In "Rendez-vous with Rama" by Arthur C. Clarke, an artificial gravity force is maintained in the O'Neil cylinder (thanks to its spin). However, according to my understanding of the centrifugal force, only objects bound to the cylinder and thus having a forced rotational velocity will be subject to this virtual gravity.
So, why does the helicopter used by the team to explore Rama undergoes gravity while "flying"?
[EDIT, after my discussion with @Hypnosifl]
A more precise question is: What about the 'gravity' on the helicopter if they move parallel to the central axis, with a velocity constant and parallel to the central axis, at any distance of the surface?
"constant velocity" = as seen by an inertial observer who wasn't rotating with the cylinder (meaning that it would seem to travel on a helix-shaped path by people rotating with the inner cylinder). (as per @Hypnosifls words)
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