The helicopter cheat for GTA V spawns a Buzzard Attack Chopper directly in front of you in Story Mode. On PlayStation the sequence is Circle, Circle, L1, Circle, Circle, Circle, L1, L2, R1, Triangle, Circle, Triangle; on Xbox it is B, B, LB, B, B, B, LB, LT, RB, Y, B, Y; on PC you press the tilde key and type BUZZOFF. There is no cheat for a civilian helicopter such as the Maverick — the Buzzard is the only chopper the cheat system will give you.
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Cheats only function in single-player Story Mode; entering them in GTA Online does nothing and attempting to modify the online game is a bannable offence. Before the full breakdown, here are eight open-world action games worth playing if Los Santos is your kind of playground.
| Game | Platform | Genre | Why It’s Great | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto V | PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One | Open-World Action | Three playable protagonists and the most densely detailed city Rockstar has built | 10/10 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | PC, PS4, Xbox One | Open-World Western | Unmatched world simulation and one of gaming’s great character arcs | 10/10 |
| Just Cause 3 | PC, PS4, Xbox One | Action Sandbox | Grappling hook, wingsuit and helicopters combine into pure physics chaos | 8/10 |
| Saints Row: The Third Remastered | PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One | Open-World Action | The most gleefully absurd take on the open-world crime formula | 8/10 |
| Watch Dogs 2 | PC, PS4, Xbox One | Open-World Action | A vibrant San Francisco with hacking replacing brute force | 8.5/10 |
| Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition | PC, PS4, Xbox One | Open-World Action | Hong Kong setting and the best hand-to-hand combat in the genre | 8.5/10 |
| Mafia: Definitive Edition | PC, PS4, Xbox One | Narrative Crime | A tightly authored 1930s crime story rather than an open sandbox | 8.5/10 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | Open-World RPG | Night City rewards vertical exploration more than any other modern open world | 9/10 |
Every helicopter cheat for GTA V by platform
Rockstar built three separate cheat entry systems into GTA V, and all three deliver the same Buzzard. Use whichever suits your setup, because none is more reliable than the others once you know the quirks.
Controller button sequence on PlayStation and Xbox
On PS5, PS4 and PS3, press Circle, Circle, L1, Circle, Circle, Circle, L1, L2, R1, Triangle, Circle, Triangle in quick succession while on foot in Story Mode. On Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Xbox 360 the equivalent is B, B, LB, B, B, B, LB, LT, RB, Y, B, Y. The inputs must be entered fast — the game gives you a narrow window between presses, and a pause of more than a second or so resets the sequence. If nothing happens, you almost certainly went too slowly rather than pressing the wrong button. Entering the code correctly triggers a short confirmation sound and the Buzzard appears immediately in front of your character.
The PC keyboard version of the helicopter cheat for GTA V
PC players have the easiest route. Press the tilde key, which sits above Tab on most layouts, to open the cheat console, type BUZZOFF and press Enter. On non-US keyboard layouts the console key may instead be the backtick, the section symbol or the key immediately left of the number 1, so try each if the first does not respond. PC entry has no timing pressure at all, which makes it far more forgiving than the console button sequences, and it pairs well with the aiming precision covered in our gaming mouse buying guide. Anyone spending long sessions typing codes will appreciate a keyboard with clean actuation, which our mechanical keyboard buying guide covers in depth.
Using the in-game phone to call in a Buzzard
The third method works identically on every platform and is the one most players end up preferring. Open your character’s mobile phone, go to the keypad and dial 1-999-289-9633, which spells BUZZOFF on a phone keypad. The call connects, the cheat activates and the number is stored in your recent calls list, meaning every subsequent use is a two-tap job rather than a twelve-button sequence. If you use cheats regularly, dialling each one once at the start of a session builds a complete cheat menu inside your call history.
Where the Buzzard will and will not spawn
The chopper needs physical space to materialise. Standing in a narrow alley, inside a building, under an overpass or in dense traffic will cause the cheat to fail silently or drop the helicopter at an awkward angle where it clips and explodes. Move to an open street, a rooftop, a parking lot or a stretch of beach before entering the code. The Buzzard also spawns with its engine off, so you need to climb in and spin the rotors up before taking off. If you have just entered the code and see nothing, walk twenty metres into open ground and try again.
What makes the Buzzard worth spawning
The Buzzard Attack Chopper is not a transport helicopter, it is a light gunship. It carries twin miniguns and a bank of homing missiles, making it the fastest way to clear an area or escape a high wanted level. It is nimble, quick to gain altitude and small enough to land on most rooftops. The trade-off is fragility: it takes damage badly, and a single well-placed rocket from an NPC will bring it down. Pair it with the invincibility cheat and it becomes effectively unstoppable, which is exactly the combination most players reach for. Precise stick control matters here, and our controller buying guide explains why stick drift ruins helicopter handling first.
Combining the helicopter cheat with other GTA V cheats
Cheats stack, so the standard chaos loadout is Buzzard plus invincibility (PAINKILLER on PC, or dial 1-999-724-654-5537), plus max health and armour (TURTLE, 1-999-887-853), plus the full weapons pack (TOOLUP, 1-999-866-587). If you want to arrive rather than take off, the Skyfall cheat drops you into the sky in freefall: SKYFALL on PC, or 1-999-759-3255 by phone, with L1, L2, R1, R2, Left, Right, Left, Right, L1, L2, R1, R2 on PlayStation. Add the parachute cheat first unless you enjoy the alternative outcome.
The important limitations of GTA V cheats
Three rules catch people out. First, cheats do not save — reload your game and every active effect is gone, so timed cheats like invincibility must be re-entered each session. Second, invincibility specifically expires after five minutes and needs re-entering even mid-session. Third, and most significant, using cheats disables achievements and trophies, so if you are chasing a full completion list you should finish that before you start spawning gunships. None of the cheats will corrupt your save or damage your progress; they simply switch off the reward layer while in use.
Finding helicopters without using a cheat
If you would rather keep achievements enabled, GTA V has plenty of fixed helicopter spawn points. Los Santos International Airport has civilian choppers on its helipads, the hospital in East Los Santos frequently has a Maverick on the roof, Vespucci Beach has a helipad near the boulevard, and the military base at Fort Zancudo carries the heavier hardware at the cost of an instant wanted level. Buying the Vinewood or Sandy Shores helipad property with Franklin gives you a permanent spawn you can return to any time. For pilots who want real stick feel, our flight stick buying guide and gaming monitor buying guide are the natural next reads, and long flying sessions benefit from the comfort advice in our gaming chair buying guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the helicopter cheat for GTA V on PS5?
Press Circle, Circle, L1, Circle, Circle, Circle, L1, L2, R1, Triangle, Circle, Triangle quickly while on foot in Story Mode, or dial 1-999-289-9633 on your in-game phone. Both spawn a Buzzard Attack Chopper in front of you, provided there is enough open space for it to appear.
Is there a cheat for a normal helicopter instead of the Buzzard?
No. The Buzzard Attack Chopper is the only helicopter available through the cheat system, and there is no code for a Maverick, Frogger or Cargobob. To get those you need to find them at fixed spawn locations such as the airport, hospital rooftops or purchased helipad properties.
Do GTA V cheats disable trophies and achievements?
Yes, using cheats prevents achievements and trophies from unlocking, which is why completionists usually finish their trophy list before experimenting. Cheats do not damage or corrupt your save file in any way, so you can use them freely once you have the awards you want.
Why is the helicopter cheat not working for me?
The two usual causes are entering the button sequence too slowly on a controller, or standing somewhere with insufficient space for the helicopter to spawn. Move into an open street, rooftop or beach, enter the inputs rapidly, and confirm you are in Story Mode rather than GTA Online, where cheats never function.
