what's so frustrating about the Flight School?

[ten-a-penny]

EDIT: << Split for its own Topic >>

 

Off Topic is off Topic, but what's so frustrating about the Flight School? Didn't take me long to finish the whole thing in my first playthrough (where I reached the Desert, that is...).

 

 

Not gonna hide it though, achieving 100% on every single test is a pain in the ass....

Edited March 1, 2017 by lil weasel
tottally off topic where it was.

[lil weasel]

I see most players Over controlling.

So... Leaning back and letting the plane fly on its own.
Letting go and not doing more than tapping the key for direction is the key. (for me)

As far as 100% that is concerned after control is whipped, it is a matter of speed, keeping the throttle control engaged during the majority of the flight.

Stealing into an airfield by jumping the guard house makes it much easier to learn.
Fying a stolen plane without the nag of time and requirements in the "Learning to Fly" helps.
Time in the DoDo (25 minutes*) or the Shamel (13 minutes*), Maverick (1h,25min*) earns a "Pilot's License" which is really only a Gate Pass for the airports. *Times vary by CPU speed.

• Even with the "Pilot's License" earned this way the "Learning to Fly" must be completed to move on in the game.

I will add, the only time I suggest cheating is learning to fly the "Jump Jet". It appears only the once in the game story, and flying it is nerve wrecking. Although the Mission has three easy steps to complete, the initial getting it off the carrier can be suicide without practice. Do Not Save game after using the cheat.

Edited March 1, 2017 by lil weasel

[Osho]

Getting gold, otherwise I don't find anything frustrating about the school. The funny thing is, its many of those same people target GTA V for handholding, making things easier, the game requires no skill, etc..

Yet flying school that actually requires some skills; which is the opposite of easy - it remains frustrating for them ?

I've attempted to finish the school with the controller and it actually feels more comfortable to fly compared to using M KB.

If its due to the factor "mandatory to progress in the story" then one can easily get bronze to finish it. Gold isn't required to unock the story missions.

 

All in all, I found it really fun and challenging which makes the flying school such a favorite thing to replay.

[Vanzant]

I love getting golds in flight school. It's different depending on the copy you have.

 

PS2...getting all golds is easy...except for circle and land...that's a bitch on the PS2, It's always seemed easier on the Xbox.

 

Xbox...getting all golds is easy...no matter V1 or V2. I use a PS2 controller to Xbox. This is maybe why I find the Xbox to be easier....

 

PC....sucks with K/B Mouse....I use a Logitech controller for this that's set up for PS2 controls.

 

Android....takes hour and hours......this is the worst.

 

PS3 / Xbox360 ....most of these have been made easier. The Helicopter tests however are more difficult due to the fact the landing has been made tighter. I swear if you miss the landing by a damn pixel you get a 99% this is not as strict on either of the above.

[Official General]

It was just so annoying for me on my first ever playthrough of SA back when it was first released. I don't know why, I just found it so frustratingly hard and boring. I now reckon its because I was so eager to get back to Los Santos for more gang action ! Lol. On my second playthrought it was not so bad, I found it quite a fun challenge, its actually a nice distraction away from the crime and shooting at people and everything else.

[HalfOfAKebab]

For me, it's the lesson in which you have to fly the Hunter and destroy the targets. I'm better at it now because I've spent a lot more time flying helicopters, but it's really difficult to aim, shoot, and watch to make sure you're not about to crash the helicopter, all with keyboard and mouse.

 

In my opinion, the Hydra and the Hunter are the two worst vehicles to use with keyboard and mouse. There aren't enough keys that you can use to make flying feel more intuitive. Using "fly with mouse" is even worse, even though you'd think it would solve this problem, because the left-right sensitivity is a lot more than the forward-backward sensitivity, making planes really hard to control with a mouse.

[SmokesWithCigs]

13 years playing this game on and off and I just completed flight school for the first time this morning. the main problem I had in the past was gaining altitude in a single engine plane. then it was flying aroung the base. I just figured it out yesterday all you have to do is lightly tap down with l3 periodically until you reach the desired altitude then every thing else fell in line. I completed all of them this morning starting from circle the base and land. now I'm in las venturas doing missions for wu zi. I like las venturas it needs an appreciation thread so does bone county.

[bahraini_carguy]

I only had difficulties when i was doing my first or second ever playthrough back on the PS2. Now playing it recently on the PC version, i find it way easier and completed it in matter of minutes. The most difficult one was the "Destroy Targets" with the Hunter to destroy several targets, it took several times to get gold on that one before realising that i was landing too hard and rushing at it instead of taking more slower and steady approach.

 

I was using an Xbox One Controller BTW.

 

To be honest, most other missions that everyone complained about how hard and annoying doesn't feel that hard at all.

Edited March 5, 2017 by ToyGT_one

[vizs]

My difficulty was to pass the lesson where you had to destroy using Hunter, I tried several times to finish that but I mostly ended up using SaveGame editor.
I also had problem with passing "the circle mission" as I didn't have much control over the sharp turn buttons (I forgot the name) but after a lot of tries I passed and I now can do it without a single problem. I still use SaveGame editor to pass the destroying targets lesson though.

[SmokesWithCigs]

My difficulty was to pass the lesson where you had to destroy using Hunter, I tried several times to finish that but I mostly ended up using SaveGame editor.

I also had problem with passing "the circle mission" as I didn't have much control over the sharp turn buttons (I forgot the name) but after a lot of tries I passed and I now can do it without a single problem. I still use SaveGame editor to pass the destroying targets lesson though.

destroying targets are easy if you do it in first person view.

[Official General]

13 years playing this game on and off and I just completed flight school for the first time this morning. the main problem I had in the past was gaining altitude in a single engine plane. then it was flying aroung the base. I just figured it out yesterday all you have to do is lightly tap down with l3 periodically until you reach the desired altitude then every thing else fell in line. I completed all of them this morning starting from circle the base and land. now I'm in las venturas doing missions for wu zi. I like las venturas it needs an appreciation thread so does bone county.

 

I took me nearly a month to get past flight school in my first playthrough, but it felt much longer than that. But I'm the kinda guy that's so stubborn when it comes to certain video games, especially if I really enjoy them I became so determined to get past a part I'm really stuck at. Somehow I just did it, and I didn't use any cheats.

 

LV is a cool city man, I like it to, I like all 3 cities in SA. That's what I love about this game, the 3 different cities, they all each have their own unique and distinct atmosphere, feeling, environments and identity. Even just travelling in the countryside between them is an experience in itself.

[vizs]

 

My difficulty was to pass the lesson where you had to destroy using Hunter, I tried several times to finish that but I mostly ended up using SaveGame editor.

I also had problem with passing "the circle mission" as I didn't have much control over the sharp turn buttons (I forgot the name) but after a lot of tries I passed and I now can do it without a single problem. I still use SaveGame editor to pass the destroying targets lesson though.

destroying targets are easy if you do it in first person view.

 

I felt uncomfortable with first person view and I gone passed the targets when I used it. When I first finished that lesson, after sometime the power went off and I couldn't save so I've finished at least once without the help of cheats or any other similar stuffs.

Edited March 6, 2017 by The_Human

[SmokesWithCigs]

13 years playing this game on and off and I just completed flight school for the first time this morning. the main problem I had in the past was gaining altitude in a single engine plane. then it was flying aroung the base. I just figured it out yesterday all you have to do is lightly tap down with l3 periodically until you reach the desired altitude then every thing else fell in line. I completed all of them this morning starting from circle the base and land. now I'm in las venturas doing missions for wu zi. I like las venturas it needs an appreciation thread so does bone county.

 

looks like I jumped the gun too soon. I didn't know I was supposed to finish driving school and buy wang cars in order to start a strand of cesar vialpando missions. I also went to las venturas and started some casino missions. oh well back to san Fierro I go.

[D9fred95]

It's never been hard for me, but Circle the Airstrip tries my patience since it's so uneventful compared to the other missions. I personally don't mind it. If anything it makes me more eager to reach Las Venturas. Flying around in the quiet Bone County before reaching the colorful, elaborate Las Venturas.

[Jimmy]

One word, Controls. There, I said it. Like Vanzant mentioned above, it's much easier on a PS2 and Xbox because of the controllers but on PC, throttling and lifting is a pain for new users who don't know how to time the controls perfectly. You get better with practice. It takes some turns and attempts but not impossible. Now, the last part is Android. RC and flying school Missions are really tough for a screen that's touch based. Some controls require hitting really hard. You can't just hit the touch screen or damage it for the sake of gameplay. That's what makes the gameplay so much difficult on Droids or iOS.

[SmokesWithCigs]

the thing about flight school and driving school is I don't care about getting gold I just want to get a high enough score to past each test so I can continue on with the story/game.

[OBLITERDEATH 1st]

I tooo was so frustrated of flight school that I deleted the game.But 1 week before Iinstalled the game and completed till "verdeant meadows "and tried to fly the plane but then also i was getting crashed as plane engine starts to burp.i tried it two days and i found the mistake i was making, after take off we have to click "num2" so the landing gear goes up so we can gain altitude without  frustration and after passing the first corona we have to release "W" to get a better control of the plane .The same problem caused me to fail to fly "Hydra" in the mission "Vertical Bird" as in pc we have to click num 2 to make the boosters 90 degree down (to gain altitude)& hold num 8 to to turn the boosters parallel(boosters aiming behind the plane) for a forward boost . Presently I have completed the game and thinking to restart it.

Edited January 29, 2020 by OBLITERDEATH 1st
Correct

[Nappy]

the first time? yes

then? hello no its just another thing like smoke’s train mission, or “no way in the subway”. nothing is that hard

[Lioshenka]

On 3/1/2017 at 7:50 PM, ten-a-penny said:

in my first playthrough (

Show off!

 

Circling the strip was a killer. Couldn't do it for the life of me. Months went by before I managed to beat it. Thank god Toreno's phone calls kept me inspired.

 

I was still running Windows 98 with a 17" CRT monitor at the time, good memories.

 

Of course now these are a piece of cake.

 

ADDED oh yeah, someone has mentioned that above: the default R* controls for flying are f*cked up. GTA 3 had the perfect foot controls, VC had the perfect air controls, but for some reason they always felt they needed to mess them up. I failed Zero's RC plane missions about 3 times on purpose while I was trying to figure out what the hell they have assigned to various controls, and then re-assigned them to what they should be. So by the time I got to the School it was all fine.

Edited January 29, 2020 by Lioshenka

[Midnight Hitman]

Personally I found the flight schools and the controls of planes/choppers atrocious on PC. I had a hard time controlling those with keyboard and mouse and I've nearly smashed some things in my basement due to the flight school back then.

 

I have now played the flight school both in the "remastered" version on Xbox One, and in the original Xbox version on my Xbox 360. And I found them very, very, very easy. Handling those planes, helicopters, choppers with a controller is a completely different experience. I have finished each task with gold first try, except the "destroy the cars" chapter. It was very easy with controller IMO.

[NileshKumar]

The only frustrating part was "Destroy Targets"

[Ricbit]

The fact that you have to complete it to continue with the Game Story 

[NileshKumar]

On 2/1/2020 at 7:07 PM, Ricbit said:

The fact that you have to complete it to continue with the Game Story 

they would have to make it mandatory considering the fact that you have to do NOE, Up up and away, Dam and Blast etc. etc. to complete the storyline which requires the knowledge of flying if you gotta do it your 1st try...

[Eriahslon]

It's how infuriating it gets to get a gold medal or even pass some of the lessons.Personally for me,it's a cakewalk as I have played this game for more than 10 years.If you lack the experience or don't have the frame limiter,and you don't rage at this mission,you somehow have nerves of steel.

[NewGuybj]

I dislike everything in flight school. Frustraining. At least on pc. Hard to get 70%. Not talking about 100%.

[Guest]

At first it was hard, but now that I became a pro, I can complete it without failing one lesson, but it will take me 1-3 hours to get all gold.

[AllNightLong]

'Destroy Targets' still gives me nightmares, it took me at least 50 tries to get on gold, and most times I didn't even reach the end.

There's a similar thing in VCS, too, it's called 'Skywolf'. It's required for 100% and gets available after completing the storyline, but it can be skipped by doing every other 100% completion task before going on the last mission (if it's done correctly, then after the credits, the game will be 100% complete).

Edited February 16, 2021 by AllNightLong
In fact, any of the tasks required for 100% completion can be skipped (just once), but I don't want to do it because I'd have to complete 'Skywolf'.

[dwood1974]

Im not a 'pro' player of this game ie i have never played the game all the way through. I played the game heavily in 2008-2009. Flying school made me quit playing.

 

I picked it up again a few months ago. Flying school still defeated me, big time. So i had to ask for help here through SnP and i am greatful.

 

I think its just the way how the controls work on keyboard and mouse for flying on pc, they just arent good.

 

The only flying mission i have been able to handle on my own is when you fly the jet to the restaraunt and back. It feels quite easy controlling the jet.

 

I can handle the other missions which are known to be hard, eventually but the flying ones i just cant do.

 

Im on a home in the hills at the moment, its quite a hard mission but i think i will be able to pass it. I have passed earlier missions which players have problems with ie robbing uncle sam etc.

 

Would me getting a game controller make flying a bit easier or a LOT easier? I literally cant fly

[BrainDeadRaven]

My only frustration was not always knowing the criteria, like for the parachute part you have to land in 40 seconds, I did perfect landing after perfect landing wondering why I wasn't getting so much as a bronze, and it was because I was taking to long. With a PS2 style controller though, most of these only take me a few tries, the hunter one where you destroy the trucks driving around I still find a bit challenging, but I've gotten better at it. Over the years I've also gotten much better with the hydra and can go back to hover, making it easy to take out ground targets.

 

But getting ALL gold can be a nerve racking nightmare lol. But flying has always been my favorite part of GTA's, the fact you can ditch the plane and parachute down to your destination lol, good times, IRL massive property damage and death, in San Andreas, another Wedneday.

[sefus]

BECAUSE ITS f*ckING UNFAIR AND THE f*ckING TIME LIMIT AND f*ck AND I f*ckING HATE IT SO f*ckING MUCH GODDAMNIT f*ck UDFKCUF Kf*ckFUF f*ckUFCKFUFKCUCU f*ck THIS STUPID f*ckING GOD I SWEAR TO CHRIST