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D77-TC Pelican: Difference between revisions

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|image=[[File:Pelican render.png|310px]]
|image=[[File:Pelican render.png|310px]]
|name=Dropship 77-Troop Carrier
|name=Dropship 77-Troop Carrier
|manufacturer=Misriah Armories<ref>''[[Halo: Arms Race]]''</ref>
|manufacturer=Misriah Armories<ref>''Halo: Arms Race''</ref>
|line=Pelican
|line=Pelican
|model=Pelican<br/>
|model=Pelican<br/>
Line 12: Line 12:
**''Halo: Combat Evolved'', ''Halo 2'', ''Halo Wars'', and ''Halo: Reach'': D77-TC<br/>
**''Halo: Combat Evolved'', ''Halo 2'', ''Halo Wars'', and ''Halo: Reach'': D77-TC<br/>
**''Halo 3'': D77H-TCI<ref>Halo3.com</ref>
**''Halo 3'': D77H-TCI<ref>Halo3.com</ref>
|class= Troop Carrier Dropship/Transport/Gunship
|class= Dropship/transport/gunship
|length= 30.5 meters (100 ft) <br/> Troop Bay: 6.19 meters (20.3 ft)<ref>[[:File:Pelican-Abrams_Comparison.jpg|Image Comparison]]</ref>
|length= 30.5 meters (100 ft) <br/> Troop Bay: 6.19 meters (20.3 ft)<ref>[[:File:Pelican-Abrams_Comparison.jpg|Image comparison]]</ref>
|width= Wingspan: 23.3 meters (76 ft) <br/> Troop Bay: 4.65 meters (15.3 ft)
|width= Wingspan: 23.3 meters (76 ft) <br/> Troop Bay: 4.65 meters (15.3 ft)
|height=10 meters (33 ft)<br/>10.5 meters (34 ft) with landing gear<br/> Troop Bay: 3.23 meters (10.6 ft)
|height=10 meters (33 ft)<br/>10.5 meters (34 ft) with landing gear<br/> Troop Bay: 3.23 meters (10.6 ft)
Line 29: Line 29:
|target=
|target=
|navigation=
|navigation=
*Motion trackers<ref>"[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]"</ref>
*Motion trackers<ref>'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', ''[[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]]''</ref>
|avionics=
|avionics=
|countermeasures=
|countermeasures=
|armament=*One chin-mounted auto-cannon in either 40 or 70mm caliber<ref>''[[Halo: The Flood]]'', page 39</ref>
|armament=*One chin-mounted rotary machine gun, [[M638 Autocannon|M638 20mm Autocannon]], 40mm chain gun, or [[70mm chain gun]]<ref name="Halo 2">''Halo 2''</ref><ref name="Halo: Reach">'''Halo: Reach'''</ref><ref name="The Flood">'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 39''</ref>  
*Two [[ANVIL-II ASM]] Pods (eight missiles each) (optional)
*Two [[ANVIL-II Air-to-Surface Missile]] pods (eight missiles each) (optional)
*1 AIE-486H HMG or M247 GPMG (optional)
*One [[AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun]] or [[M247 General Purpose Machine Gun]] (optional)
|complement=*One [[Scorpion Tank]] ''or''
|complement=*One [[M808B Main Battle Tank]] or
*One [[Warthog]] ''or''
*One [[M12 Force Application Vehicle]] or
*Four-Six [[Resupply Canister Type-C Capsule]]s
*Four to six [[Resupply canister]]s
*One [[Troop Deployment Pod (Pelican)|Troop Deployment Pod]]
*One [[troop deployment pod]]
|crew=*One [[Pilot]]
|crew=*One [[pilot]]
*One Co-pilot
*One co-pilot
*One crew chief
*One crew chief
|skeleton=One pilot with a "Smart" A.I.
|skeleton=One pilot with a "smart" A.I.
|passengers=Ten seats in internal bay amidships fifteen people standing and sitting (these numbers are doubled in case the ship carries a [[Troop Deployment Pod (Pelican)|troop deployment pod]]).
|passengers=Ten seats in internal bay amidships fifteen people standing and sitting (these numbers are doubled in case the ship carries a [[Troop Deployment Pod (Pelican)|troop deployment pod]]).
|capacity=70 tons on hoist(anything over 35 tons slows speed considerably).
|capacity=70 tons on hoist, (Anything over 35 tons slows speed considerably.)
|consumables=
|consumables=
|othersystems=
|othersystems=
|firstuse=Before [[2501]]<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''' - ''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]'', page 450</ref>
|firstuse=Before [[2501]]<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''' - ''The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole'', page 450</ref>
|role=Dropship/Gunship
|role=Dropship<br/>gunship
|era= 26th century
|era= 26th century
|affiliation=[[UNSC]]
|affiliation=United Nations Space Command
}}
}}


The '''D77-TC Pelican''', formal title '''Dropship 77-Troop Carrier''' and commonly known as the '''Pelican''', is an extremely versatile craft used by the [[United Nations Space Command]], mainly for the pickup and transportation of personnel, vehicles and equipment, although it can also be used as a powerful support gunship.
The '''D77-TC Pelican''', formal title '''Dropship 77-Troop Carrier''' and commonly known as the '''Pelican''', is an extremely versatile craft used by the [[United Nations Space Command]], mainly for the pickup and transportation of personnel, vehicles and equipment, although it can also be used as a powerful gunship.


==Background==
==Background==
[[File:1219679502 Pelican dropship front.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Pelican as it appears in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.]]
[[File:1219679502 Pelican dropship front.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The Pelican as it appears in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.]]
The D77-TC Pelican is mainly responsible for the rapid insertion and extraction of troops. They also deliver vehicles and equipment to the battlefield, when required. The D77-TC has been in service for over fifty years, and is the primary tactical support aircraft of the UNSC. The Pelican serves a multi-role purpose; it is fully capable of atmospheric flight and can land almost anywhere without difficulty. The Pelican is also capable of limited spaceflight, which the [[UNSC]] uses as a primary way of delivering troops to the surface from orbit. Standard armament consists of one Class III externally powered projectile weapon at the fore of the vehicle, and one Class I gas-operated projectile weapon mounted at the rear, in the extended crew area. More heavily armed variants exist, with multiple and more powerful weaponry.<ref>[http://halo3.com halo3.com]</ref>
The D77-TC Pelican is mainly responsible for the rapid insertion and extraction of troops. They also deliver vehicles and equipment to the battlefield, when required. The D77-TC has been in service for over fifty years, and is the primary tactical support aircraft of the UNSC. The Pelican serves a multi-role purpose; it is fully capable of atmospheric flight and can land almost anywhere without difficulty. The Pelican is also capable of limited spaceflight, which the UNSC uses as a primary way of delivering troops to the surface from orbit. Standard armament consists of one Class III externally powered projectile weapon at the fore of the vehicle, and one Class I gas-operated projectile weapon mounted at the rear, in the extended crew area. More heavily armed variants exist, with more numerous and more powerful weaponry.<ref>[http://halo3.com halo3.com]</ref>


===Payload Capacity===
===Payload capacity===
The Pelican is capable of carrying passengers and cargo using a combination of internal and external methods. Specifically, the main compartment of the Pelican is sometimes called the "Blood Tray"<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 203</ref>. The "Blood Tray" has enough compartment space for ten people (sitting down), but can hold five additional standing people. Other variants have displayed the ability to hold considerably more as demonstrated by specific scenarios throughout the Halo books. For example, the SPARTAN-II's were assigned a specialized Pelican, which was able to hold an entire team of twenty five, as well as fitting cutting gear to board a Covenant warship. Three Pelicans used for the SPARTAN-III Program carried 300 children though this may have been the effort of numerous trips back and forth from the surface.
The Pelican is capable of carrying up to seventy tons of passengers and cargo using a combination of internal and external methods. The main compartment of the Pelican is sometimes called the "Blood Tray".<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 203''</ref> Optimally, the "Blood Tray" has enough compartment space for ten seated people, but can hold five additional standing people, though the Pelican can carry many more passengers if necessary. However, this increased payload capacity is sometimes due to internal modification. For example, the SPARTAN-IIs were assigned a specialized Pelican that was able to hold an entire team of twenty-five, as well as fitting cutting gear to board a Covenant warship. Three Pelicans used for the SPARTAN-III Program carried 300 children, though this may have been the effort of numerous trips back and forth from the surface.


The large aft overhang gives an attachment point for additional, cargo and ordnance. Possible payloads include a [[Troop Deployment Pod (Pelican)|troop deployment pod]], a [[Scorpion tank]], a [[Warthog]], or eight [[Resupply Canister Type-B Capsule]]s. The maximum payload of a Pelican is seventy tons.
The large aft overhang gives an attachment point for additional, cargo and ordnance. Possible payloads include a [[troop deployment pod]], an [[M808B Main Battle Tank]], an [[M12 Force Application Vehicle]], or eight [[resupply canister]]s.


===Armament===
===Armament===
Standard armament consists of a chin-mounted 40mm rotary-cannon which was common prior to 2525, but was later superseded by a 70mm weapon. These chain-guns are usually controlled by the [[pilot]]'s helmet so that it would aim in the direction of the pilots view, similar to the modern TADS/PNVS found on Apache Gunships or the [[HUD]] system in a [[SPARTAN]]'s armor. Some dropships boasted twin chain guns firing depleted uranium slugs.<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 40</ref>.
The Pelican's standard armament consists of a chin-mounted 70mm chaingun, which largely superseded the 40mm chaingun that was common prior to 2525,{{Citation needed}}, a rotary machine gun, or an [[M638 Autocannon|M638 20mm autocannon]].<ref name="The Flood"/><ref name="Halo 2"/><ref name="Halo: Reach"/> Some dropships are armed with twin chainguns that fire depleted uranium slugs.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 40''</ref> These weapons are usually controlled by the [[pilot]]'s helmet so that it aims in the direction of the pilot's view, similar to the modern TADS/PNVS found on AH-64 Apache gunships or the [[Heads Up Display]] system in a [[SPARTAN Program|SPARTAN's]] armor.


Missile pods, each holding eight [[ANVIL-II ASM]]s, can be mounted under each wing to engage more maneuverable or better protected targets. Fire control is typically delegated to the copilot, who was assisted by a helmet-mounted display. A [[M247 GPMG]], or a 25mm grenade launcher can also be mounted facing out of the rear cargo hatch and the latter two can be folded flat against the roof of the internal bay when not in use by the crew chief or passenger.
Missile pods, each holding eight [[ANVIL-II Air-to-Surface Missile]]s, can be mounted under each wing to engage more maneuverable or better protected targets. Fire control is typically delegated to the copilot, who was assisted by a helmet-mounted display. An [[M247 General Purpose Machine Gun]] with an optional 25mm grenade launcher, or an [[AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun]], can also be mounted facing out the rear cargo hatch. These weapons can be folded against the roof of the internal bay when not in use by the crew chief or a passenger.


===Propulsion===
===Propulsion===
The main engines are mounted in pairs in four nacelles, one on each wing and two at the rear. The nacelles can articulate independently, thus altering (i.e, Vectoring) the direction of thrust and improving the dropship's low altitude maneuverability. Six ventral thrusters, two on each wing nacelle and one on each aft nacelle, allow the Pelican to land and take off vertically. These engines are capable of both space and atmospheric operation. The D77, although fully capable of orbital insertion, is too small to be equipped with a [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]], and thus is incapable of slipspace travel.
The main engines are mounted in pairs in four nacelles, one on each wing and two at the rear. The nacelles can articulate independently, thus vectoring the direction of thrust and improving the dropship's low-altitude maneuverability. Six ventral thrusters, two on each wing nacelle and one on each aft nacelle, allow the Pelican to land and take off vertically. These engines are capable of both space and atmospheric operation. The D77-TC, although fully capable of orbital insertion, is too small to be equipped with a [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]], and thus is incapable of slipspace travel.


The wings mounted on a Pelican seem extremely small, too small to support the weight of dropship and payload alone. It is speculated that it incorporates at least some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifting_body lifting body] principles, its own hull providing most of the lift necessary.
The wings mounted on a Pelican seem extremely small, too small to support the weight of dropship and payload alone. It is likely that the design of the Pelican incorporates [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifting_body lifting body] principles, with its own hull providing most of the necessary lift.


==Variants==
==Variants==
===D77H-TCI===
===D77H-TCI===
{{Main|D77H-TCI Pelican Dropship}}
{{Main|D77H-TCI Pelican Dropship}}
The '''D77H-TCI''' appears nearly identical to the regular D77-TC except for being more angular. However,instead of the side-by-side positioning of the pilot and copilot, the pilot sits at the fore of the dropship, with the co-pilot behind him/her, and at a higher position, in tandem. The D77H-TCI is capable of sporting missile pods that are integrated directly into the wings rather than the externally mounted pods used by the D77.


''[[Halo 3]]'' introduces the new variant of the Pelican, the '''D77H-TCI Pelican''' (The "I" may stand for "Infantry"). Externally, it appears nearly identical to the Pelicans used in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' and ''[[Halo 2]]'', except for being more angular. Internally, though, the craft has been renovated and it can store equipment in overhead netting. The cockpit has been altered, and instead of the side-by-side positioning of the pilot and copilot, the pilot now sits at the fore of the dropship, with the co-pilot behind him/her, and at a higher position, in tandem.
===Law enforcement===
 
===Law Enforcement===
{{Main|D77C-NMPD Pelican Dropship}}
{{Main|D77C-NMPD Pelican Dropship}}
''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' introduces a law enforcement-variant of the Pelican, operated by the [[New Mombasa Police Department]] and differentiated from its military counterpart by a black and white color scheme, "POLICE" replacing the traditional "MARINES" on the external hull, and a noted lack of armament. Under the craft's chin, where a machine gun turret or autocannon would normally be installed, are various interchangeable sensors used by the police for aerial surveillance and crowd control.
The ''D77C-NMPD'' was utilized by the [[New Mombasa Police Department]] in [[Kenya]], [[Africa]], on [[Earth]]. It was differentiated from its military counterpart by a black and white color scheme, with the word "POLICE" replacing the traditional "MARINES" on the external hull, and a noted lack of armament. Under the craft's chin, where a machine gun turret or autocannon would normally be installed, were various interchangeable sensors used by the police for aerial surveillance and crowd control. An AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun was typically mounted in the personnel bay of the D77C-NMPD, similarly to the D77 and D77H models.


==Identified Pelicans==
==Identified Pelicans==
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==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*All Pelican dropships in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' bear either the numbers E419 (''Echo 419'') or V933 (''Victor 933''). This was likely done to save resources during the development of the game.
*All Pelican dropships in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' bear either the numbers E419 (''Echo 419'') or V933 (''Victor 933''). This was likely done to save resources during the development of the game.
*The Pelican shows clear inspiration from the ''UD4L Cheyenne'' dropship from the movie ''[[Wikipedia:Aliens|Aliens]]'', which [[List of References to Aliens in Halo|inspired Halo in many ways]].
*The Pelican shows clear inspiration from the ''UD4L Cheyenne'' dropship from the movie ''[[Wikipedia:Aliens|Aliens]]'', which [[List of References to Aliens in Halo|has inspired the ''Halo'' series in many ways]].
*There is a glitch in the ''Halo 2'' level ''Metropolis'' where the player can operate the Pelican. It will take the player out of the map, flip, and eject the player. If the player attempts to right the flipped Pelican, the script will read "Hold X to flip Banshee", because Bungie never intended for the Pelican to be operable by the player, and therefore did not make a unique message. The Pelican's in-game physics will make it impossible to correctly and permanently flip the Pelican, as it will always reposition itself in an upside-down position.
*There is a glitch in the ''Halo 2'' level ''Metropolis'' where the player can operate the Pelican. It will take the player out of the map, flip, and eject the player. If the player attempts to right the flipped Pelican, the script will read "Hold X to flip Banshee", because Bungie never intended for the Pelican to be operable by the player, and therefore did not make a unique message. The Pelican's in-game physics will make it impossible to correctly and permanently flip the Pelican, as it will always reposition itself in an upside-down position.
*In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', a player can pilot a Pelican through the [[Flyable Pelican and Phantom]] Easter Egg.
*In ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', a player can pilot a Pelican through [[Flyable Pelican and Phantom|an Easter egg]].
*In ''Halo: Reach'', the inside screens show info on Sword Base.
*In ''Halo: Reach'', the inside screens show information on the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]]'s [[Sword Base]].
*In ''Halo: Reach'' all Pelicans are registered as Noble team assets, and are all given the tag "NOBLE 48".
*In ''Halo: Reach'', all Pelicans are registered as [[Noble Team]] assets, as they are all given the tag "NOBLE 48".


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery widths="150" orientation="landscape" captionalign="left">
<gallery widths="150" orientation="landscape" captionalign="left">
File:Pelicandrop.jpg| Multiple views of a Pelican Dropship.
File:Pelicandrop.jpg| Multiple views of a Pelican dropship.
File:PelicanII-Sil.gif|D77-TC schematics
File:PelicanII-Sil.gif|D77-TC schematics
File:1215452971 Pelican.jpeg|A Pelican in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.
File:1215452971 Pelican.jpeg|A Pelican in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:1225327600 Destroyed pelican.jpg|A crashed Pelican in flames.
File:1225327600 Destroyed pelican.jpg|A crashed Pelican in flames.
File:PelicanOnHarvest.JPG|Three Pelicans in the ''Halo Wars'' CGI trailer.
File:PelicanOnHarvest.JPG|Three Pelicans during the [[Harvest Campaign]].
File:Phantom and Pelican.png|A Pelican in a woodland camouflage scheme.
File:Phantom and Pelican.png|A Pelican in a woodland camouflage scheme.
File:Hornet war.jpg|A squadron of [[Hornet]]s and [[Sparrowhawk]]s  attempt to protect a number of Pelican dropships from a Scarab in ''Halo Wars''.
File:Hornet war.jpg|A squadron of [[AV-14 Attack VTOL]]s and [[AV-22 Sparrowhawk]]s  attempt to protect a number of Pelican dropships from a Scarab in an early build of ''Halo Wars''.
File:Pelican04.jpg|The Pelican as it appears in ''[[Halo 2]]''.
File:Pelican04.jpg|The Pelican as it appears in ''Halo 2''.
File:Pelican-TroopPod.jpg|Pelican with an extended carriage.
File:Pelican-TroopPod.jpg|Pelican with an extended carriage.
File:Pelican-Scorpion.jpg|Pelican carrying a Scorpion.
File:Pelican-Scorpion.jpg|Pelican carrying a Scorpion.
File:Pelican-Warthog.jpg|Pelican carrying a Warthog.
File:Pelican-Warthog.jpg|Pelican carrying a Warthog.
File:BirthOfASpartan - Hopeful.png|A Pelican approaches the [[UNSC Hopeful|UNSC ''Hopeful'']].
File:BirthOfASpartan - Hopeful.png|A Pelican approaches the {{UNSCship|Hopeful}}.
File:Halo Reach - TotS Pelican.jpg|A Pelican in ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.  
File:Halo Reach - TotS Pelican.jpg|A Pelican in ''Halo: Reach''.  
File:HaloCE pelican cockpit.png|The Pelican's cockpit in Halo: Combat Evolved.
File:HaloCE pelican cockpit.png|The Pelican's cockpit in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
</gallery>
</gallery>


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
{{Appearances|Halo: Combat Evolved|Halo: The Fall of Reach|Halo: The Flood|Halo: First Strike|Halo 2|Halo Graphic Novel|Halo: Ghosts of Onyx|Halo: The Cole Protocol|Halo Wars|Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe|Halo Legends|Halo: Reach}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Pariah]]''
**''[[Dirt]]''
**''[[Blunt Instruments]]''
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
**''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[Homecoming]]''
**''[[Prototype]]''
**''[[Odd One Out]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
<references/>
==Related pages==
*[[Phantom]] - The [[Covenant]] equivalent to the Pelican.
*[[Spirit]] - Another Covenant equivalent to the Pelican.


{{UNSCDF Aircraft}}
{{UNSCDF Aircraft}}
[[Category:UNSC Vehicles]]
[[Category:UNSC Vehicles]]

Revision as of 17:09, November 27, 2010

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Were you also looking for the D77H-TCI Pelican, used in Halo 3?

Template:Ship

The D77-TC Pelican, formal title Dropship 77-Troop Carrier and commonly known as the Pelican, is an extremely versatile craft used by the United Nations Space Command, mainly for the pickup and transportation of personnel, vehicles and equipment, although it can also be used as a powerful gunship.

Background

File:1219679502 Pelican dropship front.jpg
The Pelican as it appears in Halo: Combat Evolved.

The D77-TC Pelican is mainly responsible for the rapid insertion and extraction of troops. They also deliver vehicles and equipment to the battlefield, when required. The D77-TC has been in service for over fifty years, and is the primary tactical support aircraft of the UNSC. The Pelican serves a multi-role purpose; it is fully capable of atmospheric flight and can land almost anywhere without difficulty. The Pelican is also capable of limited spaceflight, which the UNSC uses as a primary way of delivering troops to the surface from orbit. Standard armament consists of one Class III externally powered projectile weapon at the fore of the vehicle, and one Class I gas-operated projectile weapon mounted at the rear, in the extended crew area. More heavily armed variants exist, with more numerous and more powerful weaponry.[1]

Payload capacity

The Pelican is capable of carrying up to seventy tons of passengers and cargo using a combination of internal and external methods. The main compartment of the Pelican is sometimes called the "Blood Tray".[2] Optimally, the "Blood Tray" has enough compartment space for ten seated people, but can hold five additional standing people, though the Pelican can carry many more passengers if necessary. However, this increased payload capacity is sometimes due to internal modification. For example, the SPARTAN-IIs were assigned a specialized Pelican that was able to hold an entire team of twenty-five, as well as fitting cutting gear to board a Covenant warship. Three Pelicans used for the SPARTAN-III Program carried 300 children, though this may have been the effort of numerous trips back and forth from the surface.

The large aft overhang gives an attachment point for additional, cargo and ordnance. Possible payloads include a troop deployment pod, an M808B Main Battle Tank, an M12 Force Application Vehicle, or eight resupply canisters.

Armament

The Pelican's standard armament consists of a chin-mounted 70mm chaingun, which largely superseded the 40mm chaingun that was common prior to 2525,[citation needed], a rotary machine gun, or an M638 20mm autocannon.[3][4][5] Some dropships are armed with twin chainguns that fire depleted uranium slugs.[6] These weapons are usually controlled by the pilot's helmet so that it aims in the direction of the pilot's view, similar to the modern TADS/PNVS found on AH-64 Apache gunships or the Heads Up Display system in a SPARTAN's armor.

Missile pods, each holding eight ANVIL-II Air-to-Surface Missiles, can be mounted under each wing to engage more maneuverable or better protected targets. Fire control is typically delegated to the copilot, who was assisted by a helmet-mounted display. An M247 General Purpose Machine Gun with an optional 25mm grenade launcher, or an AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun, can also be mounted facing out the rear cargo hatch. These weapons can be folded against the roof of the internal bay when not in use by the crew chief or a passenger.

Propulsion

The main engines are mounted in pairs in four nacelles, one on each wing and two at the rear. The nacelles can articulate independently, thus vectoring the direction of thrust and improving the dropship's low-altitude maneuverability. Six ventral thrusters, two on each wing nacelle and one on each aft nacelle, allow the Pelican to land and take off vertically. These engines are capable of both space and atmospheric operation. The D77-TC, although fully capable of orbital insertion, is too small to be equipped with a Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine, and thus is incapable of slipspace travel.

The wings mounted on a Pelican seem extremely small, too small to support the weight of dropship and payload alone. It is likely that the design of the Pelican incorporates lifting body principles, with its own hull providing most of the necessary lift.

Variants

D77H-TCI

Main article: D77H-TCI Pelican Dropship

The D77H-TCI appears nearly identical to the regular D77-TC except for being more angular. However,instead of the side-by-side positioning of the pilot and copilot, the pilot sits at the fore of the dropship, with the co-pilot behind him/her, and at a higher position, in tandem. The D77H-TCI is capable of sporting missile pods that are integrated directly into the wings rather than the externally mounted pods used by the D77.

Law enforcement

Main article: D77C-NMPD Pelican Dropship

The D77C-NMPD was utilized by the New Mombasa Police Department in Kenya, Africa, on Earth. It was differentiated from its military counterpart by a black and white color scheme, with the word "POLICE" replacing the traditional "MARINES" on the external hull, and a noted lack of armament. Under the craft's chin, where a machine gun turret or autocannon would normally be installed, were various interchangeable sensors used by the police for aerial surveillance and crowd control. An AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun was typically mounted in the personnel bay of the D77C-NMPD, similarly to the D77 and D77H models.

Identified Pelicans

Pelicans receive serial numbers to be identified by during radio transmissions, particularly in combat situations. Each serial number consists of a letter from the Phonetic Alphabet followed by a number. Though a few Pelicans have this number inscribed on their cargo bays, most have no distinguishing mark on their exteriors. It is unclear how the numbers are chosen, but with their spread across the alphabet and numerals, it can be inferred that a very large number of Pelicans are in service, perhaps as many as 26,000.

v • d • e
 
Known Pelicans
Other

Trivia

  • All Pelican dropships in Halo: Combat Evolved bear either the numbers E419 (Echo 419) or V933 (Victor 933). This was likely done to save resources during the development of the game.
  • The Pelican shows clear inspiration from the UD4L Cheyenne dropship from the movie Aliens, which has inspired the Halo series in many ways.
  • There is a glitch in the Halo 2 level Metropolis where the player can operate the Pelican. It will take the player out of the map, flip, and eject the player. If the player attempts to right the flipped Pelican, the script will read "Hold X to flip Banshee", because Bungie never intended for the Pelican to be operable by the player, and therefore did not make a unique message. The Pelican's in-game physics will make it impossible to correctly and permanently flip the Pelican, as it will always reposition itself in an upside-down position.
  • In Halo: Reach, a player can pilot a Pelican through an Easter egg.
  • In Halo: Reach, the inside screens show information on the Office of Naval Intelligence's Sword Base.
  • In Halo: Reach, all Pelicans are registered as Noble Team assets, as they are all given the tag "NOBLE 48".

Gallery

  • Multiple views of a Pelican dropship.

    Multiple views of a Pelican dropship.

  • PelicanII-Sil.gif

    D77-TC schematics

  • 1215452971 Pelican.jpeg

    A Pelican in Halo: Combat Evolved.

  • 1225327600 Destroyed pelican.jpg

    A crashed Pelican in flames.

  • PelicanOnHarvest.JPG

    Three Pelicans during the Harvest Campaign.

  • Phantom and Pelican.png

    A Pelican in a woodland camouflage scheme.

  • A squadron of AV-14 Attack VTOLs and AV-22 Sparrowhawks attempt to protect a number of Pelican dropships from a Scarab in an early build of Halo Wars.

    A squadron of AV-14 Attack VTOLs and AV-22 Sparrowhawks attempt to protect a number of Pelican dropships from a Scarab in an early build of Halo Wars.

  • Pelican04.jpg

    The Pelican as it appears in Halo 2.

  • Pelican-TroopPod.jpg

    Pelican with an extended carriage.

  • Pelican-Scorpion.jpg

    Pelican carrying a Scorpion.

  • Pelican-Warthog.jpg

    Pelican carrying a Warthog.

  • A Pelican approaches the Template:UNSCship.

    A Pelican approaches the Template:UNSCship.

  • A Pelican in Halo: Reach.

    A Pelican in Halo: Reach.

  • HaloCE pelican cockpit.png

    The Pelican's cockpit in Halo: Combat Evolved.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ halo3.com
  2. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 203
  3. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named The Flood
  4. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Halo 2
  5. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Halo: Reach
  6. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 40

Template:UNSCDF Aircraft

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