Build Minecraft Flying Machines: Transport, Farms & TNT

Flying machines almost feel like they don’t belong in the game. But thanks to Redstone, Minecraft lets you do far more than you might expect! Clever players discovered early on that the interaction between pistons and slime blocks is powerful enough to travel thousands of blocks. Flying machines sound complex at first, but they’re actually not that hard to build. Today, we’ll look at how to build different variants and how to use them for several farms.

What is a Minecraft flying machine? How it works & Redstone basics

Flying machines are Redstone mechanisms that practically power themselves and move infinitely in one direction. They use the mechanics of pistons, which can push and pull blocks. In combination with slime blocks or honey blocks, you get a continuous machine that moves itself forward—hence the name.

Key basics:

• In Minecraft Java, pistons can push a maximum of 12 blocks (push limit). Plan your side arms accordingly.
• Slime blocks make entities bounce; entities stick to honey blocks (useful for boats/minecarts).
• Immovable blocks (e.g., Obsidian, Reinforced Deepslate, Furnace) reliably stop your machine.
• Bedrock and Java editions differ in details. Test larger designs in your world beforehand.

Build a simple Minecraft flying machine: Step-by-step

Parts:

• 2x Slime Block (or Honey Block)
• 2x Observer
• 2x Sticky Piston

You can use slime blocks (Building an Automatic Slime Farm in Minecraft: Endless Slimeballs for Redstone Projects) as well as honey blocks (Automatic Honey Farm in Minecraft: Farm Honey and Honeycombs Infinitely) . Both work similarly but differ in more complex machines.

Instructions:

1. Place the slime/honey blocks diagonally on the starting level of your flying machine.
2. Set the two sticky pistons so they complete the square and face the slime/honey blocks. The piston orientation determines the flight direction.
3. Place the observers on the slime/honey blocks to the right and left so their “faces” point sideways. Block updates will create continuous signals for the pistons.
4. Trigger one of the observers (e.g., by briefly placing/removing a block). To stop, use Obsidian or other immovable blocks at the end of the track.

Pro tip: For more stable designs, you can combine honey and slime blocks because they don’t stick to each other—ideal for building separate arms.

Use cases for flying machines in Minecraft

Minecraft flying machines as transport: players, mobs & villagers

As the name suggests, a flying machine lets you cover long distances—perfect if you don’t have an Elytra yet. You can move yourself, but also animals or villagers.

This version uses honey blocks because entities “stick” to them and get carried along. The easiest method is with a boat.

Parts:

• 4x Honey Block
• 2x Observer
• 2x Sticky Piston
• 1x Boat

Instructions (short version):

1. Place two honey blocks in a line.
2. Behind them, place one sticky piston each, facing forward toward the honey blocks.
3. Behind each piston, place an observer with its face pointing forward.
4. Mirror the mechanism directly next to it (to provide the counter-facing pistons).
5. Place a boat on the honey blocks.
6. Activate one observer. Stop it using Obsidian/other immovable blocks.

Note: Watch your chunks—if the area unloads, the machine will stall. Travel with it when possible or use a chunk loader (Java server technique).

Automatic farms with flying machines: Bamboo & Sugar Cane

For bamboo and sugar cane, flying machines are ideal: they harvest large areas in one pass. We’ll combine side arms for harvesting with a stopper/reverser that automatically sends the machine back and forth.

Parts:

• Base flying machine materials: 2x Slime Block, 2x Observer, 2x Sticky Piston
• Side arms: additional Slime Blocks (mind the 12-block push limit; practically max ~9 per side)
• Stopper/Reverser (per side): 1x Observer, 1x Redstone Repeater, 1x Iron Trapdoor, 1x Obsidian, Redstone Dust, 1x Lever

Instructions (short version):

1. Build the flying machine as above, but face the observers upward so their Redstone dot points back into the machine.
2. Extend the side arms left and right to reach 1 block past your bamboo/sugar cane so plants break as the machine passes.
3. Stopper/Reverser per side: Place a forward-facing observer, with Obsidian behind it. On top of the observer, place a repeater (at least +1 tick); on the Obsidian, place Redstone Dust. Position an iron trapdoor above the observer (at the repeater). Put a lever on the Obsidian and turn it on.
4. Repeat the setup on the other end, activate the machine—it will now shuttle automatically.

Pro tip: Collect drops with hoppers and hopper minecarts beneath the harvest line and feed them into chests or a sorting system.

TNT flying machine / TNT duper: Large-scale excavation & terraforming

Flying machines paired with TNT become powerful demolition tools—perfect for clearing big areas. Many players use a TNT duper. This is considered an exploit by some and may work differently depending on version/server rules.

Important note: Test in singleplayer to see if it works in your version, and always ask on multiplayer whether TNT duping is allowed.

Parts:

• 9x Slime Block
• 2x Observer
• 2x Sticky Piston
• Coral Fan (usually a “dead” coral fan)
• TNT
• Wall (block)
• Activator Rail
• Minecart

Instructions (short version):

1. Place the TNT at the desired height, with a wall block above it.
2. Set an observer diagonally so its face looks at the block in front of the TNT. Connect it to the wall with 4 slime blocks.
3. Place a sticky piston behind the observer’s slime block. Build three slime blocks upward and one to the side (like an upside-down “L”).
4. Place the second sticky piston on the top slime block facing forward, and a final slime block in front of it.
5. Place the coral fan on the slime block between the lower observer and piston.
6. Put an activator rail and minecart on the slime block at the wall.
7. Place the last observer above the slime block next to the upper piston. When activated, the TNT destroyer starts.

Safety: Build a buffer zone with Obsidian and keep your distance. Store valuables safely before you start.

Conclusion: Use flying machines efficiently and safely

Flying machines aren’t just a gimmick—they’re extremely useful for transport, farming, and even large-scale terraforming. Use them carefully, plan stoppers with immovable blocks, and test designs beforehand. Want to try these Redstone mechanics with friends? Rent one of our Minecraft servers and get started!