggressive pilot. Put the pedal to the floor and haul ass.

5. Communication
   Always call out where and when you are landing. Utilize Command, Proximity, or Text chat to let people know you have landed.

Make sure you are talking to your gun crew. If they can’t see, they can’t fight. If they have no ammo, you all die.

Coordinate with other Choppers to infiltrate objectives and ambush the enemy. Have one transport Heli circle around a potential Garrison site and launch the Recon Flare for enemy presence. First Chopper lands and Infantry secures the area with Smoke Grenades. Supply Chopper drops supplies and the Logistics Officer sets up the Garrison.

Link up with Recon and Mortar teams to help them get into position.

Call out and mark Tanks, Boats, and Trucks for your team’s Tanks and Engineers.

I’m a semi-unemployed single disabled Marine Corps veteran in my early 30’s, 80% rating due to mental health reasons. As of right now my bills are tracking next month to take up damn near all of my paycheck. Rent, phone, car, internet, credit card debt, back-paying taxes, and a few small subscriptions.

Can’t seem to find a better job in my area. Nobody wants to hire me. Only job I have at the moment is Doordash, and that’s practically begging for scraps.

I’m not going to be able to afford food, provide for my pets, or be able to do anything other than sit and rot away at home. Can’t even afford to be there for the people I care about. I don’t have a life anymore.

This financial oppression of our current economy and the endless suffering of the job market is going to kill me. I don’t know what to do besides going to the VA to try to bump up my rating.

For all of the single vets out there, what the hell can I do? I just feel so fuckin lost.