First in Flight Strategy Game: Solo and Small Group Play Tips
By Genius Games | Science Biology & Chemistry Games | Math | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to play First in Flight solo or with two players, with practical steps for setup, engine building, and teaching the aviation strategy game in under an hour.
Quick answer
To get the most from First in Flight solo or with two players, treat it as an engine-building race: focus on two or three complementary aircraft technologies early, keep your pilot options flexible, and use the 45–75 minute playtime to test one strategy per session. For a lighter science-themed warm-up, Virulence works well as a 15–20 minute two-player opener before the main game.
Set up for a fast solo or two-player start
First in Flight supports 1–4 players, but solo and two-player games move fastest when you reduce decision clutter before the first turn. Sort the aircraft and technology cards into visible rows, keep the pilot deck within reach, and decide in advance whether you are playing a full-length session or a shorter learning game. For a first solo run, play with the standard rules and stop after the first completed aircraft to see how the engine-building loop feels. With two players, sit side by side rather than across the table so both of you can read the same card rows without passing components back and forth.
Choose a focused strategy instead of chasing every card
The most common mistake in First in Flight is spreading your effort across too many aircraft types. Pick two complementary technologies early and let the third wait. In solo play, this keeps your turns short and your progress measurable. In a two-player game, it also makes your intentions harder to read because you are not reacting to every card your opponent takes. If a key card disappears, treat that as information about what your opponent values, not as a reason to abandon your plan.
Use the Pilot Pack to add variety without slowing the game
The First in Flight: Mini-Expansion Pilot Pack adds pilot cards such as Ruth Law Oliver, Richard Pearse, Eugene Bullard, Clement Ader, and Amelia Earhart. The base game is required to play, so this is not a standalone purchase. In solo and two-player sessions, introduce one or two pilot cards at a time rather than the whole pack. That way you can see how each pilot changes your opening decisions without turning the game into a rules-reference exercise. If you already know the base game well, the Pilot Pack is the cheapest way to make repeat solo sessions feel different.
Teach a new player in one turn, not one rulebook
When you bring a second player in, run one practice turn with open information before starting the real game. Explain only what that turn requires: how to acquire a card, how it advances an aircraft, and how the round ends. Save scoring and edge cases for when they appear. This approach works because First in Flight is listed for ages 12+ and plays in 45–75 minutes, so a new player can absorb the core loop without a full rules lecture. If your group prefers a shorter science game first, Virulence plays in 15–20 minutes with 2–5 players and covers virus structure, replication, vaccines, and mutations, which makes it a useful warm-up or a separate family game night option.
Step-by-step: solo and small group play
- Set a session goal before you shuffle: Decide whether you are playing a full game, a learning game, or a single-aircraft sprint. In solo play, a learning game means stopping after your first completed aircraft so you can review what worked. Checkpoint: if you cannot state your goal in one sentence, you are about to play without a plan.
- Commit to two technologies in the first three turns: Scan the available aircraft and technology cards, then choose two that share a resource or timing advantage. Do not switch unless a card you need is gone and a clearly better pairing appears. Common mistake: taking a strong card that does not fit your two technologies, which slows both tracks.
- Add pilot cards one at a time: If you own the Pilot Pack, introduce a single pilot card for your first session with it. Play a full game, then swap in a different pilot next time. This keeps the base game's pace intact. Checkpoint: if a pilot card makes you consult the rulebook more than twice in one game, save it for a later session.
- Run a two-player teaching turn with open hands: Before the real game, play one turn where both players can see each other's cards. Explain only the actions needed for that turn: acquire, advance, end round. Save scoring for the end. Common mistake: explaining every icon and exception before the first turn, which makes a 45–75 minute game feel much longer.
- Use a short filler game to warm up or reset: If you have 15–20 minutes before or after First in Flight, Virulence works as a two-player or small-group opener. Its blind-bidding and set-collection loop is easy to teach and covers virus structure, replication, vaccines, and mutations. Next step: keep Virulence on the shelf as the default warm-up so First in Flight stays the main event.
Product facts
- First in Flight | 2024 MENSA Select Award Winner | Dice Tower Seal of Excellence | Strategy Board Game: First in Flight is a 2024 Mensa Select Award Winner and recipient of The Dice Tower Seal of Excellence, designed for 1–4 players, ages 12+, with a 45–75 minute playtime. The 1–4 player range and 45–75 minute window make it practical for solo sessions and two-player evenings, while the award recognition signals a well-tested design.
- First in Flight: Mini-Expansion Pilot Pack: The First in Flight: Mini-Expansion Pilot Pack adds pilot cards including Ruth Law Oliver, Richard Pearse, Eugene Bullard, Clement Ader, and Amelia Earhart; the base game is required to play and is sold separately. If you already own the base game, this is a low-cost way to add replay variety to solo and small-group sessions without buying a second full game.
- Virulence: An Infectious Virus Card Game - Educational Bidding Game for Kids 8+ - Perfect Biology Board Game: Virulence is a blind-bidding and set-collection card game for 2–5 players, ages 8+, with a 15–20 minute playtime, covering virus structure, genome, helical, icosahedral, spherical envelope, replication, vaccines, and mutations. Its short playtime and 2–5 player range make it a good opener before a longer strategy game or a standalone option for younger players who are not ready for First in Flight.
