On Parade GTA 5 Mission Guide

On Parade is one of GTA Online's more demanding missions - not because it's complicated, but because it throws a lot at you back to back without much room to breathe. You're flying a jet you've never touched before, threading through air defenses, pulling off scored maneuvers, blasting AR targets, and then dogfighting a full Merryweather air squadron. All in one go.

Before you can start the mission, you’ll need the Avenger with an Operations Terminal, so make sure you’re already at that point, or get a GTA 5 account that is.

It's the third mission in the Project Overthrow storyline, added with the San Andreas Mercenaries DLC. If you've been bounced out of it a few times already, here's exactly what you need to get through it clean.

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Summary - On Parade GTA 5

• Part of the Project Overthrow series in the San Andreas Mercenaries DLC

• You need a fully equipped Avenger

• Use stealth mode to get through Raton Canyon

• Score 15 points in the maneuver section

• The Merryweather fight escalates

• Use VTOL mode to hover and pick off the Avengers

• Completing the mission unlocks the F-160 Raiju trade price

How to Start On Parade

On Parade isn't accessible from the open world directly. To start it, you need to own an Avenger and have it fully equipped - that means the Operations Terminal upgrade installed. Once that's done, head to the Operations Terminal inside your Avenger and launch the mission from there.

You'll also need to have completed the two previous Project Overthrow missions - Reporting for Duty and Falling In - before On Parade unlocks. If the mission isn't showing up, that's the most likely reason.

Once launched, the mission drops you at the hangars at Fort Zancudo, where the F-160 Raiju is waiting.

Mission Rewards

The main reason to push through On Parade is the F-160 Raiju trade price. Completing the mission unlocks a discounted purchase price of $5,141,250 on Warstock Cache & Carry, compared to the standard price of $6,855,000.

That's a saving of around $1.7 million - significant for one of GTA Online's most capable fighter jets. Completing On Parade also unlocks Breaking Ranks, the next mission in the Project Overthrow series.

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On Parade Full Walkthrough

The mission runs in two distinct halves - a flight test that eases you into the F-160's mechanics, and then a full Merryweather ambush that puts everything you just learned to use. Here's how to get through each phase.

Step 1: Board the F-160 Raiju

Head to the marked hangar at Fort Zancudo and get into the F-160 Raiju. Charlie Reed will brief you over comms - this is officially a flight test for a prospective client, so you're meant to be showing off the jet's capabilities. Things go sideways from there, but that's the setup.

Take off and get familiar with the controls before you hit the canyon. The F-160 is fast and responsive, but if you're not used to fighter jets in GTA, give yourself a moment.

Step 2: Fly Through Raton Canyon in Stealth Mode

This is where a lot of players run into trouble on their first attempt. Before you enter Raton Canyon, you need to activate the F-160's stealth mode - on controller, that's a tap right on the d-pad. If you fly through without stealth, Merryweather's air defense systems will light you up immediately.

Once stealth is active, fly through the canyon at a controlled pace. Don't rush it. The stealth systems will keep you off their radar as long as you stay in stealth mode throughout. Get through clean, and you're in the next phase.

Step 3: Perform Flight Maneuvers

After the canyon, you need to head to Sandy Shores Airfield and perform flight maneuvers to score 15 points. This is a scored section - different maneuvers give different point values, but repeating the same move awards fewer points each time.

The most efficient approach is barrel rolls. The first barrel roll gives you 3 points, and each subsequent one gives 1 point. That means you can hit 15 points with a first roll plus twelve more. Loops and dives also score points; they’re just a bit slower to do so. Don't overthink it - just keep moving, and the 15 comes quickly enough.

Step 4: Destroy AR Targets

Once you've hit the point threshold, AR training kicks in. Colored targets appear in the sky around Sandy Shores, and you need to shoot them down within the time limit. Different colored targets give different point values - higher value targets are worth prioritizing, but the main goal here is just to get familiar with the combat before they throw an army at you.

If you're still getting a feel for the jet, this is a good section to practice with the guns before the real fight starts.

Step 5: Fight Off Merryweather

This is the real mission. As you head back to Fort Zancudo, Merryweather intercepts you, and things escalate in waves:

Buzzard Attack Choppers arrive first - these are the easiest to deal with. They're far slower and less maneuverable than the F-160, so stay aggressive and pick them off quickly before the next wave.

More Buzzards, along with P-996 LAZERs, come next. Keep in mind that the LAZERs are much faster and more dangerous. If you’re having trouble aiming, try switching to first-person view here - it gives you a much cleaner view and makes hitting them significantly easier for some players.

Avengers arrive last - one or two, depending on difficulty. This is the toughest part - they have a lot of health, and trying to properly dogfight them burns a lot of time.

The best approach for the Avengers is to use the F-160's VTOL mode. Switch to VTOL, hover, and focus your fire. It lets you hold position and concentrate damage rather than chasing them in circles. Make sure you take out any remaining LAZERs first, so you're not splitting attention.

One quirk to be aware of: the Avengers have a broken altitude check, meaning they'll sometimes fly straight into terrain trying to follow you. If you fly low over Vinewood Hills, they may crash on their own. It's not particularly reliable, but it’s worth a shot if you’re desperate or if you just think it’d be funny.

Step 6: Return to Fort Zancudo

Once all Merryweather aircraft are down, Charlie will tell you to bring the F-160 back to Fort Zancudo. Head to the marked landing spot and put it down clean. Mission complete!

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Tips & Tricks

• Use a controller if you’re not used to mouse and keyboard piloting. While it works well enough, the precision flying and trick inputs can feel awkward compared to a controller.

• Try using first-person for combat. Switching to first-person view during the Merryweather fight gives you a better targeting view and makes it easier to land shots on fast-moving jets.

• VTOL for the Avengers. Don't try to dogfight them conventionally as they’re really tanky. Hover in VTOL mode, line them up, and unload. If they’re moving away too fast for your hover, toggle between forward and VTOL flight to stay on their tail.

• Don't skip the small planes. When the Avengers arrive, take out any remaining Buzzards or LAZERs first. Splitting attention between fast jets and tanky VTOLs at the same time is where players tend to start losing lives.

• Lower the difficulty if needed. There's no shame in dropping the difficulty to get through it the first time. The reward - the F-160 trade price - unlocks regardless of difficulty setting.

• Bring a friend. On Parade supports co-op; having a second pilot splits the pressure significantly and makes the mission much more manageable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is On Parade a GTA 5 story mode mission?

A: No - it's a GTA Online mission added with the San Andreas Mercenaries DLC in 2023. It's part of the Project Overthrow storyline, which follows a series of operations centered around the Mammoth Avenger.

Q: Can you fail On Parade by losing the F-160?

A: Yes - if the F-160 Raiju is destroyed, you fail the mission. Keep an eye on the jet's health during the Merryweather fight and don't take unnecessary hits while chasing down targets.

Q: Does difficulty affect the reward?

A: No. The F-160 Raiju trade price unlocks regardless of which difficulty you play on, so there's no penalty for dropping it down if you're struggling.

Q: Can you do On Parade solo?

A: Yes, it's completable solo, but the Merryweather wave is noticeably harder without a second pilot splitting the pressure. If you're finding the final fight too hectic alone, teaming up makes a real difference.

Q: What mission comes after On Parade?

A: Completing On Parade unlocks Breaking Ranks, the next mission in the Project Overthrow series.

Q: Is the F-160 Raiju worth buying?

A: It's one of the stronger jets in GTA Online - fast, agile, and equipped with stealth. At the trade price, it's a solid pick for players who spend time in aerial combat or want a capable personal aircraft.

Conclusion

On Parade is a solid mission once you know what to expect from each phase. The stealth run through Raton Canyon is straightforward if you remember to activate stealth mode, the maneuver section is quick with barrel rolls, and the Merryweather fight is manageable as long as you clear the smaller aircraft before focusing on the Avengers.

Get through it, and the F-160 Raiju trade price makes the whole thing worthwhile - it's one of the better jets in GTA Online, and nearly $1.7 million off is hard to argue with.

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