How to Fly Planes in GTA 5: Step-by-Step Guide

Grand Theft Auto V features a wide variety of aircraft for exploring Los Santos and Blaine County. Airplanes are fixed-wing aircraft that you can fly, purchase, or interact with throughout the game. They differ from helicopters in their controls and flying mechanics, offering a different flight experience compared to helicopters.

The game includes an extensive selection of aircraft ranging from small private planes and stunt aircraft to large commercial jets, cargo planes, and military-grade fighters. Flying planes in GTA 5 requires understanding specific controls and techniques that differ from ground vehicles or helicopters. In this article, we'll explore how you can fly planes and helicopters in GTA V in a step-by-step guide.

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Summary (How to Fly Aircraft in GTA V)

Helicopter Controls:

1. Keyboard: F to enter, W/S for altitude, Numpad 8/5 for forward/backward movement, A/D to turn

2. Controller: RT/R2 to ascend, LT/L2 to descend, left stick for movement, right stick for pitch/rotation

3. No numpad: Hold the left mouse button and move the mouse in the desired direction

Plane Controls:

1. Keyboard: Hold W to accelerate, Numpad 5 to lift nose for takeoff, G to retract landing gear

2. Controller: RT/R2 to accelerate, left stick for pitch/roll, LB/RB (L1/R1) for turning

3. Landing gear: Press L3/LS (controller) or G (keyboard) to toggle

Key Flying Tips:

• Controllers provide smoother flight control than a keyboard for most players

• Helicopters are slower but easier to land than planes

• Practice in open areas before navigating downtown Los Santos

• Takeoff is easy, landing requires patience and practice

Special Aircraft:

• Hydra VTOL modes: Hold G (keyboard) or press right D-pad (controller) to switch between hover and flight modes

• Hover mode offers precise positioning, and flight mode provides high-speed travel

• VTOL controls changed after the Mercenaries update from the original E key

Bottom Line: Controllers beat keyboards for flight control, helicopters are beginner-friendly, and planes offer speed for long-distance travel across San Andreas..

How to Fly Helicopters

Helicopters in GTA 5 require different controls than ground vehicles or planes. The control scheme varies significantly between keyboard users and those with controllers.

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1. Keyboard

1. Press F to enter the helicopter

2. Press W to ascend (go up) - this does not move the helicopter forward

3. Press S to descend (go down) - this does not move the helicopter backward

4. Press Numpad 8 to pitch forward and move the helicopter forward

5. Press Numpad 5 to pitch backward and move the helicopter backward

6. Press A to turn left and D to turn right

7. Press Numpad 4 to roll left (strafe left) and Numpad 6 to roll right (strafe right)

For those without a numpad, hold the left mouse button and move the mouse in the direction you want to go

2. Controller

1. Use the right trigger (RT on Xbox, R2 on PlayStation) to ascend

2. Use the left trigger (LT on Xbox, L2 on PlayStation) to descend

3. Use the left stick for direction and movement

4. Use the right stick to control pitch and rotation

5. Push the left stick forward gently to tilt the helicopter forward and begin moving forward

6. Pull the left stick back to slow down or move backward

Start practicing in less crowded areas before attempting to navigate through downtown Los Santos. Helicopters handle more slowly and smoothly than planes, making them easier to land once you get the hang of the controls.

How to Fly Planes

Flying planes in GTA 5 offers much faster travel across San Andreas compared to ground vehicles, with taking off being relatively easy, but landing requiring patience and practice. Many players find controller flying smoother than keyboard controls, which can feel sensitive and difficult for precise maneuvers.

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1. Keyboard

1. Press F to enter the plane

2. Hold W to accelerate forward on the runway

3. Hold Numpad 5 to lift the plane's nose off the ground for takeoff

4. Press G to retract the landing gear once airborne

5. Use W, A, S, and D to control the plane's direction

6. Use Numpad 4 and 6 to tilt left or right, and Numpad 8 and 5 to tilt up or down

7. For users without a numpad, hold the left mouse button and move the mouse in the direction you want to go

2. Controller

1. Use RT/R2 to accelerate and LT/L2 to brake or reverse

2. Use the left stick for pitch and roll movements

3. Use LB and RB (L1 and R1) for yaw left and right

4. On Xbox, press Y to lift the nose and A to lower it. On PlayStation, use Triangle to lift and X to lower

5. Use X (Xbox) or Square (PlayStation) to rotate left, and B (Xbox) or Circle (PlayStation) to rotate right

6. Press L3/LS to toggle the landing gear up and down

3. Special Cases

The Hydra and other VTOL aircraft have unique dual-mode capabilities. These aircraft can switch between helicopter-like hover mode and traditional airplane flight mode. Originally controlled by pressing E, the VTOL mode switch was changed after the Mercenaries update. Now you hold the landing gear button (G on keyboard) to switch between modes.

On controllers, press right on the D-pad to toggle between hover and flight modes. Hover mode makes the aircraft less maneuverable than helicopters but allows for precise positioning, while flight mode provides high-speed travel capabilities.

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Final Words

Flying aircraft in GTA 5 takes practice but opens up fast travel across the massive map. Helicopters offer precise control and hovering capabilities, while planes provide speed for covering long distances quickly. Controller users generally have smoother flight experiences than keyboard players, though both control schemes work once mastered.

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