Best way to transition from hover to flight?

??????

Fly behind a rock or building and reverse?

Point your nose down as far as is safe whilst holding W and not pressing space until your nose goes below the horizon.

Hit AB and pitch up

Nose down a bit (like 10-20 degrees), press W to accelerate, nose back up 10-20 degrees while hitting afterburner. Zero-to-Fast in no time.

EDIT: Oh and spacebar while all that's happening. When you nose down it'll create some upward/forward momentum and allow your engines to "engage" faster when you nose up and hit AB.

Best way IMO is hit hold after-burn and pitch up 1-2 seconds after pressing.

AB while gently pulling the nose up is a pretty good answer above. Hover happens when your airplane is not moving forward. Generally pointing your nose in the current direction of travel will transition you into normal flight.

shake your mouse like a mad man and then send lots of angry tells when you get shot down

use gravity if you are high enough - turn upside down, V thrust up (toward ground), 1 second later do nose dive, you will reach max speed within seconds after than can do whatever

Cruise control + pitch up + afterburner should get you going.

1. Look at the direction you are drifting in.

2. Yaw/pitch to point that direction.

3. W+AB.