I'm in the UK so have to wait for the 5th to play. I was wondering whether there was a way to go into the maps and just practice flying a helicopter either through a tutorial (as in BF1943) or through creating a private match on your own? I only got to fly the apache once in the demo as people always got there before me (and usually crashed it within seconds).

If your on the PC you could just join an empty server. I've yet to find a way to do this on the console. It sucks because I'd like to learn how to fly a helicopter on my own before taking it to the match. I don't want to be responsible for killing a team member because I don't know what the hell I'm doing.

Im only getting the 360 version but we have two 360's and are getting two copies, maybe I can create a match with system link to practice? Although I'm not even sure if this game has a system link option.

The fifth? It comes out tommorow here

Man, there are few things I hate more than people wasting a good chopper. If you are going to try it, take it easy. Don't just charge into battle full stick. It takes a little time, but you'll get it. I've gotten pretty good at flying so it bugs me to no end when someone beats me to it and destroys it in seconds upon take off. It wastes such a good asset for the team.

" @Venatio:  Not according to my amazon order, Game also says the 5th on its website "

I got to fly it once and got taken out be a UAV within a minute or so. I played alot of desert combat (1942 mod) on pc where the heli controls were more complicated so it seemed pretty simple to fly. I really just want to practice without being shot at though as this is how I mastered the planes in 1943.

" I got to fly it once and got taken out be a UAV within a minute or so. I played alot of desert combat (1942 mod) on pc where the heli controls were more complicated so it seemed pretty simple to fly. I really just want to practice without being shot at though as this is how I mastered the planes in 1943. "

Yeah, I used to open a private server in BF2 and BF2142 and just fly the aircraft around the map (for those that don't remember there were JSFs and MIG 29s along with Blackhawks and Apache's in BF2) to practice. Since I switched over to console gaming for most things, I have really missed this feature.  I would say that aircraft are in general easier to fly in BF2 than any previous BF game, they have finally got the cyclic controls right.  
 
One issue is that it is hard to fix yourself up in the console games - if you get shot up in the older games, it was fairly easy to go hover over the pad and fix yourself. Not so much now.

I play last night, it kinda sucked.  First I got kicked to the dashboard.  Then when I got in, it teamed 4 level 0 noobs ( I at least played the Demo, got good at that ) versus 7 people who had obviously been playing since midnight last night, level 6 was the lowest ranked player on their team.  Clearly we got demolished, as we had no working medics or engineers (no abilites unlocked) , the other players didnt use the vehicles, or when they did, just got rocked by missles or mines.  Hopefully it will clean itself up soon, balance out.

I suggest flying the Blackhawk or UAV first if you wanna practice. Give the Apache and Hind to the seasoned pilots to yield maximum damage.
 
That is, of course, unless the fucking scrubs take the chopper first and do nothing but pepper the ground and making the terrain less flat.

Don't get why people can't fly helicopters, to be honest. It's really simple if you've ever played any sort of flying game ever, even something like Star Fox. Just make sure to invert the flight controls if you've ever used a joystick before, or you'll be vertically confused.

 @jmrwacko:  I'm sure I can fly it, but mastering it is different, besides so far I haven't had the opportunity to find out!

I don't have a problem with flying, honestly its easier in BC2. Only problem is that you often have gunners who can't shoot for shit

you could try practicing in the campaign. other than that....idk

Man I loved using planes and choppers in the main-line PC Battlefield games. Taking dudes behind enemy lines, and sandwiching them from both sides while raining death from above was basically the most fun I've had in that game.  
 
I should really try to get my hands on a chopper in this game, but they're taken up really fast, and I find that grabbing an ATV, and just go flying past the enemies before they can react, then get out  and get killin'.

" I don't have a problem with flying, honestly its easier in BC2. Only problem is that you often have gunners who can't shoot for shit "

" @nethanel said:

" I don't have a problem with flying, honestly its easier in BC2. Only problem is that you often have gunners who can't shoot for shit "

Because the aim isn't responsive.  It's slow, sort of like trying to aim a tank, and when the pilot is dodging RPGs you can't adjust fast enough.  "