GTA San Andreas: Vertical Bird Walkthrough

GTA San Andreas walkthrough · Return to Los Santos

Steal a Hydra from the military ship, destroy the pursuing jets and sink the spy boats. Learn the thrust-mode control before taking off: hover and forward flight behave very differently.

Mission type
Story mission
Mission contact
Mike Toreno
Starting location
Madd Dogg's Crib, Mulholland
Toreno meets CJ in the mansion recording area
Vertical Bird — GTA San Andreas

Mission walkthrough

  1. Approach the ship quietly

    Use the supplied speedboat to reach the carrier, then swim to the rear access before it closes. Collect or retain the knife and silenced pistol for the interior approach.

  2. Disable the SAM sites

    Move through the ship to the control room and operate the switch. Clearing this defence makes the aircraft theft and escape less dangerous.

  3. Take a Hydra

    Reach the flight deck, enter a jet and lift clear in hover mode. Once you have safe altitude and open space, rotate the thrusters into forward-flight position.

  4. Deal with the pursuing jets

    Use the targeting system to obtain a missile lock before firing. Keep manoeuvring and use countermeasures when needed; do not remain stationary in hover mode while enemy jets line up on you.

  5. Destroy the spy boats

    Fly to the marked vessels and lock onto each target. Make controlled attack passes with room to climb away instead of diving into the water while watching the aiming reticle.

  6. Land at Verdant Meadows

    Return to the airfield, slow down, switch back toward hover mode and lower the gear. Land on the strip and guide the Hydra into the designated hangar.

Key point

A Hydra that will not accelerate normally is often still in hover configuration. Check the thrust orientation before assuming the aircraft is damaged or the mission is stuck.