How useful are helicopters?

[RogerWho]

I'd like to have a heli but I don't really know what you can do with them.

 

I've never seen anyone using one on a heist or mission so I'm assuming you can't just use them as personal vehicle. So what are they good for apart from messing around in the world?

 

Can you store them somewhere close, like on the roof, or need to call for one every time, or need to drive to it a helipad to get it?

[JuZ 75]

The Buzzard is extremely useful in lots of missions.

[onefast96svt]

^^^ like said above. I order up a buzzard as soon as a crate drop is ready to drop. It's the fastest heli plus has the lock on rockets. The new valkyrie is better for friends that want to serve carnage and the savage is great for you the pilot to get some kills. Both not as fast as the buzzard but great in there own wway. I own them all and use them as needed. I'd start with a buzzard then move up to which next suits you best.

[EF2000]

You can't use your personal helicopters on Heists but in missions they're very useful. 200 dollars for a fast, agile bird with infinite & free guided missiles? Contact Missions become far easier & quicker to do. The Savage is also great: you get far more firepower but at expense of speed, maneuverability & just general ease to operate.

For a new pilot, I'd recommend the Buzzard. For a more experienced one, try the Savage.

[livejoker]

It's a shame, really, as there's a big wave of new players who have no clue what missions are and the ability to use Pegasus on heists has made them..."ignorant" (lack of better word) to what Pegasus does. All they do is heists and only discover the usage of helicopters and other fun stuff between heist calls.

Pegasus is a service that stores vehicles that you can't really store in your own garage like boats, helicopters, planes, military vehicles and other random vehicles thrown in such as a limo/stretch. You can have a PV (personal vehicle) and a Pegasus vehicle on the map at the same time as well as exiting the Pegasus vehicle yet still appearing on the map where you left it. Say, you go on a roof with a helicopter, fall down, die, do something for a bit and realize that helicopter is still up there. After some time it's gonna disappear, Pegasus texting you that they've put it back into storage. Other players can steal it but will have usage of it for a bit of time (unsure how long) until they get a text of Pegasus reclaiming the vehicle and kicking them out of it. This is ideal as you can't call another Pegasus vehicle if someone is using it (this was an issue back in the day).

So yeah, buy a cheap boat or chopper and try the service out. As for choppers themselves? Check around the forum for a thread concerning a helicopter that you're interested in. Always do research before buying as some are expensive.

 

For a new pilot, I'd recommend the Buzzard. For a more experienced one, try the Savage.

I don't want to start an argument but I'll have to disagree. Every chopper can be flown by an experienced and inexperienced pilot. It really depends on what you consider inexperienced. Yes, the buzzard is easier to fly but if OP buys the Savage and spends an hour flying it and seeing its weight and reactions, he can be a good pilot. Not great but enough to fly around in it without hitting trees/buildings. People seem to think the Savage is some monster to be tamed but that's only because it's new. I remember threads when GTA V came out where people had trouble flying planes due to turbulence but we all got used to it, no? I can see a pattern in my mind where people will forget all about the weight of the chopper (but not completely as some people still discuss the cargobob being slow and all).

Go with what you want, RogerWho. As said; do research. Buy a helicopter that fits your needs most of all.

Edited March 23, 2015 by livejoker

[hellfire_cthulhu]

need to call pegasus every time (-200$), the heli is delivered in the nearest helipad. You can´t use a heli for the heists, setup missions and finales. In missions, you can use anyone, just call pegasus. The buzzard is fine, but the savage is superior for missions (harder to fly, but, no reload delay when fire rockets). Also, with the buzzard, the copilot can control the camera and fire rockets, with the savage only the pilot can fire the guns. Buzzard regular minigun, savage explosive minigun (like the hydra or lazer). Both up to 4 players.

[PMB91184]

They're good for contact missions and free roam. It depends on the mission though, as some are quicker in your cars.

[Butterfly57]

Helicopters are very handy vehicles. If you want to buy one then the Buzzard is the way to go (can't comment on the new ones I've not yet tried them, but if you want one you can use solo buzzard all the way).

 

You can't use it in heists, but you can otherwise. Comes in extremely handy in missions - some require a heli so this saves you finding one or calling for heli pickup and killing pilot to get an unarmed heli. I solo many missions in one, earned heaps in the process. Maybe not as fun as going in the traditional way with guns but saves on ammo bills.

 

In free roam? You can find them at airports and merryweather port if your rank is above 42 but calling your own is sure fire way of getting it. Handy for those targets you need to chase and kill.

 

Other helis I wouldn't buy as you can always find one in freeroam to potter about in.

 

You probably won't see many when doing missions with randoms though. I won't bring mine out unless it is a mission that really needs it, I like to fly it solo and too many times a randomer will take it or try to get in and use the rockets. I'm selfish with my trusty buzzard! Other people are just like me, only get them out if necessary.

[L337jonas]

I was going to buy a buzzard, but then a fking homing rocket launcher was available to every player, no more fun for helicopters in Free roam. Jets are the only way to kill some ants on the ground anymore, and they don't cost a thing.

Buzzards do make missions like trash talk a lot easier and cheaper, don't get me wrong but I likedoing those missions on the ground anyways. I'd say don't botherunless youre a dedicated mission grinder. 1.75 million is a lot of money, it'd take you a month of grinding missions with it to even break even.

Edited March 23, 2015 by L337jonas

[RogerWho]

It's a shame, really, as there's a big wave of new players who have no clue what missions are (...) All they do is heists and only discover the usage of helicopters and other fun stuff between heist calls.

Just to explain, first I've tried to play GTAO a few months ago but all everybody seemed to be doing was running around rampaging everyone. The only invites coming in were for races and deathmatches, which I don't do, and being a new low-lever player I couldn't do anything by myself. So I gave up on GTAO completely as it was just a clusterf*ck.

 

It's only after heists came out I gave it a shot again and now it's possible to find people doing coop.

 

Thanks for the explanation. I know what Pegasus is and I've flown most of the helis on occasion. I also call Meryweather (sp?) sometimes on missions.

 

It's just that I don't own one I wasn't sure what you can/can't do. It would be nice if one could store a civilian heli on the rooftop and have it accessible in the same way as the garage, i.e. exit the apartment, select roof helipad, fly away

 

I like helicopter sim games so helis in GTA are just a natural fit for me.

[onefast96svt]

I was going to buy a buzzard, but then a fking homing rocket launcher was available to every player, no more fun for helicopters in Free roam. Jets are the only way to kill some ants on the ground anymore, and they don't cost a thing.

Buzzards do make missions like trash talk a lot easier and cheaper, don't get me wrong but I likedoing those missions on the ground anyways. I'd say don't botherunless youre a dedicated mission grinder. 1.75 million is a lot of money, it'd take you a month of grinding missions with it to even break even.

I beg to differ on "the only way to kill someone is with a jet". My crew mate took out some guys over and over with a savage. He got blown up every 3 or 4 kills. So that's gaining 3 to 1 kdr at least. I think they all have there place.

 

I'm actually going to buy a hydra just because I can get it when I want it and not have to make that long,long drive to the NW side of the map for a free jet that you may or may not get without getting killed or walking away with an injured jet.

[onefast96svt]

 

It's a shame, really, as there's a big wave of new players who have no clue what missions are (...) All they do is heists and only discover the usage of helicopters and other fun stuff between heist calls.

 

Just to explain, first I've tried to play GTAO a few months ago but all everybody seemed to be doing was running around rampaging everyone. The only invites coming in were for races and deathmatches, which I don't do, and being a new low-lever player I couldn't do anything by myself. So I gave up on GTAO completely as it was just a clusterf*ck.

 

It's only after heists came out I gave it a shot again and now it's possible to find people doing coop.

 

Thanks for the explanation. I know what Pegasus is and I've flown most of the helis on occasion. I also call Meryweather (sp?) sometimes on missions.

 

It's just that I don't own one I wasn't sure what you can/can't do. It would be nice if one could store a civilian heli on the rooftop and have it accessible in the same way as the garage, i.e. exit the apartment, select roof helipad, fly away

 

I like helicopter sim games so helis in GTA are just a natural fit for me.

What platform are you on. I don't helping a new player out to online. May even be able to get you in the crew so you'll have more to roll with. I'm on ps4. My name here is the same as my gamer tag. Just add me.

[ktek01]

So many missions that the helicopter makes stupid easy, too many to list. With rockets you spend nothing on ammo for those missions too, just the $200 for Pegasus. Even when you cant use your own you can usually call Merryweather for a helicopter pickup, shoot the pilot and take it. Makes trips all the way across the map much faster.

Edited March 23, 2015 by ktek01

[Hyperglide]

You can use them not only in Free Roam to help you get Targets, kills vs bounties, getting to areas a lot quicker then land vehicles and have a lot easier time to land then a Fixed Wing aircraft. you can also use them on Contact Missions and the Buzzard and Savage are extremely useful in these Missions making some normally difficult OR long ones complete pushovers like Los Santos Connection, Base Invaders, Crystal Clearout, High Priority Case you get the idea.

 

Also your water and aircraft are stored via Pegasus. So when you buy one you just give Pegasus a call and they will ship your vehicle to the next closest Marina Slip or Helipad/Hanger/Runway Strip for you. It will spawn in and you can have it as long as you want. If you get out and leave it for too long though Pegasus will store it again for you free. Just call them again if you want it back. Costs $200 each time for "delivery" costs.

Edited March 24, 2015 by Hyperglide

[Ghost XB]

Buzzards (and other choppers) are extremely useful in many missions, and make almost every mission (most, not all) easier. If you have 1.75 mill or 1.9 mill to spend on a vehicle, get a chopper, they are worth every penny.