NANOFLIGHT
Realistic Flight Simulator Manual
// CONTROLS
| Key |
Action |
| W / ↑ |
Pitch Down (push nose down) |
| S / ↓ |
Pitch Up (pull nose up) |
| A / ← |
Roll Left (left wing down) |
| D / → |
Roll Right (right wing down) |
| Q |
Yaw Left (rudder left) |
| E |
Yaw Right (rudder right) |
| Shift |
Increase Throttle |
| Ctrl |
Decrease Throttle |
| Space |
Auto-Level (stabilize aircraft) |
| R |
Reset Flight Position |
| H |
Toggle This Help Screen |
// FLIGHT PHYSICS
Lift & Airspeed
Your aircraft generates lift based on airspeed and angle of attack. Faster flight = more lift. If you slow down too much, you will stall and lose altitude rapidly.
Angle of Attack (AoA)
The angle between your wings and the oncoming air. Pulling up increases AoA, generating more lift - but only up to a point. Exceed the critical angle (~15°) and airflow separates from the wings, causing a stall.
STALL WARNING: When AoA turns yellow/red and you feel camera shake, you are approaching or in a stall. To recover: push the nose DOWN, add throttle, and let speed build before pulling up again.
Ground Effect
When flying within one wingspan of the ground (~12m), you'll experience extra lift. This makes landing approaches feel "floaty" - a realistic phenomenon exploited by real pilots.
Engine Response
The engine takes about 2 seconds to spool up or down. Throttle changes aren't instant - plan ahead!
Propeller Torque
At high power settings, the spinning propeller creates a torque effect that tends to roll the aircraft left. Use right aileron to compensate during takeoff and climb.
Control Effectiveness
Flight controls are more effective at higher speeds. At low speed, you'll notice sluggish response - this is realistic. Maintain adequate airspeed for crisp control.
Stability
The aircraft has natural stability - it tends to return to level flight if you release the controls. There's also weathervaning (nose wants to point into the wind) and dihedral effect (helps maintain wings level).
// HUD INSTRUMENTS
Speed (knots)
Indicated airspeed. Keep above 60 knots to avoid stall. Normal cruise: 80-120 knots.
Altitude (ft)
Height above sea level. Terrain varies, so watch for mountains!
VS (ft/min)
Vertical speed. Positive = climbing, negative = descending. Aim for 500-1000 fpm in climbs.
Heading (HDG)
Compass direction 0-360°. North=0°, East=90°, South=180°, West=270°.
Artificial Horizon
Blue = sky, Brown = ground. The line shows your pitch and roll attitude.
G-Force
Load factor. 1G = normal flight. Turns increase G. Green is safe, yellow is high, red is dangerous.
AoA (degrees)
Angle of attack. Green = safe, Yellow = approaching stall, Red = stalled.
Slip Ball
Shows coordination. Centered = balanced flight. Ball left = slipping, ball right = skidding. Use rudder to center it.
Throttle (%)
Current engine power. 100% = full power, 0% = idle.
// FLYING TIPS
-
Takeoff: Apply full throttle (Shift). Let speed build to 80+ knots. Gently pitch up (S) to rotate. Climb at 10-15° pitch.
-
Climbing: Maintain 80+ knots during climb. Too steep = stall. Use 10-15° nose-up pitch for best climb rate.
-
Turning: Roll into the turn (A/D), then apply slight back pressure (S) to maintain altitude. The steeper the bank, the more back pressure needed.
-
Coordinated Flight: Use rudder (Q/E) to keep the slip ball centered during turns. This prevents slipping and skidding.
-
Descending: Reduce throttle and let the nose drop naturally. Don't dive too steeply or you'll gain excessive speed.
-
Landing Approach: Reduce throttle to 30-40%. Maintain 70-80 knots. Aim for a gentle descent rate of 300-500 fpm.
-
Landing: Keep wings level. Touch down gently with minimal vertical speed. Too fast or too steep = crash!
-
Stall Recovery: Push nose DOWN immediately. Add full throttle. Wait for airspeed to build before pulling up. Don't panic-pull - you'll deepen the stall.
Pro Tip: Real pilots say "pitch for airspeed, power for altitude." If you're too slow, push the nose down. If you're too low, add power. These work together!
// ENVIRONMENT
The simulation includes realistic environmental factors:
- Wind: A constant wind affects your flight. You may notice drift.
- Turbulence: Random gusts cause slight buffeting - this is normal.
- Air Density: Air gets thinner at altitude, reducing lift and engine power.
Press H or click the HELP button to close this screen and fly!