diff --git a/docs/re/captures/filepad-flight-stage01.png b/docs/re/captures/filepad-flight-stage01.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6b06d88
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/re/captures/filepad-flight-stage01.png differ
diff --git a/tools/re-capture/entities2.py b/tools/re-capture/entities2.py
index 541ca03..d79abc4 100644
--- a/tools/re-capture/entities2.py
+++ b/tools/re-capture/entities2.py
@@ -145,7 +145,18 @@ def main():
         return
 
     if cmd == "self":
+        # The "_Player" suffix is STAGE-SPECIFIC. Stage 02 fields
+        # UN_f002_TCAF_DeltaSaber_W_Player, but stage 01 fields
+        # UN_f001_TCAF_DeltaSaber_T with no suffix at all, and this filter then
+        # found nothing while the game was visibly flying. Fall back to the
+        # player's craft class and prefer the instance that is actually moving —
+        # a mission holds more than one.
         me = [e for e in ents if "Player" in e[1]]
+        if not me:
+            me = [e for e in ents if "DeltaSaber" in e[1] or "ArrowHead" in e[1]]
+            me.sort(key=lambda e: -e[3])  # fastest first: the flown one
+            if me:
+                print(f"# no *_Player entity; falling back to craft class -> {me[0][1]}")
         if not me:
             sys.exit("player entity not found")
         off, nm, pos, sp = me[0]
diff --git a/tools/re-capture/fly_stage.sh b/tools/re-capture/fly_stage.sh
index e84cf12..40cc5e5 100755
--- a/tools/re-capture/fly_stage.sh
+++ b/tools/re-capture/fly_stage.sh
@@ -80,8 +80,11 @@ pad tap A 0.20; sleep 3; shot 05-after-A2
 # READY ROOM (TAKE OFF / BRIEFINGS / HANGAR / ...) with BRIEFINGS pre-highlighted.
 # A snapshot taken at the briefing yields ZERO unit-definition objects — they are
 # instantiated at stage load proper — so the run has to reach flight.
-say "clearing the briefing"
-for _ in $(seq 1 10); do pad tap A 0.20; sleep 2.5; done
+# START (Skip) clears the briefing. `A` does NOT: it pages through the brief and
+# ten taps still left the run sitting on a briefing screen, twice. One START press
+# lands on the READY ROOM.
+say "skipping the briefing (START, not A)"
+pad tap START 0.30; sleep 6
 shot 06-readyroom
 say "READY ROOM -> TAKE OFF (one up from the pre-highlighted BRIEFINGS)"
 pad dpad up 0.06; sleep 1; shot 07-takeoff-hl