There are plenty of different ways you can get around in GTA V. Cars are always the popular choice, and the game does spoil fans with the amount of variety they offer in that area. But there’s an even more exciting way to get around Los Santos: by plane.
GTA V has plenty of different kinds of planes for you to try out, but if it’s speed that’s on your mind you’ll want to avoid some of the novelty aircraft and go straight to the big guns. There are plenty of incredibly fast planes in the game, and though some of these can be pretty tough to handle, they’ll get you to where you want to go in the blink of an eye. Here are the 10 fastest planes in GTA V, ranked.
Updated on April 10th 2021, by Adriano Valente: Flying continues to be one of the most favored ways of getting around San Andreas for GTA V fans. Aside from being incredibly efficient, hopping into a plane offers players beautiful vistas and the freedom of an open, clear sky in which they can do whatever they please – so long as they can maintain control of their vehicle. As is the case with most vehicles in GTA, players prioritize speed over anything else. With so many planes to choose from, there’s potential for players to get up to all sorts of mischief in a variety of aircrafts. GTA Online has added a number of new, quick planes players can use to zip through the skies of San Andreas which should only make things more chaotic in online play.
15 Buckingham Vestra
The Buckingham Vestra is a compact little plane that’s way quicker than it may seem at first glance. This little Jet was introduced as part of the Business Update and only seats two – so it’s not the best option for those looking to bring around more than one friend.
At nearly $1,000,000 the Vestra can be a bit pricey. Its max speed of 100 makes the price tag all the more bearable though. That said, it doesn’t have much going on in terms of acceleration, and can be a little tough to handle at times.
14 Western Besra
The Western Besra isn’t for novice pilots, that’s for sure. This jet can pick up incredible amounts of speed and has high acceleration to boot. Released as part of the San Andreas Flight School update, the Besra is something speed demons will certainly have fun with.
You can’t fit any passengers in here, so enjoy the solitude and the thrill of going at unfathomable speeds in open sky with this military jet. It’s a little expensive, but all of these are pretty much going to cost you an arm and a leg anyways.
13 Buckingham Nimbus
Yet another private jet finds its way on the rankings, this time one introduced in the Further Adventures in Finance and Felony Update. The Buckingham Nimbus will cost you nearly $2,000,000 if you’re willing to drop that much on it – but given how crazy fast this thing is you probably will be.
The Nimbus is incredibly fast, and accelerates with relative ease. That makes handling pretty tough, so you’ll need to get acclimated to it first – or at the very least don’t try and pull off anything too crazy while you’re up there.
12 RO-86 Alkonost
As much as players favor speed, there’s something to be said about a plane that can zip through the sky and look good doing it too. The RO-86 Alkonost was introduced with the Cayo Perico Heist update and is based on both the Russian Tupolev Tu-160 and the American Rockwell B-1 Lancer.
The massive bomber is sold by Warstock Cache & Carry at a whopping $4,350,000. That’s quite a steep price to pay, but with all the weaponry available alongside a top speed of about 174.92 mph, it’s more than worth it.
11 LF-22 Starling
The LF-22 Starling was added to GTA Online as part of the Smuggler’s Run update on August 29th, 2017 and its design is based on the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet. Though not initially the fastest plane in the game, the LF-22 comes with a great burst of acceleration which makes it ideal for wearing out and slipping away from pursuers.
Warstock Cache & Carry sells this attack plane for $3,657,500. That’s a fairly reasonable price when compared to other vehicles on this list, especially when you take into account the Rogue’s top speed of 187.75 mph.
10 Buckingham Alpha-Z1
The Smuggler’s Run update truly did add in some amazing planes to the GTA Online roster. The Alpha-Z1 was introduced on the same day as the LF-22 Starling, but outdoes it in a number of ways.
Players can purchase it from Elitás Travel, though they will have to swallow its $2,121,350 price tag before doing so. With a top speed of roughly 201.50 mph, the Alpha-Z1 is deceptively fast and agile in the air.
9 Buckingham Howard NX-25
Yet another plane introduced as part of the Smuggler’s Run update, the Buckingham Howard NX-25 was added to GTA Online on September 26th, 2017 and is based on the 1935 Hughes H-1 Racer. Though its speed and acceleration are lackluster compared to other planes available, the NX-25 is still one of the most stylish and quickest rides you can get in the sky.
As is to be expected, Elitás Travel sells the vehicle at an exorbitant price. Though it’s less expensive than the Alpha-Z1, the NX-25 will cost players $1,296,750. With a top speed of roughly 203.75 mph, it’s not hard to imagine why players are willing to spend so much on it.
8 Buckingham Pyro
The Pyro just looks like bad news, and that’s what makes it so fun to mess around with. Released as part of the Smuggler’s Run update, the Pyro is plenty of fun to kill some time with, whether you’re using it to zip around Los Santos, or just shooting off missiles.
At over $4,000,000 it’s easily the most expensive plane on this list so far. But its incredible speed and acceleration make it well worth the hefty price tag.
7 P-45 Nokota
Another part of the Smuggler’s Run Update, the P-45 Nokota can cause some real havoc. As you probably guessed given its rather compact design, the P-45 only seats one. It’s one of the lighter planes on this list, and while that does wonders for its speed and acceleration, it makes handling and braking somewhat tricky.
The Nokota isn’t that bad in terms of pricing, though it’s still one of the more expensive planes on the list so far. As great as this plane is, you haven’t seen anything yet.
6 V-65 Molotok
Same update, same capacity, different plane. The V-65 Moltok is yet another super fast, super deadly military plane that has some offensive capabilities you’ll definitely want to make use of. Just look at it; that’s a plane that can pick-up some speed.
The V-65 has some great max speed and acceleration but can be pretty tough to handle at times. Equipped with both heavy missiles and machine guns, the V-65 should be your go to next time you and your friends decide to get into a dogfight.
5 Western Company Seabreeze
The Seabreeze marks the first and only amphibious plane on this list. But don’t let that throw you off, as this plane is actually one of the fastest in the game. The Seabreeze offers good handling and some pretty solid acceleration as well.
Getting the Seabreeze to go isn’t an issue. But getting it to stop can be fairly tough for players expecting to stick an easy landing. Still, while it’s in the air it’s one of the best you can have.
4 Western Company Rogue
This next plane is perfect for you if you’re a military enthusiast, and want to ride in something with throwback appeal. The Rogue may not look like it, but it possesses some pretty nasty speed while offering players some fairly decent handling.
The Rogue can fit a pilot and co-pilot, and given how fun and effective it is in the sky comes at a reasonably cheap price.
3 B-11 Strikeforce
The B-11 Strikeforce is a jet that just looks fast. It delivers on that, and proves to be one of the most enjoyable rides in all of GTA V.
The B-11 was added in as part of the After Hours Update, and though it’s not all that easy to handle, is plenty quick and can reach top speed in seconds. If that isn’t enough to sell you on it, just take a look at the many offensive capabilities the plane has. Either way, it’s a fun time.
2 JoBuilt P-996 LAZER
LAZER pretty much says it all for this next entry. Tough to handle but incredibly fast, the LAZER is one of those vehicles everyone wants to buy – but loathes having to save up for. Coming in at over $6,000,000 the LAZER is the most expensive item on this list.
This military jet isn’t just for speed aficionados though, and most who get their hands on one will likely make use of its various offensive capabilities. The mixture of speed and firepower really make it one of the best all around vehicles in the game.
1 Mammoth Hydra
When it comes to speed, attack jets have the most noticeable advantage in the sky. The Mammoth Hydra stands out as one of the most desirable vehicles in the game, thanks in part to its speed but also due to its attack power.
Players can get their hands on a Hydra by buying it from Warstock Cache & Carry, which sells it for a cool $3,990,000. Reaching a top speed of 209.25 mph, the Hydra can easily outrun and outmaneuver most of the other planes in the game. The fact that it comes with missiles is just a massive bonus.