This aircraft is excluded from Pegasus Lifestyle Management and must be stored in a personal hangar.”
The Sea Sparrow (also known as the Seasparrow) is a helicopter featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Grand Theft Auto Online, and due to appear in Grand Theft Auto VI.
Description[]
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
The Sea Sparrow was added to Grand Theft Auto Online as part of the Southern San Andreas Super Sport Series update, released on April 17th, 2018, during The Vespucci Job Week event.[3]
Grand Theft Auto VI[]
The Sea Sparrow can briefly be seen flying in the skies above Vice Beach, Vice-Dale County, in the first trailer (0:22).
Design[]
3D Universe[]
The Sea Sparrow is an improved version of the Sparrow and is based on the Bell Model 47 "Sioux". It features pontoons attached to the landing skids and a single greyish color for the fuselage. The vehicle is equipped with a machine gun, which is mounted below its fuselage.
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
The Sea Sparrow returns in Grand Theft Auto Online with a similar design to its 3D Universe iteration. The cabin is derived from the Sikorsky S-300 (formerly Hughes 300 and Schweizer 300), with a few tweaks to it, while retaining the tail setup from the Bell 47. The engine and the middle section are very similar to that of the Aérospatiale Alouette II.
The helicopter has a small and rounded cabin with a framed tail similar to its previous iteration, but has a three-bladed rotor with silver details on the upper surfaces, while the pontoons are located much farther from the aircraft itself, resulting in a larger profile. The same pontoons are similar to the floating portion of the Dinghy, while the side access steps are similar to the Dodo. The interior of the cabin uses the same "Flyer" dial set, with an arrangement similar to the Buzzard and its attack variant. The windows will not shatter after collisions or by being shot at, but bullets will still go through and damage the people inside.
The vehicle features a primary color for the entirety of the aircraft and frames, as well as a secondary color for the pontoons and the vertical fins of the tail.
Unlike its previous iterations, the vehicle does not have any weapon by default, but can be equipped with one via customization, either a Minigun based on a GAU-19 gatling gun or a small missile launcher with four tubes inside.
Performance[]
3D Universe[]
Vehicle[]
In all of its appearances, the Sea Sparrow has the same performance as the Sparrow, but has the ability to land on water (just like the Leviathan). This makes the aircraft a good choice to collect Oysters in GTA San Andreas. On the water, it will be steady and can be accessed easily. The Sea Sparrow has good handling and quick maneuvering, just like its basic counterpart. While on water, the rotors of the Sea Sparrow can spin to full speed instantly.
Similarly to the regular Sparrow, the aircraft is powered by a single piston engine, and shares the engine sound with the Maverick and its variants.
Weaponry[]
The Sea Sparrow also has a .50 caliber machine gun, which is very similar to that of the Hunter, being able to lock on to pedestrians and vehicles within a 45-degree radius, approximately. Due to the high firepower of the gun, it can make short work of groups of enemies and vehicles.
3D Universe Overview[]
| Take-Off Speed (0-60 knots in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh / knots) |
Engine Type | Engine Location | Mass (kg / lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 124 / 200 / 108 | Petrol | N/A | 3000 / 6614 (GTA Vice City & GTA San Andreas)
5000 / 11023 (GTA Vice City Stories) |
| N/A | N/A | Single piston engine, two-bladed rotor | Rear-mid | Cannot be observed |
| Damage | Fire Rate [?] | Range (m / ft) |
Ammo Specifications/ Capacity |
Reload Mechanism | Reload Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 1 | 100 / 328 | 150 | N/A | 100 |
| N/A | ~ 600 RPM | Cannot be determined | Unlimited | N/A | 0.1 second |
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
Vehicle[]
The performance of the Sea Sparrow is very similar to the likes of the Buzzard and Buzzard Attack Chopper, which is expected given its compact, lightweight design. The handling is very nimble, but remains relatively stable, allowing the player to perform quick maneuvers, however it can be noted that the Buzzard seems slightly more stable. When fully upgraded, the Sea Sparrow is barely faster than the Buzzard, reaching about 140 knots at full throttle compared to the 135 knots of the Buzzard. In addition, when flying at full speed, the aircraft will slightly climb, whereas the Buzzard will descend.
The Sea Sparrow is slightly more versatile in that the helicopter can land on water. However, because of its light weight body and the nature of water in the game, the Sea Sparrow tends to float away from the player after landing, more so than the slightly heavier Dodo sea plane. Care should be taken when landing on water, as the helicopter can easily begin to flip upside down if the player comes in to land too fast or quickly, submerging the rotor blades and destroying the helicopter. The design and positioning of the pontoons also provide a smoother landing on most surfaces and greater stability on uneven terrain, albeit having a tendency to slide on steep inclines due to the lack of grip.
The vehicle is powered by a single turboshaft engine, which produces the same rotor sound as most regular helicopters.
Defense[]
In terms of durability, the helicopter remains as vulnerable as other civilian helicopters in the game, including the Maverick and the Frogger, and cannot withstand a single explosion before being destroyed. However, the Sea Sparrow has upgradable armor, allowing it to take up to eighteen rounds from the Heavy Sniper. Just like other helicopters, after taking enough damage, the engine will begin to smoke. After smoking for two minutes and twenty seconds, the aircraft will shut down.
The aircraft is unable to equip countermeasures, but its maneuverability should allow the pilot to avoid most standard homing missiles.
Weaponry[]
The Sea Sparrow can equip a pilot-operated weapon mounted below the cabin, which only one can be installed at once:
- Minigun: The first option is a three-barreled .50 caliber Minigun, which offers the same statistics as the one available for the Havok, with a base damage of 30, a high fire rate of 1,200 rounds per minute and a maximum range of 200 meters, as well as the ability to destroy vehicles instantly upon being damaged enough, ideal for aerial offensive and self-defensive situations.
- Missiles: The second option is a missile launcher, which functions largely similarly to those on aircraft such as the Savage, the FH-1 Hunter and the Akula, having no "reload" cooldown time. When fired in "homing" mode, they are about as accurate as the Buzzard's missiles, losing tracking on a target quite easily and being easily avoided. However, when in "homing off" mode, the missiles will fire at the middle of the crosshair, allowing a skilled pilot to more easily hit targets than with the Buzzard. These missiles have a 300 meter/984 foot lock-on range, can fly for five seconds before detonating, and can travel 540 meters/1772 feet.
GTA Online Overview[]
| Take-Off Speed (0-60 knots in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh / knots) |
Vertical Climb/ Descent Rate (ft/min) |
Engine Type | Engine Location | Mass (kg / lbs) |
Fuel Tank Size (litres) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 99 / 160 / 86 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3500 / 7716 | 100 |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | Single turboshaft engine, three-bladed rotor | Rear-mid | Cannot be observed | Cannot be observed |
| Damage (per shot) [?] |
Fire Rate [?] | Range (m / ft) [?] |
Ammo Specifications/ Capacity |
Reload Mechanism | Reload Speed [?] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 (24) 22.5 |
0.05 (1200 RPM) | 200 / 656.1 | 750 | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | 1200 RPM | 200 / 656.1 | Unlimited | N/A | N/A |
 |
Damage | 30% 30% | |||
| Fire Rate/Speed | 60% 60% | ||||
| Accuracy | 40% 40% | ||||
| Range | 60% 60% | ||||
| Clip Size | 50% 50% | ||||
| Damage (per shot) [?] |
Fire Rate [?] | Range (m / ft) [?] |
Ammo Specifications/ Capacity |
Reload Mechanism | Reload Speed [?] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 2 (30 RPM) | 300 / 984.2 (Lock-on & Weapon) | 1 (20) | N/A | 2 |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | 60 RPM | 300 / 984.2 (Lock-on) 540 / 1771.6 (Weapon) |
4 missiles (unlimited) | N/A | 1 second |
|
Damage | 0% 0% | |||
| Fire Rate/Speed | 0% 0% | ||||
| Accuracy | 10% 10% | ||||
| Range | 100% 100% | ||||
| Clip Size | 1% 1% | ||||
Modifications[]
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
| Category | Modification | Cost | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armor | No Armor | $1,000 | |
| Armor Upgrade 20% | $7,500 | ||
| Armor Upgrade 40% | $12,000 | ||
| Armor Upgrade 60% | $20,000 | ||
| Armor Upgrade 80% | $35,000 | ||
| Armor Upgrade 100% | $50,000 | ||
| Engine | EMS Upgrade, Level 1 | $9,000 | |
| EMS Upgrade, Level 2 | $12,500 | ||
| EMS Upgrade, Level 3 | $18,000 | ||
| EMS Upgrade, Level 4 | $33,500 | ||
| Handling | Stock Handling | $1,000 | |
| Smooth Handling | $20,000 | ||
| Sport Handling | $27,000 | ||
| Race Handling | $35,000 | ||
| Respray | Main article: Vehicle Customization in GTA V/Respray Colors | - | |
| Sell | Sell Vehicle | ||
| Weapons | No Weapon | $700 | |
| Mounted .50 Cal Minigun | $195,000 | ||
| Mounted Homing Missiles | $240,000 | ||
Gallery[]
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
Video[]
Design[]
Version History[]
Prominent Appearances in Gameplay[]
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
- Phnom Penh '86 - Seen being flown by an NPC beside a Sparrow, but not obtainable by the player.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
- The Colonel's Coke - Vic uses a Sea Sparrow to protect Gonzalez from Diaz' men with the help of his men.
- Land, Sea And Air Ace - A Sea Sparrow is the final vehicle used in the side mission.
- Smuggling - A Sea Sparrow may be used as the helicopter which drops the packages for Vic, sometimes it may be replaced by a Maverick or an Armadillo.
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
- Severance (Casino Work) - One of the possible escape vehicles of the croupier will be a Sea Sparrow piloted by an associate, located outside the airport.
- High Society Leak finale - Appears as an optional means of transportation if the player manages to take down Ben Brooks' helicopter before it reached its destination.
Locations[]
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
- Spawns on the back of the Vercetti Estate after collecting 80 hidden packages.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]
- At the south-east end of Sherman Dam, opposite the quay of the dam.
- North of Verdant Meadows, beside a shack and a dock.
- On the helipad in Bayside Marina after the completion of Learning to Fly (sometimes, a Maverick will spawn instead).
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
- Besides the aforementioned mission appearances, the Sea Sparrow cannot be found anywhere in free roam.
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
- Can be purchased from Elitas Travel for $1,815,000, provided the player already owns a Hangar.
- It is classed as a Small vehicle.
Trivia[]
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City[]
- If the player parks the Sea Sparrow inside the Pay 'n' Spray, it will emerge with wheels within the pontoons. The only repair garage big enough to accommodate a Sea Sparrow is the Spray'n'go at Sunshine Autos, therefore it is unclear as to whether this glitch also appears in GTA Vice City Stories.
- The machine gun of the Sea Sparrow sounds like an M-60, while in GTA Vice City Stories, it sounds like a Micro-SMG or a Minigun.
- The Sea Sparrow does not float on swimming pools, as the game treats the water in swimming pools differently to water in the sea.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories[]
- If a player lands the Sea Sparrow on the land and exits the vehicle, the helicopter will not be steady.
- In the game files, the Sea Sparrow is designed to spawn with two color schemes that are identical (-15,-16). Negative color IDs are actually invalid, and the game just reads them as 0 instead. It seems that the chopper instead spawns with a set texture. This is a characteristic shared with the VCN Maverick, the Air Ambulance, the Armadillo, the Little Willie and the Sparrow.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[]
- It is possible to park and save a Sea Sparrow on top of the garage connected to the Mulholland Safehouse. In order to do this, the player must make sure that the entire aircraft is completely on top of the garage (cannot stick out). This is a good way to store a Sea Sparrow earlier on in the game, provided the player can get a Sea Sparrow.
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
- When purchased, the Sea Sparrow will come with a color set reminiscent of the one from 3D Universe, which is not part of the default traffic color sets found on the vehicle.
- Regardless if the vehicle is equipped with a weapon or not, the player is unable to switch to Passive Mode.
See Also[]
- Sparrow - Base version of the helicopter.
- Buzzard Attack Chopper - Another light attack helicopter from The Ballad of Gay Tony and Grand Theft Auto V.
- Hunter - Another attack helicopter from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Grand Theft Auto Online (As the FH-1 Hunter).
- Annihilator - Another attack helicopter from Grand Theft Auto IV, The Lost and Damned, The Ballad of Gay Tony and Grand Theft Auto Online.
- Valkyrie - Another light attack Helicopter from Grand Theft Auto Online that is part of the Heists update.
- Savage - Another attack helicopter from Grand Theft Auto Online that is part of the Heists Update.
- Little Willie - An armed Gyrocopter from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
- Havok - An ultralight helicopter from Grand Theft Auto Online that is part of Smuggler's Run update.
References[]
- ↑
Seen when parked or when another player is flying a Sea Sparrow.
- ↑ Only during High Society Leak/Finale.
- ↑ The Vespucci Job Plus 3 New Vehicles Now Available - Rockstar Newswire
Seen when parked or when another player is flying a Sea Sparrow.
Only during