Everyone starts from cold

A race starts with every plane on the ground

The game panel counts down at once: there is nothing to wait for, because nobody is in the air yet.

If the game clock is off, press G. Three tall pylons stand on the field, and the game panel says RACE. The game panel counts down to GO. The ARMED annunciator goes out. The markers of the computer pilots' planes stand on the field near the pilot box, at 0 m.

An exception to G starts a race.

See it in Racing the computer pilots from the station.

Given the game clock is off
When the pilot starts a race
Then the game is a race
  And the game clock is counting down
  And the vehicle is disarmed
  And the opponents are on the ground

Nobody arms before GO

The arm switch does nothing until GO. A plane that is armed early has a head start.

If the game clock is counting down and the vehicle is disarmed, put the arm switch on: SE pressed in is on, and SE out is off (with a toggle fitted in place of the button, up is on and down is off). The ARMED annunciator goes out.

An exception to The arm switch arms the vehicle.

See it in Racing the computer pilots from the station.

Given the game clock is counting down
  And the vehicle is disarmed
When the arm switch is on
Then the vehicle is disarmed

At GO the arm switch arms your plane

If the arm switch is on at GO, the autopilot arms the plane at once.

If the game clock is counting down and the arm switch is on and the countdown ends, the game panel says GO, and its clock starts. The ARMED annunciator lights up.

See it in Racing the computer pilots from the station.

Given the game clock is counting down
  And the arm switch is on
When the countdown ends
Then the game clock is running
  And the vehicle is armed

The computer pilots take off after GO

At GO, each computer pilot puts its arm switch on. Then it takes off straight up in QHOVER, and it pushes the FBWA button to fly on the wing. That takes about as long as it takes you.

If the game clock is counting down and the opponents are on the ground and the countdown ends, the computer pilots throw their planes, one each second, and the planes climb away.

See it in Racing the computer pilots from the station.

Given the game clock is counting down
  And the opponents are on the ground
When the countdown ends
Then the opponents are flying