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{{Era|H1|H2|RVB|HW|HC|FOR|TF|FS|GOO|HGN|TCP}}{{ratings}}
{{Status|Canon}}
<center>''Were you also looking for the [[D77H-TCI Pelican-class Dropship]], used in [[Halo 3]]?''</center>
{{New content|[[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)]]}}
{{Ship
{{Cleanup}}
|image=[[Image:Pelicandrop.jpg|310px]]
{{Disambig header|the Pelican model in service primarily during the Human-Covenant War|other Pelican models|Pelican}}
|name=Dropship 77-Troop Carrier
{{Ship class infobox
|manufacturer=Misriah Armories<ref>[[Halo: Arms Race]]</ref>
|image=[[File:HINF Pelican Crop.png|300px]]
|line=Pelican
|name=Dropship 77 - Troop Carrier
|model=Pelican<br/>
|manufacturer=[[Misriah Armory]]{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM206}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22P148|Enc22|Page=148}}
Dropship 77-Troop Carrier
|class=[[Pelican]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P148}}
*Variants:
|length={{Convert|110.9|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P148}}
**Halo 1 & 2:D77-TC
|width={{Convert|82.9|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P148}}
**Halo 3:D77H-TCI<ref>Halo3.com</ref>
|height={{Convert|36.5|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P148}}
|class= Troop Carrier Dropship/Transport/Gunship
|mass={{Convert|138|MT}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Warfleet|HWF|Page=44-45}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P148}}
|length= 30.5 meters (100.3 feet) Troop Bay<ref>http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Image:Pelican-Abrams_Comparison.jpg</ref>: 6.19 Meters (20.3 feet)
|width= Wingspan - 23.3 meters (76.6 feet) Troop Bay: 4.64 Meters (15.22 feet)
|height=10.0 meters (35.9 feet) (10.5 meters with landing gear) Troop Bay: 3.23 Meters (10.6 feet)
|mass=
|max accel=
|max accel=
|max speed space=
|max speed space=
|max speed air=
|max speed air=
|engine=2 main engines housed in middle section of ship, 10 maneuvering thrusters housed in 4 vector pylons.
|engine=*4 [[Fusion drive|hybrid fusion drives]] {{C|2 primary, 2 secondary}}{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*[[Gravitics|Gravitic]] assist generator{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|slipspace drive=
|slipspace drive=
|slipspace speed=
|slipspace speed=
|poweroutput=
|poweroutput=
|power=  
|power=  
|shield gen=heat and radiation shielding to protect the occupants.
|hull=
|hull=
|sensors=
|target=
|target=
|navigation=
|navigation=*Motion trackers{{Ref/Level|HCE|343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark}}
*Motion trackers<ref>[[343 Guilty Spark (level)]]</ref>
*[[Radar|RADAR]]/LIDAR detectors{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|avionics=
|avionics=
|countermeasures=
|armament=*1–2 linked nose-mounted projectile weapons:
|armament=*1 Chin-mounted Auto-cannon in either 40 or 70mm calibre<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]], page 39</ref>
**1 [[M370 autocannon]] {{C|standard}}{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=135}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P148}}
*2 [[ANVIL-II ASM]] Pods (8 missiles each) (optional)
**1 [[70mm heavy rotary cannon]] {{c|Marine Corps variant}}{{Ref/Reuse|flood3}}
*1 AIE-486H HMG or M247 GPMG (optional)
**2 [[M340 autocannon]]s {{C|Pre-[[2525]] configuration}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=TFoR|Halo: The Fall of Reach|Page=92|Quote=John sized up her armaments - dented and charred armor, a pair of old, out-of-date 40mm chain guns.}}
|complement=*1 [[Scorpion Tank]] ''or''
*2 [[Anvil-II air-to-surface missile]] pods {{c|8 missiles each}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P148}}
*1 [[Warthog]] ''or''
*4 wing-mounted weapon hardpoints{{Ref/Book|Id=OSFM206|OSFM|Page=206}}
*4-6 [[Resupply Canister Type-C Capsule]]s
*1 aft-facing turret {{c|optional}}:
*1 [[Troop Deployment Pod (Pelican)|Troop Deployment Pod]]
**[[M247 general purpose machine gun]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P148}}
|crew=*1 [[Pilot]]
**[[M460 automatic grenade launcher]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*1 co-[[Pilot]]
**[[M68 Gauss cannon]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*1 crew chief
|complement=*10–14 passengers{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P148}}
|skeleton=1 pilot with a [["Smart" AI]]
*1 vehicle{{Ref/Generic|Id=LC|[[Halo Legendary Crate]]|Subheading=[[Halo Legendary Crate/Data Drops#Series 3 2|Data Drop #13]]|Detail=[[:File:LC 13 doc1.jpg|D77 Pelican Tactical Aerospace Lifter]]}}
|passengers=10 seats in internal bay amidships 15 people standing and sitting (these numbers are doubled in case the ship carries a [[Troop Deployment Pod (Pelican)|Troop Deployment Pod]]).
|crew=
|capacity=70 tons on hoist. (anything over 35 tons slows speed considerably)
*3 crews{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P148}}
|consumables=
**1 [[pilot]]{{Ref/Reuse|LC}}
**1 mission commander{{Ref/Reuse|LC}}
|capacity=
|consumables=Enough fuel for two ground-to-orbit trips{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|othersystems=
|othersystems=
|firstuse=2525 as a military supply and troop carrier
|role=[[Dropship]],{{Ref/Reuse|LC}} gunship
|role=Dropship/Gunship
|era=*[[Insurrection]]
|era= 26th century
*[[Human-Covenant War]]
|affiliation=[[UNSC]]
*[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
**[[Created conflict]]{{Ref/Quest|Id=wg|HI|Ringfall|Warship Gbraakon}}
|introduced=[[2392]]{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM206}}{{Ref/Site|Id=Halo Waypoint: Pelican|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/pelican|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Pelican|D=30|M=10|Y=2021}}
|affiliation=*[[United Nations Space Command]]
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
**[[UNSC Air Force]]
**[[UNSC Army]]
}}
}}


The '''Dropship 77-Troop Carrier''' (abbreviated '''D77-TC'''), more 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'''{{Ref/Reuse|Halo Waypoint: Pelican}}{{Ref/Reuse|LC}} (Formal classification:  '''Dropship 77 - Troop Carrier'''),{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22P148}} commonly known as the '''Pelican''', is an extremely versatile space-to-ground capable craft used by the [[United Nations Space Command]], as well as being marketed toward [[law enforcement]], security, corporate and civilian markets.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM206}} In its role as a [[Dropship|tactical aerospace lifter]], the Pelican is mainly for the pickup and transportation of personnel, vehicles and equipment, though some variants are capable of serving in the role of a gunship. The UNSC also uses Pelicans as civilian vehicles for quick evacuations.{{Ref/Level|HR|Exodus}}{{Ref/Comic|Halo: Uprising}}


==Background==
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.
[[Image:PelicanII-Sil.gif|thumb|left|D77-TC schematics]]


Prior to November, 2552, the D77-TC Pelican was the primary tactical support aircraft of the [[UNSC]], fulfilling the role of a tactical transport gunship. The Pelican's crew compartments can be sealed and the craft made suitable for limited space travel. The Pelican, however, lacks [[Slipspace]] capabilities.
The Pelican's 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.{{Citation needed}} More heavily armed variants exist, and the Pelican can be converted to a gunship role with the addition of numerous and more powerful weaponry.{{Ref/Game|HW2|G77S Pelican gunship in-game model}}


Pelicans are mainly responsible for the rapid infiltration and extraction of troops. They also deliver vehicles and equipment to the battlefield, when required. This tactical advantage means that a conflict can be greatly and quickly influenced, by the delivery of reinforcements and/or equipment by Pelicans.
==Design==
===Armament===
The Pelican's primary armament consists of one or more nose-mounted projectile weapons, typically autocannons or machine guns. Commonly known as "chin guns" due to their placement,{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} these weapons are controlled via an [[Integrated Helmet and Display Sight System]] (IHADSS), which links to the pilot's or co-pilot's [[heads-up display]] and allows them to target the gun by head movements.{{Ref/Novel|Id=flood3|TF|Chapter=3}}{{Ref/Reuse|secrets}} The Pelican's standard armament is a chin-mounted [[M370 autocannon]], which is sometimes linked with another such weapon;{{Ref/Novel|Id=GOO1|GOO|Chapter 1}} the M370 fires 70mm high-explosive armor-piercing (HEAP) rounds as standard ammunition,{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}} with depleted-Uranium slugs also being an option.{{Ref/Reuse|GOO1}} This replaced the older [[M340 autocannon]] that was common prior to [[2525]].{{Ref/Reuse|TFoR}} Some Marine Corps Pelicans are armed with a single 70mm rotary machine gun instead of a chain gun.{{Ref/Reuse|flood3}}


Standard armament consists of one Class 3 externally powered projectile weapon at the fore of the vehicle, and one Class 1 gas operated projectile weapon mounted at the rear, in the extended crew area. More heavily armed variants exist, such as the Pelican dropship augmented by [[SPARTAN-II]]s in the novel ''[[Halo:The Fall of Reach]]''<ref>[http://halo3.com halo3.com]</ref>.
In addition to its primary armament, the Pelican has four externally-mounted missile hardpoints,{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM206}} which typically hold twin pods of eight [[Anvil-II air-to-surface missile]]s. However, they can carry a variety of weapon systems or specialized equipment pods. A turret can be placed at the back of the cargo-bay to provide covering fire for embarking personnel, and can range from [[M247 general purpose machine gun|machine guns]], to [[M460 automatic grenade launcher|grenade launchers]], and even a [[M68 Gauss cannon|gauss cannon]].{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}} While some weapons can be folded against the roof when not in use, others such as the [[AIE-486H machine gun]] can not.{{Ref/Level|Id=theark|H3|[[The Ark (level)|The Ark]]}}


== Payload Capacity ==
The D77-TC Pelican, like most other UNSC aerospace vehicles, is fitted with a suite of countermeasures to warn the dropship of incoming attacks, break target locks, and mitigate the effects of electronic warfare. These include wide-spectrum flares, microdrone decoys, rainbow laser blinders, [[Radar|RADAR]]/LIDAR sensors, directional jammers, and "hard chop" guillotines on data processing modules that could be susceptible to cyber-intrusion agents.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}} To prevent them from being easily taken out by [[electromagnetic pulse]]s, the Pelican's electronic systems are hardened against such phenomena.
The Pelican is capable of carrying passengers and cargo using a combination of internal and external methods. Specifically, the main compartment of the Pelican (called the "Blood Tray"<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', page 203</ref>), has seats for ten people, with additional space for 5 standing. Other variants have displayed the ability to hold considerably more: The Spartan-II's were assigned a specialised Pelican, able to hold the entire team of twenty five as well as fitting cutting gear to board a Covenant warship, while the UNSC ODST forces on Installation 04 could fit fifteen Marines into each dropship. Two Pelicans used for the Spartan-III Program carried between them 497 children.


The internal bay amidships is the simplest way of transporting supplies and personnel and the occasional [[Mongoose]] as seen on ''[[The Storm (Level)|The Storm]]'' and beginning of ''[[The Covenant (Level)|The Covenant]]''.
===Powerplant/Propulsion===
Pelicans utilize a Bussard Ramjet system that uses magnetic fields to attract [[hydrogen]] into two primary and two secondary articulated engine pods, creating fusion and in turn, rocket exhaust. While ideal for use in an atmospheric environment, they require a hydrogen reaction mass in order to operate in vacuum.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}} The two main engines have four nacelles each, two on the bottom and two at the back. The aft engines being similar but lack a nacelle at the bottom. Because both modules are mounted on rotating blocks, they can redirect themselves from directing the thrust downwards to any direction required. A basic [[gravitics|gravitic]] control system is used in-atmosphere to supply further stability and supplementary lift.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}} Although fully capable of orbital transit, the D77 is too small to be equipped with a [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine]], and is thus incapable of slipspace travel.{{citation needed}}


The large aft overhang gives an attachment point for additional, (and possibly oversized) cargo and ordnance. Possible payloads include a [[Troop Deployment Pod (Pelican)|Troop Deployment Pod]], a [[Scorpion Tank]],a [[grizzly]], a [[Warthog]], or eight [[Resupply Canister Type-B Capsule]]s.  The maximum payload of a Pelican is  70 tons.
===Crew and complement===
[[File:HW2 Blitz Pelican Transport.png|left|thumb|UNSC Marines boarding a D77-TC.]]
The Pelican is crewed by two personnel who occupy the cockpit at the front of the dropship. The [[pilot]] sits on the right side, with the electronics operator or gunner taking up the station on the left. All flight controls are a digital fly-by-light with no manual backups; an integral expert system optimizes stability and adjusts the thruster profiles under all regimes and cargo profiles. Unlike on the later [[D79-TC Pelican]], the cockpit is only accessible from the cargo-bay. Motion trackers, [[Radar|RADAR]]/LIDAR sensors and a computerized mapping system allow the pilot to plan their way to nearby staging areas as well as to warn of incoming threats.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}


[[Image:Pelican-Scorpion.jpg|300px]]
The cargo-bay, colloquially dubbed by Marines as the "blood tray", usually accommodates up to ten personnel in jumpseats, with a small overhead compartment for their weapons and equipment. Additional infantry can be carried standing up, and increased seating for ten more people can be installed in the center aisle. Otherwise, this space can be used to carry cargo pallets, casualty litters, or even small utility vehicles such as two [[M274 Mongoose|M274 Mongoose ULATV]].{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}} The Pelican is also equipped with an onboard weapons locker, which can hold enough weapons and ammunition to arm thirty troopers.<ref name="secrets">''[[Halo: Combat Evolved: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets]]''</ref> At least one pelican has been modified to act as a boarding craft for [[Operation: RED FLAG]], which has enough room to ferry twenty-five [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-IIs]] to their target, as well as carry the cutting gear needed to cut through the hull of a Covenant warship. Pelicans equipped for "[[soft-seal]]" [[Naval boarding|boarding]] actions have an extendable cover that folds down around the entrance to the troop bay. This configuration was refined during the last days of [[Operation: TREBUCHET]].{{Ref/Comic|Id=HWG|Halo Wars: Genesis|Page=20-21}}


[[Image:Pelican-Warthog.jpg|300px]]
The large aft overhang provides a magnetic and physical attachment point for additional cargo and ordnance. Possible payloads include a [[troop deployment pod]], a single large vehicle such as an [[M808 Scorpion]] or [[M12 Warthog]], or eight [[resupply canister]]s. It can also transport a [[deployable bridge]],{{Ref/Level|HR|Tip of the Spear}} or a [[firebase]] component building. It is discouraged for pilots to transport objects in the clamp during orbital insertions, as it can complicate reentry.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}


[[Image:Pelican-TroopPod.jpg|300px]]
==Variants==
As the most ubiquitous Pelican model in service, the Pelican has seen extensive deployment and modification, and is widely marketed to police, security, corporate and civilian markets.{{Ref/Reuse|OSFM206}}


== Weapon Systems ==
*'''[[D77H-TCI Pelican]]''' — A newer and nearly identical model of the regular D77-TC, except for a more angular frame, and it features a tandem pilot-seating configuration.{{Ref/Reuse|Halo Waypoint: Pelican}}
[[Image:Hornet war.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A squadron of [[Hornet]]s and [[Sparrowhawk]]s  attempt to protect a number of Pelican dropships from a Scarab in Halo Wars]]
*'''[[D77C Pelican]]''' – A civilian variant utilized by the law enforcement agencies on major urban areas.{{Ref/Reuse|Halo Waypoint: Pelican}}
Standard armament consists of a chin-mounted 40mm Rotary-cannon which was common prior to 2525, but was later superseded by a 70mm weapon (though a gun can be found on most Pelicans during the course of ''[[Halo 2]]'', these are neither big enough to be 40 or 70mm). 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>.
**'''[[D77C-NMPD Pelican]]''' – A specialized variant of the D77C and the D77H-TCI itself that was employed by the [[New Mombasa Police Department]] in [[Kenya]], [[Africa]], [[Earth]].{{Ref/Site|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/related/gallery/nmpd-pelican/a08fd318-4bef-4c32-9741-6d15b5f1180d|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=NMPD Pelican|D=26|M=03|Y=2011|Detail=(defunct, archive [[Archive:Halo Waypoint/2009 to 2014/Universe/Vehicles#NMPD Pelican|here]])}}
*'''Air Force variant''' — The version of the Pelican used by the [[UNSC Air Force]] features a few major differences from other variants of the aircraft. First, the cockpit layout resembles that of the newer D77H-TCI model with the co-pilot's station located behind and above the pilot rather than side-by-side.{{Ref/Game|HR|Detail=3D Pelican model}}
*'''[[G77S Pelican]]''' — Building upon the versatile foundation of the venerable D77 airframe, the G77S Pelican is an impressive gunship design cooked up by [[Isabel]] and the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}'s engineers to help turn the tide of battle against [[Banished]] forces on the Ark. The G77S Pelican Gunship boasts a powerful range of armaments, including top-mounted ANVIL missile pods, four payload hardpoints, a forward M370 chaingun turret, and multiple [[M41 Vulcan|12.7mm Vulcan]] cannons.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/the-art-of-war-s|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Canon Fodder: The Art of War(s)|D=19|M=03|Y=2017}}
*'''[[D78-TC Pelican]]''' — Although the [[D79-TC Pelican]] largely supplanted the D77 in post-war service, surviving hulls would be upgraded with improved avionics and thrusters, redesignated D78-TC and continuing to serve.{{Ref/Reuse|Halo Waypoint: Pelican}}{{Ref/Book|Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide|Page=112}}
<gallery>
File:H3 - D77H-TCI.png|D77H-TCI Pelican
File:H3ODST-D77C-NMPD-PelicanDropship.png|D77C-NMPD Pelican
File:Pelican render.png|Air Force variant of the D77-TC Pelican
File:HW2 - G77S Pelican.jpg|G77S Pelican
</gallery>


[[Missile pod]]s, each holding eight [[ANVIL-II ASM]]s, can be mounted under each wing to engage more maneuverable or better protected targets. Fire control was typically delegated to the co-pilot, who was assisted by helmet-mounted display.
==Identified Pelicans==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*''[[Bravo 001]]''
*''[[Bravo 022]]''
*''[[Bravo 029 (Pelican)|Bravo 029]]''
*''[[Charlie 217]]''
*''[[Delta 15]]''
*''[[Delta 331]]''
*''[[Echo 136]]''
*''[[Echo 206]]''
*''[[Echo 216]]''
*''[[Echo 419]]''
*''[[Gamma 054]]''
{{col-2}}
*"[[Iron Fist]]"
*''[[Pelican 019]]''
*''[[Oscar 128]]''
*''[[Tango 807]]''
*''[[Victor 321]]''
*''[[Victor 397]]''
*''[[Victor 933]]''
*''[[Whiskey 035]]''
*''[[Whiskey 036]]''
*''[[Whiskey 037]]''
*''[[Whiskey 039]]''
{{col-end}}


A [[AIE-486H HMG]], 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.
==Service history==
===Human-Covenant War===
By the time of the [[Fall of Reach]], D77-TC Pelicans were the most common airlift assets available to [[NOBLE Team]] and other [[Spartan]]s at [[Reach]], albeit [[UH-144 Falcon]]s also being used for shot-top transport and air support.{{Ref/Reuse|LC}} When the [[Covenant]] assaulted the planet, they were used to move critical assets the battlefronts across the human inner colony, and evacuate wounded and VIPs.{{Ref/Reuse|LC}} Following the UNSC disastrous defeat and the [[glassing]] of Reach in [[2552#August|August 30, 2552]], many surviving Pelicans were drawn to the sister colony of [[Tribute]], where they continue to fight against the Covenant forces there until the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]].{{Ref/Reuse|LC}}


==Propulsion==
===Post-war===
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 Pelican is too small to have a translight engine mounted on it.
{{Main|Battle over Installation 07|Installation 07 conflict}}
{{Expand-section}}


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.
==''Halo: Fleet Battles''==
===UNSC Pelican Boarding Craft===
*Flight slots: 0
*Movement: 12"
*Damage track: 4
*Security detail: 2
*Systems loadout: Heroic save (Trooper)
==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===Silver Timeline===
{{Main|Silver Timeline}}
D77 Pelicans are used by the UNSC to transport troops during their war with the Covenant.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=HTVOT|5KZ3MKraNKY|Paramount+|Halo The Series (2022) Official Trailer|Y=2022|M=1|D=30}}
==Trivia==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
*A pelican is a seabird, in keeping with the UNSC's tradition of naming atmospheric vehicles after real animals, with the exceptions of the [[Cyclops]] and [[Gremlin]], which are named after mythical creatures, and the [[GA-TL1 Longsword]], [[B-65 Shortsword]], [[FSS-1000 Sabre]], and [[F-41 Broadsword]] which are named after bladed weapons.
*All Pelican dropships in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' bear either the numbers E419 (''Echo 419'') or V933 (''Victor 933''). This was 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|has inspired the ''Halo'' series in many ways]].
*In ''Halo 2'' gameplay, players can see the insides of the Pelican's cockpit, but no pilots are inside, despite they can be heard in COMs.
*There is a glitch in the ''Halo 2'' level ''Metropolis'' where the player can ride in a 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'', the player can pilot a Pelican through [[Flyable Pelican and Phantom|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".
*Its name is a reference to the number [[7]].


==New Variant (D77H-TCI)==
==Gallery==
{{Main|D77H-TCI Pelican Dropship}}
===Concept art===
[[Image:D77H-TCI Pelican Gunship.jpg|thumb|The D77H-TCI, a newer variant of the Pelican]]
<gallery>
 
File:HCE TankPelican Concept.jpg|Very early sketches of the Pelican for ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', before the dropship's form was finalised.
''[[Halo 3]]'' introduces the new variant of the Pelican, the '''D77H-TCI Pelican''' (The ''H'' stands for ''Heavy'', the ''I'' probably stands for ''Infantry''). Externally, it appears nearly identical to the Pelicans used in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' and ''Halo 2'', except for being more angular. The missile pods have been replaced with a different version. Instead of an attachable box-like pod, it's now attached directly to the wings and engines (although some Pelicans still opt out the missile pod). The chain gun has been left out of the design altogether, though in cutscenes in the level [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]], a barrel shaped thing is seen popping out of front of the Pelican. Internally, though, the craft has been renovated and it can store equipment in overhead netting. It also mounts an [[AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun]] at the opening of the troop-bay for suppression fire during insertion/extraction missions. The cockpit has been altered, and instead of the side-by-side positioning of the pilot and co-pilot, the pilot now sits at the fore of the dropship, with the co-pilot behind him/her, and at a higher position, in tandem.
File:HCE_EarlyPelican_Concept.jpg|Early concept art for the Pelican for ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:HR_PelicanRedesign_Concept.jpg|Early concept of a redesigned Pelican for ''[[Halo: Reach]]''.
File:HR PelicanAirfield Concept.jpg|Concept art of a Pelican airfield on [[Reach]].
File:HINF Concept CrashedPelicans.png|Concept art of wrecked D77-TC Pelicans for ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.
File:HINF PelicanDropConcept.jpg|Concept art of a D77-TC Pelican delivering an M12B Warthog.
File:HINF Concept S1Hangar2.jpg|Concept art of a D77-TC at the [[Avery J. Johnson Academy of Military Science]].
</gallery>


== Character Compatibility ==
=== Renders ===
*[[Master Chief]]
<gallery>
*[[Marines]]
File:Pelicandrop.jpg|A simple overview of a Pelican dropship.
*[[Flood]] [[Carrier Form]]
File:HaloCE-PelicanDropship.png|A Pelican carrying a Warthog in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
*[[Elites]]
File:H2-Pelican chin gun.png|A view of the Pelican Dropship's chin-mounted autocannon in ''Halo 2''.
*[[Flood]] [[Combat Form]]
File:H2-D77TCPelicanDropship.png|A Pelican in ''Halo 2''.
File:HaloReach-D77TC-PelicanDropship.png|An Air Force Pelican in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HR - Render - D77TAL Pelican view 1.png|A view of the Air Force D77 in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:HCEA-PelicanDropship.png|An angled profile view of a Pelican in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
File:H2A D77Pelican HiPoly Render Crop.png|A cutout of a Pelican in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' cutscenes.
File:H2A D77Pelican HiPoly Render 1.jpg|A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.
File:H2A D77Pelican HiPoly Render 2.jpg|A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.
File:H2A D77Pelican HiPoly Render 3.jpg|A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.
File:H2A D77Pelican HiPoly Render 4.jpg|A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.
File:H2A D77Pelican HiPoly Render 5.jpg|A render of the troop bay in Blur Studio's cutscenes.
File:H2A D77Pelican HiPoly Render 6.jpg|A render of the troop bay in Blur Studio's cutscenes.
File:H2A D77Pelican HiPoly Render 7.jpg|A render of the troop bay in Blur Studio's cutscenes.
File:H2A D77Pelican HiPoly Render 8.jpg|A render of the troop bay in Blur Studio's cutscenes.
File:H2A D77Pelican HiPoly Render 9.jpg|A render of the cockpit.
File:H2A D77Pelican HiPoly Render 10.jpg|Another view of the ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' Pelican. The Pelican shown here uses weapon attachments from an Apache helicopter shown for display purposes only, and are not considered canon.
File:H2A D77Pelican HiPoly Render 11.jpg|A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.
File:H2A-D77TC-PelicanDropship-FrontView.png|In-game cutout of the ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' D77-TC in-game.
</gallery>


== Identified Pelicans ==
===Screenshots===
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 massive number of Pelicans are in service, perhaps as many as 26,000.
<gallery>
File:E3 2000 pelican.png|The Pelican as it appeared in the [[Halo E3 2000 trailer|E3 2000 Trailer for Halo: Combat Evolved]].
File:HCE PelicanBansheeChase Screenshot.jpg|An early look at the 2000-era Pelican.
File:DockedPelican.jpg|A Pelican docked in one of ''Pillar of Autumn''{{'}}s hangars.
File:H2 Early Pelican Interior.jpg|John-117 onboard a Pelican in a ''Halo 2'' press kit image, featuring an early design that would be reused in ''Halo: Reach''.
File:H2 - Destroyed Pelican.jpg|A crashed Pelican in flames.
File:BirthOfASpartan - Hopeful.png|A Pelican approaches the {{UNSCShip|Hopeful}} in the ''[[Birth of a Spartan]]'' short live-action film.
File:Halo Reach - TotS Pelican.jpg|A Pelican during the [[Battle at Szurdok Ridge]].
File:Pelican_carrying_bridge.jpg|A Pelican carrying a [[deployable bridge]].
File:Bravo 001.jpg|The crashed [[Bravo 001]] in the [[Military Wilderness Training Preserve]].
File:Troopers in Pelican.jpg|UNSC Army soldiers in the troop bay of a Pelican.
File:PelicansAnniversary.png|Two Pelicans during the [[Battle of the Silent Cartographer]].
File:H4-Scanned-PelicanDropships.jpg|D77s in ''Scanned''.
File:H2A - I Know What the Ladies Like.jpg|Sergeant Avery Johnson commandeers a Pelican's [[M247 general purpose machine gun|M247]] bay gun.
File:H2A - Pelican and Scorpion.jpg|A Pelican ferrying an M808B Scorpion.
File:HW2B_Pelican.png|A D77 Pelican in the ''[[Halo Wars 2 Open Beta]]''.
File:HW2B-D77gunship.png|A G77S Pelican gunship in the ''Halo Wars 2 Open Beta''.
File:HW2-CampaignD77.png|A D77 Pelican delivering a [[UNSC Supply Pad]] during the Battle of Installation 00 in ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:HW2-D77&Minibase.png|A D77 delivering a minibase.
File:HW2-D77&Supplypad.png|A D77 delivering a supply pad to a firebase.
File:HW2-D77.png|A D77 delivering a [[Watchtower]].
File:HW2-D77vsG81.jpg|A D77 in comparison to a [[G81 Condor]].
File:HW2-G77S.png|A G77S firing at a target.
File:HINF Multiplayer Reveal 2021-6.png|A D77-TC on the map [[Fragmentation]] in ''Halo Infinite''.
File:HINF Echo216Landed.png|''Echo 216'', a D77-TC Pelican, landed at [[Outpost Tremonius (location)|Outpost Tremonius]] on [[Installation 07]].
File:HINF - Emblem icon - Pelican Streak.png|The Pelican Streak emblem in ''Halo Infinite''.
</gallery>


===Non-canon images===
<gallery>
File:Fortnite-D77.jpg|A D77 being used as a glider in ''[[Wikipedia:Fortnite|Fortnite]]''.
File:HTV-Unbound-D77410.jpg|A D77-TC Pelican in ''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''.
File:MFS-D77drip.png|Various skins for the D77-TC Pelican in ''Microsoft Flight Simulator''.
File:MFS-D77cockpit.png|A D77's cockpit.
File:MFS-D77room.png|A D77's airlock.
File:MFS-D77troopbay.png|A D77's troop bay.
File:MFS-D77attachmentoptions.png|Decal aboard a D77 displaying potential aft cargo.
</gallery>


{{Pelican}}
=== Merchandise ===
<gallery>
File:HGC-D77.jpg|A D77 Pelican in ''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''.
</gallery>


==Trivia==
==List of appearances==
*Pelicans in [[Halo Wars]] show a [[Legendary]] symbol under the cockpit with "Death To Covenant" written under it.
{{Col-begin}}
*All Pelican dropships in Halo: Combat Evolved bear either the numbers E419 (Echo 419) or V933 (Victor 933). The Pelicans in  [[343 Guilty Spark (level)|343 Guilty Spark]] (correctly) and [[The Silent Cartographer (level)|The Silent Cartographer]] (incorrectly) are labeled V933. All others are labeled E419. This is strange, especially the fact that [[Bravo 22]] is labeled as [[Victor 933]].
{{Col-3}}
*All Pelican dropships in [[Halo: Combat Evolved]], [[Halo 2]], and [[Halo 3]] are piloted by women with [[American]] southern accents.
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*Pelicans in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' and ''[[Halo 2]]'' are never seen carrying more than six [[Human]] Marine troops at a time, despite being capable of carrying up to fifteen. However, it is likely that this is merely because [[UNSC]] troops usually work in small teams during engagements, comprising of five to six men, known as [[Fire Teams]]. Another likely reason is that the [[Master Chief]], in full armor, weighs in at about 1,000 lbs, making him weigh approximately as much as 5 fully armed marines. So 6 marines, plus the mass of 5 means the Pelican is towing the average of 11, as ''[[Halo: The Flood]]'' stated, 15 is more than pushing the limit as it is. Which makes very little sense as the pelican is capable of carrying a 65 ton tank. So the most likely reason would be gameplay balance. If the Fireteams were replaced with Squads consisting of 15 Marines then the game would become too easy.
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' on ''Assault on the Control Room'', if you hold down X (E on PC by default) at the beginning of the level you can stay inside the Pelican, but beware, because as soon as it goes down a few hundred meters, you will die.
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*Although in ''[[Halo 2]]'', the Pelican carries two [[missile pods]], each loaded with 8 Anvil-II High Explosive missiles, the only time the dropships ever use them in combat is during the end of the level ''[[Metropolis (Level)|Metropolis]]'', when some launch them against a Scarab, and at the beginning of ''[[Delta Halo (Level)|Delta Halo]]'', when Johnson's Pelican launches some if there are any [[Covenant]] left when the Pelicans come in. It is also used in ''[[Quarantine Zone]]'', after you first encounter a Scorpion. When you move to the next section, a Pelican (unknown if [[Human]] or [[Flood]] controlled) will fire missiles as it passes by at either you or the [[Sentinels]]. Its 70mm chain gun, on the other hand, is used twice during ''[[Outskirts (Level)|Outskirts]]'', both times against [[Jackals]]. Also, in the level ''Delta Halo'', when the Pelican drops off a Scorpion, if there are any Covenant troops left alive, the Pelican will attack them with its chain gun. On occasion the Pelican also attacks the [[Banshee]]s when they are on approach to the player's position.
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*In ''Halo 2'' and ''Halo'' 3, Pelicans are also used for ammo drops, carrying 6 cylindrical weapon canisters instead of a Warthog or Scorpion. These are found throughout ''[[Delta Halo]]'' and ''[[Regret (Level)|Regret]]'' in ''Halo 2'', as well as a couple of scripted drops. These canisters cannot harm the player unless he/she is positioned directly underneath, but they can destroy a vehicle if they hit it.
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*The pods dropped off can be moved by driving into them with a vehicle, mostly tanks. In ''Halo 3'' these pods cannot be moved. They are also objects in Forge.
*''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]''
*In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2'', none of the in-game Pelicans have pilots.
**''[[The Last Voyage of the Infinite Succor]]''
*The original Pelican had the ability to insert six additional seats in the middle of the cargo bay to facilitate more marines on longer journeys.
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*In ''Halo: CE'' on the level ''[[Assault on the Control Room]]'', if the player does the trick where one stays inside the Pelican, the player can walk around when it lands on the bottom. To do this Co-op must be used. Both players stay inside and go down. After some time one of them must jump out. If done correctly the player outside will be able to "flip the Pelican". The player outside will die, but the one inside will survive and land on the bottom where he/she will be able to walk around.
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
[[Image:Dropship.jpg|thumb|The [Wikipedia:UD4L Cheyenne|''UD4L Cheyenne'' dropship from the movie [[Wikipedia:Aliens|Aliens]], which may have served as conceptual inspiration.]]
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
*In [[Halo: Combat Evolved]] on the level [[343 Guilty Spark (Level)|343 Guilty Spark]], you can stay on the Pelican by throwing all your [[grenades]] before it takes off again. You will not die but the Pelican will crash on the top of the map on the hills where you can find the "Lost Marine".
**''[[Odd One Out]]'' {{C|Non-canon appearance}}
*On certain levels, you can get on the top of the Pelican but when it takes off, you will slip off and most likely die. In Halo 3, the game will kill you if you are standing on one as it flies out of bounds.
*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''
*In [[Halo 2]]'s level [[Quarantine Zone (Level)|Quarantine Zone]] there is a hidden crashed Pelican near the entrance of the barricade at the end.
**''[[Pariah]]''
*In the level ''[[Outskirts]]'' in [[Halo 2]], the Pelican faces in two different directions depending if the difficulty is on Easy or Legendary.
**''[[Dirt]]''
*If you manage to find a Pelican and it flips in [[Halo 2]], it says "Hold x to flip [[Banshee]]" instead of Pelican.
**''[[Blunt Instruments]]''
*The Pelican's troop bay has been stated by Bungie employee Robert McLees as large enough to fit a modern M1A1 Abrams main battle tank.{{fact}}
**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''
* hocus is the main pilot in the halo 3 campaign
*''[[Remember Reach]]''
==Gallery==
**''[[Birth of a Spartan]]''
<GALLERY>
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
Image:1215452971 Pelican.jpeg|A Pelican in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.
{{Col-3}}
Image:1217908331 Marines.jpg|A group of [[Marine]]s in a Pelican.
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]''
Image:1225327600 Destroyed pelican.jpg|A crashed Pelican in flames.
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Boot Camp|Boot Camp]]''
Image:PelicanOnHarvest.JPG|Three Pelicans in the Halo Wars CGI trailer.
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
Image:Phantom and Pelican.png|A Pelican in a woodland camouflage scheme.
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
</GALLERY>
*''[[Scanned]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]'' {{c|Cutscene only}}
*''[[Hunt the Truth]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series]]''
*''[[Know Your Enemy]]''
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Fractures]]''
**''[[Oasis]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]''
*''[[Halo: Retribution]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''
{{Col-3}}
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''
*''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''
*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite: Memory Agent]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
**''[[Contact]]''
**''[[Unbound]]''
{{Col-end}}


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


{{UNSC Ships}}
{{Pelican variants}}
[[Category:UNSC Vehicles]]
{{Human aircraft}}

Latest revision as of 15:30, October 16, 2024

"WE'VE GOT A NEW CONTACT, UNKNOWN CLASSIFICATION!"
This article may contain information based upon upcoming, unreleased, or recently-released content from Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), and may not be fully complete. Additionally, the information may be subject to change if it is based on pre-release material. Please update it as soon as any relevant and accurate material is available.
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This article is about the Pelican model in service primarily during the Human-Covenant War. For other Pelican models, see Pelican.
Dropship 77 - Troop Carrier
Cropped render of the D77 Pelican in Halo Infinite.
Production information

Manufacturer:

Misriah Armory[1][2]

Class:

Pelican[2]

Role:

Dropship,[3] gunship

Technical specifications

Length:

33.8 meters (110.9 ft)[2]

Width:

25.3 meters (82.9 ft)[2]

Height:

11.1 meters (36.5 ft)[2]

Mass:

138 metric tons (136 LT; 152 ST)[4][2]

Engine(s):

Navigation system(s):

Armament:

Complement:

  • 10–14 passengers[2]
  • 1 vehicle[3]

Crew:

Chronological and affiliation

Era:

Introduced:

2392[1][10]

Affiliation:

 

The D77-TC Pelican[10][3] (Formal classification: Dropship 77 - Troop Carrier),[2] commonly known as the Pelican, is an extremely versatile space-to-ground capable craft used by the United Nations Space Command, as well as being marketed toward law enforcement, security, corporate and civilian markets.[1] In its role as a tactical aerospace lifter, the Pelican is mainly for the pickup and transportation of personnel, vehicles and equipment, though some variants are capable of serving in the role of a gunship. The UNSC also uses Pelicans as civilian vehicles for quick evacuations.[11][12]

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.

The Pelican's 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.[citation needed] More heavily armed variants exist, and the Pelican can be converted to a gunship role with the addition of numerous and more powerful weaponry.[13]

Design[edit]

Armament[edit]

The Pelican's primary armament consists of one or more nose-mounted projectile weapons, typically autocannons or machine guns. Commonly known as "chin guns" due to their placement,[6] these weapons are controlled via an Integrated Helmet and Display Sight System (IHADSS), which links to the pilot's or co-pilot's heads-up display and allows them to target the gun by head movements.[7][14] The Pelican's standard armament is a chin-mounted M370 autocannon, which is sometimes linked with another such weapon;[15] the M370 fires 70mm high-explosive armor-piercing (HEAP) rounds as standard ammunition,[4] with depleted-Uranium slugs also being an option.[15] This replaced the older M340 autocannon that was common prior to 2525.[8] Some Marine Corps Pelicans are armed with a single 70mm rotary machine gun instead of a chain gun.[7]

In addition to its primary armament, the Pelican has four externally-mounted missile hardpoints,[1] which typically hold twin pods of eight Anvil-II air-to-surface missiles. However, they can carry a variety of weapon systems or specialized equipment pods. A turret can be placed at the back of the cargo-bay to provide covering fire for embarking personnel, and can range from machine guns, to grenade launchers, and even a gauss cannon.[4] While some weapons can be folded against the roof when not in use, others such as the AIE-486H machine gun can not.[16]

The D77-TC Pelican, like most other UNSC aerospace vehicles, is fitted with a suite of countermeasures to warn the dropship of incoming attacks, break target locks, and mitigate the effects of electronic warfare. These include wide-spectrum flares, microdrone decoys, rainbow laser blinders, RADAR/LIDAR sensors, directional jammers, and "hard chop" guillotines on data processing modules that could be susceptible to cyber-intrusion agents.[4] To prevent them from being easily taken out by electromagnetic pulses, the Pelican's electronic systems are hardened against such phenomena.

Powerplant/Propulsion[edit]

Pelicans utilize a Bussard Ramjet system that uses magnetic fields to attract hydrogen into two primary and two secondary articulated engine pods, creating fusion and in turn, rocket exhaust. While ideal for use in an atmospheric environment, they require a hydrogen reaction mass in order to operate in vacuum.[4] The two main engines have four nacelles each, two on the bottom and two at the back. The aft engines being similar but lack a nacelle at the bottom. Because both modules are mounted on rotating blocks, they can redirect themselves from directing the thrust downwards to any direction required. A basic gravitic control system is used in-atmosphere to supply further stability and supplementary lift.[4] Although fully capable of orbital transit, the D77 is too small to be equipped with a Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine, and is thus incapable of slipspace travel.[citation needed]

Crew and complement[edit]

UNSC Marines boarding a D77-TC.

The Pelican is crewed by two personnel who occupy the cockpit at the front of the dropship. The pilot sits on the right side, with the electronics operator or gunner taking up the station on the left. All flight controls are a digital fly-by-light with no manual backups; an integral expert system optimizes stability and adjusts the thruster profiles under all regimes and cargo profiles. Unlike on the later D79-TC Pelican, the cockpit is only accessible from the cargo-bay. Motion trackers, RADAR/LIDAR sensors and a computerized mapping system allow the pilot to plan their way to nearby staging areas as well as to warn of incoming threats.[4]

The cargo-bay, colloquially dubbed by Marines as the "blood tray", usually accommodates up to ten personnel in jumpseats, with a small overhead compartment for their weapons and equipment. Additional infantry can be carried standing up, and increased seating for ten more people can be installed in the center aisle. Otherwise, this space can be used to carry cargo pallets, casualty litters, or even small utility vehicles such as two M274 Mongoose ULATV.[4] The Pelican is also equipped with an onboard weapons locker, which can hold enough weapons and ammunition to arm thirty troopers.[14] At least one pelican has been modified to act as a boarding craft for Operation: RED FLAG, which has enough room to ferry twenty-five SPARTAN-IIs to their target, as well as carry the cutting gear needed to cut through the hull of a Covenant warship. Pelicans equipped for "soft-seal" boarding actions have an extendable cover that folds down around the entrance to the troop bay. This configuration was refined during the last days of Operation: TREBUCHET.[17]

The large aft overhang provides a magnetic and physical attachment point for additional cargo and ordnance. Possible payloads include a troop deployment pod, a single large vehicle such as an M808 Scorpion or M12 Warthog, or eight resupply canisters. It can also transport a deployable bridge,[18] or a firebase component building. It is discouraged for pilots to transport objects in the clamp during orbital insertions, as it can complicate reentry.[4]

Variants[edit]

As the most ubiquitous Pelican model in service, the Pelican has seen extensive deployment and modification, and is widely marketed to police, security, corporate and civilian markets.[1]

  • D77H-TCI Pelican — A newer and nearly identical model of the regular D77-TC, except for a more angular frame, and it features a tandem pilot-seating configuration.[10]
  • D77C Pelican – A civilian variant utilized by the law enforcement agencies on major urban areas.[10]
  • Air Force variant — The version of the Pelican used by the UNSC Air Force features a few major differences from other variants of the aircraft. First, the cockpit layout resembles that of the newer D77H-TCI model with the co-pilot's station located behind and above the pilot rather than side-by-side.[20]
  • G77S Pelican — Building upon the versatile foundation of the venerable D77 airframe, the G77S Pelican is an impressive gunship design cooked up by Isabel and the UNSC Spirit of Fire's engineers to help turn the tide of battle against Banished forces on the Ark. The G77S Pelican Gunship boasts a powerful range of armaments, including top-mounted ANVIL missile pods, four payload hardpoints, a forward M370 chaingun turret, and multiple 12.7mm Vulcan cannons.[21]
  • D78-TC Pelican — Although the D79-TC Pelican largely supplanted the D77 in post-war service, surviving hulls would be upgraded with improved avionics and thrusters, redesignated D78-TC and continuing to serve.[10][22]
  • D77H-TCI Pelican

    D77H-TCI Pelican

  • D77C-NMPD Pelican

    D77C-NMPD Pelican

  • Air Force variant of the D77-TC Pelican

    Air Force variant of the D77-TC Pelican

  • G77S Pelican

    G77S Pelican

Identified Pelicans[edit]

Service history[edit]

Human-Covenant War[edit]

By the time of the Fall of Reach, D77-TC Pelicans were the most common airlift assets available to NOBLE Team and other Spartans at Reach, albeit UH-144 Falcons also being used for shot-top transport and air support.[3] When the Covenant assaulted the planet, they were used to move critical assets the battlefronts across the human inner colony, and evacuate wounded and VIPs.[3] Following the UNSC disastrous defeat and the glassing of Reach in August 30, 2552, many surviving Pelicans were drawn to the sister colony of Tribute, where they continue to fight against the Covenant forces there until the end of the Human-Covenant War.[3]

Post-war[edit]

Main articles: Battle over Installation 07, Installation 07 conflict
Help.png This section needs expansion. You can help Halopedia by expanding it.

Halo: Fleet Battles[edit]

UNSC Pelican Boarding Craft[edit]

  • Flight slots: 0
  • Movement: 12"
  • Damage track: 4
  • Security detail: 2
  • Systems loadout: Heroic save (Trooper)

Non-canon and dubious canon appearances[edit]

Silver Timeline[edit]

Main article: Silver Timeline

D77 Pelicans are used by the UNSC to transport troops during their war with the Covenant.[23]

Trivia[edit]

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.
  • A pelican is a seabird, in keeping with the UNSC's tradition of naming atmospheric vehicles after real animals, with the exceptions of the Cyclops and Gremlin, which are named after mythical creatures, and the GA-TL1 Longsword, B-65 Shortsword, FSS-1000 Sabre, and F-41 Broadsword which are named after bladed weapons.
  • All Pelican dropships in Halo: Combat Evolved bear either the numbers E419 (Echo 419) or V933 (Victor 933). This was 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.
  • In Halo 2 gameplay, players can see the insides of the Pelican's cockpit, but no pilots are inside, despite they can be heard in COMs.
  • There is a glitch in the Halo 2 level Metropolis where the player can ride in a 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, the 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".
  • Its name is a reference to the number 7.

Gallery[edit]

Concept art[edit]

Renders[edit]

  • A simple overview of a Pelican dropship.

    A simple overview of a Pelican dropship.

  • A Pelican carrying a Warthog in Halo: Combat Evolved.

    A Pelican carrying a Warthog in Halo: Combat Evolved.

  • A view of the Pelican Dropship's chin-mounted autocannon in Halo 2.

    A view of the Pelican Dropship's chin-mounted autocannon in Halo 2.

  • A Pelican in Halo 2.

    A Pelican in Halo 2.

  • An Air Force Pelican in Halo: Reach.

    An Air Force Pelican in Halo: Reach.

  • A view of the Air Force D77 in Halo: Reach.

    A view of the Air Force D77 in Halo: Reach.

  • An angled profile view of a Pelican in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

    An angled profile view of a Pelican in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

  • A cutout of a Pelican in Halo 2: Anniversary cutscenes.

    A cutout of a Pelican in Halo 2: Anniversary cutscenes.

  • A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

    A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

  • A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

    A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

  • A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

    A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

  • A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

    A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

  • A render of the troop bay in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

    A render of the troop bay in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

  • A render of the troop bay in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

    A render of the troop bay in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

  • A render of the troop bay in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

    A render of the troop bay in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

  • A render of the troop bay in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

    A render of the troop bay in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

  • A render of the cockpit.

    A render of the cockpit.

  • Another view of the Halo 2: Anniversary Pelican. The Pelican shown here uses weapon attachments from an Apache helicopter shown for display purposes only, and are not considered canon.

    Another view of the Halo 2: Anniversary Pelican. The Pelican shown here uses weapon attachments from an Apache helicopter shown for display purposes only, and are not considered canon.

  • A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

    A render of the D77-TC Pelican in Blur Studio's cutscenes.

  • In-game cutout of the Halo 2: Anniversary D77-TC in-game.

    In-game cutout of the Halo 2: Anniversary D77-TC in-game.

Screenshots[edit]

Non-canon images[edit]

  • A D77 being used as a glider in Fortnite.

    A D77 being used as a glider in Fortnite.

  • A D77-TC Pelican in Halo: The Television Series.

    A D77-TC Pelican in Halo: The Television Series.

  • Various skins for the D77-TC Pelican in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

    Various skins for the D77-TC Pelican in Microsoft Flight Simulator.

  • A D77's cockpit.

    A D77's cockpit.

  • A D77's airlock.

    A D77's airlock.

  • A D77's troop bay.

    A D77's troop bay.

  • Decal aboard a D77 displaying potential aft cargo.

    Decal aboard a D77 displaying potential aft cargo.

Merchandise[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual, page 206
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 148
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Halo Legendary Crate - Data Drop #13: D77 Pelican Tactical Aerospace Lifter
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Halo: Warfleet, page 44-45
  5. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level 343 Guilty Spark
  6. ^ a b Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 135
  7. ^ a b c Halo: The Flood, chapter 3
  8. ^ a b Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 92: "John sized up her armaments - dented and charred armor, a pair of old, out-of-date 40mm chain guns."
  9. ^ Halo Infinite, campaign mission Ringfall: Warship Gbraakon
  10. ^ a b c d e Halo Waypoint, Pelican (Retrieved on Oct 30, 2021) [archive]
  11. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Exodus
  12. ^ Halo: Uprising
  13. ^ Halo Wars 2, G77S Pelican gunship in-game model
  14. ^ a b Halo: Combat Evolved: Sybex Official Strategies & Secrets
  15. ^ a b Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, Chapter 1
  16. ^ Halo 3, campaign level The Ark
  17. ^ Halo Wars: Genesis, page 20-21
  18. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level Tip of the Spear
  19. ^ Halo Waypoint, NMPD Pelican: (defunct, archive here) (Retrieved on Mar 26, 2011) [archive]
  20. ^ Halo: Reach: 3D Pelican model
  21. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder: The Art of War(s) (Retrieved on Mar 19, 2017) [archive]
  22. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 112
  23. ^ YouTube - Paramount+, Halo The Series (2022) Official Trailer (Retrieved on Jan 30, 2022)

v • d • e
 
Pelican TAL variants
D75 Pelican variants
D77 Pelican variants
D78 Pelican variants
D79 Pelican variants
Unique and individual vehicles

v • d • e
 
Human aerospace craft
Ground-support craft
Bombers
Strategic bomber B-65 Shortsword
Bomber/Interceptors GA-TL1 Longsword (C708 • C709 • C712 • C718)
Troop transports Pelican (D75 • D77 • D78 • D79 • Other variants) • D102 Owl • SLEIPNIR
Logistical transports Condor (D80 • D81 • Other variants) • D20 Heron • D82 Darter • D96 Albatross
Stealth and reconnaissance D75/r Pelican • D102 Owl • Subprowler (Black Cat-class • Chiroptera-class • U81 Condor) • Turaco
Shuttlecraft
Lifeboat classes (Class-3 • Class-5) • Command shuttle • RLT-85 Emergency Shuttlepod • SKT-series (SKT-9 • SKT-13 • SKT-21 • SKT-29) • Lacewing-II • Queen Bee • Shuttle pod
Human Entry Vehicle (HEV) M7650 • M8823
SOIEV M8900 • M9407
Other Equipment pod • Long Range Stealth • Escape pod
Other
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