Knife Flights in GTA V are some of the toughest aerial stunts in the game. They require flying a fixed-wing aircraft with vertical wings through narrow gaps between buildings.

There are 15 in total. Each one demands precision, control, and good preparation.

TL;DR

Knife Flights in GTA V — quick survival guide

One of the hardest stunt challenges in GTA V. Precision flying through tight city gaps with wings vertical.

  • Total Knife Flights: 15
  • Required for 100%: 8
  • Required for Close Shave trophy: all 15 + 50 Under the Bridge challenges

Best setup

  • Recommended pilot: Trevor (highest flying stat by default)
  • Best plane: Mallard (stunt plane, forgiving handling)
  • Advanced option: P-996 Lazer (very fast, high risk)
  • Camera: Third-person (better awareness)
  • Controls: Controller > keyboard, slightly reduced stick sensitivity

Core technique

  • Start rolling just before the gap
  • Use rudder/yaw for fine alignment
  • Pitch up slightly to avoid altitude loss
  • You don’t need a perfect 90° — 80–90° counts
  • If the chime plays, it counts even if you crash after

Fast strategy

  • Save before every attempt
  • Group close locations (West Vinewood, Del Perro)
  • Start west → move east to reduce travel time
  • Clear weather only — wind and rain ruin runs

Common mistakes

  • Rolling too early and losing height
  • Starting too low (rooftop ledges kill runs)
  • Panic corrections mid-gap
  • Forgetting to level out after the pass

Training tips

  • Gold the Flight School Knife Flight lesson repeatedly
  • Practice rolls between hangars at Sandy Shores
  • Run practice approaches without rolling to learn obstacles

Important tips: Knife Flights reward patience, planning, and smooth control. Master the roll timing, fly Trevor in a Mallard, save often, and you’ll earn the Close Shave trophy the hard way — the right way.

Completing all of them is required for the Close Shave trophy or achievement. Only 8 are needed for 100% game completion, but if you are going for the challenge, you might as well finish the full set.

Flight School and Aircraft Choice

Before you start, visit the Flight School at Los Santos International Airport to learn the basics of knife flight. It is also worth maxing out the Flying stat, ideally with Trevor, who already has a high starting level.

Aircraft choice matters:

  • Mallard – a stunt plane with smooth, forgiving handling. Perfect for precise passes between buildings. Sometimes spawns at Sandy Shores Airfield.
  • P-996 Lazer – a much faster fighter jet that is less forgiving of mistakes. Can be stolen from Fort Zancudo, but expect heavy resistance. Best for confident pilots.

For convenience, buy a hangar at LSIA for Franklin or Michael. This cuts down travel time after a crash. Trevor can use his own airfield, but it is farther from most locations.

All 15 Knife Flight Locations

Here is the list in the brief’s order:

1-2. West Vinewood – two passes between Eclipse Towers and the Schlongberg Sachs complex. Close together, easy to chain.
3. Downtown Vinewood – between Vinewood Video and Whirligig Theater on Vinewood Boulevard. Low ceiling, aim for the upper floors.
4. Hawick – gap between Vinewood Gardens and Galileo House, at Spanish Avenue and Meteor Street.
5-9. Pillbox Hill – five flights in tight urban spaces:
• IAA and FIB HQ (Power Street and Swiss Street)
• Quik House on Vespucci Boulevard and the building east of it
• Schlongberg Sachs Center and Slaughter, Slaughter & Slaughter on San Andreas Avenue
• Quik House and Slaughter, Slaughter & Slaughter on Alta Street
• Schlongberg Sachs Center and the tower directly south
10. Little Seoul – between two Lombank buildings on San Andreas Avenue. Best approached from the north over the freeway.
11. Rockford Hills – between Richards Majestic and Weazel Plaza.
12-13. Del Perro – two close passes:
• Von Crastenburg Hotel and Lombank West at Boulevard Del Perro and Bay City Avenue
• Bluff Tower and Del Perro Heights
14. Pacific Bluffs – gap between the twin Von Crastenburg Hotel towers on Playa Vista Street. Watch for trees to the west.
15. Rockford Hills – second pass between Richards Majestic and Weazel Plaza, from a different angle.

Route Strategy

It is easiest to start on the west side of the city and work your way east. This minimizes flight time and reduces the number of restarts.

Group close flights together, like the pair in West Vinewood or the two in Del Perro, to avoid unnecessary detours.

Pro Pilot Tips

  • Save before each attempt – quick Save saves time and frustration.
  • Roll early – start your roll just before the gap so your wings are vertical at the right moment.
  • Use the rudder – yaw control helps you stay on line without losing altitude.
  • Pitch up slightly – keeps you from losing height and hitting lower obstacles.
  • Fly with Trevor – his stats make fine control easier.
  • You do not need a perfect 90 degree angle – just be clearly sideways and pass through.
  • Crashing after counts – if you hear the completion chime, check your stats; the flight is recorded.

Tracking Progress

When you get close to a Knife Flight, purple stripes may appear on the radar to mark it. In the pause menu under Stats > Vehicles, you can see how many you have completed. For the Close Shave trophy, you need all 15 Knife Flights plus all 50 Under the Bridge challenges.

Recommended Approach

1-2. West Vinewood – approach from the south, drop to rooftop height after passing Los Santos Customs. For the second, turn gently left and roll in.
3. Downtown Vinewood – approach from the east past the billboard, stay high.
4. Hawick – come from the northeast past the Mirror Park billboard, dip just below Galileo House’s roof.
5. IAA/FIB HQ – approach from the south, keep tight to the east edge.
6. Quik House Vespucci – approach from the west to avoid sharp turns.
7. Schlongberg Sachs / Slaughter offices – best from the north for clear exit.
8. Quik House / Slaughter on Alta Street – from the south, avoid the left-side billboard.
9. Schlongberg Sachs / tower – approach from the west, long straight line.
10. Little Seoul – from the north, watch for lampposts and the billboard.
11. Rockford Hills – from the south over the palms, straight into the street gap.
12. Del Perro 1 – from the west, keep close to Lombank West’s roof.
13. Del Perro 2 – turn after the first pass, approach from the southeast.
14. Pacific Bluffs – long approach from the ocean side, straighten out early.
15. Rockford Hills 2 – from the north, avoid the tall billboard.

Gear and Camera Setup

  • Cockpit view offers precision but less awareness. Third person is better for beginners.
  • Wider FOV helps judge distances.
  • Controller over keyboard – smoother roll and yaw control.
  • Lower stick sensitivity by 10 to 15 percent to reduce over-correction.

Common Mistakes

  • Rolling too soon – leads to altitude loss before the gap.
  • Starting too low – buildings often have ledges or antennas.
  • Last second panic – sharp mid-gap adjustments usually cause crashes.
  • Not leveling out after – you need to pull back to level immediately after passing through.

Training Plan

  • Flight School Knife Flight Lesson – practice until you get gold three times in a row.
  • Sandy Shores drills – between hangars and radio towers; less risk of losing your plane.
  • Night flights – harder visibility improves reaction time.
  • Route simulation – fly your planned route normally to learn obstacles.

Advanced Tips

  • Speed control – faster flights mean less time for error, but less turbulence impact.
  • Partial roll – in very tight gaps, 80 to 85 degrees may be safer than full 90.
  • Emergency landings – practice setting down quickly after tricky passes.

Extra Efficiency Tricks

If you want to clear all 15 Knife Flights in the shortest possible time, think about logistics as much as flying skill. Start with a full fuel tank if you are using mods or roleplay servers that simulate fuel consumption. Keep a spare aircraft in your hangar so you can instantly swap after a crash without waiting for insurance or respawn delays.

Use a GPS marker for each target in sequence. Even though the game does not offer built-in Knife Flight waypoints, you can manually mark them on your map before each run. This helps avoid disorientation after a failed attempt and keeps you focused on the next approach.

Bad weather makes these runs harder. Stick to clear skies for the best view, and skip windy or rainy sessions since they mess with control.

If you are aiming for both Knife Flights and Under the Bridge challenges, plan a hybrid route. Several bridges are near Knife Flight locations, so you can chain challenges together to cut down the total time investment for the Close Shave trophy.

Knife Flights Grand Theft Auto V: Final Thoughts

Knife Flights aren’t easy, and that’s the point. Learn the gaps, line up your approach, and keep a save ready for when things go wrong. After a few hours you’ll know exactly how to slide through each one without thinking about it. Finish all 15 and you’ll know you actually earned that Close Shave trophy.