How to fly the plane in Air Racer
To fly the plane in Air Racer, you roll to tilt the wings, then pull back to turn, just like a real plane. Engine power and the air brake control your speed, and the G number shows how hard you are turning. This page explains each part of flying, and the two flying modes, Helper on and Pro.
The four ways to move the plane
| Move | What it does | Keyboard | Controller | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitch | Lifts or lowers the nose: climb or dive | S / W or ↓ / ↑ | Left stick up and down | Flight stick up and down |
| Roll | Tilts the wings left or right | A / D or ← / → | Left stick left and right | Flight stick left and right |
| Rudder | Swings the nose a little left or right | Q / E | LB / RB | ↶ / ↷ |
| Engine | More or less power | Shift or F / V | RT / LT | + / − |
The full list of keys and buttons is on the controls page.
How to turn
A plane does not steer like a car. To make a real turn:
- Roll the wings towards the way you want to go.
- Pull back (climb) gently. Now the plane curves round.
- Roll back to level wings when you face the next gate.
The rudder only nudges the nose a little. It helps you line up for a gate, but it is not how you make big turns.
Engine power
Engine power works like a slider, not a pedal. Hold Shift or F (or the right trigger, or +) to slide it up, and V (or the left trigger, or −) to slide it down. Going from no power to full power takes one second. When you let go, the power stays where it is.
More power means more speed, but more speed is not always faster round a course. A fast plane needs a wider turn. Read why on advanced tips.
The air brake
Hold X, the controller's X button or the Brake button to open the air brake. It eases in over a moment and slows the plane down. It works hardest when you are going fast and gets softer as you slow down. Use it just before tight parts, like a slalom, and before the start gate if you are faster than 370 km/h.
What does G mean?
G shows how hard the turn pushes you into your seat. Flying straight is about 1 G. A hard pull can reach 8 G or more.
Each plane has two G limits:
| Plane | Too many G (penalty) | Way too many G (race over) |
|---|---|---|
| Trainer | Over 8 G | Over 10 G |
| Racer | Over 10 G | Over 12 G |
| Aerobat | Over 10 G | Over 12.5 G |
| Pro Racer | Over 12 G | Over 14 G |
The Hangar shows the second number as the plane's G limit. If you stay above the first number for a little over half a second, you get "Too many G!" and 3 extra seconds. You only get it once for each hard pull. If you go over the second number, the race ends with "Way too many G! The pilot got dizzy." When you come close to the limit, the game warns you: High G! Ease the stick. Then pull a little less.
Flying too slowly
If your speed drops too low, the wings lose their grip and the nose drops. The game warns you first:
| Message | When | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Speed is low. Add power before climbing. | Below about 140 km/h | Add power before you pull up |
| Too slow! Add power and lower the nose. | Below about 115 km/h | Add power and point the nose down a little |
These speeds are not shown in the game. They are rounded from the game's own numbers.
Helper on or Pro?
Press M, or use Flying helpers in Settings, to switch between the two flying modes:
| Helper on | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Wings level when you let go | Yes | No |
| Nose follows your turn by itself | Yes | No, use the rudder |
| Line through the next three gates | Yes, a thin line | No line |
| Who it is for | New pilots and anyone who wants calm flying | Pilots who want full control |
You start with Helper on. The helper lets go of the plane when you fly a loop or another big move on purpose, and helps again when you are upright. Your race times and shadows for Helper on and Pro are kept apart, so trying Pro never spoils a record. Medals and coins are the same in both modes.
Cameras
Press C, Y or the Camera button to switch between the camera behind the plane and the cockpit view. In Settings you can also change:
- Camera tilt: how much the camera leans with the plane when you roll. It starts at 60%.
- Level horizon: keeps the horizon flat on the screen.
- View width: how much you see from side to side. It starts at 52°.
- Camera shake: a little shake on hard pulls. It starts off.
Learn more on settings and saving.
Crashes
If you fly into the ground, the water, the bridge or the stone arch, the race ends. You see sparks, fire and smoke, or a big splash in the water. Press Try again and fly again. Crashes never cost coins, and your best flights are safe. All the crash rules are on gates and penalties.
See also
- Gates and penalties: what to do at each kind of gate.
- Tips for new pilots: smooth turns and clean laps.
- Planes and paints: how the four planes fly.
- Controls, or play Air Racer and try it.
