How Do You VTOL in War Thunder?

VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) in War Thunder is achieved by manipulating the angle of your aircraft's engine nozzles to redirect thrust, allowing for vertical ascent, descent, and controlled hovering. This system provides a unique tactical advantage by enabling aircraft to operate from short runways or even take off and land vertically.

Understanding the VTOL Mechanism

The core principle behind VTOL in War Thunder lies in thrust vectoring. Unlike conventional aircraft that rely on forward thrust for lift generated by wings, VTOL aircraft redirect their engine thrust downwards to generate direct lift.

• Nozzle Deflection: To achieve vertical flight, the aircraft's nozzles are angled downwards, directing all of the engine's thrust directly towards the ground. This downward force counteracts gravity, lifting the aircraft.
• Variable Angle Control: A crucial and unique feature of War Thunder's VTOL system is the ability to deflect the nozzles to any angle of your choosing, at any speed. This allows for incredibly precise control, transitioning seamlessly between vertical, short, and conventional flight modes.
• Transitioning Flight: By gradually adjusting the nozzle angle from fully downward to fully backward (horizontal), VTOL aircraft can transition from hovering to forward flight and vice versa.

How to VTOL in Game

Performing VTOL maneuvers requires specific control inputs, which can often be customized by the player.

1. Select a VTOL-Capable Aircraft: First, ensure you are flying an aircraft equipped with VTOL capabilities. Notable examples include the Harrier family (e.g., GR.1, GR.3, AV-8A), Yak-38, and Yak-141.
2. Adjust Nozzle Angle: Locate your keybinds for "Nozzle Angle Up" and "Nozzle Angle Down." These controls allow you to articulate the engine nozzles.
   • For Takeoff: Angle the nozzles fully downwards (typically 90 degrees).
   • For Landing/Hovering: Reduce your forward speed significantly, then angle the nozzles downwards to control your descent rate or maintain a hover.
3. Manage Thrust: Use your standard throttle controls to manage engine power.
   • Vertical Ascent: With nozzles angled down, increase throttle to gain altitude.
   • Vertical Descent: With nozzles angled down, decrease throttle to lose altitude.
   • Hovering: Fine-tune both nozzle angle and throttle to balance thrust with gravity.

Practical Applications and Tips

Mastering VTOL can significantly enhance your gameplay in certain situations:

• Vertical Takeoff:
  • Ensure nozzles are pointed straight down (often 90 degrees).
  • Apply full throttle. The aircraft will lift off vertically.
  • Once airborne, slowly adjust nozzles backward to gain forward speed.
• Vertical Landing:
  • Reduce speed and altitude as you approach your landing zone.
  • Begin to angle nozzles downwards as your forward speed decreases.
  • Carefully adjust nozzle angle and throttle to control your descent rate, aiming for a gentle vertical touch-down.
• Combat Maneuvers:
  • "Thrust Vectoring" Turn: In a dogfight, quickly angling nozzles partially downwards while maintaining forward speed can provide an extremely tight turn radius, surprising opponents.
  • Sudden Deceleration/Hovering: Rapidly angling nozzles fully downwards can act as an air brake, allowing you to stop quickly or even hover to avoid missiles or set up unique attacks.
• Keybinds:
  While default controls may exist, customizing your "Nozzle Angle" controls to an easily accessible axis (e.g., a joystick throttle axis, a dedicated button on a HOTAS setup, or even mouse wheel if comfortable) is highly recommended for precise control.

Common VTOL Controls (PC, customizable)

By effectively utilizing nozzle deflection and thrust management, you can unlock a new dimension of aerial combat and maneuverability in War Thunder.