The Western Besra is a military trainer jet featured in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online as part of the San Andreas Flight School Update.
Influence
Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online
The Besra draws heavy inspiration from the Aero L-39 Albatros single-engine jet trainer in its overall design, incorporating elements from various military jet trainer aircraft. Its midsection and empennage bear resemblance to those of the Aermacchi MB-339, with the exception of the vertical stabilizer, which is retained from the L-39 Albatros. The midsection also resembles the Northrop T-38 Talon. The side intakes seem to be either taken from the Soko G-2 Galeb, the IAR 99, or the Northrop F-20 Tigershark. Additionally, it also somewhat resembles the McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk, BAE Systems Hawk, CASA C-101, Soko G-4 Super Galeb, and Hongdu JL-8 jet trainers.
Design
Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online
The Besra is depicted with a similar profile to the P-996 LAZER, having a sharp nose with a long canopy that swings forward, as well as dual hatches on the underside for the nose landing gear. On the middle section, the aircraft features dual intakes on either side and house the main wings with the corresponding ailerons and airbrakes, while the underside features two hatches for the main landing gear. Towards the tail boom/empennage, there is an elevated section that follows the shape of the cabin canopy and leads towards the vertical stabilizer, while the horizontal stabilizers and the small fins are seen on either side of the tail. Like the P-996 LAZER, the Besra is fitted with an ejection seat that will propel the pilot upwards and away from the aircraft when exiting in mid-flight. However, the seat does not get ejected along with the player.
The interior of the aircraft is similar to that of the P-996 LAZER, being a compact instrument panel with switches and green screens. In the enhanced version, it uses the same "Lazer" dial set from the aforementioned vehicle, having animated displays on the screens and basic dials seen on most civilian aircraft.
The aircraft is seen in a light grey primary color with a limited variety of secondary colors applied on the nose, the central portion between the nose and the canopy, and the tips of the wings and stabilizers. The aircraft features various markings around it, being an identification number "22" on either side of the nose and star emblems on the wings and vertical stabilizer. The light grey and black variation may appear with a green camo livery wrapping most of the aircraft, leaving the lower surfaces and the secondary-colored portions intact. It uses a set of industrial wheels similar to the ones from vehicles like the Mule, the Benson and the Phantom.
Current Design Gallery
Performance
Grand Theft Auto V and Online
In general, the Besra possesses excellent speed and maneuverability. The plane's top speed is extremely fast, making it the third fastest vehicle in the game (only below that of the LAZER), but still having a higher acceleration in comparison (the highest of the game), being able to take off much faster. Thanks to a short wingspan and light fuselage, it has an incredibly responsive handling, as the player is able to execute many aerobatic stunts with ease. The plane's controls are very sensitive and precise. The Besra can slow down rapidly, and can take-off/land on short ranges, which makes this aircraft very good to land on roads. Like the LAZER, the Besra is particularly nose-heavy, which makes gliding in the event of engine failure nearly impossible. Care should be taken when on the ground, as sharp turns may tilt the aircraft to a side, risking the chance of hitting an obstacle and damaging the plane in the process.
The Besra is powered by a single turbojet engine, which has an afterburner like the P-996 LAZER, and as such, blue exhaust plumes can be seen shooting out of the airplane's exhaust.
GTA V and 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 | 204.2 / 328.6 / 177.4 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 8000 / 17637 | 65 |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 3.2 Seconds | 144 / 232 / 125 (Landing Gear Down) 150 / 241 / 130 (Landing Gear Up) |
N/A | Single turbojet engine w/ afterburner | Middle/Rear | Cannot be observed | Cannot be observed |
Rockstar Games Social Club
Grand Theft Auto V and Online
Modifications
Grand Theft Auto Online
Upon being converted into a personal aircraft, the Besra can be repainted with a primary color but strangely, the secondary color cannot be changed, therefore requiring more than a single attempt to request a Besra with the desired color on Pegasus. The camo livery and the markings cannot be removed, although the livery may get affected by the color effect (i.e. matte renders it more opaque, while classic and metallic colors may render it shinier).
| Category | Modification |
|---|---|
| Respray | Main article: Vehicle Customization in GTA V/Respray Colors |
| Remove | Remove Aircraft |
Gallery
Grand Theft Auto V and Online
Locations
Grand Theft Auto V
- Original version
- Available in the protagonists' hangars upon downloading the update.
- Enhanced version
- 3 can be found flying in formation around Fort Zancudo and through Lago Zancudo.
- Two spawn points within Fort Zancudo: one can be found in front of a hangars at the western end of Fort Zancudo next to a Buzzard Attack Chopper, another can be found next to a P-996 LAZER outside a larger hangar.
- Can be purchased on Elitás Travel for $658,000.
Grand Theft Auto Online
- Can be purchased for $1,150,000 on Elitás Travel, and will be available through Pegasus Lifestyle Management.
- In the enhanced version, it is classed as a Small aircraft when stored inside a Hangar.
Trivia
General
- The aircraft's name comes from the besra, a bird of prey native to Eastern and Southeastern Asia. Many aircraft in real-life are also named after birds such as the falcon.
Grand Theft Auto V and Online
- Despite the fact that the Besra has no weaponry, a jet aiming HUD is present on the control panel inside the cockpit. This is most likely a developer's oversight as the result of the Besra's control panel being reused from the LAZER's. It could also indicate that the Besra is a lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT), an advanced trainer aircraft that has some degree of combat capability.
- The number 22 at the front of the cockpit has a slightly faulty texturing, rarely noticeable when changing camera view on the turf of the Los Santos International Airport, with the runway lights making it disappear.
- Unlike the LAZER, it is possible to look backwards on the hood view (X360/PS3).
- When the Besra is selected from Trevor Philips's hangar, it will spawn outside, on the left side of the runway. The same happens with the Miljet. This occurs because both aircraft are too big to fit into the hangar.
See Also
- P-996 LAZER - A military multi-role fighter jet featured in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online.
- Hydra - A military VTOL fighter jet featured in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and GTA Online as part of the Heists update.
- V-65 Molotok - A Korean War-era jet fighter included in the Smuggler's Run update for GTA Online.
- Pyro - A WWII-era jet fighter included in the Smuggler's Run update for GTA Online.
- LF-22 Starling - A WWII-era rocket-powered fighter plane included in the Smuggler's Run update for GTA Online.
- P-45 Nokota - A WWII-era fighter plane included in the Smuggler's Run update for GTA Online.
- Rogue - A single-prop military trainer plane that can be repurposed as an attack plane, included in the Smuggler's Run update for GTA Online.
- Rustler - A WWII-era fighter plane featured in GTA: San Andreas.
- Vulkan - A cut military VTOL fighter jet that was to appear in GTA V. It shares its physical appearance and performance with the Hydra.