How It Works
The flight model runs on the server and applies forces to the helicopter body every physics tick:| Force | Control | Parameter |
|---|---|---|
| Lift | Main rotor thrust | CZH_liftMultiplier |
| Pitch | W / S keys | CZH_pitchStrength |
| Roll | A / D keys | CZH_bankStrength |
| Yaw | Q / E keys | CZH_yawStrength |
| Forward drag | Air resistance | CZH_dragForward |
| Weathervane | Auto nose alignment | CZH_weathervaneStrength |
| Input smoothing | Control sharpness | CZH_inputSmoothRate |
Ground Effect
When flying close to the ground, the helicopter receives additional lift:- Configured via
CZH_groundEffectBonus(default0.12= +12% lift) - Fades linearly as altitude increases
- Makes low hovering feel slightly more stable
Effective Translational Lift (ETL)
Forward flight generates extra lift:- Configured via
CZH_etlBonus(default0.10= +10% at cruise speed) CZH_etlSpeedsets the speed in km/h at which the full bonus applies (default72.0)- A helicopter will fly more efficiently in forward flight than in a stationary hover
Autorotation
If the engine stops (fuel out, engine destroyed, or manually shut down), the rotor continues spinning through inertia:- The helicopter enters a controlled descent rather than an immediate freefall
CZH_autoRotGravityFactorcontrols how much gravity is cancelled during the glideCZH_autoRotDescentCapsets the maximum descent rate in m/s- A skilled pilot can perform a survivable landing using autorotation technique
| Helicopter | Gravity Factor | Max Descent |
|---|---|---|
| MD500 Civilian | 0.60 | 8.5 m/s |
| MH-6 Little Bird | 0.58 | 8.0 m/s |
| SA342M Gazelle | 0.62 | 9.5 m/s |
| UH-1H Iroquois | 0.67 | 11.5 m/s |
| MH-60L Blackhawk | 0.70 | 14.0 m/s |
| AW101 Merlin | 0.75 | 16.0 m/s |
Ground Flip Recovery
If a helicopter ends up inverted on the ground (bank angle ≥ 90°), pressingX will flip it upright.
- Disabled by default — enable with
CZH_groundFlipRecovery = 1inmod_config.json - Only activates when grounded and inverted — not in flight
Pilot Exits In Flight
- If the pilot voluntarily exits while airborne, autopilot engages automatically to hold position
- If the pilot is killed in their seat, the helicopter continues on its last heading with no autopilot snap — it will fly freely until it crashes or someone takes control