Build Minecraft flying machines: transport, farms & TNT

Flying machines almost feel like they shouldn’t belong in the game. But thanks to Redstone, Minecraft allows far more than you’d expect! Clever players figured out early that the interaction between pistons and slime blocks can be quite powerful and lets you travel thousands of blocks. Flying machines sound complex at first, but they’re actually not that hard to build. So today we’ll look at how to build several variants and use them in a few farms.

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

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

Key basics:

• In Minecraft: Java Edition, pistons can push a maximum of 12 blocks (push limit). Plan your side arms accordingly.
• Slime blocks bounce entities; entities stick to honey blocks (handy 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 first.

Simple Minecraft flying machine: step-by-step guide

Components:

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

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

Instructions:

1. Place the slime/honey blocks diagonally on the starting level of your flying machine.
2. Add the two sticky pistons to fill the square, facing the slime/honey blocks. The piston direction sets the travel direction.
3. Place the observers on the slime/honey blocks to the left and right so their “faces” look sideways. Block updates will keep triggering signals for the pistons.
4. Activate one observer (e.g., briefly place/remove a block). To stop, use obsidian or other immovable blocks at the end of the track.

Pro tip: For more robust designs, you can combine honey and slime blocks because they do not stick to each other — ideal for 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 as well as animals or villagers.

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

Components:

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

Instructions (short):

1. Place two honey blocks in a line.
2. Behind them, place one sticky piston each, facing forward at the honey blocks.
3. Behind each piston, place an observer with the face pointing forward.
4. Mirror the mechanism directly next to it (for the opposite-facing pistons).
5. Put a boat on the honey blocks.
6. Activate one observer. Stop with obsidian/immovable blocks.

Note: Mind your chunks — if the area unloads, the machine will stall. Travel with it when possible or use chunk loaders (a common Java technical setup).

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.

Components:

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

Instructions (short):

1. Build the flying machine as above, but point the observers upward so their redstone dot faces the machine.
2. Extend side arms left and right so they overhang the bamboo/sugar cane by 1 block to break the plants as the machine passes.
3. Stopper/reverser per side: Place a forward-facing observer, with obsidian behind it. On the observer, place a repeater (at least +1 tick of delay), and on the obsidian place redstone dust. Add an iron trapdoor above the observer (by 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 under the harvest line and feed them into chests or a sorting system.

TNT flying machine / TNT duper: large-scale digging & terraforming

Flying machines with TNT can become powerful destroyers — great for clearing large areas. Many players use a TNT duper (also called a TNT duplicator). This is considered an exploit by some and works differently depending on version/server rules.

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

Components:

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

Instructions (short):

1. Place the TNT at the desired height, with a wall above it.
2. Place an observer diagonally so its face points 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 inverted “L”).
4. Place the second sticky piston on the top slime block facing forward, and one more 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 by the wall.
7. Place the last observer above the slime block next to the upper piston. When activated, the TNT machine starts.

Safety: Build a cordon with obsidian and keep your distance. Store valuable items safely before you start.

Conclusion: Use flying machines efficiently and safely

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