LuckCatchers – Flying a Strekolet

This guide was written using the example of the standard starter “Virg”/”Lizard” strekolet, which is sold in the capital cities of the World. Note that each strekolet has its own takeoff, landing, cruising and maximum speed.

Other LuckCatchers Guides:

• Gameplay Tips.
• Sawmills and Mines Guide.

Flight Instruments and Buttons

All credit goes to asnetyy!

1. Power engine indicator is an instrument that shows engine power. The green zone indicates engine power required for the cruising speed.
2. Airspeed indicator is an Instrument that shows airspeed. The red zone indicates the minimum speed, the green one indicates the cruising speed.
3. Strength indicator is an instrument that shows total strength of all parts of the strekolet.
4. Radar is a minimap that is self-orienting in accordance with the direction of flight. Cities, settlements, ships, strekolets and dragons are shown on the radar.
5. Machine gun charges indicator is an instrument that shows the number of machine gun charges left.
6. Fuel indicator is an instrument that shows the amount of fuel left.
7. Altimeter is an instrument that shows flight height. The short pointer indicates the number of miles above sea level, the long pointer indicates hundreds of yards in the mile.
8. Counter is an instrument that shows flight height in yards above ground or water.
9. Climb/Descend indicator is an instrument that informs the pilot about strekolet altitude gain or loss in yards per second.
10. “World Map” button opens the World Map.
11. “Move” button activates the auto-pilot. The strekolet moves to the point that has been selected on the surface (not on the Minimap or the World Map). Having reached the destination, the strekolet starts flying in circles while waiting for a command.
12. “Return” button activates the auto-pilot. The strekolet returns to the takeoff point and lands automatically.
13. “Land” button activates the auto-pilot. The strekolet lands in the selected settlement, city or into one of your ships.
14. “Glide” button activates the Glide mode.

Manual Takeoff from a Runway

• To take off from a runway, a strekolet must be in the hangar of the Flight centre, in the hangar of a ship or in the hangar of an R&D garage.
• Before you take off, you should decide what direction you are going to fly and memorize the landmarks (rocks, celestial bodies, coastline or others).
• Select a fuelled strekolet and push the “Take off in the strekolet” button on its control panel.
• The strekolet will appear on the Runway and start running. The engine of the strekolet is at full power right from the start.
• After the strekolet gains a speed of ~90-100 mph or when there is a quarter of the Runway length left in front of it, press “S”, and the strekolet’s nose will pitch up and it will start climbing.
• It is important to maintain the airspeed so that it does not reach the red zone (i.e. so that it is not too low) and not to raise the nose too high. Adjust the pitch of the strekolet by pressing “W” – pitch down (lower the nose) and “S” – pitch up (raise the nose).
• After the altitude gauge’s counter has shown 400 yards (pointers on the display show the height above sea level, and the counter – that above ground level) – you can transition the strekolet into horizontal flight by pressing “S” and lowering the strekolet’s nose to keep it parallel to the horizon and decrease the engine power by pressing “Z”, so that the pointer of the “%” indicator stops in the green zone. The strekolet engine is in the cruise mode now. Some time later the strekolet speed will be fixed in the green zone of the airspeed indicator, and the strekolet will fly horizontally at cruising speed. If the strekolet continues to descend slightly (and the “+/-” indicator displays -1 or quicker descent), it is necessary to increase the power output, which can be done by pressing “C”. If excess power is added, the strekolet will continue climbing and the “+/-” indicator will display +1 or more. Some strekolets are prone to waggle if the engine power is decreased abruptly but the strekolet will level off eventually according to the set engine power value.
• After the strekolet has levelled off into the horizontal flight, it can be steered by the short pressing of “A” and “D” buttons, which will make the strekolet waggle its wings. Do not let the strekolet lower its nose and descent. So, it flies itself, your task is to adjust its manoeuvres.
• The strekolet can be turned either by rolling to the side or by turning the rudder. Rolling to the side is performed by pressing “A” and “D” buttons (the roll is set to 20-40 degrees), while pressing “S” maintains the strekolet pitch not letting the strekolet lower its nose. The rudder is controlled by “Q” (turn left) and “E” (turn right) buttons.
• Turn the strekolet the direction you need and continue flying horizontally.

Manual Landing on a Runway

• Having reached the destination, fly over it at a comfortable altitude. Memorize the location of the runway and check if it is not closed (if it is closed you will see large red crosses at its both ends) and if it is appropriate for your strekolet. If a runway is not suitable, check if your strekolet has enough strength to land there.
• Having found out where the approach end of the runway is, fly 3 miles in the direction you will make a landing approach from, turn the strekolet 180 degrees and get ready for landing.
• Check visually that the runway is straight ahead of your strekolet along the flight path and at a sufficient distance.
• Decrease the engine power by pressing “Z” so that the strekolet speed reduces and the pointer on the airspeed indicator goes down and leaves the green zone. The strekolet will lower its nose and start descending.
• Keep the nearest quarter of the Runway in the crosshairs adjusting the descent path angle by pressing “S” and “W” buttons, .
• Control the speed as the airspeed indicator pointer should neither be close to the red zone nor enter the green one. The descending should be smooth and the srekolet should fly to the runway threshold. If needed, the engine power can be decreased, as the lower the strekolet’s nose is, the faster it gains speed.
• If you have flown over the runway, level the strekolet off at a low altitude, decrease the engine power to the minimum value (10%) and continue flying horizontally until the strekolet descends lower and the crosshairs disappear (which signals the successful landing).
• If the crosshairs do not disappear and there is less than a quarter of the runway length left, set the engine mode to full power and after the speed increases, make the strekolet climb. Repeat the landing approach.

Remember that your strekolet will crash if the landing angle is more than 45 degrees. In settlements, located in wood clearings, the approach angle can be significant.

Manual Flying from a Ship

• To fly from a ship, a strekolet must be in the hangar of this ship, and the ship must be in the air, at an altitude not less than 400 yards above ground level. There must be no obstacles to landing approach at the distance of 2-3 miles astern.
• Before you take off, you should decide what direction you are going to fly and memorize tha landmarks (rocks, celestial bodies, coastline or others).
• Select a fuelled strekolet and push the “Take off in the strekolet” button on its control panel.
• The strekolet will be launched from the catapult in the ship front at a speed of 120 mph.
• The further flight takes place according to the standard scheme described above.

A ship can move and manoeuvre while launching strekolets. As soon as you leave it, the ship will stop, switch to defense mode and remain stationary until you return.

Manual Landing into a Ship

• Having returned to your ship, fly around it at a comfortable distance and memorize its location in terms of cardinal directions.
• Level the altitude of the strekolet with that of the ship and transition the strekolet into horizontal flight.
• Fly 2-3 miles away from the ship stern and turn the strekolet towards the ship.
• Continue flying towards the ship keeping the airspeed pointer in the green zone.
• Aim at the trap (the gate at the ship stern or at the bottom) with the crosshairs.
• As soon as the strekolet reaches the trap, it will be captured by it and accommodated in the ship’s hangar.

Attention! The ship a strekolet is landing into must be stationary at an altitude not less than 400 yards above ground.