Taking Off from an Airfield
by Hammer

If you wish, you can take advantage of the auto-takeoff feature of Aces High whenever you launch from the tower or hangar. This feature is not, however, available if you takeoff after using the re-arm pad.

To use the auto-takeoff feature, you must enable it in the Flight section of your clipboard's setup page (OPTIONS -> PREFERENCES -> FLIGHT) by clicking on it so it is checked. With auto-takeoff toggled on, all you have to do is click on the direction you wish to takeoff, put your throttle at 100%, and your plane will do the rest. It takes you down the runway, lifts off, raises the landing gear, and climbs out, eventually taking you to the best climb speed. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR CONTROLS while the plane is rolling down the runway! If you move your joystick during auto-takeoff, the "automatic pilot" is disengaged and you are in control. Your controls all go to their neutral position and there is a good chance you will swerve out of control.

While auto-takeoff works fine for getting you off the ground from the tower or hangar, it is not available if you use the re-arm pad to continue a sortie. For this, you will have to takeoff yourself. The first step in a manual takeoff is to get yourself centered on the runway in the direction you want to go. If you are upping for the first time, this is accomplished by choosing the appropriate direction from the tower. If you are re-upping from the re-arm pad, you have to center yourself. Do this by using your throttle, brakes (you have individual left and right brakes), rudder, and ailerons to move your plane along the ground to where you want to be. When you wish to taxi straight, ensure your stick is pulled back 1/4 to 1/2. This locks the tail wheel in place and allows you to taxi in a straight line. Release the stick back to its neutral position and apply rudder to turn. A word of caution: don't try to turn your plane while going too fast. You will spin-out and crash. As a general rule, I try to keep my speed taxiing below 50, and not turn if I am going faster than 25.

Once your plane is centered on the runway, it is time to go. While not necessary, you may want to put a notch or two of flaps down. This will provide more lift and better low speed control once you get off the ground. Once you are ready, pull your joystick 1/4 to 1/2 the way back (to lock the tail wheel in place) and slowly move your throttle up to 100%. While you are doing this, your engine's torque will try to turn your plane's nose to the left (in most planes). You must counter this torque with right rudder. This will take a lot of input while your speed is low, eventually easing off as your speed increases. You will also be able to release the back-pressure on your joystick as your speed increases. If you don't release the pressure on your stick, the nose of your plane will try to rise before you are going fast enough to fly and you will likely crash. In most planes, you can release the back pressure at 60 – 80 mph.

When you have enough airspeed to lift off (around 125 is good for most fighters), gently pull back on your stick until the wheels leave the ground. Some planes, especially the lighter fighters, will try to lift off on their own well before this speed. You can let them rise or you can hold them on the runway with a little down-elevator (stick forward) until you reach the speed you wish. Once you lift off the runway, your plane will try to roll in the same direction the nose went during your takeoff roll. In most planes, this will be to the left. Counter this roll with some aileron input (moving your stick to the appropriate side) and raise your gear. Once your speed is 150 or so, bring your flaps up. You are on your way! I usually level out until I hit the planes best climbing speed (165 - 175 on most planes) then engage the auto-speed (<ALT> X) which puts you into a controlled climb. You are now right where the auto-takeoff puts you when it is in control.