Many music critics have given "Flying Start" a positive evaluation. www.biquge.info A review on the music website hotexpress noted that the tune of the song was "the hottest in the history of AKB48", and described the song's popularity as "refreshing". In addition, the review said that this song is "a song that opens up a new realm of idol music, and it is a party song that tries to turn Japan into summer all year round, and it will be loved by many people" compared to AKB48's previous concept of "being a summer song".

In Oricon's special feature, he commented that "the songs, arrangements, costumes, and PV feel more mature than previous singles", and that AKB48's "unseen light" in this song is "the result of the sum of these elements", and added that it may be due to the increase in the number of members over 20 years old.

CDJournal's audition review described the single as "a sound featuring a strong wind instrument timbre paired with a fiery positive message to complete an exciting song".

In another special report by Oricon, Chiaki Misawa compared the song to AKB48's previous songs, noting that "there were more songs about unrequited love in the past, but this time it is much more positive." In addition, he described the song as "a song that cheers up herbivorous men", so it can be said that it is a love version of "RIVER".

Various music websites and critics have pointed out that "Flying Start" has a Latin American musical style. At the same time, there were also comments that the song had a rock and roll style. In a special report by Oricon, Chiaki Misawa referred to the song as "a song with a Latin-style rhythm and high mood", noting that it was the first time that a single with this tune had been featured in an AKB48 song.

The title of the song, "Flying Start", refers to the act of "purchasing the product before the official release date". Regarding the title of the song, Misawa pointed out that it is natural for fans to want to get their hands on their favorite products as soon as possible, so he thinks that this song title must be named for fans. In addition, this song was called "フラゲ" by fans at the beginning. Different music websites have pointed out that the lyrics of this song describe a boy who is confident in love, thinking that "it is inevitable that you will fall in love with me", so he feels that he can get the love of a woman he admires faster than anyone else, which is the same as the original meaning of "flying to start".

Like all of AKB48's previous songs, "Flying Start" was written by chief producer Yasu Akimoto. In addition, the song was composed by すみだしんや and arranged by Shinto Ikuta. The duo went on to compose and arrange the music for AKB48's sister group NMB48's fourth single "Cutest Girl on the Coast!".

The single ranked No. 1 in the daily index of RecoChoku's mobile clip downloads and mobile paid downloads, and was selected as the No. 2 theme song of the 2011 summer drama.

With 1.026 million copies sold, the single topped the Oricon chart, replacing his previous single "Everyday, Headband" as the highest-selling single on the first day of release, and the first time since March 2009 that a music work (including a music album) has achieved more than one million sales on the first day of release.

Later, the single became the top of the Oricon weekly chart with 1.354 million, replacing his previous single "Everyday, Headband" as the highest-selling single in the first week of release, and it is also the first weekly chart of 9 consecutive singles since "RIVER", tying the record of consecutive weekly chart champions for female groups set by PinkLady with "Chameleon Army", and also the three consecutive singles since "Turning into a Cherry Blossom Tree" have achieved million sales. This is the first time since PinkLady's 1978 single Sinbad by the Beach that a female group has achieved a million-selling record, and it is also the first time in the history of the Oricon Singles Chart that two consecutive singles have sold more than one million in the first week.

The single topped the RIAJ paid music download chart for two consecutive years. On September 1, the single became the number one music video daily index for RecoChoku, and the music video for "Flying Start" ranked first, followed by the music videos for "Ice Cream Kiss", "Can't Hug You" and "Unwitting Youth" in second, fourth and fifth places, respectively. In addition, this is the first time that AKB48 has ever topped the radio singles chart and won the Best Score Award in August 2011 in both RecoChoku categories.

AKB48 topped the 2011 Oricon singles chart with this single, "Turning into a Cherry Blossom Tree", "Everyday, Headband", "The Wind Is Blowing" and "Adoring Mariko". Hikari Genji and Arashi set the first three records, and all five singles achieved more than one million sales, breaking the record of four million singles set by Mr. Children, and became the first in the total sales of the all-time singles chart with 7.346 million copies, in addition to winning the Oricon annual chart with this single, and breaking the record for the highest sales of a girl group's annual single chart number one set by PinkLady with "UFO".

... In the BillboardJAPAN chart, the single was released on September 5, 2011 on Hot100,

HotTopAirplay, HotSinglesSales, and AdultContemporaryAirplay ranked first in a total of 4 rankings at the same time. In terms of the year-end charts, the singles in 2011's Hot100YearEnd and HotSinglesSalesYearEnd both reached No. 2 with No. 1 "Everyday, Headband". In addition, the single won the 33rd and 41st positions respectively in HotTopAirplayYearEnd and AdultContemporaryAirplayYearEnd.

To put it mildly, the single "Flying Start" completely pushed AKB48 to the top.

Six years after its founding, the group of girls has reached a height they never thought possible.

This is a year that belongs to the AKB.