Pre-Flight Briefing

OK, so you're the lunatic who wants to fly the GeeBee? Right, sit down and we'll run through a few pre-flight details. Fliers of all ages and nationalities are flocking to Buckeye, Ohio, for the air racing competition of the century - the GeeBee Air Rally.

Racing against the clock, contestants strive to complete four courses over eight game levels, accumulating points as they go. Each level is more difficult than the last and the fourth course in each level is a special low flying balloon popping or slalom event. Pilots get two chances to complete each course in the time allotted.

To score the most points, pilots must stay on course and avoid any mid-air collisions with other planes. The clock ticks faster if you stray off course so watch how you fly.

It is possible to survive a midair mishap and resume racing but most collisions eat up so much time that completing the course within the limit becomes extremely difficult.

Pilots normally advance from one course to another and from one level to the next only if they successfully complete the last course or level.

Takeoff With Gee Bee!

Yaeehaa! It's time for those daring young men and their flying machines to take to the air again! Yup, the famous Cartwright Cup is up for grabs and the world's fastest pilots all want to make sure this coveted piece of silverware gets a place in their trophy cupboard. And the winner might just be you!

OK, so the Cartwright Cup Classic was never held for real - but this exciting computer simulation is based on the genuine air race epics held in the USA during the 1930s.

And the fearsome aircraft you get to fly is based on the real GeeBee, a purpose built air racer described by one pilot as an airborne coffin!

The GeeBee was the leading speed plane of the 1930's - but it wasn't a pretty aircraft. Some people said it looked like an apple-barrel with wings. It handled like an apple-barrel too - but the GeeBee was lightning fast and pilots with the Right Stuff found they could win races in it. Others were less fortunate, and the most dangerous plane ever to take to the air claimed many lives.

GeeBee puts you in the hot seat of this 250mph aircraft. Have you got the guts to win the Cartwright Cup? Can you control the beast over 100 miles of airborne action? This air race isn't for the squeamish. But if you want to experience the most exciting flight of your life, read on!

Off To The Races - Playing Hints

Your altimeter, compass and speedometer appear, left to right, on your control panel.

The allotted time for each race appears at the start of the race and starts to tick down when the race begins.

Your points total appears in the upper right hand side of the screen - except during the special balloon-popping events. (See scoring.)

To start racing, press and release the fire button. As you begin to pick up speed, pull back on the joystick or use the pull-back key on the keyboard. (See controls.)

To turn, move the joystick in the appropriate direction or use the correct control keys.

To dive, push forward on the joystick, or use the appropriate control keys.

Stay on course between pylons - you score points only while you stay on course. Every time you stray off course the time clock runs at four times normal speed.

As you steer between the pylons, you may find it useful to speed up for wide turns and slow down for tight turns. Do this by climbing or diving.

When you drift off course, it's a good idea to slow down. You'll be able to manoeuvre your GeeBee back on course more easily at slower speeds.

To avoid midair collisions, you can fly under; around and over other aircraft.

If you crack-up in midair, you parachute safely to the ground. To resume the race simply press the fire button, then take off again. You'll start roughly from the point on the course where you left off.

If you fail to complete a course within the set time, you'll get a second chance. If you fail a second time you'll have a chance to record your cumulative score on the Top Finishers board (not on Amstrad cassette version).

Scoring

Except during the special balloon-popping events you score points as you cover the distance over each course. The more advanced the level at which you're competing the more points you score per unit of distance.

At the end of each race you complete, you also receive bonus points in proportion to the amount of time left on the clock. In addition, a time bonus is added to the allotted time on your next course - but only if you succeed on your first attempt

During the balloon-popping events, you have to pop a certain number of balloons before you start accumulating points. The number of balloons you must pop appears in place of your score until you have popped the required number. Then your score appears on screen and you start earning extra points for every additional balloon popped.

When you fail to complete a course in the allotted time, the Top Finishers screen appears, and you can add your name to the 15 all- time top scorers.

Demo Mode

If at any time after loading the game you don't race for 5 minutes, the game will automatically go into a demo mode. To resume competition, press Return.

Game Credits

GeeBee Air Rally was created by Steve Cartwright
Spectrum version by Keith Burkhill Software
Produced by Software Studios