In scripts 4.1, it is possible to have a building in your map that works as a helipad. It will be totally separate from the weapons factory/airstrip in that you will be able to buy helicopters even if the war factory/airstrip is down and you will be able to buy ground vehicles if the helipad is down. You can even have someone buying a helicopter and someone else buying a ground vehicle at the same time.

Firstly, in order to use this functionality you need to be using the sidebar in your map.

Follow this tutorial: Renegade Sidebar Tutorial

Make sure to read part 2 and follow that.

You also require scripts 4.1 so make sure you have it installed and working in LevelEdit.

You also need the attached helipad_cinematic.txt file in your map mix file (it relies on the XG_HD_HTraj.w3d file from the stock Renegade always.dat file).

Also, open the C&C_blah_tt.ini file you made in the sidebar tutorial and add the following:

[General]
VehicleFactoryVehicleLimit=x
AirFactoryVehicleLimit=y

x is the number of ground vehicles players are allowed to build, y is the number of air vehicles. The limits are separate.

Setting Up the Helipads

First, place a building in your map to act as the helipad—create it like any other building (MCTs, PTs, damage aggregates, etc.).

Then open LevelEdit and open your map.

1. Create the Fly‑In Cinematic Object

Create a new preset under Simple. This will be the helipad fly‑in cinematic object.

Configure it as follows:

• Untick DefaultHibernationEnable
• Tick NotTargetable
• Tick IsEditorObject
• Tick IsHiddenObject
• Leave all other settings default
• Attach the script Test_Cinematic
• Parameter: helipad_cinematic.txt

2. Create the Landing Position Objects

These determine where helicopters will fly in.

You need one for GDI and one for Nod.

Create each as a copy of Dave's Arrow preset with no changes.

3. Create Air Factory Instances

Go to Buildings → Air Factory. Create one instance for each team.

If you do not see "Air Factory", 4.1 is not installed correctly.

Set up this preset like any other building, then set:

Building Type: Helipad
LandingPosDistance: 1000
CinematicTimer: 14.0
CinematicSlotIndex: 4
Landing Position Object: (the landing position object preset created earlier)
Fly‑In Cinematic Object: (the fly-in cinematic object preset)

No special scripts are required.

Next:

• Place the helipad building controllers as normal.
• Place 2–3 landing position objects (for the correct team) around the helipad at ground level. These determine helicopter landing spots.

You cannot have more than one helipad per team — the logic does not support it.

War Factory / Airstrip Adjustments

To prevent buying helicopters at the war factory / airstrip:

• Create temp presets (or edit existing temp presets).
• Tick BuildGroundOnly.

Flying Requirements

Ensure all normal flying‑map requirements are met:

• Tick Allow Flying Vehicles under Edit → Level Settings
• Generate flight data (part of pathfinding)
• Ensure you have a proper flight roof

helipad_cinematic.txt

-1  Create_Object,      3, "XG_HD_HTraj",          0, 0, 0, 0
-1  Play_Animation,     3, "XG_HD_HTraj.XG_HD_HTraj", 0
-1  Attach_to_Bone,     4, 3, "BN_Trajectory"
-437 Destroy_Object,    3