In order to study the jet characteristics of airborne plasma igniter, the formation and development process of plasma jet is recorded by schlieren camera technology, and the influence of the transverse inflow velocity on the jet characteristics of airborne plasma igniter is studied. The results show that under condition of the transverse inflow, the increase of the incoming flow velocity makes the deflection angle of the jet great. When the transverse inflow velocity Vm=5 m/s, the efflux Angle θ=15.9°; when the transverse inflow velocity Vm=20 m/s, the efflux Angle θ=77.1°; when the inflow velocity increases by 15 m/s, the efflux Angle increases by 3.8 times. At the same time, when the incoming flow velocity increases, the loss rate of plasma jet momentum and heat increase, resulting in the decrease of plasma jet penetration depth, jet velocity, jet area and jet area change rate.