Guide

How to fly in VR without feeling sick

Flying in VR is magic: you're sitting in a cockpit, the islands drop away and the clouds slide past under the wing. It can also turn your stomach, because your eyes say you're banking and climbing while your body says you're sitting still. The good news is that most people get comfortable quickly with a few habits.

1. Sit down

A pilot sits, and so should you. A chair gives your body a fixed reference and matches what you see in the cockpit. WingGlide is designed to be played seated, with standing as an option.

2. Start short

Ten or fifteen minutes is plenty for your first few flights. Stop while you still feel fine, not after you start feeling off; your tolerance builds over days, not minutes.

3. Fly smoothly

Gentle turns and slow climbs are far easier than snap rolls and sudden dives. In WingGlide the yoke and stick are soft around the centre, so small movements of your hand make small, smooth changes.

4. Look out the front

Keep your eyes on the horizon ahead rather than staring down at the ground rushing past. A steady horizon is your best friend.

5. Use a comfort vignette

A vignette darkens the edges of your view during turns, which cuts down the motion your peripheral vision picks up. WingGlide has one in its comfort settings. Try it on at first and turn it down as you get used to flying.

6. Get your seat and headset right

A blurry, badly fitted headset makes everything harder. Adjust the strap and lens spacing until the image is sharp, and set your seat so the instrument panel sits comfortably in front of you. WingGlide starts you about a metre from the panel and lets you adjust from there.

7. A fan helps

It sounds odd, but a gentle breeze on your face is one of the most reliable tricks VR players use. It gives your body a steady physical cue and keeps you cool.

8. Stop at the first sign

A warm face, a bit of sweat or a heavy head means it's time for a break. Take the headset off, have a drink of water and come back later. Pushing through makes it worse.

Blue skies, from the WingGlide hangar

P.S. Everyone is different. Some people never feel a thing; others need a few short sessions to find their wings. Both are completely normal.