The Air Ambulance is an emergency helicopter in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. As the name implies, it is a medical rescue helicopter, being the aerial equivalent of the Ambulance.
Design
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
The Air Ambulance is similar in design to the Bell 412, therefore being the medical counterpart of the Armadillo, another emergency helicopter. The Air Ambulance comes in a white and red livery, with the medical markings on it.
The Air Ambulance can be used to activate the Air Rescue side missions, the airborne equivalent of the Ambulance's Paramedic side mission. Completion of the side mission will boast the player's maximum health.
During development of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the Air Ambulance originally developed as a Coastguard Maverick, but was re-designed after the Coastguard Maverick was cut. [citation/verification needed]
Performance
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Like the Armadillo, the Air Ambulance is a relatively large helicopter that nevertheless possesses relatively good speed, with moderately steep pitches that help increase its acceleration at the expense of losing altitude faster
GTA Vice City Stories Overview
| Take-Off Speed (0-60 knots in Seconds) | Top Speed (mph / kmh / knots) | Engine Type | Engine Location | Mass (kg / lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | Twin turboshaft engines, 4-bladed rotor | Middle/Side-mounted | Cannot be observed |
Locations
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
- On the helipad behind Ocean View Hospital, Ocean Beach, after the mission "From Zero To Hero"
- On the roof of Schuman Health Care Center, Downtown, after the mission "From Zero To Hero".
Trivia
- Both sides of the Air Ambulance's nose bear cursively written text. Due to the poor quality of its texture, the words are somewhat hard to identify.
- "VCS - 911" is also written on both sides of the helicopter at the turbine engines. 911 is clearly referring to the main emergency number in the United States, and the "VCS" is short for Vice City Stories.
- Unlike the Armadillo, the Air Ambulance has the same door sound as the low-grade cars, only with a higher pitch.
- In the PS2 version, the Air Ambulance features a radio, unlike in the PSP version.
See Also
- Police Maverick - A vehicle which, in Grand Theft Auto V, holds an Air Ambulance variant under the name "Police Maverick".
- Armadillo - A similar helicopter, which shares the same body design as the Air Ambulance in Vice City Stories.
- The Police Helicopter and Helicopter in Grand Theft Auto III, also based on a Bell 412.
- Raindance - A medical rescue helicopter in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
