Gyrocopter
The Gyrocopter is a helicopter owned by Funky Kong in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!. It appears to have been made out of barrel parts, and its two propellers are yellow at the tip. In Donkey Kong Country 2 for the Game Boy Advance, Funky owns another Gyrocopter, which replaces the Biplane Barrel from the original version, and it has a yellow body instead of a barrel-like one.
History
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
In Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, the Gyrocopter, also known as the Funky-Copter, is the last vehicle that Funky constructs at Funky's Rentals, and is the only vehicle that is capable of aerial travel around the Northern Kremisphere map, allowing Dixie and Kiddy Kong to access any location. In order for Funky to build the Gyrocopter, the Kongs must have obtained every DK Coin. The Gyrocopter is required to access three secret caves — Belcha's Burrow, K's Kache, and Hill-Top Hoard — and to visit the Banana Queen in the clouds. When a location has been selected on the world map, the Gyrocopter does a straight landing, and the Kongs enter that location. Like the other vehicles, the Gyrocopter can move around more quickly if the player holds 
(or 
in the Game Boy Advance remake).
In the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System version, the Gyrocopter is the only vehicle that cannot honk on the world map. Its faster movements are also more noticeable namely because the maps in the Game Boy Advance version are more zoomed in.
Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance)
In Donkey Kong Country 2, Funky only allows Diddy and Dixie to use the Gyrocopter after they have demonstrated their piloting skills by completing the Aerial Loop challenge at the Funky's Flights II in Gangplank Galleon. In doing so, the ability to use the Gyrocopter becomes an available option from the world map. In order to do this, the player must press 
while on the world map to open a menu and then press 
to open a sub-menu that has the Gyrocopter as the topmost option. The Gyrocopter is the only way to exit a completed world, as a boss level only returns Diddy and Dixie to the Crocodile Isle map upon first-time completion. Furthermore, there is a glitch where if the Kongs re-enter any world except for Gangplank Galleon without completing the Aerial Loop challenge, they remain permanently stuck in that world.
In the first ending, when The Flying Krock begins to self-destruct, Funky arrives with the Gyrocopter to rescue Diddy, Dixie, Donkey Kong, and Cranky Kong, who all jump into the Gyrocopter right before The Flying Krock begins its decline. In the second ending, after Diddy and Dixie defeat Kaptain K. Rool in the Lost World, Kaptain K. Rool attempts to escape on a raft (like he did in the original version), but Funky appears and drops a bomb on the raft from the Gyrocopter before Kaptain K. Rool can do so.
The Gyrocopter is used in every Funky's Flights mission. The objective is for Diddy or Dixie to clear a certain objective within a time limit, such as reaching a goal on time. The Gyrocopter always starts off from a helipad, and it often has to be piloted through hazardous environments, such as between brambles or sometimes underwater. During a Funky's Flights mission, the player can use the 
to move the Gyrocopter in the desired direction, press 
to make it fire a bullet, and hold either 
or to have the Gyrocopter face the screen or to keep it facing left or right while moving, respectively. In some missions, the Gyrocopter has a grappling hook that can be deployed by pressing 
, and it has the ability to hook on to certain objects such as a treasure chest.
In every Funky's Flights mission, the Gyrocopter has a limited supply of fuel. Taking damage, either from an enemy or a hazardous object, depletes a portion of the fuel gauge. If the Gyrocopter runs out of fuel, it explodes, and the player is given the option to either abort or continue the mission. If they continue, the Gyrocopter restarts from the starting helipad with its fuel gauge refilled, although the timer continues from when the airship exploded. The Gyrocopter is usually equipped with an unlimited number of bullets, which can be shot at enemies and barriers. In the Cool Sounds and Kongnapped 2 missions, the Gyrocopter can shoot at buttons that control the ice level and water level respectively. In several missions, there is a proximity radar at the bottom-right of the screen, presumably a part of the Gyrocopter, that helps the Kongs locate objects and hostages alike. During the missions, the Gyrocopter is able to pick up various supplies such as ammunition, bombs, fuel restoration, and clocks that slow the timer. The Gyrocopter also has the ability to move around underwater, although unlike the main game, Diddy and Dixie have a limited air supply.
Gallery
-
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! artwork
-
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! artwork (side view)
-
Donkey Kong Country 2 (Game Boy Advance) artwork
