Editing UH-144 Falcon

{{Status|Canon}}

|image=[[File:HaloReach - Falcon.png|300px]]

|model=UH-144{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

|length={{Convert|37.5|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}<ref name="EVG">''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p. 67</ref>

|width={{Convert|32.8|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}

|height={{Convert|13.6|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

|mass={{Convert|13.9|MT}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

|max speed={{Convert|296|km/h|mph|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

|engine=Twin turboprop engines{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

|crew=One [[pilot]],{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} two door gunners{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}

|complement=Five passengers,{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} including gunners{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}

|firstuse=[[2497]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

*[[Human-Covenant War]]{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}

|role=*Troop transport{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

|affiliation=

*[[UNSC Army]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

**[[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]]{{Ref/Level|[[Halo: Reach]]|[[New Alexandria]]}}

==Overview==

The UH-144 Falcon is a versatile, multipurpose utility helicopter.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Unlike the nimble [[AV-14 Hornet]] or the swift [[AV-22 Sparrowhawk]], the Falcon is exceptionally discreet, while remaining incredibly effective.{{Ref/Reuse|old waypoint}} The Falcon gained favor within the [[UNSC Army]] for proving to be an economical alternative to the larger [[Pelican]] [[dropship]]s for short-range troop transportation and deployment.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} A pair of Falcons can easily and quickly transport a fully-equipped infantry [[squad]] faster than any previous helicopter, while providing overwhelming support fire, in most weather conditions.{{Ref/Reuse|old waypoint}}<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/projects/reach/article.aspx?ucc=ordnance&cid=24585 '''Bungie.net''': ''UH-144 Falcon'']</ref> The Falcon's hull is sturdy, able to easily shrug off small arms fire and even certain heavier attacks.<ref>''[[Halo: Last Light]]'', p. 238</ref>

The frame of the Falcon is composed of a single elongated fuselage with a narrow, single-man cockpit and a large rear cabin, flanked by small wings.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} The [[pilot]] resides in the closed cockpit, while the crew have their choice of two gunner seats in extended buckets, two interior passenger seats, an aft bench, and a limited amount of standing room.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|old waypoint}} Gunners secured themselves within the Falcon with a safety harness that hung from the ceiling.<ref name="ll260">''Halo: Last Light'', p. 260</ref>

The Falcon is a [[VTOL|vertical take-off and landing]] aircraft, equipped with a transverse rotor and engine pod on each wing. Although the rotors are powerful and capable of lifting a fully-loaded Falcon on their own, two dorsal-routed jet turbines provide most of the helicopter's thrust during forward flight.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} To take off, the Falcon's rotors are angled so that the rotor blades are vertical. When the Falcon has reached the desired height, the pilot tilts the rotors forward so that the rotor blades are near horizontal. In this mode, the wings provide some of the lift, and the rotors provide thrust as a propeller.<ref>''Halo: Reach''</ref> It is still not however a true tilt-rotor aircraft, as the rotors do not tilt into a fully horizontal  position, relying primarily on the jet turbines for forward flight.

The twin-turbine system gives the Falcon an extremely agile range of maneuverability.<ref name="enc260">''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p. 260 (2011)</ref> The Falcon's impressive maneuverability makes the helicopter an ideal aircraft for the tight confines of many battlefield environments, ranging from a narrow gorge, a dense forest, to even a skyscraper-laden cityscape.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|old waypoint}} The Falcon is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 296 kilometers per hour (184 miles per hour).{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

Distinguished by its unquestionably effective and relatively heavy weaponry,{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|old waypoint}} the Falcon is capable of being fitted with a wide variety of armaments. The primary armament of the Falcon is an [[M638 autocannon|M638 20mm autocannon]], fixed in a nose turret below the pilot's main cabin. The autocannon provides effective suppressive fire when extracting or deploying personnel.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Flanking the vehicle on both sides are modular weapon emplacements that vary depending on the Falcon variant.{{Ref/Reuse|old waypoint}} The emplacements are installed on flexible mount [[hardpoint]]s on either side of the open cabin, selected at the discretion of the Falcon's crew.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} The UH-144A variant is armed with a pair of [[M460 automatic grenade launcher]]s, while the UH-144S variant sports standard [[M247H machine gun|M247H 12.7mm heavy machine guns]]. Both have proven incredibly effective against [[Covenant]] aircraft and providing point-to-point suppressive and attack fire on enemy ground emplacements and infantry.{{Ref/Reuse|old waypoint}}

*'''[[UH-144A Falcon]]''': The "attack" variant of the Falcon, armed with two side-mounted [[M460 automatic grenade launcher]]s as secondary armament.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}

</gallery>

*'''[[UH-144S Falcon]]''': The "support" variant of the Falcon, armed with two side-mounted [[M247H Heavy Machine Gun]]s as secondary armament.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}

</gallery>

The Falcon was introduced into service with the [[United Nations Space Command]] in [[2497]], though the helicopter only proved truly common with garrison forces of the [[UNSC Army]] on [[Inner Colony]] worlds.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} The Falcon was used during the [[Insurrection]].{{Ref/Reuse|mythos}}

 

Falcons were used throughout the [[Human-Covenant War]], including during the [[Battle of Fumirole]] in [[2552#April|April 2552]].<ref>''[[Deliver Hope]]''</ref> Falcons were used extensively during the [[Fall of Reach]] throughout the [[2552|summer of 2552]]. Notably, the Falcons [[Kilo 33]] and [[Kilo 34|34]] transported [[NOBLE Team]] to [[SWORD Base]] in an effort to end the [[Covenant]] assault on the facility.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level, ''[[ONI: Sword Base]]''</ref> Numerous Falcons later participated in the [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge]].<ref>''Halo: Reach'', campaign level, ''[[Tip of the Spear]]''</ref> Falcons would later participate in evacuation efforts and troop movement operations during the [[Siege of New Alexandria]]. One would carry [[SPARTAN-B312]] to [[Caracalla Park]] to disable an {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}} pinning down escaping civilian transport ships.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level, ''[[Exodus]]''</ref> Later during the siege, B312 piloted a Falcon to aid UNSC forces across the city and take down Covenant jammers.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', campaign level ''[[New Alexandria]]''</ref> Several Falcons later saw action during the [[Battle of Installation 04]], having survived the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}'s initial arrival on the ring in [[2552#September|September 2552]]. These craft aided [[Fireteam Raven]] in various ground actions against the Covenant occupational forces.<ref>''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''</ref> Falcons were also used during the [[Battle for Earth]] with one such craft that crashed into a [[Unidentified hotel|hotel]] in the [[New Mombasa]] [[Section 21]] during the [[Battle of Mombasa]].<ref name="breakneck">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'', multiplayer map [[Breakneck]]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141012164719/https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/games/haloanniversary/maps ''Halo Waypoint'': Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary - Maps] (Original version is defunct, link to Copy)</ref>

 

During their [[Operation: JOVIAN WHISTLE|operation]] on [[Gao]] in [[2553]], the [[717th Xeno-Materials Exploitation Battalion]] was equipped with two UH-144S Falcons, used for patrol as well as troop and supply transportation. When the [[Keepers of the One Freedom]] attacked the [[battalion]], one of the Falcons was destroyed instantly and crashed into the [[Montero Vitality Center]], while the second shrugged off the attack and fled towards the village of [[Wendosa]].<ref name="LL162">''Halo: Last Light'', p. 162-168</ref> Over the course of the battalion's battle with the Keepers, the remaining Falcon provided troop transport and supply drops for the UNSC forces.<ref>''Halo: Last Light'', p. 235</ref> However, the Falcon was eventually crashed in the [[Montero Jungle]] when the [[pilot]] was killed mid-flight days later.{{Ref/Reuse|ll260}} As of [[2557]], the Falcon remains in active service with the UNSC Army.<ref name="feet first">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/canon-fodder-feet-first '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Canon Fodder - Feet First'']</ref>

 

 

[[Marcus Lehto]] had played around with ideas for the Falcon since the release of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', but didn't get a chance to realize it until ''Halo: Reach''.<ref>[https://twitter.com/game_fabricator/status/1145532132011335680 Marcus Lehto on Twitter] - ''Yes! I was playing around with 3D concepts of it right after HaloCE''</ref> One of these early ideas, shown below, bears a striking resemblance to what would become the Hornet. As seen in early concept art, it appears the Falcon would originally have possessed ducted air fans, like those of the [[AV-14 Attack VTOL|AV-14 Hornet]] and [[D77-TC Pelican]], rather than rotors.

Early renders of the Falcon from earlier stages of ''Reach''{{'}}s [[Development of Halo: Reach|development]] saw the aircraft labelled with decals reading "VMX-22". In the real-world, [[Wikipedia:VMX-22|VMX-22]] was an organisation responsible for testing the [[Wikipedia:Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey|MV-22B Osprey]] tiltrotor aircraft. The final game's model lacks these decals, though still retains some other unit markings such as [[Air Mobility Express]].

Falcons are seen flying past {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} in a [[:File:H4-E3-Campaign-10.jpg|screenshot]] from the ''[[Halo 4]]'' level ''[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]'' released during the E3 2012 Xbox Media Briefing. However, they do not appear in the final version of the game. Concept art produced for the game suggests the vehicle was intended for inclusion in the game, alongside the AV-14 Hornet.<ref>[https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Brwkm '''Artstation''': ''Halo 4 - vehicles'']</ref>

*A [[Wikipedia:Falcon|falcon]] is a bird of prey, in keeping with the UNSC's tradition of naming atmospheric vehicles after real animals with the exceptions of the [[GA-TL1 Longsword]], [[B-65 Shortsword]], [[F-41 Broadsword]], and [[FSS-1000 Sabre]], which are named after bladed weapons.

File:FalconPassenger.jpg|A Spartan-III sitting in a Falcon.

File:HOD ConceptArt Pelican Hangar.jpg|Concept art of a UH-144 Falcon in a hangar for ''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''.

File:Enc22 Insurrection.png|Insurrectionists preparing to attack a UNSC UH-144 Falcon in the ''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]''.

{{Ref/Sources|2}}

{{Human aircraft}}

[[Category:Drivable vehicles]]