Helix (Zero Hour)

The Helix is a heavy transport helicopter used by China, introduced in Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour.
==Abilities==
	Drop Napalm Bomb	The Helix drops a napalm bomb into the designated area. Unless ordered to do something else, it will keep bombing the same spot with napalm bombs. The Helix doesn't fire its Gattling Cannon while dropping the bomb (it will use its standard machine gun, though).
	Drop Nuke Bomb 	The Helix drops a nuke bomb into the designated area. Unless ordered to do something else, it will keep bombing the same spot with nuke bombs. The Helix doesn't fire its Gattling Cannon while dropping the bomb (it will use its standard machine gun, though). (Tao only)
==Upgrades==
===Unit===
These upgrades are purchased individually. They are not reversible and permanently occupy their respective Helixes.
	Bunker 	Adds a Bunker to the Helix, allowing any infantry in transit to fire from within. Costs $400.
	Gattling Cannon	Adds a Gatling Cannon to the Helix, granting the weapon's stealth detection and improving the Helix' matchup against infantry as well as lightly armored vehicles. Costs $1200.
	Speaker Tower 	Adds a Speaker tower to the Helix, applying any respective bonuses to the Helix itself and nearby friendly units. Costs $500.
===Base===
	Subliminal Messaging	Increases effectiveness of any mounted Propaganda Towers by 25%.	Purchasable from any Propaganda Center for $500.
===Weapons===
	Napalm Bomb 	This upgrade allowed Napalm Bombs to be dropped directly under the Helix, which after each release there would be a short recharge time. This costs $800.
	Nuclear Bomb	This upgrade allowed Nuclear Bombs to be dropped directly under the Helix, which after each release there would be a short recharge time. This costs $800 (General Tsing Shi Tao only).
==Game Unit==
The Helix has 5 transport slots, which can be used to carry infantry and vehicles (barring the Listening Outpost, Nuke Cannon and Troop Crawler).
In terms of armament, Helixes come with a nose-mounted machine gun that can target ground threats, similar to the USA Comanche. Napalm Bombs are available as individual upgrades. They share the same attachment catalogue with Overlords, and each is only compatible with one. 
===Strategy===
Perhaps the most useful Helix upgrade was the Battle Bunker upgrade, in spite of the fact that it removed the Helix's capacity to transport vehicles, as it turned the Helix into a very useful weapon to counter early tank rushes, particularly by inexperienced generals who may have forgotten to supplement their tanks with anti-air protection. A Helix filled up with Tank Hunters essentially becomes a slower, more expensive, but more powerful Comanche, that could fire upon both tanks and aircraft from within. This flying bunker could also prove deadly against structures. For those who wished to use their Helixes for tactical redeployment of units, the Gatling Cannon was a good option, providing some protection against lightly-armored anti-air units.
===Counters===
While being a rather sturdy aircraft, the Helix was also large and relatively slow-moving. This meant that while it could shoulder a heavier amount of anti-aircraft fire it was a very easy target, especially when damaged. Stinger Sites and Patriots in particular were useful for taking it down. General Alexander's EMP Patriots were nearly unapproachable because of their EMP capabilities. It was a poor match for concentrated anti-aircraft fire. Aircraft such as the Raptor could defeat them easily thanks to their high speed.
===Variants===
*Shin Fai's Helixes are replaced with Assault Helixes.
*Tsing Shi Tao's Helixes' Napalm Bombs are replaced with Nuke Bombs, which deal heavy direct damage and irradiate their target point.
==Changelog==
*Zero Hour patch 1.03: 
**now displays upgrade cameo for black napalm (China only)
**now displays upgrade cameo for nuke bomb (Tao only)
==Selected Quotes==
==Trivia==
* The Helix resembles an over-sized version of the real-life Kamov Ka-29 (NATO reporting name Helix-B), a Russian marine assault helicopter developed from the earlier anti-submarine warfare Kamov Ka-27.
* The Gatling Cannon upgrade was to override the Helix' own machine gun. This is the reason why its machine gun is a sub-object in the model which can be hidden and also why the Helix has an upgraded weapon set that is identical to the normal one. It was likely changed because the Gatling Cannon has to spin up before firing.
* The Helix was supposed to drop pairs of napalm bombs from its stub wings instead of deploying them one at a time.
* Tsing Shi Tao's Helixes would have contained radiation trefoils on its tail rudders, but the model goes unused.
==Gallery==
GensZHNukeHelix.png|Unused model for Nuke Generals
==See also==
* Assault Helix, Shin Fai variant
* Combat Chinook, Malcolm Granger counterpart
Category:Zero Hour aircraft