Insurgency: Sandstorm
35 Achievements
1000 XP
20-25h
Epic
Grounded
Destroy an enemy air support vehicle.
30 XP
0.8%
How to unlock the Grounded achievement in Insurgency: Sandstorm - Definitive Guide
Hardest achievement in game. I personally did this in pvp frontlines with an RPG. I tried for a couple hours in the coop modes looking for drones and helicopters although I kept getting my kills taken. Others have recommended using the panzerfaust. Keep in mind when you do hit the helicopter, as it’s going down keep shooting it because all it takes is one of your teammates to shoot it and they will be granted the achievement. Best of luck
5 Comments
I got this today on PVE Checkpoint against bots by shooting down one of their suicide drones. Popped immediately and only took 1.
By DoomScott on 28 Jan 2023 01:43
Got this in PvP Frontlines. My teammate hit the heli with a rocket and as it was crashing, I put a few shots into it just before it hit the ground and the achievement popped.
By SwiFTriX on 03 Aug 2023 18:23
Edit: Unlocked this today after shooting down my third helicopter and stayed alive until it crashed, upon which the achievement immediately popped. I will attach the video when I get a chance to provide a visual aid. Just to add to information below, definitely use the Panzerfaust rather than the RPG-7 when going for this - you only get one round rather than two, but the rocket's velocity on the Panzerfaust makes it infinitely easier to account for the helicopter's movement. Also re-posting up here that it is imperative you do not die until it actually crashes as, unless fixed in the recent patch, you do not unlock it if it crashed while you are dead.
Clip of me shooting it down with the RPG-7. As you can see the crash kills me so the achievement did not pop.
Clip of me shooting it down with the Panzerfaust 3. The achievement popped right as you hear the audible crash of the Black Hawk. Bonus 'Blyat!' included.
Original:
So I've seen several sources (rather ambiguously) state this is best to do in Outpost PvE mode but at time of writing I have spent easily 10+ hours playing Outpost and have never seen an AI fire support used. I've also searched extensively on Reddit, Steam etc. and have found no guidance as to what wave, map, or any other specifics that would assist other than 'play outpost'. I'm not saying it's not doable in Outpost, but in my experience, it's certainly not 'easier'.
With this in mind I have had far more opportunity at least to attain this achievement in PvP as fire support is used by players (at least in a fair amount of games).
If you are playing as Insurgents, I would suggest using the demolitionist class as much as possible to shoot down enemy air assets when called in. This is easier said than done however as the choppers normally stay quite far away, will actively dodge rockets, and will kill you very quickly. I have also heard engaging with the anti-materiel rifle or MG3 while aiming at rotor blades works, but can't say I've had much success. You will also have many games where the team doesn't bother using Fire Support (usually with the result being an easy win for you but no attempt at this godforsaken achievement).
As Security, I would recommend playing Gunner with the FN Minimi. The Suicide and Bomber drones (apparently) have lower health and the 200 round belt and ROF of the Minimi should be more than capable of taking these down. 'Should' being the operative word as these call ins are unfortunately seldom used in comparison to others.
Note I have in fact 'earned' this achievement twice (one shooting down an AH-64 - I have a recording of this, and once on a UH-60). Here's the key bit though, I can tell you from my experience and at least one other similar account on another site - if you die before the air vehicle crashes, you will not get the achievement. As such, be advised, the description of the achievement should actually be 'Destroy an enemy air support vehicle (and don't die before it crashes)'. In a game where a single bullet will normally kill you. Yeah, great.
Clip of me shooting it down with the RPG-7. As you can see the crash kills me so the achievement did not pop.
Clip of me shooting it down with the Panzerfaust 3. The achievement popped right as you hear the audible crash of the Black Hawk. Bonus 'Blyat!' included.
Original:
So I've seen several sources (rather ambiguously) state this is best to do in Outpost PvE mode but at time of writing I have spent easily 10+ hours playing Outpost and have never seen an AI fire support used. I've also searched extensively on Reddit, Steam etc. and have found no guidance as to what wave, map, or any other specifics that would assist other than 'play outpost'. I'm not saying it's not doable in Outpost, but in my experience, it's certainly not 'easier'.
With this in mind I have had far more opportunity at least to attain this achievement in PvP as fire support is used by players (at least in a fair amount of games).
If you are playing as Insurgents, I would suggest using the demolitionist class as much as possible to shoot down enemy air assets when called in. This is easier said than done however as the choppers normally stay quite far away, will actively dodge rockets, and will kill you very quickly. I have also heard engaging with the anti-materiel rifle or MG3 while aiming at rotor blades works, but can't say I've had much success. You will also have many games where the team doesn't bother using Fire Support (usually with the result being an easy win for you but no attempt at this godforsaken achievement).
As Security, I would recommend playing Gunner with the FN Minimi. The Suicide and Bomber drones (apparently) have lower health and the 200 round belt and ROF of the Minimi should be more than capable of taking these down. 'Should' being the operative word as these call ins are unfortunately seldom used in comparison to others.
Note I have in fact 'earned' this achievement twice (one shooting down an AH-64 - I have a recording of this, and once on a UH-60). Here's the key bit though, I can tell you from my experience and at least one other similar account on another site - if you die before the air vehicle crashes, you will not get the achievement. As such, be advised, the description of the achievement should actually be 'Destroy an enemy air support vehicle (and don't die before it crashes)'. In a game where a single bullet will normally kill you. Yeah, great.
3 Comments
I took down a blackhawk with a RPG, it crashed and I survived. No achievement. I noticed someone else was shooting at it with a SVD after my rocket hit it and it was spinning to the ground. So I'm wondering if that person "stole" my kill by getting the last hit on it even though I took it out? Could be a reason why the achievement doesn't pop for some. Nonetheless, this is very difficult to get, this is my last achievement and I've yet to see a drone that everyone is talking about and these helicopters are not easy to take out lol...
Edit: Yep, I can confirm you can indeed steal heli kills. Hope your teammates can take it out with a rocket or bullets, then just simply shoot at it as it's falling to the ground, that's how I got my achievement! I found that PvE heli/drone support is incredibly rare, I personally think PvP Frontlines is the way to go. Don't bother with doing the objective, just hang back and wait for a heli (or drone if they exist) to spawn. If anyone wants to know I used machinegunner class and the MG42.
Edit: Yep, I can confirm you can indeed steal heli kills. Hope your teammates can take it out with a rocket or bullets, then just simply shoot at it as it's falling to the ground, that's how I got my achievement! I found that PvE heli/drone support is incredibly rare, I personally think PvP Frontlines is the way to go. Don't bother with doing the objective, just hang back and wait for a heli (or drone if they exist) to spawn. If anyone wants to know I used machinegunner class and the MG42.
By o0EviIToaster0o on 17 Apr 2022 14:14
Just a lone MG42 is enough to down the heli?
By Maverick Hiro on 05 Dec 2022 15:25
This guide was translated automatically.
Quite a difficult trophy, if done solo. Don't even try with an RPG, don't waste your time. The easiest way to shoot down a helicopter is with a light machine gun. The only condition: you must be ready for the helicopter to appear (by seeing it visually in advance, or by hearing the enemy commander and observer's request for support) and open fire while it's approaching before the helicopter opens return fire. Ideally, the first clip from the Pecheneg should be fired while it's approaching. You won't be able to continue firing with the second clip for two reasons: first, the helicopter will be ready to fight back, and second, your angle of fire is extremely limited by the bipod, and you can't shoot down a helicopter hovering over your head with a "clamp".
In general, we release the first clip with a "clamp" on the bipod while still approaching. With the second clip, you fire short bursts from cover. It is much easier to do this with a comrade.
In general, we release the first clip with a "clamp" on the bipod while still approaching. With the second clip, you fire short bursts from cover. It is much easier to do this with a comrade.
3 Comments
The helicopter can only be shot down by playing for terrorists (insurgents). Personally, I shot it down from an RPG on the 4th or 5th attempt, the main thing is not to rush and understand the trajectory of the helicopter
By burma on 13 Jan 2022 23:33
The trophy dropped when I fired a clip from a machine gun into a helicopter.
He killed me and then another person shot him down with an RPG.
To be on the safe side, I shot at the one that was already falling and at that moment I received the trophy.
He killed me and then another person shot him down with an RPG.
To be on the safe side, I shot at the one that was already falling and at that moment I received the trophy.
By pvtpeacefull on 02 Aug 2022 18:22