A CRASH COURSE
No matter how careful you are, you're going to bump into buildings, power lines, buildings, water, more buildings, land and occasionally buildings. Fire and smoke can also damage your copter. Even simple flying produces wear and tear.
As your copter takes damage, it sputters and smokes and becomes difficult to control. Your damage indicator lights go from "off" to yellow to red. When all five are red, your copter is nearly destroyed. One or two more crashes and you lose your helicopter and all the equipment it carries. Sorry. At least when that happens you are returned to your hangar, embarrassed, perhaps, but otherwise unharmed.
Damage Indicator
Note: If you lose your copter and don't have enough money to buy a new one, you've lost the game. You'll have to start over again.
You've probably crashed your copter at least once already, but if you haven't, do it now.
Aim for a building, close your eyes, and fly into it.
Repeat as necessary until the helicopter is destroyed.
That was fun, wasn't it?
Get into another helicopter, fly around a little, then continue with the lesson.
BRING IT ON HOME
It takes no great skill to crash, but it takes finesse to land properly. Part of your training is learning how to land, and now is as good a time to learn as any.
Fly your helicopter to your airport landing pad and hover about a thousand feet over the tarmac.
Remember, Tutorial City Airport is outside the southeast corner of the city.
When you are over the tarmac, press W for just a second or two.
You must ease yourself to the ground. If you land too quickly, you'll crash.
Press W again for a second or two.
Note that you continue to drift a little bit even after you release the W key.
Ease your copter to the ground until you hear a soft woosh as your engines rev down.
Press E to leave your helicopter.
There, that wasn't so bad. Walk around a little and stretch your legs. Check out the hangar, as long as you're here.
HINT: If the townsfolk you encounter seem only mildly interested in you, it's because they know your time with them is most likely temporary.