---
name: "velocityModelSpace"
type: command
status: ok
groups: ["Object Manipulation"]
arma3_since: "0.50"
locality: {"argument": null, "effect": null, "server_exec": false}
source: https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/velocityModelSpace
revid: 377109
updated: 2026-01-01T10:06:22Z
---

# velocityModelSpace

*Command · Object Manipulation · Arma 3 v0.50*

## Description

Returns the velocity (speed vector) of the vehicle as an array with format [x, y, z] in metre per second. Vector is in model space.

## Syntax

```sqf
velocityModelSpace vehicle
```

**Parameters:**

- `vehicle`: [Object](../topics/Object.md)

**Returns:** [Vector3D](../topics/Vector3D.md)

## Examples

### Example 1

```sqf
velocityModelSpace _chopper; // returns [X (left(-) right(+)), Y (backward(-) forward(+)), Z (down(-) up(+))]
```

## See also

[setVelocityModelSpace](../commands/setVelocityModelSpace.md) · [velocity](../commands/velocity.md) · [speed](../commands/speed.md) · [setVelocity](../commands/setVelocity.md) · [setVelocityTransformation](../commands/setVelocityTransformation.md)

## Community notes

**Pierre MGI** — 2014-12-11

This function is useful for helicopters as it returns Z vector like an indicator of thrust/load ratio. More or less climb (+) or descent (-) tendency but:
As X,Y,Z vectors are relative to vehicle attitude, this function doesn't return a climb or descend rate (as the attitude of the vehicle can be far from horizontal).
You can get negative Z vector, in jets, while climbing fast, peeling off in the sky!
More or less, you can use as a Z accelerometer factor but invert the sign: +G acceleration (negative vector below the jet) is -Z here.
If not "physically" correct, the behavior is sufficient enough for Arma flight model.

---

**K.J.** — 2015-06-21

Previous note is physically incorrect. Velocity can not be used to give information about Thrust/Load ratio or G-Forces/acceleration.
To get acceleration you have to create the derivative of velocity after time dv/dt -> the difference of velocity between 2 timesteps divided by the time that passed between the 2 steps.

<sub>Source: [BI Community Wiki — velocityModelSpace](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/velocityModelSpace) (revision 377109).</sub>