Trace Flight

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Follow a moving 3D aircraft and match its pitch and roll from the pilot’s perspective. Keep up with changing pitch and roll manoeuvres.

◷  3-minute rounds
Trace Flight game in progress

How to play

  1. Watch the red aircraft

    Follow one red aircraft moving in real 3D. Watch for changes between pitch and roll.

  2. Think from the pilot’s seat

    Use left and right arrows for roll. Up pushes the nose down; Down pulls the nose up. These controls stay relative to the aircraft, even when it faces you or flies inverted.

  3. Match each manoeuvre

    Press one arrow key or tap one control for each movement. A brief pause separates each manoeuvre, including repeated movements. You have one response per manoeuvre; each level increases the speed.

Scoring

Correct responses earn a base of 100 points at Beginner, 150 at Intermediate and 200 at Advanced. Reaction speed adds a continuous multiplier: up to 2× for an immediate correct response, 1.5× a quarter of the way through and 1× halfway through. The multiplier stays at 1× for the second half. Each award is rounded to the nearest point. Incorrect responses and missed manoeuvres deduct half the base reward. Scores can go below zero. Rounds last three minutes, including time in another tab.

Tips

  • Use the canopy and tail fin to identify the top of the aircraft.
  • Track rotation rather than its gentle movement across the screen.
  • Use the brief pause to recognise when a new manoeuvre begins.

Unlocking levels

Beginner is available from the start. Reach each target in a completed round at the previous level.

  • Intermediate: score 2,000 in Beginner.
  • Advanced: score 3,500 in Intermediate.

Background knowledge

The following articles will give you foundational knowledge relevant to this activity:

Skills Practiced

  • Mental rotation
  • Pilot-relative control mapping
  • Visual tracking
  • Accurate timed responses

Aviation Aptitudes

  • Spatial Reasoning45% weighting
  • Psychomotor Ability35% weighting
  • Central Information Processing20% weighting