Research · Take to the air

Research toward the next capability

The technology tree is a dependency map. Pick the capability you need, read its prerequisites backward, and fund that path.

Read a technology card in this order

Unlock or effect: decide whether it solves the current bottleneck.
Prerequisites: complete every named technology first.
All costs: later research often needs crafted or traded materials as well as Research.
Affordability: use the ETA only when your net production can actually reach the cost.

Research is not the only gate A technology may unlock a building, but you still need its construction materials, storage cap, and sometimes a production chain. Plan the whole handoff.

The first useful path

Principles of Flight → Aerodynamics → Glider Design opens the first complete flight loop: timber production, a Grass Airstrip, a Glider, the Pilot role, and Training Flights.

Internal Combustion then advances the field into the Propeller Age after Airframe Construction and Glider Design are complete. The technology card shows the exact resource cost.

Follow the era spine when you need a horizon

Each era has an advance technology. Reaching it opens a new band of buildings, jobs, aircraft, and research. Side branches are valuable, but they should support rather than obscure your next era goal.

If you are waiting on	Improve	Also inspect
Research points	Science jobs and research multipliers	Morale, crew rank, and research storage.
Iron or alloys	Mines, converters, and their inputs	Whether a Workshop craft must be triggered manually.
Gold or scarce goods	Expeditions and trade partners	Flight Hours, Reputation, and offer inputs.
A hidden prerequisite	The named earlier technology	Whether its own prerequisites form another branch.

Programs are objective chains, not mystery gates

Later milestones such as the Propeller and Jet Programs ask you to demonstrate a working operation, not merely accumulate Research. Follow the active Flight Plan: it names the next build, production chain, flight, or test needed to continue.

If the ETA feels too long

Add the strongest currently available research job, not more low-output jobs by habit.
Raise morale and preserve experienced science crew.
Buy a research multiplier when it pays back before the target technology.
Check whether the real bottleneck is a material cap or trade resource.
If the run has broadly stalled, preview New Horizon instead of waiting indefinitely.

iOS: the Research hub contains research and later refinement tools. Badges indicate newly affordable choices, not necessarily the best strategic choice.

macOS: Research and related screens appear in the sidebar as they unlock. Use the larger detail pane to compare prerequisites without losing field status.

Know when to resetNew Horizon → Timing Diagnose a blocked techTroubleshooting → Builds and research