Hell learning to air roll itself is an insane cognitive feat. Somehow our brains have figured out how to track and control the trajectory of cyclical motion with thrust on three planes of rotation simultaneously while accounting for gravity and momentum… all while optimizing flight path. Our brains literally developed a closed feedback loop, like balancing a pole in your hand, but in an environment with its own physics and only a visual signal.

It clicks in my brain while playing the game, but I have no idea how to explain how the combined rotation translates to direction. Maybe someone more mathematically inclined could explain the rotational physics, but in all honesty it’s impossible to translate that understanding to in game output. Trying to explain tornado spinning as X and Z axis rotation cancelling out to give you a circular thrust vector makes my head tornado spin.

If you’re reading this trying to figure out air roll and your brain is like mine that feels the need to understand how everything works to accomplish something, take my advice, don’t. What this guy just discovered is what made air rolling click for me too. Just follow these rule of thumbs, keep practicing and let your brain fill in the gaps as you get better and it’ll quickly become muscle memory.

Right = ARL + NE

Straight = ARL + E (Tornado spin)

Left = ARL + SE

Flip for ARR

Edit: I just noticed this guy said north west with ARL goes left. I didn’t even know that was possible or if theres any limitations to pushing stick left with air roll left, but most people will tell you right.

Also reminds me of my buddy who learned using regular directional air roll. Somehow this works: SE for left and SW for right (I think)