Ever dreamed of soaring above your Minecraft world without relying on wings or potions? If you’re looking to add a new twist to your builds or simply want to zip across your landscapes with style, building a flying machine is a must-learn skill.
Knowing how to create these clever contraptions not only expands your engineering abilities, but also opens up new ways to explore and automate your game. In this article, we’ll share step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and creative uses for flying machines in Minecraft.
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How Do You Make a Flying Machine in Minecraft?
Flying machines are one of Minecraft’s most fascinating inventions. They use the unique properties of slime blocks, pistons, and observers to create self-propelled contraptions that glide through the air. Building a flying machine sounds complicated, but with the right approach and a bit of practice, it’s a rewarding project for any player wanting to master redstone engineering and automation.
In this guide, you’ll learn how flying machines work, step-by-step instructions to build a simple version, useful tips to avoid common issues, and answers to frequently asked questions. Whether you’re exploring the world in style or experimenting with advanced builds, flying machines can take your Minecraft creativity to new heights—literally!
What Is a Flying Machine in Minecraft?
A flying machine is a redstone-powered device that moves itself (and anything attached to it) through the air, typically in a straight line. These machines rely on the unique “slippery” properties of slime blocks, and are activated by pistons and observer blocks to push and pull themselves forward.
There are many styles of flying machines—some simple, some more complex. This article focuses on a basic, easy-to-build design that works in both Minecraft Java and Bedrock Editions.
Why Build a Flying Machine?
Flying machines aren’t just cool to look at—they’re useful too! Here are some reasons you might want to build one:
- Transportation: Travel across large gaps, ocean biomes, or ravines without bridges.
- Elevators: Vertical flying machines let you ascend or descend quickly.
- Automation: Auto-farming, mining, or chunk-loading systems can all use flying machines as moving parts.
- Fun and Creativity: Show off your engineering skills with impressive flying builds.
Materials You’ll Need
Before you begin, gather these basic items:
- 2 Slime Blocks (you can also use honey blocks, but stick with one type in your machine)
- 1 Sticky Piston
- 1 Regular Piston
- 2 Observer Blocks
- 12 Building Blocks (temporary—for scaffolding)
- 1 Redstone Block (for activation, optional, but handy)
- Optional: Glass (makes it easier to see your machine in action)
Everything except slime blocks, honey blocks, and observer blocks are easy to craft. If you don’t have slime, try hunting slimes in swamp biomes at night. Honey blocks can be crafted from honey bottles using bees.
Step-By-Step Guide: Building a Simple Flying Machine
Here’s how you can build a basic, horizontal flying machine. Follow these steps closely, and you’ll have a working flyer in just a few minutes:
1. Prepare Your Workspace
- Find an open area at least 5 blocks long and 3 blocks high.
- Place temporary blocks if you’re building in the air or want the machine to start above the ground.
2. Place the Base
- Place a sticky piston facing the direction you want the machine to move.
- Attach one slime block to the face of the sticky piston.
3. Add an Observer Block
- Stand next to the sticky piston.
- Place an observer facing AWAY from the sticky piston, so its face (the side with the red “eyes”) is “looking” away, and its “arrow” points towards the sticky piston.
- Attach a second slime block to the top of the observer block.
4. Place the Regular Piston
- Put a regular piston facing the same direction as the sticky piston.
- The regular piston should rest directly on the second slime block (the one on top of the observer).
5. Add the Second Observer
- Place the second observer so that it “looks at” the regular piston.
- The observer’s arrow (output) should point towards the piston.
Now, you should see this order: Sticky Piston > Slime Block > Observer > Slime Block > Regular Piston > Observer.
6. Testing the Machine
- To activate the machine, place or update a block (like a lever or redstone block) anywhere next to one of the observer blocks.
- Watch as the pistons fire in sequence, slowly pushing the flying machine in the direction they face.
- The machine will not stop unless it strikes an immovable object or you break its moving parts.
Understanding How It Works
The magic of flying machines is in their use of observers and pistons:
- Observers detect a block update and emit a redstone pulse.
- Sticky and Regular Pistons push and pull the slime blocks when powered.
- Each time the observer detects a movement (or block update), it triggers a piston, which advances the machine one step.
This leapfrogging action propels the whole structure forward without you needing to power it manually every time.
Practical Tips and Best Practices
Flying machines are simple once you get the basics down, but there are a few tricks that make building and using them much easier:
- Use Only One Slippery Block Type: Stick with either all slime or all honey blocks in your moving structure, as the two won’t stick to each other.
- Don’t Attach Non-Movable Blocks: Omit objects like furnaces, obsidian, or chests from your flying machine—they’ll stop it dead!
- Passengers Welcome: Stand on the slime (or honey) block and you’ll ride with the machine as it moves.
- Glass and Fence Gates: Attach glass blocks or fence gates to keep mobs or yourself from falling off; these blocks stop you, but don’t halt the flying machine.
- To Stop the Machine: Place an immovable block (like obsidian) in its path, or break one moving component.
- Directional Movement: Build the machine facing the direction you want to travel; it won’t turn mid-flight.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Learning to build and operate flying machines can come with some hiccups. Here are frequent issues and how to fix them:
- Machine Doesn’t Move: Double-check all pistons and observers are facing the right direction. The observers’ faces must “look” at the piston heads.
- Stuck in Place: Remove any non-movable blocks in contact with slime or honey blocks.
- Goes Too Fast to Board: Use a lever for controlled starts, or build a small “platform” onto the flying machine before activating it.
- Accidentally Left Behind: Always board before activating, or build a “ladder” using temporary blocks for a running start.
Upgrading Your Machine
Once you master the basic model, you can expand your flying machines:
- Vertical Flying Machines: Reorient pistons and observers to move up or down—perfect for elevators.
- Passenger Platforms: Use larger base platforms to transport animals, minecarts, or even other redstone contraptions.
- Complex Automation: Link flying machines to farms or quarry systems for automated harvesting or mining.
Experimentation is half the fun. Try combining flying machines with other redstone inventions for endless possibilities.
Safety First: Flying Machine Do’s and Don’ts
- Do clear the flight path to avoid hitting obstacles.
- Don’t use water, lava, or fire near the machine—these either break slime/honey blocks or stop the machine.
- Do be ready to stop the machine using obsidian if needed.
- Don’t build over the void (like in The End) unless you’re confident, as broken pieces cannot be recovered.
Benefits of Using Flying Machines
There are clear upsides to adding flying machines to your Minecraft toolset:
- Creative Travel: Reach places boats and minecarts can’t go.
- Resource Collection: Automate farm machines for crops or sugar cane.
- Engineering Challenge: Impress friends by mastering advanced redstone builds.
- Versatility: Use as elevators, transporters, or even as part of a chunk loader in multiplayer servers.
Summary
Creating a flying machine in Minecraft is both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Start with the simple design shared above and master the basics—and soon you’ll be experimenting with your own custom builds. Flying machines showcase the limitless creativity of Minecraft’s redstone system and provide utility for exploration, automation, and entertainment. Don’t be afraid to experiment, troubleshoot, and learn from mistakes. Soon, you’ll be soaring above the landscape like a true Minecraft engineer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I stop a flying machine once it starts moving?
Place an immovable block such as obsidian or a furnace directly in its flight path. When the machine collides with this block, it will immediately stop moving. You can also manually break a piston, observer, or slime/honey block to halt it anywhere.
Can I ride a flying machine or carry mobs and items with it?
Absolutely! By standing on a slime or honey block as the machine moves, you’ll move with it. You can also build a larger platform to transport mobs, chests (via minecarts), or even villagers. Just make sure all transported objects are attached only to the moving parts.
Do flying machines work the same on Java and Bedrock Editions?
Most simple flying machines work on both Java and Bedrock editions of Minecraft. However, the way redstone and some blocks interact can differ slightly, which can affect more advanced designs. Test simple builds and check compatibility before bigger projects.
Why isn’t my flying machine moving—what might be wrong?
Check that all pistons and observers are facing the correct directions, and that slime/honey blocks are not touching any non-movable blocks. If any component is misaligned, or if it contacts something like a chest, the machine may fail to work.
Can I build a vertical flying machine (an elevator)?
Yes, you can! By orienting the pistons and observers upwards (instead of horizontally), you can build a flying elevator. These are great for traveling between different layers of your base, and work using the same principles as horizontal machines.
With these tips, instructions, and answers, you’re ready to build, fly, and create your own airborne adventures in Minecraft. Happy crafting!