Flight school FAQ for PC gamers

[mikeswi]

This is the flight school part of a larger walkthrough I'm writing for PC SA gamers. I thought I'd go ahead and post this here since so many people are having trouble with the flight school.

 

Anyone intending to reply with "it's easy, don't know why you're having trouble, I did it all gold, no problem etc etc", thank you, congratulations on being an ace pilot, now go away. This topic is not for you.

 

*************

Flight School

*************

 

Unlike the other schools, there is no avoiding flight school. You have to finish it in order to advance in the game. If you've been playing for a while, quit the game and go relax for a while. Go to sleep if you're reading this in the middle of the night. Pick this up in the morning.

 

When you finally do this, if you're getting fed up with a particular training mission, stop and go do the street races in San Fierro and come back later after you've calmed down. Flight school will severely piss you off, so every now and then just stop and relax to cool off.

 

By default, the keyboard controls make it impossible to fly. Literally impossible. You'd need three hands to fly that way. That is why so many PC gamers have so much trouble with flying. I don't know how they chose the default controls. Must have been a PS2 guy at Rockstar who didn't know WTF he was doing. If you haven't changed your keyboard layout to match mine, do it now. Don't argue about it, just do it or you'll never get through this. http://www.mikehealan.com/gta/walkthrough/vcontrols.jpg

 

Using my set up, this is how you will control your airplanes:

W is accelerate

S is decelerate (for landing)

A is left rudder

D is right rudder

Numpad / is down pitch

Numpad 8 is up pitch

Numpad 7 is roll left

Numpad 9 is roll right

Numpad + raises and lowers the landing gear

 

For helicopters, change it so that A and Num7 change places and D and Num9 change places. For me, it's easier that way. That may not work for you, but try to use it. For some dumbass reason, you can't map the Numpad 5 button for any function, which is why I've had to set mine up the way I did.

 

Don't try to fly with the mouse. Please, please, please don't try. It's even more frustrating, plus you'll need to use the mouse to rotate your camera view every now and then. If you have a gamepad or joystick of some sort, try using that instead of the keyboard. I've heard it makes it easier to fly, although I wouldn't know from experience. I don't have one myself.

 

To bank gently. Press Num 7 to gently bank to the left. Ditto Num 9 to bank right.

To bank tightly. Press Num 7 and A together to do a tight bank left.

To bank *really* tightly. If you need to make a near 90 degree turn, use the Numpad to roll the plane almost (but not quite) sideways, then press Numpad 8. Then level it off quick and look to see where you're headed now. Don't try doing this during the school though. If you need to turn that tightly during a training mission, you've probably failed already.

 

You also will want to refer to the "School FAQ (PS2)" on this page (http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/game/924362.html) to get through this school. Just remember to use the controls I give you. I'll try to give you tips that will help PC flyers

 

Before doing these tests, go into your audio options and turn the radio volume all the way down. You will quickly go insane listening to the same part of the same song over and over and over as you struggle with this and it INSISTS on auto tuning the radio. It also is a distraction you can do without. Turning it off before each attempt grows old, so just turn the volume all the way down before starting. Remember to turn it back up when you finally get through this. Or you can just mute your PC, but I find that hearing the engine sounds helps me.

 

Although it doesn't tell you this, you do have a time limit for most of these tests. Do it too slowly and you won't pass the test. If you are clearly taking too long and clearly are going to fail, crash the plane to retry. Just don't crash into the water or you'll die.

 

Don't worry about the nearby no-fly zone. During flight training you won't have any problems with that secret base.

 

FYI, if you are one of the very few people who has no problem passing these missions the first time you encounter them, good for you. Congratulations. I don't know how you did it, but good going.

Do not write to me with "I don't know why you think it's so hard. I passed the first time with no trouble.... blah blah blah". People who do that make me sick. I'm not impressed and don't care to hear your bragging. If you write to me with it anyway, I'll publish your email address on my huge antispyware web site for the spam harvesters to find and you'll never be able to use that address again. That is a threat and a promise.

 

========

Take Off

========

 

Press "W" to accelerate down the runway. Wait until the rear end has left the ground before holding the Num8 button to lift off. You'll need the speed. The instant you get fully off the ground, press Numpad + to raise your landing gear. Keep tapping the Num8 button until you get to the corona. Dont' hold it down and don't let the nose of the plane get too high or you'll stall the plane and fail. TAP IT. After the first corona, dive for a second to gain some speed before going to the next.

 

==========

Land Plane

==========

 

Fly through the corona. When it tells you to land, drop your landing gear and try to line up perfectly straight on the runway. Use rudder controls (A and D buttons) to correct, don't bank. Press "S" to slow the engine. Hold it down and don't come off it until you are rolling on the ground.

 

Get as close to the red marker as you can. If you have to turn while on the ground, use the "A" and "D" rudder controls. Holding down "S" tends to help make turns tighter on the ground. Otherwise you go wandering off in the wrong direction. Just don't stop and go in reverse by accident.

 

===============

Circle Airstrip

===============

 

This is a pain in the ass. I'm very good in an airplane (after playing this game almost constantly for 2 weeks) and I still struggle with this one.

 

Once you are through the first corona and on the way to the second, tap "S" occasionally to slow down. You do not want to take this course too fast. Use the rudder controls as much as possible and avoid banking too often if you can help it, although you have to for a couple of these. Keep an eye on your radar as you go through a corona. If you miss a corona, you can turn around and go for it again. However, you can only do that once before using up too much time.

 

========================

Circle Airstrip And Land

========================

 

Oh god, come on. I just did this!

 

That's right, you have to do the same damn circle flight as last time, only this time you have to land afterward. When going for that last corona, use "S" to slow down as much as practical, then turn sharply to the runway and line up as best as you can to land. Don't forget to lower your landing gear. In fact, you might want to lower it while you are going for that last corona.

 

==================

Helicopter Takeoff

==================

 

Time to remap your vehicle controls.

Left needs to be "A"

Right needs to be "D"

Look Left needs to be "Num7"

Look Right needs to be "Num9"

 

Num / will tilt you forward and Num 8 will tilt you back.

 

The other controls can remain the same. This is how I flew helos in Vice City and it worked for me. If you are comfortable with another method that you used in Vice City, by all means use that instead. Whatever is most comfortable.

 

This test is easy as long as you can get your controls correct.

 

The camera angle bug is especially bad for helicopters. Get used to pressing Num7 and Num9 AT THE SAME TIME in order to force the camera to catch up to a turn you've just made. It doesn't always stay where it should, but it should help immensely.

 

===============

Land Helicopter

===============

 

Also easy. Just be aware that the game will show you a top down view when you land instead of the side view you had in Vice City. You can use the mouse to change the camera, but the damn thing will keep fighting to put it back in the wrong position and it distracts you from what you're doing if you fight with it. I'd like to beat a Rockstar programmer to death for doing that.

 

Also be aware that unlike Vice City, helicopters in this game WILL flip themselves over in mid air if you tilt forward or backward for too long. The Hunter (the helo you are currently using) is especially bad about doing that.

 

===============

Destroy Targets

===============

 

Also easy. Just go slowly toward the first targets while flying low and point the nose of the helo in the target's general direction. Hammer both the rocket launch and cannon buttons (Q and E if you're using my set up). Don't get too close or you'll get caught in the shockwave of the trucks exploding.

 

For the next two targetrs, use the machine gun/cannon. You don't have time to screw with the rockets.

 

=============

Loop-The-Loop

=============

 

Change your vehicles controls back to normal again because you are in a plane this time.

 

Just follow the directions. Stay away from the rudder and banking controls and you should be fine. You have to fly perfectly through the first corona or it won't count, even if you do everything else perfectly.

 

The camera angle bug really screws up this test. After you come out of the loop and think you are nearly level, quickly press "A" and "D" AT THE SAME TIME to see what's in front of you. Get through the 2nd corona any way you can.

 

===========

Barrel Roll

===========

 

This is a bit of a pain in the ass. I always have to bank hard to make it through the 2nd corona after the barrel roll. No idea why. Just keep at it.

 

The game tells you to press LEFT to do the barrel roll. Don't. Use Numpad 7 instead.

 

=====================

Parachute onto Target

=====================

 

This is easy. After jumping out of the plane, press "W" to accelerate downwards through the clouds. Keep an eye on the target on the ground. When the game tells you to "Deploy the chute now", keep holding "W" for another 2 or 3 seconds, then press LMB to deploy your chute.

 

You may need to keep clicking the button until it actually happens. For some reason, my chute never deploys the first few times I click the button. I have to click repeatedly until it happens. Maybe it's just my mouse, I dunno.

 

After it deploys, keep watching the target below you. If it looks like you're going too far forward, use "A" or "D" to rotate to keep it in sight. When you are getting close, hold down "S" to flare the parachute and slow down. Keep rotating and hopefully you will land right in the middle of the target.

 

Congratulations. You have completed the most irritating part of the whole game. Your reward is to move on to some of the toughest missions of the game

 

You also receive a pilot's license. Now you can go inside the security gates of each airport in San Andreas and fly aircraft. One or more aircraft will spawn at the airstrip. Which aircraft it is depends on how well you did during flight training.

 

Rustler (P-51 Mustang fighter) - Get all bronze awards in pilot school, and one will spawn at your

airstrip in verdant meadows.

 

Stunt Plane (Biplane) - Get all silver awards in pilot school, and one will spawn at your

airstrip in verdant meadows.

 

Hunter (Apache gunship helicopter) - Get all gold awards in pilot school, and one will spawn at your

airstrip in verdant meadows.

[nlitement]

Whoever uses numpad to control the tail's attitude (a.k.a. pitch) is a total hack. Arrow keys own. I got a Rumblepad yesterday, so now I should have a small relief with control the aviations (even though I'd still own everyone with my keyboard setup). Oh and yes, nice sheet. Hope won't get any of these "HOW DO IZE CONTROL TEH HDYRA??!?!!!+1+1 LOLOL" anymore .

 

edit: Double-check that sheet. I noticed that in "Take-off" you forgot to mention to press 2 to retain the landing gear.

Edited June 23, 2005 by nlitement

[mikeswi]

No, it's there. It's in this line: "The instant you get fully off the ground, press Numpad + to raise your landing gear."

 

I'll be covering the Hydra later in the walkthrough when the player gets to that part.

[nlitement]

I don't still understand; what the hell? It doesn't make any sense to use the numpad at all when controling the plane (except for hydra, to control the jets' attitude). It's W = Thrust S = Reverse A = Bank left D = Bank right Q = Rudder left E = Rudder right 2 = Landing Gear And up and down arrow keys to control the tail's attitude. That's the true leet and politically correct setup.

[mikeswi]

You have two hands. Use them. I don't have to move my hands at all my way, just my fingers and those fingers are always on the key I want. This layout feels most natural to me. Use whatever works for you.

 

Remember, this is for n00bs who can't fly at all yet. Those people won't have a preferred layout and I think my layout is the easiest for them.

[pixelrage]

any plans on writing a driving school one

[mikeswi]

any plans on writing a driving school one

No, since it's not a vital part of the storyline missions and there's already a good FAQ for it. This is what I have for the driving school:

 

After this mission, Jethro calls to tell you about the driving school down the road. Go do that now. Refer to the FAQ labeled "School FAQ (PS2)" on this page (http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/game/924362.html) for instructions on passing the driving school. Passing the driving school unlocks the street races around San Andreas.

 

To that FAQ, I will add a couple of things. On the "Burn and Lap" test, try to use your time spinning around the cones to do all of your slowing down, not braking in a straight line and burning around the corners. You are given an extremely powerful sports car, so use it's awesome acceleration in accelerating, not in spinning its wheels to fight inertia. By the time you've gotten the car turned around, all movement to what is now your rear should have stopped, letting your engine push you forward instead of spinning out.

 

Also, the camera angle bug will really mess you up on this one. It might be better to alter the camera controls so that you're looking at the car from further away. Don't be looking at the time clock. Watch the course and ignore everything else.

 

On the last test, City Slicking, don't bother going for gold. It is technically possible to get a gold cert for this one but you'll give yourself a bleeding ulcer trying for it. You have to go too fast, there is too much traffic and the car has an ass end made of teflon. Concentrate just on passing it, not on getting gold unless you're going for 100% completion.

 

[HeilBush]

I'm actually stuck on Circle Airstrip right now, but last night I finally completed the circle in about 1:30, a time that I feel should be acceptable, yet the game seems to be more hard up than I. Anyway, a big problem for me at least used to be the takeoff. When I used to go about them the normal way that the instructions suggest, the engine would usually seem to have problems and I'd never get enough altitude to clear the first corona. I found that a much better way of taking off is to raise the landing gear first when the nose goes down and then pushing down to gain altitude.

 

I'm a bit hesitant to try new controls for flying at this point; currently I just never use the mouse (are the mouse controls even that important? The arrow keys seem to do all the same things in a much better manner) but I haven't bothered to turn off mouse steering. I actually prefer to have the radio on, since the music helps me take my mind off of how much I suck and just how crappy everything is.