Taildragger Quest: A Free 8-Bit Pilot Adventure

A classic-style top-down action adventure about a student pilot, a gang of avionics gremlins and one scattered logbook.

The story

It is the night before your checkride at Sleepy Hollow Field. The gremlins have raided the FBO and hidden your three logbook endorsements across the county. Old Hank, your flight instructor, hands you a flashlight: preflight everything, trust nothing, go get your logbook back.

How to play

Walk with the arrow keys or WASD. Walk off the edge of a screen to flip to the next one.
Press A (Z, J or Space) to swing your tool or talk to people. Press B (X or K) to use your dungeon item. Tab or I opens your flight bag.
Your health is fuel: each tank has four quarters. Collect bucks, hangar keys and fuel, push drums onto plates and talk to everyone, because the hints are real.
On a phone or tablet, use the on-screen pad and the A, B and BAG buttons. Press P to pause and M to mute.

Three regions, three tools

Sleepy Hollow Field and the Old Hangar: find the Stratux receiver, an orange box that shows invisible traffic and hidden doors, and face the Mud Dauber Queen. Reward: the SOLO endorsement.
Ridge Country and the Mountain Wave Caverns: win the Tie-Down Rope to cross gaps, then face the Downdraft. Reward: the CROSS-COUNTRY endorsement.
Bravo Bay and the Thunderstorm Cell: carry the Windsock to calm the gusts and take on the Anvil. Reward: the CHECKRIDE endorsement, and then the real checkride.

Why pilots like it

The humor is hangar talk: pitot tubes, tow tugs, geese in formation and a tower that wants you to say intentions. The game also repeats a real rule of thumb, to stay at least 20 miles from a severe thunderstorm. In the game the Stratux is just a gremlin's dropped gadget. In real life an ADS-B In receiver shows nearby traffic and weather on a tablet. Curious how ADS-B works?

Questions

Is Taildragger Quest free?

Yes. It runs in your browser on a computer, tablet or phone. There is nothing to install and no account is needed.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes. On touch screens an on-screen pad and A and B buttons appear below the game. Tap the BAG button for your inventory.

Does it save my progress?

Yes. Talk to the FBO desk to save. You have three logbook slots, kept in your browser, and the game also autosaves at key moments.

How long does it take to finish?

Level 1 takes about ten minutes. A first run through all three regions and the checkride takes roughly 45 to 60 minutes.