I was on the SAI server and their people and this other person reno-something, were helping me out alot!
Keep your AGL below 20.
Turn off your Rotor Volume in game.
Use headphones.
Use a joystick and strafe a lot when someone missile locks you - you can set your joystick / flight stick to strafe in the game options.
Bind a joystick button or keyboard for the altitude burst button and use that very often, and always hug the ground.
Replace jump for most FPS games with the momentary altitude burst - or pop-up - default is space bar.
If you don't like 1st person, use 3rd person - and bind your hatch to look up down, left, right, etc - with a button that binds to default camera.
However, you should use 1st person when you get used to the game and terrain.
Let's see what else ...
Oh yah, if you are on a server with Stingers, just unload about everything else and load up with stingers only, and if you spot someone just keep firing as much as you can, and avoid them by strafing and backing up and hiding behind hills, etc.
Keep your gear up, the helicopter handles better that way.
Drop Efams after use or don't use them at all - it lowers your radar signature and gives you better flying ability.
After you fire missiles, close your Bay Doors - it will lower your signature.
If someone fires a Stinger at you, fly up and back, strafe in the opposite direction, and spam flares manually - beyond the auto-flares.
That's all I can think of for now.
I think SAI uses Roger Wilco, so I suggest downloading that and getting on if they give you the IP.
This is a very cool community, super helpful people. Once you learn to control your helicoptor more the game takes on a whole new dimension. I wish more people got into this game, it's very fun.
[Edited on 8-20-2002 by quiet]