Horizon Pilot Guide: Take Off, Fly the Rings and Land Without a Bump
Horizon Pilot is a proper 3D flying game that runs in a phone browser. You start as a Cadet in a little trainer plane at Zaib International and work up to airliners and a jet fighter. Our first flight showed how gentle the controls are, and how far away the first ring is.
By Zaib · Updated 20 October 2026 · Free to play, no download
Horizon Pilot is the most "real" game on Games by Zaib. It has a full 3D island with mountains, lakes, a coastline, cities and 7 airports, and skies that change from day to dusk, night and storms. The planes have flaps, landing gear and brakes. But the controls are assisted, so a child can take off on the first try, while grown-ups can still be challenged by a crosswind landing.
It works with touch on a phone and with a keyboard on a computer.
Our first flight
The title screen shows your rank (we were a Cadet, 0 of 300 XP) and 250 coins. We chose Career, then the first mission of Flight School, First Flight. The briefing says: *"Welcome, cadet! Throttle up, lift off from Zaib International and fly through the three practice rings."* The objectives were take off, fly through 3 rings, and a par time of 2:00.
We pressed TAKE OFF, pushed the throttle to 100% and rolled down the runway. We pulled back gently on the stick, and by 56 knots the little Sparrow was off the ground. A tip said "You are flying! Keep climbing gently", and once we reached the target height the objective changed to "Fly through the rings 0/3", with +100 points for the take-off.
Then we let go of the stick, and this is where the assisted controls really help: the plane levelled itself and flew straight at about 780 feet. A green diamond marker showed Ring 1 ahead, and the distance counted down: 1.7 nm, 1.4 nm, 1.2 nm, 1.0 nm. By then the clock was at 1:50, so we were never going to beat the 2:00 par on that run.
The lessons: don't spend too long on the runway and the climb, and steer early. The tip on screen says it best: "drag the stick LEFT/RIGHT to bank toward the green ring."
Controls
| Action | Phone | Keyboard |
|---|---|---|
| Bank, climb, dive | Stick on the left (or tilt the phone) | Arrows or WASD |
| Throttle | Slider on the right | Shift/Ctrl, R/F, or 1 to 0 (0 is full) |
| Gear and flaps | GEAR and FLAPS buttons | G and V |
| Brake | Hold BRAKE | B |
| Rudder | Automatic in assisted mode | Q and E |
| Drop cargo, water or smoke | Action button | Space |
| Camera | CAM | C |
| Pause | II | P or Esc |
Let go of the stick and the wings level by themselves. Hold the stick fully to one side for a roll, or fully up or down for a loop, once you are flying fast enough.
How to take off
- Throttle to full.
- Roll straight down the runway.
- When you reach take-off speed, pull back gently. Don't yank it.
- Keep climbing gently until the objective changes.
How to land
Landing is the hardest skill in the game, and several missions are all about it.
- Line up with the runway from far away. Small corrections are easier than big ones.
- Lower the GEAR and FLAPS.
- Reduce the throttle to slow down.
- Follow the glide path dots down to the runway. Airports also have PAPI lights beside the runway that help you judge your height.
- Touch down gently, then hold BRAKE until you stop.
If you come in too fast or too steep, it is better to throttle up, climb away and try again.
How stars are earned
Each mission gives a score, and the stars depend on how close you get to the best possible score: 1 star for completing it, 2 stars at 60% of the maximum, 3 stars at 82%. Two things cap a mission at 2 stars:
- using AUTO (the autopilot), and
- restarting from a checkpoint.
So AUTO is great for having a rest or learning a route, but fly it yourself to get 3 stars.
The 25 career missions
The career is split into six chapters:
| Chapter | Plane | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Flight School | Sparrow | First Flight, Pattern Work, Final Approach, Coastal Rings, Crosswind Landing |
| Bush and Islands | Sparrow, Bumblebee, Pelican | Island Hopper, Splashdown, Mountain Supply, Engine Out!, Firefighter, Rescue at Sea |
| Airshow | Hornet | Show Off, Mesa Slalom, Low Pass, Airshow Finale |
| Business Class | Falcon | Executive Express, Storm Front, Night Arrival, Gear Jam |
| Airline Captain | Atlas | Maiden Voyage, Heavy Weather |
| Jet Ace | Viper | Afterburner, Canyon Strike, Ace Trial |
The final mission, Ace Trial, puts everything together: take off, run the rings, pull a loop for the crowd and land back at Zaib International.
The planes
| Plane | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sparrow | Light trainer | Free |
| Bumblebee | Vintage biplane | 3,500 |
| Pelican | Amphibian (lands on water) | 6,000 |
| Hornet | Aerobatic | 9,000 |
| Falcon | Business jet | 18,000 |
| Atlas | Airliner | 32,000 |
| Viper | Jet fighter | 55,000 |
Bigger planes also need a higher rank. Ranks go from Cadet through Student Pilot (300 XP), Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, First Officer, Captain and Senior Captain, up to Sky Legend at 15,000 XP. Coins also buy engine upgrades, paint liveries (from Ocean Blue at 800) and smoke colours.
Free Flight and the Daily Challenge
Free Flight lets you explore the whole island and hunt for 30 golden stars. The Daily Challenge is a new task every day with a streak bonus (the menu showed +300 coins).
Tips for parents
The game handles a lot of the hard parts for younger players: assisted controls, an interactive tutorial, on-screen tips and AUTO. Older children can try Engine Out! and Crosswind Landing for a real challenge. The 3D graphics need a reasonably recent phone; quality adjusts automatically.
FAQ
Do I need a joystick?
No. Touch, phone tilt and keyboard all work.
What does AUTO do?
The autopilot flies for you, but that mission can then only earn 2 stars.
Is my progress saved?
Yes, on your device.
