Flight Controls
You can fly the aircraft using the mouse or arrow keys:
- To roll left or right, move the mouse left or right or press the left or right arrow keys.
- To pitch up, move the mouse back or press the down arrow key.
- To pitch down, move the mouse forward or press the up arrow key.
As you will see, the mouse is more precise than the keys.
Note: The latest version of the FM2 has an autopilot and the arrow keys work only with the autopilot.
The FM2 has additional features:
- Press the f key to extend or retract the flaps. These allow you to land or take off at lower speeds.
- Press the g key to extend or retract the landing gear. These allow you to land.
- Press the h key to extend or retract the tailhook. This allows you to land on the carrier.
- Press the c key to open or close the canopy.
How to Take Off
- Increase the throttle to 100%, using either the mousewheel or the + key.
- The tail of the aircraft will automatically lift around 25 mph.
- Pitch the aircraft either level or slightly nose high.
- When the aircraft reaches flying speed, it will take off.
- On the FM2, retract the landing gear by pressing the g key.
- Decrease the throttle to 80%, using either the mousewheel or the - key.
How to Roll the Aircraft
The demos aircraft now have slower, more realistic roll rates, which makes rolling the aircraft more difficult.
Here are some tips which should help:
- Make sure that your speed is high enough before you start your roll.
- Point the nose of the aircraft slightly up.
- Start the roll with a sideways movement of the mouse.
- As the aircraft rolls upside down push forward on the mouse to prevent the aircraft from diving towards the ground.
How to Loop the Aircraft
- Make sure that your speed is high enough before you start your loop.
- Move the mouse back to pitch the nose up.
- Don't move the mouse and you will continue to loop around.
- When you have completed your loop, move the mouse forward.
How to Land
- Reduce your throttle to about 50% to lower your cruise speed.
- Reduce your altitude to about 500 feet.
- Line up with the runway from at least a couple of miles away.
- Reduce your throttle to 0%.
- On the FM2, extend flaps and landing gear.
- Hold the nose level as the aircraft slows.
- When the speed reaches the minimum speed, the nose will drop.
- Add a tiny bit of power to bring the nose level.
- The aircraft is now in a stabilized descent.
- If you will land short, add a bit of power (while keeping the nose level) to extend your descent.
- If you will land long, go back to 50% power and try again, from a longer distance or lower altitude.
- After you land, press the b key to slow down.
How to Land on the Moving Carrier
Landing the on the moving carrier is a bit more challenging that landing on the ground because the carrier is moving away from you.
On the other hand, this will reduce your risk of landing long.
Note: For some reason, you can no longer land on the carrier.
We are working on resolving this problem.