> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.czautoz.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# AW101 Merlin
> 18-seat heavy transport — the largest and heaviest helicopter in the mod. Rear loading ramp, pilot-operated retractable landing gear, and a fully enclosed fuselage.
The AW101 Merlin is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the mod, capable of carrying 18 people. With its rear loading ramp, pilot-operated retractable landing gear, and large enclosed fuselage, it is purpose-built for large group transport. All passengers board and exit through the rear fuselage — the rear ramp is essential for efficient boarding.
## Specifications
| Property | Value |
| ------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Total Seats** | 18 |
| **Cockpit** | 2 (pilot + co-pilot) |
| **Interior** | 16 |
| **Cabin Mode** | ✗ |
| **Free Walk / Seat Exit** | ✓ Walk-on · Seat Exit (all seats) |
| **Startup Time** | \~60 seconds |
| **Mass** | 10,000 kg (heaviest in the mod) |
| **Max Airspeed** | 232 km/h |
| **Service Ceiling** | 4,575 m |
| **Rotor Volume** | 1.5× (loudest in the mod) |
| **Config Files** | `AW101Merlin_RoyalAirForce_config.json` · `AW101Merlin_RoyalNavy_config.json` · `AW101Merlin_CanadaRescue_config.json` · `AW101Merlin_PortugueseAirForce_config.json` |
## Variants
| Classname | Livery |
| ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| `CZ_AW101Merlin_RoyalAirForce` | Royal Air Force grey |
| `CZ_AW101Merlin_RoyalNavy` | Royal Navy grey/white |
| `CZ_AW101Merlin_CanadaRescue` | Canadian Search and Rescue red/white |
| `CZ_AW101Merlin_PortugueseAirForce` | Portuguese Air Force grey/green |
## Rear Ramp
The Merlin has an openable rear loading ramp:
* Use the **Open/Close Rear Ramp** action while **grounded** to operate it
* The ramp **cannot be operated mid-flight** — the action is blocked while airborne
* The action is blocked while the ramp is already mid-travel — wait for it to finish before issuing another command
* Available to **pilot, co-pilot, and players standing outside** near the rear of the aircraft
* All 16 passengers enter and exit through the rear of the fuselage
* Practical for large group boarding — land, open the ramp, load up, close and lift off
* Ramp open/close events are recorded in the activity log when `logging.CZAutoz_logActivity = 1`
## Retractable Landing Gear
The Merlin has a retractable tricycle landing gear operated by the **pilot** using the `F` key (landing gear action) from the pilot seat. Raise the gear after takeoff and lower it before landing.
Landing gear always deploys to the **lowered position on server boot**, regardless of its state at shutdown. Pilots must raise the gear manually after each takeoff.
Landing gear deploy/retract events are recorded in the activity log as `LANDING_GEAR` when `logging.CZAutoz_logActivity = 1`.
## Seat Exit Free Walk
The Merlin does not use the Move to Cabin / Return to Cockpit system. Instead, because it has a **fully enclosed fuselage**, the standard "Get Out" action from **any seat** — including pilot and co-pilot — exits the player into the aircraft interior rather than outside. The DayZ engine automatically links them to the helicopter's coordinate space, and they can walk freely mid-flight. Getting back into any available seat works normally mid-flight.
To actually leave the aircraft, the **rear ramp must be open**. Players who exit into the interior with the ramp closed remain inside until it is opened.
## Door / Wheel Item Classnames
| Item Classname | Description |
| --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| `CZ_AW101Merlin_FrontWheel` | Nose wheel (shared across all variants) |
| `CZ_AW101Merlin_RearWheel` | Main gear wheels (shared across all variants) |
Cargo door classnames are variant-specific (e.g. `CZ_AW101Merlin_RoyalAirForce_Cargo1`, `CZ_AW101Merlin_CanadaRescue_Cargo2`).
## Default Flight Tuning
| Parameter | Default |
| -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| `flight.liftMultiplier` | 4.30 |
| `flight.maxAirspeed` | 167 kn |
| `flight.dragForward` | 0.23 |
| `flight.rotorSpoolRate` | 0.045 |
| `control.pitchStrength` | 0.85 (lowest — very sluggish pitch) |
| `control.bankStrength` | 0.90 (lowest — very sluggish roll) |
| `control.yawStrength` | 0.80 |
| `control.weathervaneStrength` | 0.30 |
| `control.b2tStrength` | 0.50 |
| `control.b2tRampRate` | 3.0 (lowest — heaviest control feel) |
| `control.response.rollAccelTau` | 0.16 |
| `control.response.rollDecayTau` | 0.20 |
| `control.response.pitchAccelTau` | 0.14 |
| `control.response.pitchDecayTau` | 0.20 |
| `control.response.yawAccelTau` | 0.12 |
| `control.response.yawDecayTau` | 0.18 |
| `autorotation.gravityFactor` | 0.60 |
| `autorotation.flareStrength` | 6.0 |
| `autorotation.descentCap` | 20 kts |
| `autorotation.coastMinutes` | 4.0 |
| `tailRotorFailure.spinRate` | 120.0 deg/s |
| `tailRotorFailure.descentRate` | 2.5 m/s² |
| `altitude.liftStart` | 13000 ft |
| `altitude.ceiling` | 15000 ft |
| `camera.distance` | 22 m |
| `fuel.maxCapacity` | 4,100 L |
| `fuel.burnLPH` | 900 L/hr |
These are indicative dev-tuned defaults and can change between builds — the in-game **Admin Panel** always shows the live per-helicopter values.
See [Per-Helicopter Settings](/server-config/per-helicopter-settings) for a full description of every parameter.