It's zombies flying the helicopter leading there brothers and sisters towards the food.

Hiding from the chopper to avoid hordes: I sleep Going outside so footage of my desperate rampage is aired live on tv: Real shit

Here's my take; the helicopters seen in-game are observation teams sent by the state government of Kentucky in conjunction with the National Guard to monitor the exclusion zone.

i like the whole news helicopter idea "BREAKING NEWS: KENTUCKY MAN TAKES MASSIVE HORDE OF UNDEAD HEAD-ON WITH NOTHING BUT A CROWBAR AND A WATER BOTTLE"

I like to go out during the event. First I like to get it away from my base or important loot locations, but secondly because I like to roleplay. I think about the people watching that broadcast, what they might see. Streets packed with gore, corpses, and the shambling sick. No survivors, everyone is dead. Suddenly the camera jerks over to a single living human, emerging from a ruined store covered in blood. They dome the nearest zombie with their crowbar, sending brains splattering onto the pavement, and they look up. They lock eyes with the camera. To the millions seeing this recording, the bloody store person represents the single ray of hope humanity has left. Proof that there are people immune to the air born strain, and proof that you can survive, if only you are smart. /rant lol

Nobody is allowed to fly above the exclusion zone and the emergency broadcast indicates that the state/military doesn't know who is flying the helicopter. My assumption about the helicopter event has always been that it's just someone curious with access to a helicopter (maybe just some rich guy?) who wanted to see what's going on inside the exclusion zone. They were neither prepared to help anyone nor did they want to risk too much, they were probably just filming or taking photos, not thinking about the trouble they may cause.

"It was a moody day, me and John took our daily turn in helicopter to fly around Knox County to find some news, we were flying around Muldraugh, we've seen the "HELP" sign on the roof of the old storage building, it was just sad - seeing all of those people, now undead. When we got to the Police Station, we saw something. It was a man, a muscular man - he was wearing just pink boots, underwear and an cowboy hat - we raised our cameras to record this unusal look, we watched him yell to gather a horde. After a while, when the horde gathered, he downed ten bootles of booze, just straight up without losing a pace, then he throwed an molotov cocktail at the horde, and started beating them with a crowbar, crazy shit man i tell you"

Imagine one of the last live TV images that people living outside of the exclusion zone sees is a lone survivor facing off against a relentless horde; Although maybe not the most preferable means of becoming famous, it does makes the idea of surviving the helicopter event more impactful.

0:58 the ingame news and the fact that romero's concept of a zombie was never a thing in pz universe could mean that they can't tell whenever you are a zombie or not since zombies (from the perspective of the ingame news reporters) look indistinguishable from normal people. One of the broadcasts on NNR on day 5 states that "It's impossible to tell who has the infection, and who does not."

News crew: Oh hey look there is a guy there. Zombies: Get to the choppa!

News Crew makes the most sense to me. If it was the military I wouldn't expect them to linger so long, especially without shooting at the horde. If it were just your imagination, I'd expect the real reasonnthe zombies are attracted to your location is because your character starts screaming for help at something that isn't there. But your survivor produces text when they talk so I doubt it.

I like the grim idea of the news team questioning either to save you or to leave you maybe the PZ team should add a broadcast to one of the news outlets where it describes their decision to leave you to the fate

I always interpreted it as a News Team or Military Survey flying a chopper overhead to gather information on the Exclusion Zone, whether it be for a news report or a survey. The TV News Reports tend to support this as soon after the helicopter event various News channels report of survivors still in the EZ. The fact they linger around you for so long suggests that they got curious and are definitely very likely recording footage of you being a one man army and are simply watching in horror. It also definitely isn't a hallucination because you can *hide* from the Helicopter inside once the event starts, so people saying it's a hallucination are really silly.

I'm still pretty new to the game, less than 60 hours. When I first got the helicopter event, I thought I would have been able to see it so I kept on walking around the sound trying to find it, assuming it could have been helpful in some way. Theoretically speaking, I suppose it does help if you want to level up your weapon skills

I remember posting a looong message on the project zomboid official wiki about it. It went as follows : In game, the helicopter arrives between 6 and 9 days after the beginning of the apocalypse. Thanks to TV transcripts, especially Triple-N and WBLN transcripts, we know that the evening of day 5 is the day of the containment breach. ANd day 6 is the moment everyone learns that the infection is also airborne. So the world is fucked. And yet, it's at THIS moment that the helicopter goes overhead. It's when everything outside goes to hell that an unknown helicopter is flying over the first area to be "lost". What kind of helicopter is it? First, we can bar the rescue helicopter completely. Sending a rescue helicopter one week after the appearance of the infection simply isn't something that would be done normally. Instead, rescue operations would be deployed to newly infected areas, in order to get people that can be saved out of dangerous areas. In lore, however, when does the helicopter fly overhead? Logically, one might say day 6. The reason is that the military lockdown is broken since the day right before. And there is another clue. On the Triple-N transcript, on the third transcript of the 7th day, we hear the following : "We have anecdotal evidence that a very small minority... of people may be immune." The thing is, the infection can kill someone in a few days, and sometimes, it takes that long to the player to feel the effects. There is, therefore, not enough time between the breach of end of day 5 and day 7 for a guarantee that someone might be immune. But then, where would that information come from? You get where I'm going now. The only place where there has been enough time spent to guarantee that a survivor is immune is on Knox County. the only way for Triple-N to be aware of the events happening inside is through bieng able to observe Knox County. And if the date is right, the day PRIOR to the announcement that there might be a small immune minority, the helicopter flew overhead. And that helicopter saw the player. They saw an uninfected at the heart of the infection fighting off against the undead. Therefore, we can safely assume that the helicopter is a Triple-N news helicopter that is trying to get some infos now that they are finally able to fly over Knox County.

I like to Imagine that it's some rich guy who is trying to find people so he can flex on them with his wealth one more time before he too becomes zombie bait.

hot take: the helicopter might try to kill you by bringing zombies near you, due to the fact you are the only one alive in said town, and if you get out, everyone will have a bad time explaining why they didnt help you at all

If my imagination is capable of summoning 500+ zombies in a 5 block radius, maybe I should let the bleach Valkyrie take me away

I personally believe that its the military, or national guard looking for groups of survivors, and by the time they actually find a survivor (you) they realize its too risky to land and save a single lone survivor, even more when theres a hoard high tailing behind.

the helicopter is just frank west heading for the mall, don't mind him

I always assumed that it was a military observation helicopter, there’s an exclusion zone that actually worked and I think they’re intentionally corralling zombies, it’s why the fly about so long - they’re keeping them away from the walls

you need a very strong imagination to let the zombies hear what you think :v

the news reporter crew watching the loner down there cleaning a horde with nothing but molotovs, anger and the local pd weaponry:

If I recall correctly, there's a video of the entire project zomboid lore timeline as told through TV and radio stations, and at one point the military broadcasts that they're pulling out of the area, and that there's an air evacuation of a top general in the area, or something like that. It doesn't really make much sense, since why would an evacuating heli stop to hover around your survivor, but I like it's implications.

We need more events like this in PZ. As annoying as the helicopter is, it's an intense adrenaline rush trying to survive it

Reason why I like Helicopter Extended. It makes it quite clear what is what

The thing is , the helicopter draws zeds to you when it follows you, but doesn't draw them away when it leaves.

I used to be annoyed that we couldn't actually see the helicopter in PZ but then I realized that I live near a hospital that gets helicopters occasionally and I can normally only hear them pass over my house

My take: The military is probably trying to bait the zomboids in one place so they use you (the player) as a bait so all the zomboids go in specific spot, trying to contain the infection

There really are only 3 options 1: its a news crew following you and unknowingly bringing zombies to you. 2: its the military, they try to find a location that they can land near you when they spot you. 3: its some people who want to watch the world burn and find survivors to chase around causing zombies to be drawn in. Personally i think option 1 makes the most sense. Edit: there is another, and yes i did see it in the comments but it could be an observation team of some kind studying how the zombies interact with humans and possibly see how long it takes for someone to turn.

I believe it's a news team, and once they see you they try to save you (hence why they fly above you) but can't due to the horde they've drawn in

Would be cool if there was a secret walkie-talkie frequency that you could use to contact the helicopter or something and they would be contemplating whether to save you but just say that they won't help or something.

Imagine you're in a news heli you realise that there is someone on the ground a survivor and then you realise that you just made the whole hell break loose you can only watch and document what happens and then he just mows down everything with guns, cars, fire and god knows what else

I feel like the idea of whoever is in the helicopter is just filming you and causing a horde event is a lesson of society. People trying to use you for their own personal gain while you remain in anguish. That’s why the helicopter is never there to save you.

My biggest bet is the News Chopper theory. Because let's face it, for the sake of media attention they have to go to Knox County where the Knox Event occured. At the time of 6-9 days since day one of the outbreak, news outlets and communication are still going. Lo and behold they see you (player) driving down through beaten-up Lousiville in a Mercia Lang 6000.

Apart from the whole PZ storyline and how the dev see this, or want to go with the whole helicopter event. Helicopters are so oldschool zombie movie vibe. Dawn of the dead and their helicopter. Which plays a important role. The group of suvivors would not have gotten anywhere without it. Day of the dead was overall not the best movie out of the dead frenchise. But that opening was so legendary strong.... that guy yelling hello? Is anybody out there. And the other guy stating with his perfect jamaican accent that no-one is alive in this place... "Listen, you can hear it over the engine". Romero builds it up so well on the power of suggestion. You do hear the moaning over the engine... the whole idea of a giant city full of moaning zombies... spine tingling and morbid dire outlook. I imagine that in theory you can hear louisville from miles away... maybe the devs should do something with this. Just to disturb us and throw us off more. Once i hear the helicopter in the distance i call out, helloo?...is anybody out there? Which everytime was a oh sh... moment for my ex, because i always hear it first. sure thing i'm out there, hiding my ass very quietly in a bathroom or garage without any windows. 😂

I always thought they were news heli, and always imagined my character driving away, fighting zombies being broadcasted on the TV. Such a thrill

I like the idea that it's the media/news team looking to spread the truth. They either don't think/care about riling up zombies near you, they don't help because they fear getting too close might spread the infection to them, and they follow you to get a good video to spread online. it's simple and reasonable.

I always wanted to scare away a helicopter by shooting at it No real reason why that isn't a feature yet

"The TRUTH about..." "This is all just speculation"

I have EHE, I sometimes role play in raven creek by making them all almost insane rate. Makes it seem like the outbreak just started

Just started playing a few days ago. I finally survived long enough to go through the event, it was absolutely infuriating but so much adrenaline packed fun as well... then I died to another horde immediately after jumping over a tall wooden fence in Rosewood.. 10/10 will still keep playing. This game is something special.

so what you're saying is that Frank West is in project zomboid

i now hu hi is , is Frank west!! ebriting maches .

So it was Frank West this whole time

The Expanded Helicopter Events mod adds a whole bunch of stuff which I at this point consider canon due to how well made it is. I say it’s a wide arrange of the things the helicopter is perhaps in the earlier days it could be the Military and police trying to maintain order. Perhaps even news teams covering the outbreak. Then probably in the much later days it’s probably just fragments/remnants of what’s left of the military. Or else it could even be fellow survivors or pesky raiders. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

its kinda crazy how easily they COULD save survivors, the infection like instantly kills you so they wouldnt have to worry about that, and the zombies cant do much but walk slowly a flying helicopter

lmfao that ending got me good. Really enjoy seeing you in Predz hardcore series as well!!

The Helicopter event is Frank West coming into the town. He's covered wars you know.

I'd put money on it not being in your head, because it does attract zombies. A hallucination wouldn't do that. I think a news chopper is the best guess.

Having known about the helicopter event from watching youtube before even playing Zomboid, I haven't yet had any difficulty more than the slightest inconvenience from the helicopter. I just chill in my hideout and read a book, since I always hit up the school in Rosewood at the very beginning of my runs. Cook a meal, read a book, watch some TV, read more, it's like just a random "indoor" day for me whenever it happens. Kinda makes me want to get that expanded helicopter mod since it doesn't even really add any significant difficulty to my runs right now. Also, if you do get caught by the helicopter and followed, you can pick any random two-story building, run to a random room on the second floor, and close the door behind you (bring a sheet so you can close the curtains). The zombies won't go looking for you upstairs unless they see/hear you go up, and mostly they get stuck on the first floor just wandering around aimlessly. Once it's gone, if you're not overweight (underweight is way better anyways) you can hop out the window taking only slight damage and run. Super EZ.

Honestly with this take it makes me feel like I should take on every zombie it draws to me so I can look cool on TV.

I figured almost everything has been grounded and as the infection rages on nothing takes off near you. Except for one survivor who fixed up a heli and left the area with what he’s got. Sees you and thinks about grabbing you so watches if your nonviolent to humans before realizing he gave you a death sentence

personally: the helicopter is frankwest photojournalist, and someone just started a new playthrough of dead rising 1

I like the idea of the new channel just filming a survivor in a swat outfite while beathing the hell out of random hord with a crowbar not afraid at all

I saw someone talking about the helicopter event while on my first playthrough and decided to look it up. I hate that I could have been destroyed by a hoard if I didn't hear about this on time. Would've been four days of base building gone

I know the devs work with mod authors to get mods officially added in, I really hope they either work with the creator of the Expanded Helicopter Event mod, or turn it into something similar.

Frank West is probably taking pics from the helicopter

Keep up the work I love your videos!

I think it's news crews, and I think the reason they hover is because they want to get good footage of you being eaten

"Holy shit... he's- he's immune! We gotta fuckin save him... come back for him in like... 3, no 5 days?" "Yeah, sure- Hey that's a horde, holy shit we gotta run" "No no, look... he's winning." "HE JUST THREW A MOLLIE! WHAT THE FUCK?"

I like to imagine they’re just media bloodhounds filming your demise for ratings

This makes me want multiplayer challenge modes and profession based starts, maybe objectives and stuff, got me thinking about dead rising 1 all over again. Have players land in a heli on a mall and they get like 3-4 days to gather npc survivors, supplies, etc and escape.

I hope we can get an expansion to zomboid one day, that lets you be in a different state/country. Just imagine being in berlin or something and seeing on the ingame news that a helicopter found a lone survivor in the Kentucky exclusion zone and accidentally got them killed lol

The picture of the Marine riding the lawn mower is fantastic.

never thought about the helicopter event being a news team helicopter. kinda makes alot more sense that way, reminds me of the opening to dead rising 1.

There already exists transcripts of news crews looking into the knox event and filming zombies shambling around, I always seen it as another or the same crew coming in for a second pass to see how much it has progressed.

Great video! Never really thought about it because I’m Usually fighting for my life

That could make sense, if I don't remember wrong the event only happens once so maybe they realized that one time that being there would lure the zombies to you which would also spread bad info about the helicopter for other survivors

"I HATE helicopters" -Francis

favorite random helicopter event was, it happened during a severe thunder storm like the AEBS (auto emergency broadcast system) was calling for like 44+MPH winds, heavy downpours, and lightening strikes and in the distance the faint sound of helicopter blades i was laughing in my make shift safe house

wonder if the news chopper will be physical when NPC's finally get added.

Could be Frank West in that chopper, he's covered wars y'know.

Imagine watching news on the TV abt the Knox Infection which is "contained" and its a live broadcast from a helicopter they spot a survivor and the survivor gets ripped apart by the people with the "contained virus"

"I've covered wars you know?"

Pilot be like: fuck that guy in particular

first time playing project zomboid and finally having cleared a house for a base after dying tens of times. i heard the helicopter, had no idea what it was. i thought maybe it was the end of the game event where im going to be saved. i ran outside and waited and lost a base and my dude. rip

Love your Tomodachi Life Interior shop background music :)

I like to imagine the player looking the helicopter driver in the eyes and just showing a middle finger to them for attracting a huge horde to their location

I used to think it could be a new's helicopter, but seeing the story evolve and them not giving any update about it on the radio and TV leads me to think it's military in recon duty. The military actually tries to hide the truth since it may cause panic, trying to contain the situation until they could figure out what is going on. The president himself speaks about not wanting to give wrong info. I would think that the helicopter pilot and whatever other crew comes with is astonished that there's actually a survivor inside the zone. My guess as for why it follows you may be many; From trying to rescue or curiosity about seeing someone alive, maybe a mixture of both and maybe something more. The fact that they can't get to you is obvious. Either they can't save you by the risk of the player being infected and the high risk of making a landing while a huge wave of infected is attracted to the noise (and if there's even a landing spot to begin with). Many other factors could also be in play, such as them just following orders. Probably the pilot reports about the player's pressence but any attempt of rescue is denied because of these risks.

It's totally a news chopper. They're filming you like a reality tv show. "If it bleeds, it leads."

When i hear the sound approaching, i just stay indoors and wait for it to pass. I usually have plenty of time to get inside and away from a window.

it's the opening scene of dead rising. that helicopter has covered wars, you know.

that was the most straightforward video i've seen in a long time

it's a homage to the helicopter event in The Walking Dead, that leads up to the prison being attacked by the dead. That helicopter that appears numerous times in TWD is likely why the creator of PZ did it...

Love the idea of them seeing the sole survivor, in shock they fly over, realize they've doomed this man because of this, and hastily fly away so they dont have to confront the reality they just condemmned the man too It would be interesting if in later days after the heli events, you could hear radio and news broadcasts of leaked images of a "survivor" within the zone, and maybe even in the town you were in, when the event took place. could maybe give new players who dont know better a dash of hopium that maybe just maybe, this is how they survived.

It can't be a imagination since it attracts zombies to it.

1:06 or maybe wach in amazement how one guy is being the doomguy of the zombies.

i am completely mentally stable oh hey look a civilian aircraft

I've noticed the sound follows you so they must just be filming you as you just suffer lol

Finally set up my stair pit trap, so cannot wait for the helicopter event.

I had a nice secure safehouse in a nice quiet neighborhood i'd been using for a week, one morning i get up all fresh and ready for a nice day of looting and jump through the curtain right into a horde of like 3 dozen zombies, with no idea how or why they were swarming. Now i know.

I want to believe it's Frank West on his way to Willamet

Couple of days ago I survived long enough to hear that helicopter the first time, not knowing what it was at all. At the time I was for the first time trying to see if I could safely do some gun practice out in a field without ruining the game by having all the zombies come at me with no way of escape. After a while I drove around trying to follow the helicopter sound to see if I could physically catch up with it. I envisioned possibly military NPC guys that would shoot my ass if they found me. Apparently it's not something you can see, it just manipulates zombie behavior. Yesterday I had my second helicopter event and I knew a little bit more about it then after researching it. Either I was lucky or it isn't all that hard. Just drove away from my base and hanged out in other locations for a while.

It is likely not the military as the emergency broadcast says "air activity detected". As this station is likely run by the military they wouldn't describe their own missions this way. This also disproves the imagination theory.

my first assumption was that it was a reference to The Dawn of the Dead, but from the perspective of the folks on the ground rather than the ones in the helicopter.

i think its 100% a news chopper if it was a military heli you think they'd shoot some of the zs or just ignore you since they got better shit to do but a news helichopter trying to show what life in the knox event is like and like when you see a car crash you cant help but watch as it all unfolds

I have a feeling the person in the helicopter has covered Wars

I was in my car outside of my base when the heli event happened, I tried to hide in my car and not move, even turned off the car but the heli still hovered over my head, I then had to run into my base to hide but it was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever made, all the zombies flocked to my base breaking all the doors, windows, etc. There were like 1000+ of them. I had to die multiple times, just to get rid of the heli, and die more just to clear out the zombies out of my base, mostly using my car. Now my base is all bloodied up and piled with zombies, all of this just because of a single helicopter. It was so dumb…

Id like to think its the military since the automated radio station warns of a helicopter event happening