Vortex

A Vortex in GTA San Andreas.

The Vortex is a hovercraft in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Description

The Vortex is a single-seater drivable hovercraft, capable of moving on land and water, and glide short distances. Steering is difficult because it has a fan with a rudder rather than wheels or a rudder in the water. If it is abandoned in the water it will sink. If it sustains too much damage or is shot too many times, despite its small size, it will also explode quite violently, similar to an aircraft explosion. It is possible to glide the Vortex for a short period of time if the player sends the vehicle flaying off of a high location, and has a good driving skill.

It is also used for two tests in Boat School, which can be accessed in Bayside Marina.

Variants with unique colors

The two special Vortex's from "Cut Throat Business"; the white Vortex is driven by the player and Madd Dogg, while the black-and-white Vortex is driven by OG Loc.

Three Vortexs' with unique color schemes can be found during "Cut Throat Business". Two of them, which are used by the player and Madd Dogg to chase OG Loc, are all-white, while the third Vortex is black with a white stripe. The player can only store any Vortex's in a garage by failing the mission, as the chase eventually switches to a Kart chase at a pier, forcing the player to abandon the hovercrafts. In addition, while it is possible for the player to use any of the hovercrafts to chase OG Loc while he is on a Kart, the player will ultimately lose the vehicle upon completion of the mission.

The white Vortex is more easily attainable, requiring the player simply ignore the instruction to chase OG Loc at any point of the hovercraft chase, failing the mission and gaining full control of the vehicle. OG Loc's hovercraft is attainable after he ditches the vehicle at the pier, and also requires the player cease to pursue him and fail the mission. Another method involves simply having to kill Madd Dogg in the beginning of the pursuit before OG Loc is out of sight to gain access to any one of the three hovercrafts.

Trivia

• According to the game's files, the Vortex is considered an aircraft rather than a boat or a car. Because of this, the player would get attacked by SAM missiles for driving it near Area 69, and Hydras will attempt to shoot the player down at a four-star wanted level. Additionally, regular Police Mavericks will not shoot the player.
• The Vortex plays Radio X by default when entered.
• In the PS2 version of San Andreas, exiting a Vortex while going at high speed will freeze the game. This may be explained by either the lack of code for the "exiting animation while running at high speed", or by how the game handles the Vortex (it is considered to be an aircraft)

Locations

Like the Kart, the Vortex will only spawn in specific locations after the mission "Cut Throat Business", appearing the following locations:

• The Panopticon, northeast Red County in a shed
• On a pier at the end of a short river in Marina, Los Santos (beside a Gang Tag)
• On a small beach in Tierra Robada, under entrance to Bayside Tunnel (Will roll down the hill for a short time, and come to a halt in the water. This is referred to as the "Ghost Vortex". See The Myths Section for details).
• Inside the aircraft carrier in Easter Basin Naval Station, San Fierro
• Available at Easter Basin docks for importing after third list completion for $20,800 on Sunday
• At the Pirates In Men's Pants casino, The Strip, Las Venturas
• On a jetty near Valle Ocultado (near a unique stunt jump)

The vehicle can also be spawned using a cheat code.

See also

• Bovver '64, GTA Vice City Stories equivalent.