There are some players out there who have really mastered the helicopters. I'm improving but far from an expert.

My question is what is the best way to fly the helicopter ?

I find the joystick too sensitive - although its perfect for jets. If you move the joystick too far on any axis you are guaranteed to end up hitting the ground.

Never tried the mouse. Am i missing anything ?

Currently I am using the keyboard. I have to be careful where I leave my settings for the (redundant) joystick. I have to leave the throttle set just in the middle or it disrupts my keyboard controls.

Can anyone offer any help or advice ?

If you can accomplish something in a mission and return home with anything OTHER THAN a joystick you're a better man than I!

Joystick all the way... That's what I use for the Huey! An all-in-one rudder pedals/throttle/stick combo is recommended. That way if you have to crash land and/or bail you can quickly switch to the mouse and keyboard. I couldnt imagine playing BFV or any BF game with a Cougar and ruder peddal combo..

I have tried with the joystick (with rudder) but find myself over-correcting movement & then compounding that with further over-corrections until I plough into the ground.

Is it just a matter of practice ? or does anyone have any tips.

I'm a reasonably accomplished pilot in BF1942 & BFV and do appreciate how valuable joystick with rudder is.

The other day I saw a gunship circling a spawnpoint but continually facing & firing inwards. Caused absolute mayhem. Great control.

I'd go in and turn down the sensitivity with the joystick and mouse.

I don't know which of those affects the joystick, but one of 'em seems to, I had the same problem...

I've been flying with kb and mouse only so far. While the jets aren't that easy to do hard maneuvers, it's easier for shooting at things in the distance with a mouse.
With the helos, I find the kb/mouse to be quite a bit easier than BF42/DC helos. Not tried a jstick in BFV yet, though.


The Jedi Master

I use a gamepad with dual analogue sticks. Firestorm Dual Analogue

The left analogue stick is used for pitch and roll.
The Right analogue stick is used for collective.
The left and right shoulder buttons are used for Yaw, and the triggers underneath the pad are used for primary and secondary fire.

I also have a couple of normal buttons in order to bail out and deploy chute...works a treat.

I still haven't figured out how to map the Axis to controls in the game. A little help here would be appreciated. I have a Microsoft ForceFeedback II so I have Rudder and Thrust. They are on Rotator Axis. Any help on mapping those would greatly be appreciated too. Thanx in advance.

I still haven't figured out how to map the Axis to controls in the game. A little help here would be appreciated. I have a Microsoft ForceFeedback II so I have Rudder and Thrust. They are on Rotator Axis. Any help on mapping those would greatly be appreciated too. Thanx in advance.

Click on the movement you want ro edit, then move the stick accordingly. Just make sure you move the stick in the correct direction (i.e. forward for down and pull-back for climb) You should then see the control as "-x-axis" and "+x-axis"...or something like that. The opposite direction is automatically mapped. Not sure with the Sidewinder, but the rudder rocker on my X-36 can't be mapped and I have to assign rudders to other buttons. Joystick support in the BF series suck so far, to put it mildly. Hope this helps.

OK, developing my style now.

For taking off or going anywhere fast - joystick.

For slow, controlled movement eg trying to land on a repair pad - keyboard