Helipad (Tiberian Dawn)

	For other helipads, see Helipad.

Helipad
Structure
Internal ID	HPAD
Faction	Global Defense Initiative Brotherhood of Nod
Role	Aircraft production and rearming
Tier	2
Tech level	6
Properties
Hit points	400
Armor type	Wood
Production
Cost	$1500
Build time	0:20
Produced by	Construction yard
Requires	Barracks (GDI) Hand of Nod (Nod)
Combat
Sight range	3
Function
Power	-10
Produces	See § Production

The Helipad is a support structure designed to build, refuel and rearm small aircraft such as Apaches or Orcas. Without it, the aircraft would be left without ammunition to perform any offensive role.

Background

The Brotherhood of Nod as well as the GDI used them as staging areas for their air forces during both the First and Second Tiberium Wars. While originally designed to support only rotary wing aircraft, these pads were adapted by GDI to support the new ORCA Assault Craft. The design little changed since the Second World War, as it has proven itself to be effective and allowed for quick rearming and refueling of the aircraft.

Game building

The cost of construction also includes the VTOL aircraft assigned to it. The aircraft is unique for each faction. If a faction can capture the other faction's helipad, chances are they can gain access to the aircraft unique only to that faction.

The facility is only to supply the aircraft. To repair an aircraft, the commander must put the aircraft to the repair pad for repairing and maintenance. Engineer and supply command provision enable captured VTOL aircraft originally available only to other faction to be reloaded, refuelled and replenished accordingly.

Interestingly due to a bug unique to Tiberian Dawn it actually builds at a rate as if it only has a cost of $300. This is due to game not considering the cost of the aircraft when determining the helipad's build rate. Since helipads only requires a barracks and has a fast build rate they can, funds permitting, be used to rush the enemies base early on, though this could of course be stopped by scouting and preparing a defence with rocket soldiers.

In Nod campaign and expansion missions, commanders cannot build helipads unless they capture a GDI construction yard. A bug means that helipads are still available to build without the captured GDI construction yard because Nod can freely build them in multiplayer.

Production

Chinook (multiplayer only) Aerial infantry transport, carries up to 5 infantry units Requires Barracks (GDI) or Hand of Nod (Nod)

GDI

Orca Anti-armor gunship Requires Barracks

Nod

Apache Anti-infantry gunship Requires Hand of Nod

Gallery

• 

  DOS manual render scan

• 

  Coloured version of the former

• 

  Brady Games' strategy guide render scan

• 

  Brady Games' strategy guide render scan

Cameos

DOS	English	Textless

See also

• Helipad (Renegade)