Hydra

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The Hydra arrived with the Heists update and is loosely modelled on the Harrier. Its defining feature is the thrust vectoring toggle: the nozzles rotate down, the jet transitions from level flight into a stationary hover and back again, and no runway is needed at either end. Armament is an explosive nose cannon plus a large bank of homing missiles and flares, which made it the most argued about aircraft in freemode for years. On MCS the hover is a real tactic rather than a party trick. You can dump all your speed to force an overshoot, park above a contested ground objective and put cannon rounds straight down, or lift off from a road with no strip nearby. The trade is drag and a soft airframe: in a sustained turning fight against a dedicated fighter it bleeds energy fast. Recommended for players who want one aircraft covering takeoff, air combat and ground support.