How to fly The Hydra in GTA San Andreas

The Hydra is without a doubt the most difficult plane to fly. However, once you get the hang of it you will learn to love the controls and find that the Hydra is one of the best planes to fly.

So, first things first...

Take off

To take off you just need to hold down X. This will make you hover. You can move slowly forward and backward using the left analogue stick.

Now, get up to a decent height before trying to fly forward.

Flying

To fly you need to move the nozzles from pointing downward to pointing backwards. You do this by pushing the right analogue stick forward and holding it until you start to go forward (you have to press X too). You also need to retract the landing gear by pressing down the left analogue stick.

The plane should now fly as normal. You can also drop a flare by pressing O or fire missiles with L1.

Landing

There are two possible ways to land:

1. As normal – lower landing gear with R3 and land
2. Vertically – slow the aircraft and move the thrusters so they point downwards using the right analogue stick. The hold down square which will lower you down. Again, remember to lower the landing gear. 

Plane Locations in San Andreas

By far the fastest way to move around the extensive map in GTA is to use aeroplanes. The fastest being the hydra by far, probably followed by the enormous AT-400 and the Shamal.

Hydra

A super fast, highly maneuverable fighter jet.

• Available on top of Sweets house in Ganton when you have 100% completion 
• Verdant Meadows (after completing Vertical Bird)
• Easter Bay Naval Base 
• Area 69

AT-400

A massive commercial airliner. Difficult to get out of hanger and to fly. 

• Found inside a hanger at the airport in Las Ventura. It's at the south side and you have to stand in front of the hanger door and wait for it to open. It does not always appear so drive off and try again if it's not there. 

Dodo 

Small slow but easy to handle plane. 

• At each of the three airports 

Skimmer 

Basically a dodo that can land on water. 

• In front of the Sherman Dam, Bone County, Third Island. 
• Bayside Marina, Tierra Rob, Third Island
• Arco del Oste, Bone County, Third Island 
• Near Tee Pee Model, Bone County, Third Island 

Beagle 

Propeller powered aircraft. 

• Easter Bay Airport, San Fierro 
• Fort Carson, Bone County (may be imposible to fly out)

Crop Duster 

Light aircraft

•  On top of a hill in Flint County, near the Farm (where you stole the combine for Truth)
• North of the Hunter Quarry. 

Nevada 

Bulky aircraft based on the DC-3. 

• Easter Bay Airport, San Fierro (does not always spawn)

Rustler 

Antique fighter jet. 

• Easter Bay Airport, San Fierro
• Verdant Meadows 

Shamal 

Fast business jet

• Found at all three airports 

Stuntplane 

Very hard to fly but you can do some amazing tricks with it. Try pressing R3 when flying. 

• Verdant Meadows after all flying school challenges compete to silver or above. 

Burn and Lap - San Andreas Driving School Tips

This was the one I had the most trouble with - it took me hundreds of attempts and got me very mad before realising the trick to make it easy.

What you have to do is change the camera angle. If you go to the third view (looking out of the windscreen like a real car) you get a much better feeling for the turns and can control the car far more instinctively. Also you should make the turn when the last central cone goes off the screen.

Helicopter and Plane Challenges - Bet You Can't do this

Here is a fun post. I've came up with a few challenges for you to try and do with a helicopter.

With a Helicopter

1. Fly under a bridge 
2. Land in the restricted area 
3. Take off in one of the helicopters located in the police departments 
4. Kill pedestrians by using the rotor blades. 

With a Plane 

1. Fly under a bridge 
2. Fly upside down in the hydra metres from the sea and then get back up without crashing 
3. Do a barrel roll and loop the loop in an AT-400
4. Land a Shamal in Grove Street 

How to get the Pilots Licence before Learning to Fly

It is possible to get a flying licence at the very start of the game. Once you have a pilots licence the airport gates will open. The licence is obtained by increasing the flying skill and can only be done by flying (obviously). If you wait until the third island you can get it by completing the Toreno mission entitled Learning to Fly (get bronze in all Flying School challenges).

Getting in

The first problem is getting into the airport when the gates will not open. To get into Los Santos International Airport all you have to do is get a car, park it against the wall of the airport, get on top of the car and jump over the wall. You don't even get a wanted star for this.

Improving Flying Skill

Since it is early in the game you may want to explore the area north of Los Santos but don't fly to other islands as Hydras (fighter jets) will shoot you down and you will get a five star wanted level.

The fastest way to improve flying skill is to do tricks such as barrel rolls and loop the loops.  The videos below give a good demonstration of these tricks.


 

Maximise Carl's Sex Appeal in San Andreas

This makes the boring job of dating a little bit easier. If you have a full sex appeal bar you will be able to start  dating any girl you find without worrying about her particular tastes such as muscle or fat.

To maximise you must do the following things:

1. Buy your clothes only at Didier Sachs and buy one of every category of item - focus on the Tuxedo. 
2. Get tattooed all over 
3. Get the Cornrow hairstyle or Groove cut. 
4. Build up your muscle and don't get fat
5.  Drive an awesome car such as a Bullet, Super GT or Cheetah etc

You can notice your sex appeal changing if you get out your car, press L1. Then park the car in the garage, run away and when the door is shut press L1 again. Watch the sex appeal bar plummet. 

Alternatively, you can collect all 50 Oysters and this will protect against low sex appeal effects. 

How to Get and Fly the AT-400 in San Andreas - Biggest Plane in the Game

The At-400 is incredible. When you open the hanger door and get it out you cannot believe the size of the thing. You know the plane that you get when you fly Junk Air? Well you can fly this plane yourself. You will have to be a pretty skilled pilot to even get it on the runway.

AT-400 Location

 The AT-400 does not always spawn so you will have to keep going away and coming back again. It can be found at the airport at Las Venturas in a massive hanger. Just enter and follow the fence along. The door will slowly open if you stand near it.

Getting it out

Not intended to be rude but anyway. To get the plane onto the runway (a must) will take some skill full use of the rudder. First you will need to back all the way out of the hanger without any manoeuvring. Then go back and forward by moving the rudder when reversing and steering while going forward. Remember the button you press to move the rudder in the correct direction.   

Landing

If you are familiar with flight simulators this will be simple.

You must use the map to make sure you are coming in the right direction. To do this make sure the arrow on the map points in the direction of the runway long before attempting to land.

Upon landing point the aeroplane upwards so that it lands on its back wheels and then bring it's nose down.

The video below demonstrates very good flying of the AT-400.