Skylift is a massive civilian transport heavy-lift helicopter, an air crane, engineered and manufactured by a non-existing in the real world in-game company HVY, which is specialized in producing heavy, industrial vehicles, and it is based oo Caterpillar Inc. and Oshkosh Corporation.
HVY Skylift is the biggest helicopter in the Grand Theft Auto game series, there is no match to it when it comes to a size. The most distinctive feature of the helicopter in it's design is the complete lack of a passenger/cargo compartment - instead there is only a big magnet and a space for a potential cargo/vehicle. The first appearance Skylift made in GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony, and in the fifth part it came without even a slightest changes in design, except for a different paintjob - now it is completely grey, not a blue one, as in TBoGT.
The helicopter Skylift weights ten tonns, which is not surprising for it's size, and is capable of carrying twice (thrice?) as more. That way, HVY Skylift in one of GTA 5 missions has no issues with lifting a whole train (i.e. locomotive part of it). Of course, with that size and weights you shouldn't expect any outstanding characteristics when it comes to speed, accelaration or even manoeuvrability, however it shows rather good results - it is nowhere worse than it's analogues, except probably when carrying heavy cargo. The helicopter Skylift can not be owned by a player without usage of mods or of different bugs/glitches, it is also important to mention that it's magned has no use anywhere outside of missions. In GTA: Online there is no presence of the Skylift at all.
When developing HVY Skylift, Rockstar were inspired by Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane.
GTA 5 Buckingham Swift characteristics
| Speed | 257 km/h (160 mph) |
| Mass | 10000 kg |
| Capacity | 2 passangers |
| Engine | gas-turbine |
| Damage in the collision | 150% |
| Damage during the deformation of the body | 300% |
| Damaging small arms | 50% |
| Damaging the engine | 150% |
| The purchase price in GTA Online | — |
| The price of legal sale | — |
| The illegal sale price | — |
