Stuck in Freefall mission

[topcatdk]

I don't get it, I've read through a ton of walkthroughs and guides and they all lists this mission as quite easy (like 3/10) yet I've tried 20 or so times with no luck. I've tried to fly out higher than the other plane, turned around and headed down towards the thugs plane yet I always ends up tailing it by a bit and can't seem to regain the lead. One time I turned early and ended up in front of the other plane, but that didn't help me either as the jet just flew right by.

 

Have anyone beaten this in the PC-version (mouse+keys) and have some hints they would share, and I would be very gratefull as I'm stuck.

 

BTW: Is it posible to swap to some other plane that could catch up with the target???

[Spuds725]

This is not an insult-- but did you raise your landing gear?? Your plane will fly faster.

[nlitement]

Yes ive beaten the storyline with my leet old-skool mouse + kb.

[zaij]

Yes, I've beaten it. You have to fly hgih, but not too high and you have to make the turn at the precise moment - A question back at you, how do you do the first driving mission? ive tried hold forwards and back, ive tried holding a direction first, ive tried holding a direction after -- nothing works.

[topcatdk]

You can't raise the landing gear on that type of plane, having said that I just made an attempt that got me very close, guess I'm not very good at leveling out after the turn. grrr.

 

Zaij: You mean the first mission in driving school?. Hold W and S and the add either the left or right arrow key. There's a bit of information in the readme file about keybord problems, seems like some borads won't register 3 keys at once and so require some remapping af the keys.

[jools1980]

I have beaten this mission after something like 30 attempts (PC, keyboard only). There's really no trick to this, it's just luck. Also, this is the worst mission (and the most fazing one) ever conveived in ANY game. Just sooooo random. Fly there, 180, catch up. I still can't realize how I passed it. Good luck man.

 

most annoying facts:

 

- how is a Dodo able to catch up with a Shamal?

- why does the f*****g corona disappear from the Shamal at times?

- why it takes like 30 (or more) seconds to get to the Shamal, and then there's only 10 left before the Shamal gets to LV?

- holy s**t, did they even test how f*****g hard is it to control a plane (the Dodo especially!) using the keyboard (because mouse is just impossible and random-rensponsive)?

 

-IMO-

Edited June 18, 2005 by jools1980

[nlitement]

I have beaten this mission after something like 30 attempts (PC, keyboard only). There's really no trick to this, it's just luck. Also, this is the worst mission (and the most fazing one) ever conveived in ANY game. Just sooooo random. Fly there, 180, catch up. I still can't realize how I passed it. Good luck man.

 

most annoying facts:

 

- how is a Dodo able to catch up with a Shamal?

- why does the f*****g corona disappear from the Shamal at times?

- why it takes like 30 (or more) seconds to get to the Shamal, and then there's only 10 left before the Shamal gets to LV?

- holy s**t, did they even test how f*****g hard is it to control a plane (the Dodo especially!) using the keyboard (because mouse is just impossible and random-rensponsive)?

 

-IMO-

- By waiting for the Shamal to catch it up.

- Maybe visually.

- Because shamal is fast and spawns at the sea.

- Yes they did test, every game surpasses a test group to ensure that any mission isn't tehcnically impossible to pass. I did that one on my 3rd try.

[jools1980]

-whoops, wrong button-

[topcatdk]

Finally reached breaking point with this mission, so I opened the handeling.cfg in notepad, guess what all the planes are set to the same top speed, well I nicked setting a bit for steer from the RCGoblin and made the Dodo 5% faster and whoops the mission became a walk in the park.

 

They have probably playtested it quite a bit, but they have to make a compromise to make it work on both keys/mouse and gamepad. I've played the PS2 version and had a ton of problems with every mission requiring shootouts, I never won a turfwar there and finally gave up on the game at one of the first desert missions. On the PC I've not lost a turfwar yet. A mission like "Just Buisness" took a lot of retries on the PS2, on the PC the motorbike hardly took a single hit during the chase.

[jools1980]

[snip]

 

They have probably playtested it quite a bit, but they have to make a compromise to make it work on both keys/mouse and gamepad. I've played the PS2 version and had a ton of problems with every mission requiring shootouts, I never won a turfwar there and finally gave up on the game at one of the first desert missions. On the PC I've not lost a turfwar yet. A mission like "Just Buisness" took a lot of retries on the PS2, on the PC the motorbike hardly took a single hit during the chase.

[OT] I agree. Shootout based missions are infinitely easier on PC, especially for FPS junkies like I am.

[seevip]

That mission sucked ass, i tried it 60 million times before i fluked it. It takes a lot of hard work on that piece of sh*t, yo feel so damn good when you land that shamal.

[fatcat92]

Strange, I beat that mission on my first try.

 

The only mission I am stuck on is Stowaway, its impossible to catch up to that damn plane.

[thedude777]

60 million? Wow...amazing.

[r3alsp33dy]

 

Finally reached breaking point with this mission, so I opened the handeling.cfg in notepad, guess what all the planes are set to the same top speed, well I nicked setting a bit for steer from the RCGoblin and made the Dodo 5% faster and whoops the mission became a walk in the park.

 

They have probably playtested it quite a bit, but they have to make a compromise to make it work on both keys/mouse and gamepad. I've played the PS2 version and had a ton of problems with every mission requiring shootouts, I never won a turfwar there and finally gave up on the game at one of the first desert missions. On the PC I've not lost a turfwar yet. A mission like "Just Buisness" took a lot of retries on the PS2, on the PC the motorbike hardly took a single hit during the chase.

which bit did you change for the dodo in handling.cfg? can you give some more details. This mission is driving me crazy.

[dertyjerzian]

i will complete the freefall mission for you if you will do the two dancing/hydrolic missions for me. I do free fall without a problem at all. I can't finish the button-press missions because i have a keyboard. PM me.

[klingy]

thanks god! I thought i am the only 1 who cant pass this f***ing mission! 3/10 BS it's 10/10!! dam I cant pass it, almost broke my PC already.

[topcatdk]

Funny, I found the dancing missions much easier on PC-keys than PS2 gamepad, probably because I'm more used to the arrowkeys placement.

 

As requested here's my edit (handling.cfg is found in the data folder of the game), make sure you make a backup, also note that this worked for me as I found the RC plane easier to keep stable, the increased speed is the key though as it ensures you don't have to make the turn 100% perfectly.

 

Original line looks like this:

 

DODO      5000.0   27083.3   12.0   0.0 0.3  0.0  75  0.65 0.9  0.5  	1 200.0 16.0 5.0  4 P  1.5   0.45 0 45.0  	1.5  0.15  0.0   0.50 -0.05 0.2  0.0  0.50 0.75 45000  4000000  400000  0  1	13

 

 

My edit looks like this:

 

DODO      5000.0   27083.3   12.0   0.0 0.3  0.0  75  0.65 0.9  0.5  	1 220.0 20.0 5.0  4 P  5.5   0.50 0 25.0  	1.5  0.15  0.0   0.50 -0.05 0.2  0.0  0.50 0.75 45000  4000000  400000  0  1	13

 

 

Another edit that might help is the third number (12.0) on the Dodo, this is the drag value and lowering it might make it handle more like the Shamal (with is 8) or the RCplane (0.2). Experimenting is the best way to get something that works for you.

 

NOTE: Some will probably call this cheating, and yes the increased speed and acceleration might be considered that, while the steer editing is to compensate for the tricky PC-key control, use if you like and please don't flame those who do....

[rezaf]

Odd, editing the handling.cfg accomplishes nothing at all for me. I assumed changes only affected newly started games, not saved ones. At least I tried to change everything, increase the speed of the dodo, reduce the speed of the shamal, each by various degrees ... to no avail.

Felt exactly the same each time, and whatever I do, I can't accomplish the mission.

When I try to head straight to the plane, I never manage to get to it in a way so I can fly through the beacon, either I miss it by a close shot or I hit it, i.e. I collide.

 

When I try to do a 180 turn I sometimes get VERY close, but as my speed is identical to the one of the other plane, I can't get significantly closer to it in the 15 or so seconds before it reaches the point of no return, i.e. the point where you get mission failed.

 

I'm really close to uninstalling San Andreas after trying this mission dozens of times. Why the heck did they have to turn this game into Grand Theft Airplane?!?

[Rage18]

somewhere around here is a savegame someone posted for me when i couldent beat it

[virgo664]

I also tried coming down from a higher point but it wasn't always successful. What I ended up doing was using the map and putting the marker over the area that we would cross land, then flew out to the plan and did a 180 right before it got there. I lowered the landing gear and let him come to me. Easy as pie. The ring flew through me.

[topcatdk]

Changes in the handling.cfg should show up when loading a game, I've tried undoing my changes and I find the Dodo to be harder to control again, but it's a matter of personal taste what you like

[lobbanid]

I don't get it, I've read through a ton of walkthroughs and guides and they all lists this mission as quite easy (like 3/10) yet I've tried 20 or so times with no luck. I've tried to fly out higher than the other plane, turned around and headed down towards the thugs plane yet I always ends up tailing it by a bit and can't seem to regain the lead. One time I turned early and ended up in front of the other plane, but that didn't help me either as the jet just flew right by.

 

Have anyone beaten this in the PC-version (mouse+keys) and have some hints they would share, and I would be very gratefull as I'm stuck.

 

BTW: Is it posible to swap to some other plane that could catch up with the target???

I have the same F*****G problem! and i hate it! i have test that mission 40 times! the shamal is much faster than a dodo! its imposible!

[TheGuy20]

Some things to keep in mind. Use the rudder hard once you see the plane to turn, then make minor rudder adjustments to stay centered..

 

Here's a video that shows how to get through the corona. It starts the second I see the shamal on the map.

 

http://www.turboupload.com/d/1846/freefall.avi.html

[buffalobill]

As requested here's my edit (handling.cfg is found in the data folder of the game), make sure you make a backup, also note that this worked for me as I found the RC plane easier to keep stable, the increased speed is the key though as it ensures you don't have to make the turn 100% perfectly.

 

Original line looks like this:

 

DODO      5000.0   27083.3   12.0   0.0 0.3  0.0  75  0.65 0.9  0.5  	1 200.0 16.0 5.0  4 P  1.5   0.45 0 45.0  	1.5  0.15  0.0   0.50 -0.05 0.2  0.0  0.50 0.75 45000  4000000  400000  0  1	13

 

 

My edit looks like this:

 

DODO      5000.0   27083.3   12.0   0.0 0.3  0.0  75  0.65 0.9  0.5  	1 220.0 20.0 5.0  4 P  5.5   0.50 0 25.0  	1.5  0.15  0.0   0.50 -0.05 0.2  0.0  0.50 0.75 45000  4000000  400000  0  1	13

 

 

Another edit that might help is the third number (12.0) on the Dodo, this is the drag value and lowering it might make it handle more like the Shamal (with is 8) or the RCplane (0.2). Experimenting is the best way to get something that works for you.

 

 

I had the same problem so thought I'd edit the handling.cfg file. Firstly, I just copy and pasted the Shamal's settings to the Dodo. This caused the game to crash every time I got into the target Dodo although I could fly other Dodo's fine. I then restored the backup (don't forget that) and edited the third value 12 to 10 - I think it's acceleration BTW - and this worked just great. I got much further out to sea before I met the Shamal and then had the time and speed to get into the corona long before they reached land. The rest is a piece of cake. Each guy takes three shots to bring down and headshots don't count.

[«Phobos»]

Why don't you check a guide for that mission this is the link:

http://www.gta-sanandreas.com/guides/missi...as.php#Freefall

 

Or you can ask somebody to do the mission for you.

 

Or you can do something to make the dodo travel faster that normal.

[crabshk]

 

I found that the easiest way to tackle just about ANY flying mission is to switch to 1st person or Cockpit View within the plane. It made my life much easier...

[Airborne]

Nothing offense... but GTA is not for a direct minded player. Most missions require a lot of thinking for more possiblities and alternatives. If you can't beat it for the first few tries, you should begin to think of any alternatives!

 

Most people think Freefall impossible is because they turned the Dodo at a wrong time on a wrong spot with a wrong approach. First of all, switch to 1st person view. Never go straight against the Shamal bearing. Fly a bit left or right from where it's coming. Fly a bit higher. Turn a little earlier. Never wait until the Shamal pass you or you'll lose it at all! Dive a little to gain more speed.

 

But the most important thing is: tap the direction keys instead of holding unless turn around.

[paul gilbert]

Nothing offense... but GTA is not for a direct minded player. Most missions require a lot of thinking for more possiblities and alternatives. If you can't beat it for the first few tries, you should begin to think of any alternatives!

 

Most people think Freefall impossible is because they turned the Dodo at a wrong time on a wrong spot with a wrong approach. First of all, switch to 1st person view. Never go straight against the Shamal bearing. Fly a bit left or right from where it's coming. Fly a bit higher. Turn a little earlier. Never wait until the Shamal pass you or you'll lose it at all! Dive a little to gain more speed.

 

But the most important thing is: tap the direction keys instead of holding unless turn around.

the trick is u have to be much higher than the shamal before intercepting ,go as high as u can,then after u do a 180 take a dive to the shamal, if u do it right u should reach the corona so easily.

[Helo]

Yeah, this was for me the single hardest mission in the game (some of the side stuff was a bit harder though). I can't add much im afraid, as i still dont really know how i passed it, i just kept trying until i somehow managed to do a 180 at the right time and pass through the corona.

 

So not much help for the original poster, but a few comments on some other peoples questions...

 

zaij - i had the same problem, as you can't hold 3 keys at once on a keyboard (W and S, then left or right to spin) so i enabled mouse steering just for this test. That way you can hold W and S and use the mouse to control the revolution.

 

fatcat92 - i had trouble with Stowaway as well. I eventually fluked it somehow but afterward i read a tip somewhere that might help out. Apparently if you turn the draw distance down to minimum and the graphics settings to minimum, this somehow allows you to reach the plane much easier (i dont get it either, but hey, don't shoot the messenger!). I tried it when i was doing Burn & Lap, and it did seem to make a slight difference, but not much.

[Airborne]

zaij - i had the same problem, as you can't hold 3 keys at once on a keyboard (W and S, then left or right to spin) so i enabled mouse steering just for this test. That way you can hold W and S and use the mouse to control the revolution.

I advise that let go W when make the 180 or anytime if you need a tight turn, that's what I always do. That would help you for a better control.