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| capacity = 2 <small>(pilot and passenger)</small>
| capacity = 2 <small>(pilot and passenger)</small>
| appearances = ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City|GTA Vice City]]''<br>''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas|GTA San Andreas]]''<br>''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories|GTA Vice City Stories]]''
| appearances = ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City|GTA Vice City]]''<br>''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas|GTA San Andreas]]''<br>''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories|GTA Vice City Stories]]''
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|related = [[Dodo Seaplane]]<br>[[Dodo]]}}
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}}
The '''Skimmer''' is a [[Fixed-Wing Aircraft|seaplane]] in ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'', ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' and ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories]]''.
The '''Skimmer''' is a [[Fixed-Wing Aircraft|seaplane]] in ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'', ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' and ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories]]''.
== Design ==
== Design ==
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In all of its appearances, the Skimmer is simply a [[Dodo]] with a pair of large pontoons on the bottom in place of landing gears; the GTA San Andreas rendition further includes reinforcement on the connection between the pontoons and fuselage, as well as harnesses between the pontoons and fuselage and the tailfin. Although seemingly plausible, the design of the Skimmer is somewhat unpractical in real-life given the weight and size of the pontoon in relation of the plane and its power, which makes takeoff more difficult that in the games. Similar seaplanes do exist in real life though, with the [[wp:de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter|de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter]] being the most accurate seaplane the Skimmer is based on.
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In all of its appearances, the Skimmer is simply a [[Dodo]] (based on the Cessna 152) with a pair of large pontoons on the bottom in place of landing gears; the GTA San Andreas rendition further includes reinforcement on the connection between the pontoons and fuselage, as well as harnesses between the pontoons and fuselage and the tailfin.
While able to land on water, the Skimmer in GTA Vice City does not feature any functional doors, resulting in the player getting warped inside the plane when entered. If the player exits the plane, however, they are immediately spawned on top of the plane's wing. This problem was rectified in GTA San Andreas, when the plane's door can be opened, and the player can enter and exit through the doors, a feature only possible with Carl Johnson's ability to [[Swimming|swim]], which [[Tommy Vercetti]] does not have. Similarly, in GTA Vice City Stories, if the player enters the Skimmer, they will be warped.
While able to land on water, the Skimmer in GTA Vice City does not feature any functional doors, resulting in the player getting warped inside the plane when entered. If the player exits the plane, however, they are immediately spawned on top of the plane's wing. This problem was rectified in GTA San Andreas, when the plane's door can be opened, and the player can enter and exit through the doors, a feature only possible with Carl Johnson's ability to [[Swimming|swim]], which [[Tommy Vercetti]] does not have. Similarly, in GTA Vice City Stories, if the player enters the Skimmer, they will be warped.
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* In GTA San Andreas, if you land the plane on a slightly inclined surface or a hill and you exit it, the Skimmer will start to slide downhill and won't stop sliding until something stops it.
* In GTA San Andreas, if you land the plane on a slightly inclined surface or a hill and you exit it, the Skimmer will start to slide downhill and won't stop sliding until something stops it.
* In GTA Vice City's game files, the Skimmer is defined as a boat instead of a plane, possibly because of its ability to float on water. This was also the case with [[GTA III]]'s Dodo, where it was defined as a car. In San Andreas, however, it is defined as a plane.
* In GTA Vice City's game files, the Skimmer is defined as a boat instead of a plane, possibly because of its ability to float on water. This was also the case with [[GTA III]]'s Dodo, where it was defined as a car. In San Andreas, however, it is defined as a plane.
*The Skimmer was originally going to be featured in GTA V, however the plane was taken out of the final version of the game for unknown reasons, with the [[Mammatus]] probably replacing it, since it's a similar plane. The plane can be seen in the [[Grand Theft Auto V/Trailers|first trailer]] for the game.
* Additionally it may be possible for the Skimmer to make a return in a future update. This reason for this is another beta vehicle, the [[Rhapsody]], made a return in the [[I'm Not a Hipster Update]].[[File:E0r6hi.png|thumb|The BETA Skimmer in GTA V.]]
* Additionally it may be possible for the Skimmer to make a return in a future update. This reason for this is another beta vehicle, the [[Rhapsody]], made a return in the [[I'm Not a Hipster Update]].[[File:E0r6hi.png|thumb|The BETA Skimmer in GTA V.]]
*According to the [[carcols|in-game files]] in GTA Vice City, the Skimmer's main colors are ''1 & 3'' (White and Red) the same colors of a Dodo.
*According to the [[carcols|in-game files]] in GTA Vice City, the Skimmer's main colors are ''1 & 3'' (White and Red) the same colors of a Dodo.
*The name of the Skimmer in GTA Vice City's files is "SEAPLANE" instead of Skimmer, probably, its beta name.
*The name of the Skimmer in GTA Vice City's files is "SEAPLANE" instead of Skimmer, probably, its beta name.
*The Skimmmer's texture and appearance in Vice City closely resembles the texture of the [[DeadDodo]], a plane which appears as a scenary prop in both III and Vice City, the main differences are obviously the large pontoons, and a darker texture in the Skimmer.
*The Skimmmer's texture and appearance in Vice City closely resembles the texture of the [[DeadDodo]], a plane which appears as a scenary prop in both III and Vice City, the main differences are obviously the large pontoons, and a darker texture in the Skimmer.
*The Skimmer was originally going to be featured in GTA V, however the plane was taken out of the final version of the game for unknown reasons, with the [[Mammatus]] probably replacing it, since it's a similar plane. The plane can be seen in the [[Grand Theft Auto V/Trailers|first trailer]] for the game.
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*A plane called the [[Dodo Seaplane]] is set to be added to the upcoming current-gen versions of GTA V, and as its name would suggest, it is basically just the Skimmer going by a different name.
In all of its appearances, the Skimmer is simply a Dodo (based on the Cessna 152) with a pair of large pontoons on the bottom in place of landing gears; the GTA San Andreas rendition further includes reinforcement on the connection between the pontoons and fuselage, as well as harnesses between the pontoons and fuselage and the tailfin.
While able to land on water, the Skimmer in GTA Vice City does not feature any functional doors, resulting in the player getting warped inside the plane when entered. If the player exits the plane, however, they are immediately spawned on top of the plane's wing. This problem was rectified in GTA San Andreas, when the plane's door can be opened, and the player can enter and exit through the doors, a feature only possible with Carl Johnson's ability to swim, which Tommy Vercetti does not have. Similarly, in GTA Vice City Stories, if the player enters the Skimmer, they will be warped.
Unlike the Dodo, the Skimmer in GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas may come in a variety of two-tone body colors (as opposed to the same red-and-white color scheme of the Dodo). The Skimmer in GTA Vice City Stories simply comes with an all-grey body color.
GTA Vice City.
GTA San Andreas.
GTA Vice City Stories.
Performance
Aside from its beneficial amphibious nature, the Skimmer's performance in the air is very much similar to the Dodo in that they both have the same sluggish acceleration and poor top speed, owing to a low-power engine. However, the Skimmer has a tendency of stalling easier. This makes the plane only suitable for steady, slow air travel. However, in San Andreas, the Skimmer has 4 propellers instead of the 2 that the Dodo has. This is probably their excuse for why the Skimmer has such similar handling to the Dodo.
In GTA San Andreas, the Skimmer plays the radio CSR 103.9 when entered (unlike most aircraft in the game, which play K-DST instead).
The Skimmer is the only controllable fixed-wing plane in GTA Vice City.
In GTA Vice City, if a Skimmer is flown into a Pay 'n' Spray, nothing will happen, probably because it's a "boat" modified to fly, unlike a Helicopter which will be resprayed and also come out with generic wheels.
In GTA Vice City Stories, the plane can reach incredible heights by taking off at a 45 degree angle.
The name "Skimmer" comes from a family of tropical birds with the same name. Similarly, the term "skimming" can refer to dragging something quickly across the surface of water.
The Skimmer is the only aircraft in GTA Vice City Stories which isn´t featured in any storyline mission or sub-mission.
Since the plane has no functional doors on GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories, if the player enters one while with a wanted level, the cops won't be able to open the door and bust the player on the inside. The cops will simply run against the Skimmer's pontoons without doing anything else.
The Skimmer in GTA San Andreas is the only airplane in the whole game that won't explode if it collides head-on with any solid object. This could be because of its pontoons, which have a solid area that may take up space past the front end of the airplane.
In GTA San Andreas, the propellers of the Skimmer suffer from a visual glitch. When they aren't rotating, they look exactly like the propellers of a Dodo. However, when they start to rotate and pick up speed, they appear wider and with a more rigid, triangular shape, just like the Skimmer from GTA Vice City. This is because the Skimmer's texture files have been handed down from GTA Vice City. This visual glitch is only found on the PS2 version.
In GTA San Andreas, if the player lands the Skimmer upside down in the water, the airplane will sink a few feet, then turn right-side up very quickly, and slowly float to the surface, where it will be driveable again.
In GTA San Andreas, if the player is flying on the water, and then tilts the plane so that only one pontoon is touching the water, mist will still be ejected from both pontoons, even from the one that isn't touching the water.
In GTA San Andreas, if you land the plane on a slightly inclined surface or a hill and you exit it, the Skimmer will start to slide downhill and won't stop sliding until something stops it.
In GTA Vice City's game files, the Skimmer is defined as a boat instead of a plane, possibly because of its ability to float on water. This was also the case with GTA III's Dodo, where it was defined as a car. In San Andreas, however, it is defined as a plane.
Additionally it may be possible for the Skimmer to make a return in a future update. This reason for this is another beta vehicle, the Rhapsody, made a return in the I'm Not a Hipster Update.File:E0r6hi.png
The BETA Skimmer in GTA V.
According to the in-game files in GTA Vice City, the Skimmer's main colors are 1 & 3 (White and Red) the same colors of a Dodo.
The name of the Skimmer in GTA Vice City's files is "SEAPLANE" instead of Skimmer, probably, its beta name.
The Skimmmer's texture and appearance in Vice City closely resembles the texture of the DeadDodo, a plane which appears as a scenary prop in both III and Vice City, the main differences are obviously the large pontoons, and a darker texture in the Skimmer.
The Skimmer was originally going to be featured in GTA V, however the plane was taken out of the final version of the game for unknown reasons, with the Mammatus probably replacing it, since it's a similar plane. The plane can be seen in the first trailer for the game.
A plane called the Dodo Seaplane is set to be added to the upcoming current-gen versions of GTA V, and as its name would suggest, it is basically just the Skimmer going by a different name.
