It's become a necessity to own outrageous flying machines in GTA Online 

While going about your day in GTA Online, you are bound to come across a situation where you will be compelled to use a flying vehicle. Whether it’s for a mission, to combat griefers, or just to fly across Los Santos and Blaine County in the most convenient way possible, you should have a good bunch of options in your collection to fly around.

Once you start browsing the in-game internet, you will be welcomed by a volume of cool looking planes and helicopters. Not only that, but you will also be greeted by flying cars and bikes. Yes, GTA Online is now very much on par with futuristic sci-fi movies.

This article highlights the 10 best flying vehicles that you should seriously consider looking into, as their purchase might just make your gameplay experience feel less grindy and more fun.

10. Akula

The Akula

Standard Price: GTA$ 3,704,050

Trade Price: GTA$ 2,785,000 (By completing the Server Farm Setup mission in the Doomsday Heist as the heist leader)

The intimidating looks of the Akula are a good representation of the helicopter’s lethal potential. The Akula is also perfect for sneaking up on your targets, as it’s a stealth helicopter. With the click of a button, the Akula’s weapons get folded in, and you can start roaming around without showing up on the map.

Although configuring the flight controls of the Akula is a subjective matter, most players prefer modifying the handling to “Race Handling”. It makes the Akula extremely maneuverable and responsive, but the controls can feel a little too sensitive for some players. Otherwise, the stock handling should feel just fine.

The Akula packs a good arsenal of weapons. It has a Minigun by default that can be swapped for a Dual Minigun, which is also operable by the co-pilot. In addition, you can equip either Homing or Barrage Missiles and a bombing bay. Meanwhile, there is no option for countermeasures.   

Overall, the main reasons why you should own the Akula are:

• Its agility and fast speed.
• Its ability to go into stealth mode.
• Its capacity to carry 4 people on board.
• Its resilience to 2 RPG and Homing Launcher shots.

Akula full details: https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Akula

9. FH-1 Hunter

The Hunter

Standard Price: GTA$ 4,123,000

Trade Price: GTA$ 3,100,000 (By completing 42 Air Freight Cargo source missions)

The FH-1 Hunter is a must-have aircraft in your hangar, as both its offensive and defensive strength makes it the deadliest helicopter in GTA Online. With its design reminiscent of American attack helicopters from the ‘80s, the Hunter screams patriotism once it starts flying.

The Hunter’s handling is not too far off from the Akula’s. The Hunter does feel slightly bloated at first, but once you fly it for a few minutes, there isn’t really much of a learning curve.

The Hunter boasts a vast array of weaponry. By default, it’s equipped with a Machine Gun that can be swapped for a powerful Cannon. Note that the co-pilot can also use the Machine Gun/Cannon. Unlike the Akula, it can be equipped with both Homing and Barrage missiles at the same time. Moreover, there’s also room for a bombing bay and standard countermeasures.

The FH-1 Hunter is a great purchase because:

• It’s incredibly fast and easy to maneuver.
• Its armor can withstand 5 RPGs and 2 Homing Launcher missiles.
• You can wreak havoc once you get a competent co-pilot.

FH-1 Hunter full details: https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Hunter

8. Deluxo

The Deluxo

Standard Price: GTA$ 4,721,500

Trade Price: GTA$ 3,550,000 (By completing the Signal Intercepts Setup mission in the Doomsday Heist as the heist leader)

An unswerving replica of the DeLorean DMC-12, the Deluxo is any retro enthusiast’s preferred choice of weaponized vehicle to consider. Besides its nostalgic looks, anyone who has binge watched Back to the Future would immediately recognize that the Deluxo’s abilities are a homage to that show.

The Deluxo drives, hovers, and flies anywhere across the map with ease, making it severely futuristic and overpowered. It can also be equipped with a Machine Gun and Homing Missiles, which means you are going to have a lethal combination at your disposal. Regrettably, the Deluxo doesn’t stand a chance against explosives, and you have no protection from the windows either. 

From its old-school looks to advanced abilities, the Deluxo can be your preferred choice because:

• It has good handling, both on the ground and in the air. Though, its speed is a bit on the sluggish side while flying.
• Its weaponry coupled with flying ability gives it the upper hand in combat.
• Vanity geeks would surely cherish having it in their garage.

Deluxo full details: https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Deluxo

7. LF-22 Starling

The Starling

Standard Price: GTA$ 3,657,500

Trade Price: GTA$ 2,750,000 (By completing 15 Air Freight Cargo source missions)

The LF-22 Starling’s puny size and unthreatening looks are ever so deceiving to say the least, but the potential the Starling holds is beyond anyone’s first guess.

Its flight dynamics can be considered quite unusual when compared to every other plane in the game. The Starling sure takes a while to get used to, as it somewhat glides when you use it without the boost. By the time you get a hold of its handling, it’d definitely start to grow on you.

The Starling comes with a standard Machine gun, and it can be further equipped with Homing Missiles and Bombs. The usual countermeasures can also be fitted.  

The combination of Starling’s extremely slow speed and the option to equip a Rocket Boost, added with the plane’s outmaneuvering capabilities, just makes it an outright dogfighter.

Here’s why:

• The Starling’s compact size and slow speed makes it extremely easy to land anywhere on the map.
• Its slow speed also gifts the plane the agility to cut tight corners and escape enemy’s line of sight with ease while flying.
• The Rocket Boost thrusts the plane’s acceleration tremendously and allows it to outperform its rivals once you get used to the control mechanics.

LF-22 Starling full details: https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/LF-22_Starling

6. Buzzard Attack Chopper

The Buzzard

Price: GTA$ 1,750,000

If you’re a beginner looking to purchase your first flying vehicle that will aid you in grinding and ranking up quickly, then you should consider getting yourself a Buzzard without even thinking twice.

One of the best things about the Buzzard is that it’s a CEO vehicle. Once you own a Buzzard, you can call it in for free while registered as a CEO, and it will spawn right next to you like any other personal ground vehicle.

The Buzzard is equipped with a decent Minigun and Homing Missiles. Although there are no countermeasures on the Buzzard, what it does have is splendid outmaneuvering capabilities. The Buzzard is probably one of the easiest helicopters to fly in GTA Online. Its compact size makes the handling very predictable. 

All in all, here’s why you should get it:

• For a relatively affordable price tag, the Buzzard won’t put a deep dent in your wallet.
• The ability to call in the Buzzard practically anywhere makes earning money way much easier than having to take the road to travel.
• The fast & agile handling coupled with the armaments on the Buzzard are sufficient for you to get yourself out of hairy situations.
• You can carry 3 of your mates on board as well.

Buzzard Attack Chopper full details: https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Buzzard_Attack_Chopper

5. Avenger

The Avenger

Price: GTA$ 3,450,000 – GTA$ 4,787,500

Imagine this, you have a tank with VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) ability that flies and hovers over Los Santos and you wreak havoc on every passing NPC or enemy player within your view. Yes, the Avenger is just that. Derived from the V-22 Osprey, the Avenger presents you with the perfect opportunity to annihilate ground targets with high power weaponry.

Because of its huge size, its flight controls feel somewhat towards the less responsive side, but with a bit of flying time on it, you will get used to its maneuverability.

The Avenger is a flying Mobile Operations Centre which can be fitted with 3 turrets operated by other players inside the cargo hold. It can be fitted with a bombing bay and can also be equipped with a Vehicle and Weapon Workshop; in case you want to tweak your other vehicles and handheld weaponry with upgrades on the fly.

Standard countermeasures of Chaff, Flare, and Smoke can also be installed, but only the co-pilot can use them.

With everything taken into consideration, the Avenger is a solid weaponized vehicle to consider because of its:

• Behemoth of an armor. The Avenger can take hits from 9 RPGs and 20 Homing Launcher missiles.
• Capacity to carry an entire battalion on board, and space for a wardrobe and gun locker too.
• Autopilot feature that lets you go back in the cargo hold without having to be the pilot anymore.

Avenger full details: https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Avenger_(plane)

4. B-11 Strikeforce

The Strikeforce

Price: GTA$ 3,800,000

It is hard to ignore the detailed resemblance of the B-11 Strikeforce to the A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog; a plane that holds a high status among aviation geeks.

In terms of performance, the in-game version is no different than its real-life counterpart. It’s fast, agile, and equipped with an abundance of lethal weaponry. Flying the B-11 Strikeforce feels effortless, as its handling is well balanced.

The plane comes with Explosive MG, Homing Missiles, a Bombing Bay - you name it. On top of all that, it has the option to be equipped with every ground target’s worst nightmare: Barrage Missiles!

The countermeasures are pretty standard. The B-11 Strikeforce comes with the usual Chaff, Flares, and Smoke.

What makes the B-11 Strikeforce standout in this list is:

• Its profusion of weapon options to annihilate enemies.
• The strongest armor of any fighter jet in the game. It can withstand: 5 Homing Missiles, 5 conventional explosives, and 1 shot from an RPG.
• The most balanced fighter jet, in general.

B-11 Strikeforce full details: https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/B-11_Strikeforce

3. Hydra

The Hydra

Standard Price: GTA$ 3,990,000

Trade Price: GTA$ 3,000,000 (By completing Humane Labs Raid – EMP)

The Hydra is the most powerful fighter jet in GTA Online, and it’s also the most advanced fighter jet in the game. It’s suggestively based on the British Aerospace Harrier II. 

It’s fitted with Cannons and Homing Missiles, but there are no options for countermeasures.

The Hydra is awfully fast, and its handling is very predictable. Because of this, the Hydra becomes a very fun fighter jet to fly. Additionally, it has the ability to VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing). Yes, you heard that right, the Hydra can take-off and land like a helicopter anywhere on the map. 

What makes the Hydra the best fighter jet in the game? Well:

• Its VTOL function allows it to take-off and land without the need for a runway. Plus, it also lets the Hydra hover anywhere, making it extremely advantageous to stop mid-air without the need to land.
• The Cannons and Missiles on the Hydra are very deadly.
• The agility and controls of the Hydra are extremely brisk and simple.
• Its price tag is comparatively affordable.

Hydra full details: https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Hydra

2. Oppressor Mk II

The Oppressor Mk II

Standard Price: GTA$ 3,890,250

Trade Price: GTA$ 2,925,000 (By completing 5 Terrorbyte client jobs)

Love it or hate it, the Oppressor Mk II single handedly twisted the dynamics of going about your day in GTA Online, in a good way for some, and in a bad way for many. An iteration of the hover bike from the movie Looper, the Oppressor Mk II is the most popular choice among griefers and tryhards. Nonetheless, if used with a pinch of sense and wisdom, it’s actually a good flying vehicle to own.

One point to keep in mind is that you need to first own a nightclub and then a Terrorbyte before you can get your hands on the Oppressor Mk-II.

The Oppressor Mk II comes with Machine Guns by default which can be swapped for either an Explosive MG or Homing Missiles. The Homing Missiles are definitely the preferred choice of weaponry to have, but keep in mind that their accuracy got nerfed after the 1.61 update. Hence, making it easier to dodge griefers using them as well.

Standard countermeasures of Flare, Chaff, and Smoke can also be installed.

Aside from the flying and hovering abilities of the Oppressor Mk II, some strong reasons that justify its purchase are:

• Fast and quick form of transportation. It is extremely convenient to use the Oppressor Mk II for completing setup missions for heists and grinding for money, as it also carries a rocket booster.
• It can be spawned right next to you, within seconds, like any personal ground vehicle.
• Taking out enemies, especially NPCs, without much effort.
• Easy to take-off, maneuver, and land. It can be landed anywhere across the map without you having to clench your toes.

Oppressor Mk II full details: https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Oppressor_Mk_II

1. Sparrow

The Sparrow

Price: GTA$ 1,815,000

Hands down, the most lucrative way of earning money in GTA Online is by running the Cayo Perico heist, repeatedly. A vehicle that’s arguably the backbone of doing that is the Sparrow. A light, fast, and agile helicopter that is the best in its class in terms of practicability.

By default, the Sparrow has no weapons, but it can be equipped with either a Minigun or some really useful Homing Missiles. Additionally, after the 1.61 update, you can have standard countermeasures installed as well.

A caveat for getting the Sparrow is that it’s a moon pool vehicle for the Kosatka submarine, meaning you need to purchase the Kosatka first in order to use the Sparrow.

Regardless, doing all the above is undoubtedly worthwhile because:

• Once you purchase the Sparrow, you can spawn it immediately next to you from the interaction menu without having the need to be registered as a CEO.
• The Sparrow’s compact size and responsive controls makes it one of the fastest and most agile helicopters in the game. Even better than the Buzzard.
• The ability to be stored inside the Kosatka makes the Sparrow powerful in terms of escaping enemies and finding shelter out in the sea.
• The extent to which the Sparrow aids in making money off the Cayo Perico Heist makes it a truly powerful purchase.  

Sparrow full details: https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Sparrow

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