Learning to Fly

Learning to Fly is the pilot school at Verdant Meadows, unlocked by buying the airfield in the previous mission. It is required: the story can’t continue until every test is passed with at least a bronze. Kotaku lists it among the worst missions of the classic trilogy, since flying in the game is not very precise.

Walkthrough

Climb the control tower, take Toreno’s call, then stand in the red marker by the TV. The ten tests:

1. Takeoff: take off in a Rustler and fly through three rings.
2. Land Plane: descend through a ring, put the landing gear down and stop in the red ring on the runway.
3. Circle Airstrip: take off and fly a full loop around the airfield.
4. Circle and Land: the same loop, then land in the red ring.
5. Helicopter Takeoff: lift off in a Hunter, turn 180 degrees and fly through the ring.
6. Land Helicopter: land in the red ring on the runway.
7. Destroy Targets: destroy three trucks with missiles or the minigun, then two moving cars, and land.
8. Loop the Loop: in a Stuntplane, fly through a ring and pull up into a loop through the next.
9. Barrel Roll: roll the plane between two rings and level out.
10. Parachute Onto Target: dive, open the parachute and land in the ring.

Tips

• GameSpot’s advice for planes is to keep adjustments small and turn gently after each ring, letting the plane level out.
• On turns, ease off the throttle rather than steering hard. IGN says this stops the plane spiraling.
• Expect at least half an hour. Failed tests can be retried straight away.

Rewards and unlocks

• All property in San Andreas can now be bought
• Planes and helicopters at airports can now be used
• The Victim clothing store opens
• IGN’s pilot school guide lists reward aircraft by overall result: a Rustler for bronze, a Stuntplane for silver and a Hunter for gold

After the last test, Woozie calls with a mission in Las Venturas.

Next: N.O.E..

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Updated October 27, 2026