To fly a helicopter in WARDOGS on keyboard, use Left Shift to raise the collective (climb) and Ctrl to lower it, W/S and A/D for the cyclic (pitch and roll), and Q/E for yaw, per Shacknews’ rundown of the default keybinds. Practice in the firing range before buying one, because a Little Bird with miniguns costs $50,000 in Season 1 and a crash loses all of it.
Below we cover the full default controls, the controller layout, the setting players use for mouse flying, what each helicopter costs, and how pilots make money.
Default Helicopter Controls (Keyboard)
BULKHEAD has not published a controls sheet, so these are the defaults as reported by Shacknews:
| Action | Default key |
|---|---|
| Collective up (climb) | Left Shift |
| Collective down (descend) | Ctrl |
| Cyclic forward and back | W / S |
| Cyclic left and right | A / D |
| Yaw (rudder) | Q / E |
| Countermeasures | V |
| Next / previous seat | 0 / 9 |
| Lock or unlock vehicle | L |
| Free look | Alt |
| Camera mode | C |
| Deploy supply crate | G |
Players report rebinding these in the controls menu, so your keys may differ if you have changed them.
Parachute: Shacknews lists Space to deploy and C to cut away. Players on the Steam forums warn that if you rebind the collective to Space, it can overwrite the parachute key, so check your parachute binding after changing flight controls. The Sports Parachute is a Career level 35 unlock in Season 1.
Flying With a Mouse or Controller
Players on the Steam forums point to a Rotary Vehicle Mouse Control option for a more Battlefield-style mouse layout, with some suggesting pitch and roll sensitivity around 60 to 65% as a starting point. That is community advice, not an official recommendation, so adjust to taste.
On controller, Shacknews reports RT and LT raise and lower the collective, the left stick handles cyclic and the right stick handles yaw. BULKHEAD’s Season 1 changelog says helicopter input damping “now applies to every input device,” so flight should feel consistent across inputs. Our controller guide covers wider gamepad support.
Flight sticks: players report there is a HOTAS binding menu, but also bindings that misbehave. Team17 Support has acknowledged similar reports and escalated them, so HOTAS is workable but not polished yet.
Which Helicopters You Can Fly
Official Season 1 prices from the changelog:
- Little Bird with miniguns: $50,000 (raised from $25,000).
- Z20 Lakota: $35,000 (lowered from $50,000), with a balance pass and a fix for sluggish pitch.
Shacknews reports the Little Bird carries small supply crates on its sides (which takes up passenger seats), while the Lakota, unlocked by leveling the Pilot track, can carry pallets. BULKHEAD has not published the Pilot level for each helicopter; figures on unofficial guide sites contradict each other, so we are not repeating them. Our progression guide covers how tracks level.
How Pilots Make Money
- Taxi service. Transporting teammates into the zone pays, and PC Gamer reports passengers can tip. Pilots often drop troops at the nearest friendly FOB.
- Supply runs. Delivering crates and ammo keeps FOBs and mortars running; see our FOB guide.
- Air kills. A player kill from an air vehicle is worth 250 XP, per the changelog.
PC Gamer’s advice is blunt: helicopters “aren’t cheap for a new player.” Build a cash buffer first with our money guide.
Beginner Flying Tips
- Practice in the firing range until takeoff, hover and landing feel routine.
- Climb before you tilt. Build altitude with the collective before pushing the cyclic forward.
- Land away from the Hot Zone. A helicopter hovering over the busiest part of the map is the easiest target in the game.
- Keep countermeasures (V) ready, because the ground has anti-air too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the helicopter controls in WARDOGS? By default, Left Shift and Ctrl for collective, W/S and A/D for cyclic, and Q/E for yaw, per Shacknews.
How do you deploy a parachute in WARDOGS? Press Space to deploy and C to cut away by default, per Shacknews.
Can you fly helicopters with a mouse? Yes. Players recommend the Rotary Vehicle Mouse Control option for mouse flying.
Can you fly jets in WARDOGS? Not yet. BULKHEAD’s Early Access plans on the Steam store list new vehicle types “including fighter jets” as a future addition.
How much does a helicopter cost? In Season 1, the Z20 Lakota is $35,000 and the Little Bird with miniguns is $50,000. More WARDOGS guides are on our WARDOGS guides hub.