Ripley



The Ripley is a large airliner tug in Grand Theft Auto IV.

Description
Like most trucks, the Ripley's performance is defined by its slow pickup, but its turning is great at low speeds, due to its very short wheelbase. This truck can pack a powerful punch on cars, and can tip them over easily at pretty low speeds. Additionally, the Ripley's rear-mounted engine configuration allows the vehicle to survive large numbers of head-on collisions. The openness of the cab, however, exposes the player to gunfire. Some Grand Theft Auto IV machinima creators have recommended the Ripley for first-person driving views due to the design of the cab; lacking an obstructions in the view from the vehicle itself.

Seen only at Francis International Airport, the Ripley may appear as a pedestrian vehicle on the road, or is parked on the tarmac or car parks of the airport. Like certain vehicles operating in the vicinity of the airport, the Ripley bears a FlyUS livery.

Name
The Ripley's name is an homage to the lead character Ellen Ripley of the "Alien" films (played by Sigourney Weaver). A featured vehicle in the movie "Aliens" is the US Colonial Marines' M577 Armored Personnel Carrier. Prop designers for that movie used a decommissioned airliner tug to create the M577, which is why the tug in GTA IV bears the "Aliens" reference.