I have made the following addendum (it has yet to be posted on SoB, as the site updater is currently away) to the helicopter guide: I hope it helps both the new and experienced pilots. For more guides and help, visit the website at www.secretsofbattlefield.com
Addendum
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Movement around structures and objects:
Before 1.2 came along, it was favorable for any helicopter pilot to use the terrain intelligently to avoid detection and acquire targets stealthily: it is no longer an option. Sadly, alterations to the helicopter have made it nearly impossible to stay airborne for extended periods without the use of cover at all times. Plan your route carefully and be ever more mindful of your surroundings.
Evasive maneuvers for land and air vehicles:
As a result of your decreased hitpoints, you are now highly susceptible to machine gun fire coming from jeeps and transport cars: it would be a terrible mistake for you to ignore them at this point. Armored personel carriers are relatively benign and pose little threat to the experienced and intelligent pilot: stay out of their line of fire and you will be fine. Tanks, on the other hand, are now to be respected and dealt with from their blind spots: do not engage them from any direction that could result in a turret hit.
AA emplacements and vehicles are now your main priority. Before freely entering an area to support the advance of your ground troops, you must first clear it of IGLA and Stinger weapons: this patch has given the 'newbies' a dangerously effective way to deal with air support, so make sure you know their emplacements and occupancy. You should also endeavor to destroy any mobile AA vehicles in any given area, even if unmanned. Prioritize the anti-air weaponry and your flight won't be as stressful.
Jets manned by competent pilots are no longer something you can defend against: the only real evasive trick is constant relocation to avoid their sights, but even this may not prove sufficient to fend them off. Ultimately, you will need the help of AA and friendly jets to be free from their attacks.
Combat concepts:
Stay away from the carriers. That said, it would be preferable for you to let your gunner attack IGLA and mobile AA vehicles with his TV missile: this will make them more important now than they've ever been before. Using the TVGM is now a required skill... well, unless you enjoy re-spawn time conversations.
Land vehicles (including APCs and tanks) should be dealt with from afar, as close encounters can leave you seriously injured. Endeavor to give your gunner the shots. Since machine gun fire is more effective, you can combine this weapon with missiles to destroy non-combative and combative helicopters alike, but remember that for the latter, it works both ways: air battles are now (if AA doesn't interfere) shorter and highly dependent on the element of surprise (read: who sees the other first). Stay away from jets.
Since your chopper now has less health and is more susceptible to anti-air missiles, strive to plan your attacks carefully.
Situational Awareness:
I am tempted to say that this skill is no longer optional, but as is the case with many talents and abilities, it may be innate. Still, it can and should be developed as it is now more important than ever to be aware of what's happening on the field.
Conclusion:
Learning helicopter flight and combat was challenging before the 1.2 patch came along, so the changes you have seen may seem discouraging: just remember that you overcame your difficulties learning to fly and gun, so you can adapt and dominate again if effort is made to do so. Good luck...
Addendum
----------
Movement around structures and objects:
Before 1.2 came along, it was favorable for any helicopter pilot to use the terrain intelligently to avoid detection and acquire targets stealthily: it is no longer an option. Sadly, alterations to the helicopter have made it nearly impossible to stay airborne for extended periods without the use of cover at all times. Plan your route carefully and be ever more mindful of your surroundings.
Evasive maneuvers for land and air vehicles:
As a result of your decreased hitpoints, you are now highly susceptible to machine gun fire coming from jeeps and transport cars: it would be a terrible mistake for you to ignore them at this point. Armored personel carriers are relatively benign and pose little threat to the experienced and intelligent pilot: stay out of their line of fire and you will be fine. Tanks, on the other hand, are now to be respected and dealt with from their blind spots: do not engage them from any direction that could result in a turret hit.
AA emplacements and vehicles are now your main priority. Before freely entering an area to support the advance of your ground troops, you must first clear it of IGLA and Stinger weapons: this patch has given the 'newbies' a dangerously effective way to deal with air support, so make sure you know their emplacements and occupancy. You should also endeavor to destroy any mobile AA vehicles in any given area, even if unmanned. Prioritize the anti-air weaponry and your flight won't be as stressful.
Jets manned by competent pilots are no longer something you can defend against: the only real evasive trick is constant relocation to avoid their sights, but even this may not prove sufficient to fend them off. Ultimately, you will need the help of AA and friendly jets to be free from their attacks.
Combat concepts:
Stay away from the carriers. That said, it would be preferable for you to let your gunner attack IGLA and mobile AA vehicles with his TV missile: this will make them more important now than they've ever been before. Using the TVGM is now a required skill... well, unless you enjoy re-spawn time conversations.
Land vehicles (including APCs and tanks) should be dealt with from afar, as close encounters can leave you seriously injured. Endeavor to give your gunner the shots. Since machine gun fire is more effective, you can combine this weapon with missiles to destroy non-combative and combative helicopters alike, but remember that for the latter, it works both ways: air battles are now (if AA doesn't interfere) shorter and highly dependent on the element of surprise (read: who sees the other first). Stay away from jets.
Since your chopper now has less health and is more susceptible to anti-air missiles, strive to plan your attacks carefully.
Situational Awareness:
I am tempted to say that this skill is no longer optional, but as is the case with many talents and abilities, it may be innate. Still, it can and should be developed as it is now more important than ever to be aware of what's happening on the field.
Conclusion:
Learning helicopter flight and combat was challenging before the 1.2 patch came along, so the changes you have seen may seem discouraging: just remember that you overcame your difficulties learning to fly and gun, so you can adapt and dominate again if effort is made to do so. Good luck...
, but still can rack up lots of kills, but has to be always with his good gunner, if you put a noob on each position forget it 
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