Measuring altitude in aircraft

[Hunter]

To accurately measure altitude in an aircraft, go into first person and look at the device in the picture below (circled in red):

 

 

Here's a closer look at it:

 

 

Using it to measure altitude is a bit like using a watch to tell the time. The little fat arrow measures thousands of feet, while the long thin arrow measures hundreds of feet. In the picture above, the small arrow is at 0, while the long arrow is almost at one - this means I'm flying at roughly 90 - 95 feet.

 

You can use this to help you stay out of homing launcher range when you just want to fly safely. The homing launcher reaches around 1300ft (so the small arrow would be at 1, thin arrow at 3).

 

Not all aircraft have this unfortunately - I was unable to spot it inside the Savage, for example. Also, last gen consoles would not have this. So here's a second, less accurate way of measuring altitude. Look at your minimap:

 

 

Each line represents around 1000 feet. It's harder to make precise measurements this way, so it's usually better to use the first method, but sometimes you've just got to work with what you've got.

 

Here's a video showing it in action, courtesy of imdabeast2114 (AKA K - Bow):

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQm9t14qEo8

Edited February 4, 2016 by Icantthinkofonew

[StangOne50]

Is the highest altitude the same on all platforms?

Is the meter accurate? Max altitude is exactly 10,000 feet?

[Yukinoshita]

Nice one.

GTA: Aircraft Simulator

 

But really, good job

[jyssys]

This is brilliant. Shame you have to be in first person to see it, though.

[Hunter]

Is the highest altitude the same on all platforms?

Is the meter accurate? Max altitude is exactly 10,000 feet?

I'm 99% sure it's accurate, though I haven't seen if the max altitude is the same on all platforms. I'd imagine it is though.

[darkgreenmeme]

Each line represents around 1000 feet. It's harder to make precise measurements this way, so it's usually better to use the first method, but sometimes you've just got to work with what you've got.

The long skinny hand on the dial represents 100's of feet added to the last 1000's of feet from the shorter thicker hand. Like an analog clock. Technically, the long hang represents the altitude in 100's of feet modulo 1000 feet.

 

 

 

Is the highest altitude the same on all platforms?

Is the meter accurate? Max altitude is exactly 10,000 feet?

Max altitude is nominally 8,000 feet above sea level. Prop planes and helicopters can momentarily "bounce" to 8,100 feet, while a jet can bounce to "bounce" up to 8,200 feet. This is how you win the longest freefall free mode challenges, by bouncing above 8,000 feet, jumping, then parachute dangerously above a beach next to the ocean.

Edited January 15, 2016 by darkgreenmeme

[GTA_dog]

I knew about the altitude meter in FP, but I didn't see the little hand so I figured you had to count it yourself! This is great, the map one helps too. I didn't know the lines represented 1000 feet, but I definitely have noticed them on the map since release.

Edited January 15, 2016 by YngDady

[Gridl0k]

Don't forget the HUD (green display) in some jets shows altitude (and airspeed) too, without looking down. It's the tape on the right, showing altitude above sea level in hundreds of feet.

 

Can't find an image right now.

Edited January 17, 2016 by Gridl0k

[Kreedzm]

I knew about the altitude meter in FP, but I didn't see the little hand so I figured you had to count it yourself!...

WHAT HAND???

Edited January 20, 2016 by Kreedzm

[Gridl0k]

^ Have an eHow article

 

http://www.ehow.com/video_4401368_altimeter-height-levels-airplane.html

 

It's just a clock really - little hand = thousands, big hand = hundreds.

[No Homing]

 

Each line represents around 1000 feet. It's harder to make precise measurements this way, so it's usually better to use the first method, but sometimes you've just got to work with what you've got.

The long skinny hand on the dial represents 100's of feet added to the last 1000's of feet from the shorter thicker hand. Like an analog clock. Technically, the long hang represents the altitude in 100's of feet modulo 1000 feet.

 

 

Is the highest altitude the same on all platforms?

Is the meter accurate? Max altitude is exactly 10,000 feet?

Max altitude is nominally 8,000 feet above sea level. Prop planes and helicopters can momentarily "bounce" to 8,100 feet, while a jet can bounce to "bounce" up to 8,200 feet. This is how you win the longest freefall free mode challenges, by bouncing above 8,000 feet, jumping, then parachute dangerously above a beach next to the ocean.

 

 

Could you explain this bounce thing exactly, please? I have been trying to beat my own PR of 2521m in the Freefall Challenge.

[darkgreenmeme]

Could you explain this bounce thing exactly, please? I have been trying to beat my own PR of 2521m in the Freefall Challenge.

Go into first person in the aircraft while climbing. Watch the altimeter, and at 8000 feet, you should be able to go a little bit higher, but you get pushed back down, as if the altitude ceiling is elastic. To maximize the freefall distance, you jump at the moment it has bounced up as high as it can go.

[No Homing]

 

Could you explain this bounce thing exactly, please? I have been trying to beat my own PR of 2521m in the Freefall Challenge.

Go into first person in the aircraft while climbing. Watch the altimeter, and at 8000 feet, you should be able to go a little bit higher, but you get pushed back down, as if the altitude ceiling is elastic. To maximize the freefall distance, you jump at the moment it has bounced up as high as it can go.

 

 

Okay thanks. And what aircraft is best for that? Besra? Or Hydra?

[DentureDynamite]

And FWIW, someone posted sometime ago that the Titan apparently has the highest maximum ceiling in-game. But obviously not a good choice if you didn't plan on allowing adequate time to get it up in the air for any respective free roam challenges.

[Gridl0k]

 

 

Could you explain this bounce thing exactly, please? I have been trying to beat my own PR of 2521m in the Freefall Challenge.

Go into first person in the aircraft while climbing. Watch the altimeter, and at 8000 feet, you should be able to go a little bit higher, but you get pushed back down, as if the altitude ceiling is elastic. To maximize the freefall distance, you jump at the moment it has bounced up as high as it can go.

 

 

Okay thanks. And what aircraft is best for that? Besra? Or Hydra?

 

 

The hydra can top out 100ft higher than the Besra due to the higher speed (if you zoom climb - i.e. reach full speed at 8000 feet, dip down a bit to add even more speed then pull up sharply to break the ceiling, up to around 8450-8500 feet. You then need to level out a bit before ejecting to switch from rag doll to freefall ASAP.

 

However, the Besra will get you up there in half the time of the Hydra*. Usually go with the Besra unless you have hot competition.

 

Interesting re Titan - I tested the Miljet thinking maybe that would go higher, will try Titan next time. I assume it can climb to the ceiling in the 8-9 minutes we'd need.

 

*Technically the Besra has a thrust/weight ratio greater than 1, so can climb like a rocket i.e. straight up. The Hydra has to be held at less than 90deg or it will stall. To climb as fast as possible in the Hydra go first person and pull back until speed is just above 70kts on the HUD.

Edited January 30, 2016 by Gridl0k

[Gridl0k]

Titan can't fly past 8000 either.

[Aviator10]

I knew about the altitude meter in FP, but I didn't see the little hand so I figured you had to count it yourself! This is great, the map one helps too. I didn't know the lines represented 1000 feet, but I definitely have noticed them on the map since release.

it's called a altimeter