Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Helicopter Controls
Helicopters are part of Vietnam's battlefield, but bindings can differ by platform, custom setup and patch. Check the current Pilot controls in-game before trusting any keyboard table.
Open Settings, then Controls and the Pilot or Helicopter section, before your first flight. One launch-era third-party snapshot records W/S for pitch, A/D for roll, mouse buttons for yaw, Space/Ctrl for collective, Left Shift for auto-level and E for supply drop. Treat those inputs as a starting reference: the current in-game binding screen is the authority.
Check the current pilot bindings first
- Open the game's Settings or Options menu.
- Go to Controls, then Keyboard & Mouse, and look for Pilot or Helicopter actions.
- If the current menu exposes Control Helicopter With Mouse, enable it only if that is the steering method you want to use. A Steam player discussion points to this setting, but it is not proof that every platform or build uses the same layout.
- Check for duplicate binds and write down any custom changes before entering a live server.
Names and locations can move after a patch. If you cannot find a Pilot section, search the controls list for helicopter, collective, yaw, pitch and roll instead of copying an old screenshot.
Launch-era PC control snapshot
The table below is a third-party record of reported PC defaults around launch. It is useful for recognizing the action names, not for overriding the current client. Custom keybinds, controller layouts and later patches can differ.
| Action | Reported PC input | How to use this information |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch | W / S | Verify the forward and backward nose movement in Pilot controls |
| Roll | A / D | Verify left and right banking before takeoff |
| Yaw | Mouse buttons | Check whether mouse steering is enabled in the current build |
| Collective | Space / Left Ctrl | Test small increases and decreases while stationary |
| Auto-level | Left Shift | Confirm the label and behavior in your own control menu |
| Supply drop | E | Bind only if the current aircraft role exposes the action |
A safer first-flight workflow
1. Test on the ground
Before lifting off, tap each bound input once and watch for the matching aircraft response. If an input changes two movements at once, resolve the conflict before trying to fly.
2. Lift slowly and stabilize
Apply collective in small steps. Once airborne, make one correction at a time: first height, then heading, then forward movement. Large simultaneous inputs make it difficult to tell whether the problem is the keybind, mouse mode or your control technique.
3. Practice a short circuit
Climb only enough to clear nearby obstacles, fly a short straight line, turn gently and return to the landing area. Repeat the same route until the aircraft responds predictably. Do not use a supply drop as your first control test.
4. Land before changing everything
If the aircraft feels unstable, land or leave the practice area before rebinding multiple actions. Change one control, repeat the same short route and keep the setting that produces the clearest response.
When the published controls do not match
- After a patch: read the current Pilot controls again. A guide written at launch can become a stale snapshot.
- With a custom layout: inspect every helicopter action, not just the main movement keys. A controller profile can also override keyboard behavior.
- With mouse steering: check the mouse-control toggle and test it in a safe area; do not assume mouse movement is active because a third-party table lists it.
- On console: use the console control page as the source of truth. Do not copy the PC table without checking the platform's labels.
For broader role and communication priorities, see the beginner guide. If low frame rate makes flight input feel delayed, compare the best PC settings guide before changing controls.