How to be a better pilot?

[P34NUTZ]

So I was real excited to get the Pyro, considering it's objectively the best jet in the game (or so I've heard). So I sold my entire garage to afford it but, as it turns out, I'm not a very good pilot. Every time I get into a dogfight with a hydra or Lazer, I get COMPLETELY shredded by the explosive cannons. The only time I can stay alive is if I keep looping around the skyscrapers in downtown LS. I use the race handling but I can never get behind them long enough to make any shots count. Given that these guys only have to hit me for a fraction of a second, that puts them at a huge advantage. How the hell do I "GiT gUd" and start owning these little bastards?

[kenmy13999]

Practice, practice and more practice

[Gridl0k]

Get used to flying with the camera pointed at them, wherever they are. See - Move - Kill.

 

ps I'm sh*t at dogfighting too so listen to literally anyone else

Edited November 12, 2017 by Gridl0k

[Hazzardtohimself]

As kenmy said, practice.

 

But you do have to consider your opponent in most battles. The Lazer and Hydra have use of explosive cannons and missiles, and so this puts anyone in an 'older' style of aircraft at a huge disadvantage, even with chaff / flares.

Unless they're friends or you're in a gentlemen's agreement that they won't use missiles, nothing short of passive-mode abuse is going to keep you safe if you're having a one-on-one battle.

 

Good luck though!

[Forza Harrd]

I got the basic handling of a Lazer down by going on NPC rampages. Start by practicing strafing highways until you blow up some cars and get a wanted level. Then you have cops to practice using a lockon, then you get 3 stars and kamikaze police helicopters to dogfight with.

 

With my old man reflexes and beer drinking habit I'll never be an Ace but i can still f*ck up a lobby in a Lazer.

[P34NUTZ]

As kenmy said, practice.

 

But you do have to consider your opponent in most battles. The Lazer and Hydra have use of explosive cannons and missiles, and so this puts anyone in an 'older' style of aircraft at a huge disadvantage, even with chaff / flares.

Unless they're friends or you're in a gentlemen's agreement that they won't use missiles, nothing short of passive-mode abuse is going to keep you safe if you're having a one-on-one battle.

 

Good luck though!

I have no issue avoiding missiles, that's the easy part. It's those damn explosive cannons. Especially with the Lazer. I've come up against some very skilled Lazer pilot's that have killed me more or less instantly.

 

I thought maybe there was some trick to manoeuvring or something but I guess I gotta practice.

[Gridl0k]

Approach from high and behind, if you can. That's why all the tryhard jet pilots use passive mode and/or OTR.

 

Look up actual dogfighting tactics, little different.

Edited November 12, 2017 by Gridl0k

[Lonely-Martin]

I don't mind losing, but it's a little overwhelming sometimes too, hard to learn when battered, lol.

 

During this years 2x contact missions event, for a change, I sat in the Hydra/Savage dude. I know they're only NPC's, but it helped me learn the vehicles flexibility. (Traditional run and gun man here, cars and guns).

 

I went from usually needing 2 or more through stupid f*ck ups, to smashing the Los Santos Connection (et all) on my own in no time. From there, I just grew in confidence with these toys and things started coming together, plus I got paid, lol.

 

I'm certainly not good PvP though, but feel much better prepared. Now I got all these new things to learn though with the new vehicles. Man, I'm in trouble now (so many buttons/options). Though do feel a Hydra/Savage/Buzzard combo will be a deadly foe for anyone.

[Forza Harrd]

I don't mind losing, but it's a little overwhelming sometimes too, hard to learn when battered, lol.

 

During this years 2x contact missions event, for a change, I sat in the Hydra/Savage dude. I know they're only NPC's, but it helped me learn the vehicles flexibility. (Traditional run and gun man here, cars and guns).

 

I went from usually needing 2 or more through stupid f*ck ups, to smashing the Los Santos Connection (et all) on my own in no time. From there, I just grew in confidence with these toys and things started coming together, plus I got paid, lol.

 

I'm certainly not good PvP though, but feel much better prepared. Now I got all these new things to learn though with the new vehicles. Man, I'm in trouble now (so many buttons/options). Though do feel a Hydra/Savage/Buzzard combo will be a deadly foe for anyone.

 

 

Last night i had a major f*ck up lol. I was in invite only, then got kicked for inactivity and came back, forgetting that I wasn't in invite only any more. Went to do some Headhunter in Los Santos in my brand new Nakota for practice. Next thing I know I'm getting messages and getting trailed by a Pyro pilot. Omg. I crashed into a skyscraper and left the session with my tail between my legs. Sad.

[StangOne50]

The Pyro can very good at dogfights but only if you are already a good pilot, it has awkward handling that you will need to get used to. It has the ability to make tighter turns then the Lazer and in theory should win most dogfights.

I still have a lot to learn myself but I wouldnt recommend the Pyro to a beginner pilot but thats just me.

 

As boring as it may sound you should play the dogfight mode while its still 2x money and practice.

Always dogfight in 3rd person and hit the camera button to zoom out as far as possible so you will have a better view of what is around you.

Practice with friends in non combat dogfights and focus on speed control and using your camera to stay behind your enemy.

[P34NUTZ]

I've been practicing like crazy, there's never a shortage of hydra pilots looking for a fight. I'm lasting a bit longer each time but I usually end up having to go passive, repairing my jet in the hangar and then going back out to the fight. Bitch move, I know but I don't want to give them the satisfaction of killing me.

[SHOKKERZ91]

Are you attacked by multiple Hydras? I can´t really believe that you lost to a Hydra in a 1v1 situation, when you have it already in a loop. Keep him in a loop with rockets and sooner or later you can blast a couple of MG rounds into him. Rinse and repeat. When the hydra tries to break out with hovermode, spam missiles. I never lost to a Hydra in 1v1 situation with the Pyro. Only against multiple ones.

[Mr_Zombly]

If you often find yourself in dogfights that follow the "keep going in circles until one of you manages to be slightly behind the other and can clip their tail" formula, then try flying less predictably, break the pattern every now and then and take risks.

[Sanches]

Just remember, that the most optimal turning speed is 315 km/h.
Oh wait... wrong game.

Then just do circles, till your oponent's head will go off.

Edited November 12, 2017 by Sanches

[Gridl0k]

*flies off at random angle in Starling to the receding sound of giggles*

[CosmicBuffalo]

There is a jet thread somewhere on the forums. Although some pick up piloting in gta faster due playing other similar games or possibly just being "good", flying jets is a skill that ANYONE can develop. Practicing and watching other who know what they are doing is very important. Isnt there an adversary mode for that? sadly the matchmaking ruined it.

 

Use of the pyro and new planes in general will require practice. One tip is switch from homing to miniguns to keep your oppenent in a predictable turning. Bombimg is the newest skill for pilots to master. I find it difficult although there are probably people on the forums who will claim its easy.

[P34NUTZ]

Are you attacked by multiple Hydras? I can´t really believe that you lost to a Hydra in a 1v1 situation, when you have it already in a loop. Keep him in a loop with rockets and sooner or later you can blast a couple of MG rounds into him. Rinse and repeat. When the hydra tries to break out with hovermode, spam missiles. I never lost to a Hydra in 1v1 situation with the Pyro. Only against multiple ones.

More often than not, I end up tailing one jet for a few minutes and then a second will come along, take out the jet in front and then me.

 

I don't know if it's hydras or Lazers, the kinda look the same to me. It also doesn't help that the connection is terrible so they glitch all over the place, making it even harder to follow

[Mattoropael]

Just remember that the Pyro and Rogue have this weird quirk where if you try to roll and pitch at the same time (e.g. turning up and rolling to the left), the second input will jam and barely respond. They're frustrating to fly even for a lot of veteran pilots because of that.

 

The Pyro is also strictly experienced pilot-only due to its inaccurate non-explosive cannons. You effectively trade killing power for a more nimble aircraft, and if you can't use that maneuverability well you're better off with the Lazer/Hydra/Rogue's superior firepower.

[III-Ari-III]

Pyro might be good against npcs or ground targets, but NOT for dogfights, in those, any hydra or lazer will beat you, there is just no way you can easily overcome a machinegun firing explosive ammo.

[P34NUTZ]

Just remember that the Pyro and Rogue have this weird quirk where if you try to roll and pitch at the same time (e.g. turning up and rolling to the left), the second input will jam and barely respond. They're frustrating to fly even for a lot of veteran pilots because of that.

 

The Pyro is also strictly experienced pilot-only due to its inaccurate non-explosive cannons. You effectively trade killing power for a more nimble aircraft, and if you can't use that maneuverability well you're better off with the Lazer/Hydra/Rogue's superior firepower.

Ooohhhh, I always roll and pitch at the same time. That's good to know. I've already made the purchase now so I'm gonna keep jumping in at the deep end and just learn until I get better.

[SHOKKERZ91]

Pyro might be good against npcs or ground targets, but NOT for dogfights, in those, any hydra or lazer will beat you, there is just no way you can easily overcome a machinegun firing explosive ammo.

 

The explosive cannons can´t do anything if the Hydra or Lazer can´t outmaneuver the Pyro. Especially the Hydra, it´s like a flying whale. A high skilled Lazer-pilot can maybe beat a Pyro in an actual dogfight, but not the Hydra. The sh*t you see in freemode can´t be really called a dogfight anyways. Just fly in with otr and swoop with the cannon. That has nothing to do with dogfights.

[No Use For A Name]

Private/empty lobby and start sh*t with the cops. Even though police helicopters are effectively stationary targets, its good to get a feel for the overall turning radius of a plane. Nothing more embarrassing than making a 90* turn only to overshoot your intended target by several hundred feet.

[kenmy13999]

Just remember, that the most optimal turning speed is 315 km/h.

Oh wait... wrong game.

 

Then just do circles, till your oponent's head will go off.

Were you thinking about battlefield 4 with 315 km/h?

[P34NUTZ]

Private/empty lobby and start sh*t with the cops. Even though police helicopters are effectively stationary targets, its good to get a feel for the overall turning radius of a plane. Nothing more embarrassing than making a 90* turn only to overshoot your intended target by several hundred feet.

I always end up crashing into police heli's lol

It's definitely good for practice though.

 

On a somewhat unrelated note, the pyro is great for taking out ground targets given how easy it is to bank out of a nosedive

[delorianlazarus]

Engage in dogfights, and practice your accuracy and decision making with stunting: buy an Alpha Z1 and give yourself challenges.

Like try to fly around the whole map, flying directly above the highway, and go under each bridge, tunnel, and signs you encounter. Aiming to accomplish 1 or 2 circles around the map without blowing up should give you a good amount of training.

Mans then try with slower or bigger planes: mallard, or Pyro or Hydra.

 

Reflexes and quick decisions, risks and fast thinking are life saver. Master your machine !

 

 

You shouldn't be shredded by Explosive canons. Lazer and Hydra are way too slow and sluggish, compared to the Pyro: if they hit you it's an instakill, but with proper training they will NEVER hit you.

I consider myself as a reasonably good pilot, capable of good stunting and correct positioning, and I have yet to be downed in my Pyro. And my Alpha is to-be-shot-down-at-least-once too.

So a really good pilot might be almost unbeatable with that plane.

 

Keep practicing have fun up there

Edited November 12, 2017 by delorianlazarus

[.Diana McFarland.]

I used a hydra for months like 2 years ago, thats when i got good at flying.

 

im stilll a clutz.

 

 

and i rarely use aircraft/hydras anymore

[Sanches]

Were you thinking about battlefield 4 with 315 km/h?

Yes.

[Spectre "2K"]

predict where your target is gonna be, do unpredictable maneuvers to lose your tail...oh wait, this is GTA

 

spam rockets lol

[III-Ari-III]

 

Pyro might be good against npcs or ground targets, but NOT for dogfights, in those, any hydra or lazer will beat you, there is just no way you can easily overcome a machinegun firing explosive ammo.

 

The explosive cannons can´t do anything if the Hydra or Lazer can´t outmaneuver the Pyro. Especially the Hydra, it´s like a flying whale. A high skilled Lazer-pilot can maybe beat a Pyro in an actual dogfight, but not the Hydra. The sh*t you see in freemode can´t be really called a dogfight anyways. Just fly in with otr and swoop with the cannon. That has nothing to do with dogfights.

 

 

Well it's the only way ppl can dogfight, outside specifical adv modes.. so.. that was my point for that case. Besides he said he bought the plane, so he's talking about free roam.

Edited November 12, 2017 by III-Ari-III

[StormerBoy]

I don't think anyone has mentioned flight school. I'd recommend completing them all to gold standard, you will see the benefit.