What are the default keyboard controls and keybindings in FlightGear?
FlightGear does have default keyboard controls, but there is not one perfectly universal list for every install. Core bindings are usually there for pitch, roll, throttle, gear, views and pause, while some keys vary by version, operating system, aircraft and any custom input profile you have already saved.
Common default FlightGear keyboard controls
If you are looking for the defaults most desktop users rely on, the table below covers the core bindings you will meet in a standard FlightGear setup. We are being careful here: FlightGear has changed over time, and certain aircraft add their own keyboard commands, so a web list should never be treated as gospel.
| Function | Typical default key | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch and roll | Arrow keys or numeric keypad | These are the usual keyboard flight controls in a standard desktop setup. The exact pairing can differ slightly by build and platform. |
| Throttle increase | Page Up | This is one of the most consistent default bindings. |
| Throttle decrease | Page Down | Normally paired with throttle increase. |
| Landing gear toggle | G | Only applies to aircraft with retractable gear. |
| Pause simulation | P | Useful when checking settings or repositioning views. |
| Cycle views | V | Moves through the available cockpit and external views. |
| Cycle views backwards | Shift+V | Often paired with the main view-cycle key. |
| Brakes or parking brake | Often B | This is one of the bindings that can differ between setups and aircraft. |
| Flaps | Varies more than the keys above | Flap commands are present by default, but the exact keys are not as consistent across releases and aircraft. |
If you only need the essentials to get moving, start with Page Up, Page Down, G, P and V, then confirm the rest inside your own copy of FlightGear.
Why do my FlightGear keys not match the default list?
Because FlightGear is highly configurable, two people can both be using "default" installs and still see different behaviour. That is not unusual, and it does not always mean something is broken.
- Version differences: older and newer builds do not always present controls in exactly the same way.
- Aircraft-specific bindings: some aircraft include their own commands for starters, avionics, armament, rotor controls, propeller controls or custom systems.
- Saved preferences: if you have ever changed keyboard settings, those edits can override the stock mapping.
- Keyboard layout: laptops without a proper numeric keypad often need remapping before the simulator feels usable from the keyboard alone.
This is why copied key charts from old forum posts or random screenshots are often misleading. The live bindings inside the simulator are the only list that really matters.
How do I see the exact keybindings in my copy of FlightGear?
The quickest way is to check from inside FlightGear rather than relying on a generic chart. That shows the bindings your version is actually using, including any aircraft-level additions.
- Load FlightGear and start a flight with the aircraft you want to use.
- Open the in-sim menu bar and look for the help, input or key bindings section. The wording can vary a little by build.
- Find the keyboard bindings list and look up the exact command you want, such as throttle, flaps, brakes or view controls.
- Test the key on the ground before taxiing. This matters especially for brakes, flap steps and aircraft-specific systems.
- Check for overrides if the key does not match what you expected. Custom profiles and aircraft-specific bindings are the usual cause.
If you are installing extra aircraft from our FlightGear library at Fly Away Simulation downloads, it is worth repeating that last step. Add-on aircraft frequently bring their own shortcuts.
Which FlightGear keyboard controls matter most for beginners?
If you are flying without a joystick or yoke, do not try to memorise every shortcut on day one. A small set of keys will do most of the work.
- Pitch and roll: enough to keep the aircraft level and to make gentle turns.
- Throttle up and down: for taxi, take-off and approach speed control.
- Brakes: essential on the ground.
- Landing gear: only once you move into retractable aircraft.
- View cycle: very handy when you need to check runway alignment or external position.
- Pause: useful while learning and changing settings.
Keyboard flying in FlightGear is perfectly possible, but it is still a digital input method. Every key press is effectively a step change rather than a smooth analogue movement, so use short taps, trim the aircraft when possible, and start with something slow and forgiving rather than a fast jet.
Are there universal default keys for every aircraft system?
No. That is the part many new users miss. Core simulator functions are fairly consistent, but advanced systems are not. Magnetos, starter logic, fuel pumps, autopilot modes, propeller controls, reversers and specialist equipment can be exposed very differently from one aircraft to another.
So if your real question is, "Why does one aircraft start with one set of keys and another does not?", the answer is simple: FlightGear allows aircraft authors a lot of freedom. The simulator is not locked into one rigid cockpit-command model.
Can you change the default FlightGear keyboard controls?
Yes, and many keyboard-only users should. If your keyboard lacks a numpad, or the stock layout feels awkward, remapping the basic flight controls is often the first sensible change to make.
When you do that, keep the layout practical. Put pitch and roll under your strongest fingers, keep throttle close by, and avoid scattering ground controls all over the keyboard. A tidy layout is easier to remember than a technically perfect one.
The short answer
The safest summary is this: FlightGear's common default keyboard controls usually include Page Up/Page Down for throttle, G for gear, P for pause, V for views and arrow keys or the numeric keypad for basic flight control. For anything beyond that, check the live key bindings list in your own version, because aircraft and saved preferences can change the result.