7 Days to Die is a survival horror game where being prepared is the key to staying alive. Thankfully, there are several things that players can do in order to make the process somewhat easier. Being able to move around the world in a vehicle has a lot of merits, as it makes the player faster when it comes to traveling, and it makes it easier to get away from zombies.
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One of the vehicles available is the Gyrocopter, which lets players fly around the map and gain easier access to places like the tops of buildings. It can be unlocked by purchasing the components from traders and putting the pieces together or by crafting one by reading a total of 100 vehicle magazines. It's an end-game item that can be difficult to control, but learning how to fly the Gyrocopter is more than worth the effort.
Updated on August 27, 2024, by Benjamin Joe: The release of 7 Days To Die Version 1.0 has seen lots of new players taking to a world of zombie-infested nightmares. The recent changes have seen all sorts of improvements and tweaks to gameplay that have been received positively by the majority of zombie-loving gamers. As players make their way through the game, they will unlock the ability to craft various vehicles. The last vehicle that players will unlock is the Gyrocopter, and this is the only vehicle in the game that flies. While it can be difficult to control, with a bit of practice, it's possible to go from novice to expert in just a few minutes.
The Gyrocopter Is Not A Helicopter
Just on looks alone, it's easy to imagine the Gyrocopter working like a helicopter, where turning the rotor blades on is enough to make it fly. But looks can be deceiving, as the Gyrocopter works more like a plane; it needs time to pick up enough speed to get it to lift off the ground.
That's why it's important to have a nice flat area for both take-offs and landings. That said, with a bit of practice and a few well-placed ramps, it's possible to master taking off and landing with relative ease.
Always Check The Gyrocopter's Fuel
One of the most important things to remember about the Gyrocopter is that it consumes a lot of fuel. Before attempting to fly it, make sure it is refueled (preferably at 100%) to get the most use out of it. It will not fly without any fuel, which can become a major problem when when in mid-flight.
There are a few things in the game that can be done to help with the Gyrocopter's fuel consumption. Learning the Vehicle Fuel Saver Mod will decrease its fuel consumption by 50% once it is installed, and the Vehicle Reserve Fuel Tank Mod will increase its fuel tank size by 50%. You can also wear Enforcer Gloves to further reduce the amount of fuel you use while flying.
The Gyrocopter has two speed settings: standard speed and a boosted speed. To activate the speed boost, simply hit the same button you use to sprint. While doing this will cause the Gyrocopter to fly faster, it will also use more fuel, so be sure to keep an eye on the vehicle's fuel level.
Banked Turn Mode Vs. Yaw Mode
The controls used to fly the Gyrocopter aren't too difficult, but it can take some time to get familiar with them. Hit E to interact with the Gyrocopter and get seated. There are two control schemes when it comes to using it: the Banked Turn mode and the Yaw mode.
With the default settings, Yaw mode uses the WASD keys to control its movement and the direction it travels in. This can also be activated on the console, but the buttons will vary depending on which console you are playing on. You can check out the controls in the settings menu either on the game's main menu or on the pause menu. For PC, W moves it forward, A moves it left, S puts it in reverse and D moves it to the right.
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Here are all the console commands and cheats in 7 Days to Die to make your survival easier.
In Banked Turn mode, on the ground, the Gyrocopter will move in the direction of the player's camera angle. However, left-clicking on the mouse will switch the player into the Yaw mode and keep the Gyrocopter going straight, no matter the direction of the camera angle. Then, using the A and D keys will allow the player to go Left or Right and give them smoother control.
Basic Gyrocopter Controls For PC
To get the Gyrocopter off the ground, hold down the W on the keyboard to move it forward and gain some speed. Then, press the Spacebar. The Spacebar will pitch the nose of the Gyrocopter up and give it the lift that is needed to fly. Go easy with pressing the Spacebar, as the nose will continue to pitch up depending on how many times it is tapped.
Pressing the Spacebar continuously will point the nose straight up and cause the Gyrocopter to fall.
The C key will pitch the nose down, and that is used to land the Gyrocopter. Just like the Spacebar, the C key needs to be handled with care; otherwise, the player can crash their Gyrocopter into the ground very quickly. Alternating between the Spacebar and C key while holding W will help stabilize the vehicle's elevation. To make it go faster, hit the Shift key to use the Turbo.
As mentioned, using Turbo drains the Gyrocopter's fuel much faster, so it is important to be mindful of fuel consumption. The Gyrocopter can't take sharp turns, so it's best to situate it in the desired direction beforehand. When flying in heavily wooded areas, be mindful of the Gyrocopter's blades because they can get caught on trees. If this happens, it will stop and drop to the ground.
Basic Gyrocopter Controls For Controllers
Now that the new version has been released for the latest models of PlayStation and Xbox, there are lots of new players relying on controllers to play 7 Days to Die. For those looking to better understand how to play 7 Days to Die with a controller, head to options and read through the controller buttons for all in-game actions.
For players who want a little help with flying the Gyrocopter using a PlayStation or Xbox controller, the controller buttons and what they do can be found below:
Xbox Controller
- Move Forward: RT
- Reverse: LT
- Pitch Down: A
- Pitch Up/Brake: X
- Interact: Y
- Turbo: RB
- Honk Horn: LB
- Toggle Lights: Left Arrow
- Camera Zoom In: Up Arrow
- Camera Zoom Out: Down Arrow
- Move Side To Side, Back, Forward: Move Left Stick | Move Right Stick
- Switch Stearing Mode: Press R Stick
DualShock 4 Controller
- Move Forward: R1
- Reverse: L1
- Pitch Down: X
- Pitch Up/Brake: Square
- Interact: Circle
- Turbo: R2
- Honk Horn: L2
- Toggle Lights: Left Arrow
- Camera Zoom In: Up Arrow
- Camera Zoom Out: Down Arrow
- Move Side To Side, Back, Forward: Move L3 | Move R3
- Switch Stearing Mode: Press R3
How To Apply Mods To The Gyrocopter
As mentioned in the fuel entry, there are a handful of mods that can be added to the Gyrocopter. While each mod has its own use, there are some that are much better than others. All of the possible mod options for the Gyrocopter can be found below:
- Vehicle Off-Road Headlights Mod
- Vehicle Super Charger Mod
- Vehicle Reserve Fuel Tank Mod
- Vehicle Armor Mod
- Vehicle Fuel Saver Mod
The must-have mods for the Gyrocopter are the Reserve Fuel Tank Mod and the Vehicle Saver Mod. The other mods are great, but the two that help its fuel capacity and usage are much more useful, as the Gyrocopter eats through fuel pretty quickly.
How To Repair The Gyrocopter
Repairing the Gyrocopter is something that newer players may not know how to do. Thankfully, the process is incredibly simple. All you need to do is interact with the vehicle. This will bring up a menu that will allow you to mod, refuel, access storage, and repair the Gyrocopter.
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Each time you hit the repair button, it will cost 1 Repair Kit. The effectiveness of your repair kits on vehicles is directly impacted by the Grease Monkey skill. When maxed out, Repair Kits become 50% more effective on vehicles.
Extra Tips For Flying The Gyrocopter
The E button is used for both entering and exiting vehicles, so it is very important not to accidentally press it while in the air. When at a safe/survivable height, using E to leave the Gyrocopter can be a quick and handy way to land. But, to be on the safe side, always land the Gyrocopter before pressing E.
As handy as the Gyrocopter can be, there are situations where using it is a very bad idea. It's not a good idea to go out during a Blood Moon Horde, even in a vehicle, as the zombies will still attack the player aggressively. Flying the Gyrocopter during a Blood Moon Horde will trigger attacks from zombie vultures. They are problematic on the ground, but they are even more so in the air, as the player will be left defenseless. They will continuously swarm the player and bring them down to the ground where they will continue to attack and could even leave them vulnerable to attacks from other zombies.
7 Days to Die
- Released
- June 28, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- The Fun Pimps
- Platform(s)
- Linux, macOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One
