The launch begins below the surface with a rapid acceleration, after which the fish breaks out at a shallow angle and spreads its pectoral fins. Those fins are held out stiffly; there is no flapping flight, and the fish is a glider in the strict aerodynamic sense.
The tail does the work of extending a flight. The caudal fin is asymmetric, with the lower lobe longer than the upper, so the fish can leave the body airborne while dipping the lower lobe back into the water and beating it rapidly. This taxiing motion, sometimes called sculching, adds thrust for another glide, and successive glides can be strung together.
Distances are commonly overstated. Individual glides are usually a few tens of metres and last a matter of seconds, though sequences of linked glides have been reported covering considerably more. Ground effect, the extra lift from flying close to a surface, is thought to contribute, which is why the fish stays low.