If you’re one of the few pilots soaring above the highways in The Crew 2, this guide is for you. While cars dominate the game, aircraft offer an exhilarating and underutilized aspect of gameplay. Whether you’re chasing scores in acrobatics events, nailing air races, or just flying for fun, here’s everything you need to get started and excel.

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Basic Plane Controls

Let’s cover the fundamentals. Most of the aircraft controls carry over from other vehicle types, with a few unique tweaks:

• Throttle/Brake: Same as any other vehicle (usually triggers on a controller)
• Left Analog Stick: Controls both pitch (up/down) and roll (left/right)
• L1/R1 (Bumpers): Controls yaw (left/right rudder input)
• Handbrake Button: Engages Extreme Mode – increases maneuverability but sacrifices speed
• D-Pad Down: Manually toggles landing gear (where applicable)
• Left Stick Press: Releases a smoke trail (sadly not customizable yet)

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Primary Uses for Aircraft

Planes serve three major functions in The Crew 2:

1. Acrobatics Events – Combo-based maneuver score challenges
2. Air Races – Orientation-based time trials
3. Free Roam Exploration – Chaining tricks for followers or reaching photo ops

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Aerial Maneuvers Explained

Mastering air control is essential. Here are key maneuvers you’ll want to practice:

Basic Tricks:

• Takeoff – Straightforward; build speed and gently pitch up
• Snap Rolls – Full 90° rolls using full analog input (left/right)
• Half Rolls – 50% rolls; used to adjust orientation without overcommitting
• Low Altitude / Inverted Low Altitude – Fly close to the ground either upright or upside down
• Touch and Go – Brief ground contact with gear down, then lift off again

Skill-Based Flight:

• Air Drifting – Hold bumper with horizontal flight to drift through the air
• Knife Flight – Fly perpendicular to the ground using yaw to stabilize
• Close Call – Near-miss with terrain or objects

Looping Maneuvers:

• Inside Loop – Pull back on the stick from level flight
• Outside Loop – Push forward instead
• Immelmann – Half outside loop followed by half roll
• Split-S – Half roll to inverted flight, then half inside loop
• Cobra Stall – Nose-up stall maneuver, works best with fast planes like the Pilatus

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Acrobatics Events: Strategy and Execution

Acrobatics are a combo-focused minigame where you’re given checklists of maneuvers to perform within a limited time. Between each checklist, you get 20 seconds of freestyle time.

Tips for success:

• Stack moves: Combine loops with rolls or low altitude flying with knife flight for maximum score
• Preempt the next checklist: If you just did a vertical climb, don’t dive right away—odds are the next task involves a nosedive
• Restart as needed: Checklists are fixed per event; restart if you mess up to optimize your run

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Air Races: Clean Lines and Orientation

Air races in The Crew 2 are time trial-based, and demand accuracy. Gates must be entered in the correct orientation. Getting it right rewards you with -1 second, while mistakes result in time penalties.

Race Tips:

• Practice snaps, half rolls, and Immelmanns – these are the backbone of good air racing
• Set landing gear to manual to prevent auto-deploying near the ground
• Don’t just aim to pass through gates—match their rotation

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Free Roam Flying and Followers

Flying in free roam is a great way to earn followers. The goal is to chain maneuvers for combo bonuses:

• Combo thresholds: 5, 10, and 15 for larger bursts of followers
• Time your freestyle chains: Add a trick just before the counter fades
• Fly in formations: Being around other players can increase combo count

Pro Tip: Use open areas like the Salt Flats to safely practice and maintain combos without crashing.

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Equipment Boosts and Icon Points

To improve aerial performance, equip Rare and Epic parts with suitable effects like:

• Pure – Increases nitro power
• Extra Pump – Faster nitro refill
• Aerial Combo Boosters – Increase points from tricks

Icon points can further enhance your performance:

• Focus on Popular for follower gain
• Use Ventilator or Lucky for trick scoring boosts

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What About Helicopters?

Yes, helicopters are in the game—but they currently have no utility in events or trick scoring. They can’t:

• Earn followers from maneuvers
• Be used in acrobatics or air races
• Equip performance parts

They’re purely recreational, offering vertical takeoff and a free-flight experience, but are functionally limited.

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Final Thoughts

If you’ve only been sticking to cars in The Crew 2, it’s time to branch out. Planes offer unique gameplay, rewarding skill, timing, and creativity. Whether you’re looping through bridges or chasing trick combos above the Salt Flats, aerial gameplay adds a whole new dimension to the game.

Fly smart, chain those combos, and rack up the followers.

Happy flying!