Flying helicopters and jets is one of the great joys of the Battlefield series, and it’s back with a vengeance in Battlefield 6. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. You’ll need lots of practice to be anywhere approaching good, but there are more ways than ever to practice piloting helicopters and jets in BF6.
## How to Practice Flying a Helicopter or Jet in Battlefield 6
There are two main ways to practice with helicopters and jets in BF6, and I only recommend one of them if you want to maximize your learning time.
### 1. Play in a Dedicated Air Vehicle Practice Server
The overhauled Portal system in Battlefield 6 allows for immense server customization, and you can create servers dedicated to practicing with air vehicles. As of launch day, there are several dozen to choose from, but there are a few things to keep in mind:
– **Join a server with a low play count** to ensure you can actually get into the jet or helicopter.
– The server needs to be on a map that features jets and/or helicopters.
– The server needs to be properly configured. Ideally, join a 64-player server with one or two human players, and if the server is set up correctly, the rest of the match will backfill with bots.
From there, it’s a simple matter of picking your class and the vehicle you want to practice. The server should also have fast vehicle respawn active, if available, so even if you slam your jet into the side of a mountain (easy to do), you can get right back in and keep practicing.
### 2. Pilot Jets and Helicopters in an Actual Match
I do **not** recommend this route if you’ve never flown a vehicle before because you will likely end up as burning scrap on the ground. You might also send several other players back to the respawn screen, none of whom will be too happy with you.
If you have a teammate who knows how to pilot, you can take the pilot seat while they guide you from the gunner seat in a helicopter. Although you won’t be winning many friends right away, this is one way to start building your skills.
However, there is one thing you can only practice in a live match: **flare usage**. Enemy Engineers equipped with lock-on launchers will try to take you out of the sky, and learning the timing for when to pop your flares to throw their missiles off your scent can only happen in a live environment.
## How to Learn to Fly Helicopters and Jets
Before you start practicing, take some time to read the keybinds and controls associated with flying. Knowing what each button does is fundamental.
Next, build a strategy to get the most out of your practice sessions. I recommend starting with the basics:
– Practice ascending and descending while holding the vehicle steady.
– Helicopters move vertically by pressing the Space bar (PC) or the bumpers/R1 and L1 (console).
– To move forward in a helicopter, pitch the vehicle forward to gain momentum.
– Jets ascend by raising their nose with the right stick and descend by lowering it.
– Focus on moving left and right using WASD (PC) or the left stick (console).
– Add in up-and-down movement as you become more comfortable.
Spend several minutes acclimating to basic traversal. Don’t be hard on yourself if you end up crashing into the side of a mountain or pancaking onto the ground—you’re not alone, I still do it all the time.
### Master Pitching and Rolling
The final step is to add pitching and rolling—the ability of your vehicle to rotate on its axes. These movements will feel awkward at first but mastering roll and pitch is essential for evasion and dogfighting. Don’t neglect these skills.
### Gain Live Match Experience
While practice servers are great for learning controls and basic maneuvers, you will also need live match experience to overcome the “pilot jitters” and to learn when and how to use flares effectively. Bots or the occasional enemy might shoot locked rockets during practice, but avoiding them in a full match against a coordinated team of humans takes additional experience.
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With patience and consistent practice using these methods, you’ll be soaring through the Battlefield 6 skies like a pro in no time. Happy flying!
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146330/how-do-to-practice-with-heliocopters-and-jets-in-battlefield-6