Helicopter

The Helicopter Mode allows users to move freely within the 3D scene, simulating a flight experience with a constant altitude. This mode is designed for immersive exploration, enabling users to maintain a fixed height above the ground while moving horizontally.

Controls

In Helicopter Mode, navigation requires the use of both hands, with the keyboard and mouse. The controls are the same as those in Airplane Mode.

Keyboard Controls

• Up Arrow or W Key: Move forward.
• Down Arrow or S Key: Move backward.
• Left Arrow or A Key: Strafe left.
• Right Arrow or D Key: Strafe right.
• R Key: Ascend (move up).
• F Key: Descend (move down).

Mouse Controls

• Mouse Wheel: Adjust movement speed during keyboard-controlled movement.
• Double Left Click: Move the rotation point to the clicked area and zoom in closely on that area.
• Hold and Drag Left Click: Rotate the camera around the current position.
• Hold and Drag Right Click: Pan the model in the plane of the current view.

Recommended Use Cases

Helicopter Mode is ideal for:

• Immersive Navigation: This mode provides a video game-like flying experience, enhancing user immersion in the 3D model, especially for large-scale models.
• Linear Projects: Particularly useful for navigating long, linear models such as highways, tunnels, or pipelines.
• Taking Measurements: While taking measurements, the keyboard can be used to move the camera, freeing up the mouse for operating measurement tools. This is useful for precise adjustments. See Measurement Tools.
• Hovering over Specific Areas: Unlike Airplane Mode, Helicopter Mode allows users to hover over areas while maintaining a fixed altitude. This enables, for example, an aerial view of a specific area of interest without the risk of descending toward the ground.