The Atomic Blimp is a blimp featured in Grand Theft Auto V.
Description[]
It is the first controllable blimp in the series, and the second one featured in Grand Theft Auto, after The Gash Blimp. It can be seen flying over Los Santos, and it is also available to fly for those who pre-ordered the game or have Special/Collector's Editions or the enhanced version. It can be used by calling the blimp contact on the phone and then going to the location in which it spawned.
Influence[]
The Atomic Blimp is modeled after the Goodyear GZ-20 blimp, manufactured by Goodyear Aerospace, the aviation division of the Goodyear tire company. This blimp closely resembles its real-world equivalent, adorned with Atomic branding that is strikingly similar to that of the Goodyear blimp. The gondola and landing gear appear to be derived from the American Blimp A-170, while the fins exhibit a more angular design that is reminiscent of the Airship Industries Skyship 600.
Design[]
As expected from a vehicle of its type, the Blimp is basically composed of the flotation unit and a small cabin with four doors, a tricycle landing gear undercarriage and two engines. Like most aircraft, it features two large control yokes and a flight deck with the same features for both sides.
Current Design Gallery[]
Performance[]
Grand Theft Auto V[]
Despite being a blimp, it is quicker and more agile than the vehicle type suggests. Its handling is comparable to that of a helicopter. It has good maneuverability and modest acceleration, and it has very little turbulence in-flight, making it a very good choice for flying around San Andreas. The Atomic Blimp, despite being considered an airplane, shares the same control setup and flight style as a helicopter. When pressing 
(PS3) or 
(Xbox 360), the engine speed increases. But interestingly, instead of what should technically happen (which would be the blimp moving forward), it actually climbs vertically.
The Blimp, however, is very weak. Simply bumping into a building or a car will cause the Blimp to explode. Extra care must be taken when piloting it. Bullets will also do short work of it, especially if shooting the blimp five times with the Heavy Sniper from any distance.
GTA V 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 | 12000 / 26455 | 100 |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | Twin 2-bladed propellers | Side-mounted | Cannot be observed | Cannot be observed |
Rockstar Games Social Club[]
Grand Theft Auto V[]
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Locations[]
Grand Theft Auto V[]
- Can be ordered on a special in-game app after completing Franklin's intro mission. Has to be picked up at the location given on the map. These locations are the Vinewood Racetrack and Los Santos International Airport (on consoles).
- NPC-controlled Blimps can be hijacked by landing on the top of it, and pressing Y/Triangle. This feature is only available to players who pre-ordered the game on Xbox 360/PS3, or for returning players on Xbox One/PS4/PC.
- Initially, access to the Blimp was only offered to those who redeemed a code published in first-run copies or in the official game strategy guide for Grand Theft Auto V. The enhanced version has the blimp available by default.
Trivia[]
Grand Theft Auto V[]
- Unlike most vehicles, the blimp will remain afloat if crashed into the water.
- When shooting out the pilot, it will play the same sound as the helicopter sound (when falling from driver death), and will interestingly start to turn to the left when going down, similar to how the helicopter will spin out of control when there is no pilot.
- Despite the wreckage of the blimp holding some of its shape, the nose is visually separated from the middle section of the wrecked frame, giving the impression that the front part is floating.
- If Trevor Philips sends a picture of a dead animal while hunting to the blimp contact, the contact will respond as if they were Cletus Ewing.
Oversights[]
Grand Theft Auto V[]
- The blimp will be parked in a weird position if the player lands it in the parking lot of the Los Santos Country Club and plays golf.
See Also[]
- The Gash Blimp - An unobtainable blimp in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
- Xero Blimp - Another blimp in the enhanced version of Grand Theft Auto V.
- Blimp - A blimp in Grand Theft Auto Online.