Helicopters are a US-only tool in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, and they exist to keep your team moving and supplied rather than to win dogfights. A single airframe carries two players, a Pilot and a Logistics Officer, and the aircraft only reaches its full value when both seats coordinate with the ground.
Quick answer: Enter the helicopter, take the pilot seat on the right, hold the engine button to start, then use the ascend input to lift off and the pitch controls to move. Land and hold the engine button again to shut down so you can repair and restock at a friendly Helipad.
Who can fly and what you need first
Only the US Armed Forces field aircraft, so if you are playing as the North Vietnamese Army you will not have a helicopter option. The Helicopter unit is split into two roles that share the same vehicle.
| Role | Main job |
|---|---|
| Pilot | Starts the engine, keeps the aircraft stable, and flies it to and from objectives |
| Logistics Officer | Sits in the co-pilot seat to drop Supply Boxes and run recon |
There are two aircraft you will use. The Supply Heli is a two-seater focused on dropping resources for your team, while the Transport Helicopter moves infantry and carries machine guns on each side for defense.
Starting the engine and lifting off
You know it worked when the engine spins up and the aircraft responds to the ascend input by leaving the pad. If you are new to flight, the in-game helicopter tutorial walks through the same basics before you take one into a live match.
Full flight control layout
The core of flying is managing pitch, roll, and yaw to keep the aircraft stable. The inputs are laid out below for each platform.
| Action | PC | PS5 | Xbox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine On/Off (Hold) | E | X | A |
| Pitch Forwards | W | Left Stick | Left Stick |
| Pitch Backwards | S | Left Stick | Left Stick |
| Ascend | Space | R2 | RT |
| Descend | Ctrl | L2 | LT |
| Auto Level | Shift | L3 | L3 |
Tip: Auto Level is your recovery button. If a maneuver tips the aircraft too far, hold it to bring the airframe back to a stable attitude instead of fighting the controls.
Dropping supplies from the co-pilot seat
In the Supply Heli, switch to the co-pilot seat on the left to drop Supply Boxes. These need to be released at low altitude, so the pilot has to bring the aircraft down close to the ground before the drop lands where your team can reach it.
Those boxes let teammates build defensive structures and place other items in the field. When you run dry, fly back to the Helipad to pick up more supplies and keep the front line stocked.
Flying the Transport Helicopter
The Transport Helicopter carries infantry and drops them at chosen points on the map. It also mounts machine guns on each side, which gunners can use to hit nearby enemies while you move troops in and out.
From the co-pilot seat in this aircraft you can trigger a recon ability. The helicopter auto-hovers so you can study the ground below, and you can mark enemy positions with flares to point your team toward the next target.
Staying alive in the air
Helicopters are support vehicles, and they die fast in the open. The same survival rules apply to both aircraft.
Match your altitude to the threat
Maps are large, so you have room to pick a safe height. Away from combat you can fly high without much risk of being shot down. Near enemies, drop low and hug the treeline and jungle canopy so you are harder to spot from a distance.
Route around active fighting
Flying straight over a firefight is a quick way to lose the aircraft. Armored vehicles waiting in ambush and RPG-equipped infantry can take you down, so plan a path that skirts the battle instead of crossing it.
Support your infantry and talk to the Commander
Keep a gunner ready to lay down machine gun fire so your ground troops can suppress the enemy and push into a zone. Coordinating with the Commander turns those runs into real progress rather than isolated passes.
Watch your health and supply count
Keep the team topped up on Supply Boxes, and keep an eye on your own condition. If the helicopter falls below 5% health, head to the nearest friendly Helipad immediately so it does not blow up before you can repair.
Landing, repairing, and restocking
When you set down at a Helipad, hold the engine button to switch the engine off. Shutting down is what lets you repair the vehicle and reload on supplies before your next run, so make it a habit every time you touch down.
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Once you are comfortable with the control layout and the repair loop, the helicopter becomes one of the most useful assets a US team can field.
