GTA Online aircraft guide

Aircraft are an important part of the Grand Theft Auto multiplayer experience and this GTA Online aircraft guide will discuss the most important and popular air vehicles in the game. As of November 2024, Rockstar Games offers a total of 64 aircraft. While most of them are purchasable, some are currently limited to NPCs only. Nonetheless, you can fly them if they appear on the map.

This GTA Online aircraft guide will list some of the best aircraft that you should own and explain some of their notable features. You will be able to properly decide which aircraft to buy, and which one will come in handy in a certain situation.

Note: Some parts of this GTA Online aircraft guide are subjective and only reflect the writer’s opinions.

GTA Online aircraft guide: An overview of the entire air fleet in the game

The GTA Online aircraft guide readers should invest their money in the best vehicles (Image via Rockstar Games)

Aircraft in Grand Theft Auto Online are primarily divided into two categories: planes and helicopters. While you can also fly blimps, they are included under the planes category. Rockstar Games offers 40 planes and 24 helicopters.

The following is a list of all the aircraft in the multiplayer game:

Nagasaki Buzzard
Nagasaki Buzzard Attack Chopper
Western Company Cargobob
Western Company Cargobob Jetsam
Maibatsu Frogger
Buckingham Maverick
Buckingham Police Maverick
HVY Skylift
Blimp
Atomic Blimp
Xero Blimp
Western Company Cuban 800
Western Company Duster
Jet
Buckingham Luxor
Buckingham Luxor Deluxe
Western Company Mallard
JoBuilt Mammatus
JoBuilt P-996 LAZER
Buckingham Shamal
Titan
JoBuilt Velum
JoBuilt Velum 5-Seater
Cargo Plane
Western Company Annihilator
Buckingham Vestra
Buckingham Swift
Buckingham Swift Deluxe
Western Company Besra
Buckingham Miljet
Mammoth Dodo
Savage
Buckingham Valkyrie
Mammoth Hydra
Buckingham SuperVolito
Buckingham SuperVolito Carbon
Buckingham Volatus
Buckingham Nimbus
Nagasaki Havok
Buckingham Alpha-Z1
LF-22 Starling
Western Company Rogue
Mammoth Tula
Nagasaki Ultralight
V-65 Molotok
RM-10 Bombushka
Buckingham Howard NX-25
Mammoth Mogul
Buckingham Pyro
Western Company Seabreeze
P-45 Nokota
FH-1 Hunter
Akula
Volatol
Mammoth Avenger
Sparrow
Sea Sparrow
B-11 Strikeforce
RO-86 Alkonost
Western Company Annihilator Stealth
Buckingham Conada
Buckingham Weaponized Conada
Mammoth F-160 Raiju
Mammoth Streamer216

While the list is long, not every aircraft is worth spending money on. Therefore, the GTA Online aircraft guide will discuss the following aircraft in brief:

Nagasaki Buzzard Attack Chopper
Western Company Cargobob
Western Company Cuban 800
JoBuilt P-996 LAZER
JoBuilt Velum 5-Seater
Mammoth Hydra
Mammoth Avenger
Sparrow
Mammoth F-160 Raiju

But before that, the GTA Online aircraft guide readers should note that they will need a Hangar business to store personal aircraft. If you do not own the property yet, we suggest you check out the GTA Online Hangar guide first.

Aircraft are among the most expensive vehicles in the multiplayer game. Therefore, you will need a fat in-game bank balance before purchasing them. The most expensive aircraft costs $10,000,000 and the cheapest one costs $240,000. You can check out the GTA 5 money guide to become a millionaire in Los Santos.

Some of the aircraft you purchase in-game get stored as Pegasus Lifestyle Management vehicles. However, Rockstar Games gives you the option to convert a few of them to personal vehicles simply by storing them inside an owned Hangar.

Now, the GTA Online aircraft guide will discuss the shortlisted aircraft in detail.

Also read: GTA Online Diamond Casino Heist guide

Important details about the Nagasaki Buzzard Attack Chopper in Grand Theft Auto Online

A screenshot of the Nagasaki Buzzard Attack Chopper for GTA Online aircraft guide readers (Image via Rockstar Games)

Price: $1,750,000
Website: Warstock Cache & Carry
Storage: Pegasus Vehicle/Hangar
Top flying speed: 145.00 mph (233.35 km/h)
Special features: Weaponized vehicle

The Nagasaki Buzzard Attack Chopper is undoubtedly one of the most important vehicles that every GTA Online aircraft guide reader must have. While you can keep it either as a Pegasus vehicle or as a personal vehicle inside the Hangar, its most important benefit unlocks after registering as a CEO.

Similar to other personal cars and motorcycles, you can spawn the Nagasaki Buzzard Attack Chopper right next to you for free using the CEO abilities. This way you can use the aircraft to travel around the map faster and also fight with the enemies with its homing missiles. It is one of the best aircraft for beginners in GTA Online.

Important details about the Western Company Cargobob in Grand Theft Auto Online

A screenshot of the Western Company Cargobob for GTA Online aircraft guide readers (Image via Rockstar Games)

Price: $1,790,000
Website: Warstock Cache & Carry
Storage: Pegasus Vehicle/Hangar
Top flying speed: 99.50 mph (160.13 km/h)
Special features: Armored vehicle that can float on water

The Western Company Cargobob is a notable helicopter that can come in handy in various business-related operations. It is a heavy and huge vehicle that can carry up to ten passengers. However, its most important functionality is the grappling hook.

The Cargobob can lift most of the movable objects found on the map. This also allows you to pick up business-related consignments and drop them directly at or near their delivery locations. While there is no weaponry in the helicopter, it can tank up to three homing missiles. You can also make it float on water with a little landing practice.

Also read: GTA Online vehicles guide

Important details about the Western Company Cuban 800 in Grand Theft Auto Online

A screenshot of the Western Company Cuban 800 for GTA Online aircraft guide readers (Image via Rockstar Games)

Price: $240,000/Free
Website: Elitás Travel
Storage: Pegasus Vehicle/Hangar
Top flying speed: 142.00 mph (228.53 km/h)
Special features: Armored and weaponized vehicle

The Western Company Cuban 800 is an important plane that every GTA Online aircraft guide reader should know about. Rockstar Games offers this vehicle for free when you purchase the Hangar business. Since it is a part of your fleet, you should know the important details about it.

The Cuban 800 is a compact aircraft that can carry up to two passengers. Its main functionality is to fly around the map at high altitudes. However, Rockstar also provided it with a bomb bay and armor protection. You can carry up to 50 bombs (Explosive, Incendiary, Gas, and Cluster) and tank up to three homing missiles.

Also read: GTA Online car locations guide

Important details about the JoBuilt P-996 LAZER in Grand Theft Auto Online

A screenshot of the JoBuilt P-996 LAZER for GTA Online aircraft guide readers (Image via Rockstar Games)

Price: $6,500,000
Website: Warstock Cache & Carry
Storage: Pegasus Vehicle/Hangar
Top flying speed: 195.00 mph (313.82 km/h)
Special features: Armored and weaponized vehicle

The JoBuilt P-996 LAZER is one of the most prominent aircraft for dogfights in Grand Theft Auto Online. It is a military fighter jet equipped with a single turbojet engine and an afterburner. The aircraft has great maneuverability and can reach the top speed very soon.

The JoBuilt P-996 LAZER can tank up to two homing missiles. While the tanking capacity is low, the high top speed and maneuverability allow you to dodge enemy fires easily. You can also retaliate with explosive cannons and homing missiles.

Also read: GTA 5 guide to making billions

Important details about the JoBuilt Velum 5-Seater in Grand Theft Auto Online

A screenshot of the JoBuilt Velum 5-Seater for GTA Online aircraft guide readers (Image via Rockstar Games)

Price: $1,323,350/$995,000
Website: Elitás Travel
Storage: Pegasus Vehicle/Hangar
Top flying speed: 139.75 mph (224.91 km/h)
Special features: Armored vehicle

The JoBuilt Velum 5-Seater is important for players as it is a part of the GTA Online Prison Break Heist and GTA Online Cayo Perico Heist. Therefore, you must know about the aircraft well.

As the name implies it can carry up to five passengers, including the pilot. It is a great plane to travel with your friends. The JoBuilt Velum 5-Seater becomes a getaway vehicle in the Prison Break heist, in the Cayo Perico Heist, you can use it as an approach vehicle. However, you don’t have to buy it to use during the heists.

Additionally, the plane can tank up to two homing missiles.

Also read: GTA 5 modding guide

Important details about the Mammoth Hydra in Grand Theft Auto Online

A screenshot of the Mammoth Hydra for GTA Online aircraft guide readers (Image via Rockstar Games)

Price: $3,990,000/$3,000,000
Website: Warstock Cache & Carry
Storage: Pegasus Vehicle/Hangar
Top flying speed: 209.25 mph (336.75 km/h)
Special features: Armored and weaponized vehicle, VTOL

Similar to the JoBuilt P-996 LAZER, the Mammoth Hydra is also a fighter jet, great for intense dogfights. It is one of the OG aircraft in the Grand Theft Auto series that first appeared in GTA San Andreas.

The best thing about the Mammoth Hydra is that it comes with the Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) feature that allows it to take off and land on any hard surface on the map. You don’t need any runway to fly the aircraft. Rockstar provided the Hydra with rockets, heat-seeking missiles, and countermeasures. It can also tank up to two homing missiles.

Also read: GTA V mission guide

Important details about the Mammoth Avenger in Grand Theft Auto Online

A screenshot of the Mammoth Avenger for GTA Online aircraft guide readers (Image via Rockstar Games)

Price: $3,450,000
Website: Warstock Cache & Carry
Storage: Hangar/Facility
Top flying speed: 178.50 mph (287.27 km/h)
Special features: Armored and weaponized vehicle, Autopilot, Hover mode, Rocket boost, Stealth Mode, VTOL

If you are a pro player, then the GTA Online aircraft guide advises you to get the Mammoth Avenger. It is a feature-packed vehicle that got better after the San Andreas Mercenaries DLC. It can carry up to five passengers and tank up to 23 homing missiles.

However, the most notable feature of the Avenger is that its Operations Terminal unlocks the six Project Overthrow missions and three LSA Operations missions. You can also disappear from other players’ radar using the stealth mode.

Also read: GTA Online Series A Funding guide

Important details about the Sparrow in Grand Theft Auto Online

A screenshot of the Sparrow for GTA Online aircraft guide readers (Image via Rockstar Games)

Price: $1,815,000
Website: Warstock Cache & Carry
Storage: Kosatka Submarine
Top flying speed: 168.75 mph (271.58 km/h)
Special features: Armored and weaponized vehicle

The Sparrow is a special vehicle that you can purchase only after buying the RUNE Kosatka Submarine. The helicopter gets stored as a moon pool vehicle inside the water vessel. The GTA Online aircraft guide readers must own the Sparrow as it can be regularly used in both Cayo Perico Heist prep missions and in freeroam.

It is a fast helicopter that can also shoot homing missiles. However, its structure is considerably fragile and you must not crash the vehicle too much. Similar to the Nagasaki Buzzard Attack Chopper, the Sparrow can also be spawned right next to you from the Service Vehicles list in the Interaction Menu.

Also read: GTA Online buying guide

Important details about the Mammoth F-160 Raiju in Grand Theft Auto Online

A screenshot of the Mammoth F-160 Raiju for GTA Online aircraft guide readers (Image via Rockstar Games)

Price: $6,855,000
Website: Warstock Cache & Carry
Storage: Hangar
Top flying speed: 232.50 mph (374.17 km/h)
Special features: Armored and weaponized vehicle, VTOL, Stealth Mode

The Mammoth F-160 Raiju is arguably the most popular aircraft in the game right now. It was released in June 2023, and players immediately loved its style, power, performance, and other features. It is the fastest vehicle in GTA Online beating all other categories.

Rockstar Games provided it with Explosive MGs, homing missile launchers, stealth mode, and VTOL mode. The GTA Online aircraft guide readers can use it to travel the map faster and to fight with enemies and other players.

These are some of the most prominent vehicles that GTA Online aircraft guide readers should know about. It goes without saying that you will need some advanced flying skills to operate them easily. These aircraft can also be used in Hangar business operations.