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UH-144 Falcon: Difference between revisions

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

m (Don't think it is fair to say that Falcons are used my the Marines when they are attached to a special ONI unit, knowing that ONI has the power to requisition units and tech from other branches.)
mNo edit summary
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*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==

Revision as of 16:23, May 18, 2018

Falcon redirects here. For other uses, see Falcon (disambiguation).
UH-144 Falcon
HaloReach - Falcon.png
Production information

Manufacturer:

Misriah Armory[1]

Model:

UH-144[1]

Technical specifications

Length:

11.4 meters (37.5 ft)[1][2]

Width:

10.0 meters (32.8 ft)[1][2]

Height:

4.1 meters (13.6 ft)[1]

Mass:

13.9 metric tons (13.7 LT; 15.3 ST)[1]

Maximum speed:

296 kilometers per hour (184 mph)[1]

Engine(s):

Twin jet engines[1]

Armament:

M638 20mm autocannon[3]

Crew:

One pilot,[1] two door gunners[2]

Complement:

Five passengers,[1] including gunners[2]

Usage

Year introduced:

2497[1]

In service:

Role(s):

  • Troop transport[1]
  • Air-to-ground support[5]

Affiliation:

UNSC Army[1]

 

The UH-144 Falcon is a versatile, multipurpose utility helicopter used by the UNSC Army.[1] Manufactured by Misriah Armory,[2] the Falcon is used for troop transport and deployment, as well as air-to-ground support.[5] The primary utility helicopter within the United Nations Space Command's sizable fleet of vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Falcon is one of the most popular transports within the Army, famed for its effective arsenal and speed.[6]

Specifications

Design details

The UH-144 Falcon is a versatile, multipurpose utility helicopter.[1] Unlike the nimble AV-14 Hornet or the swift AV-22 Sparrowhawk, the Falcon is exceptionally discrete, while remaining incredibly effective.[6] The Falcon gained favor within the UNSC Army for proving to be an economical alternative to the larger Pelican dropships for short-range troop transportation and deployment.[1] 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.[6][7] The Falcon's hull is sturdy, able to easily shrug off small arms fire and even certain heavier attacks.[8]

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.[1] 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.[2][6] Gunners secured themselves within the Falcon with a safety harness that hung from the ceiling.[9]

Propulsion

The Falcon is a 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.[1] To take off, the Falcon's rotors are angled so that the rotor blades are horizontal. When the Falcon has reached the desired height, the pilot tilts the rotors forward so that the rotor blades are near vertical. In this mode, the wings provide some of the lift, and the rotors provide thrust as a propeller.[10]

The twin-turbine system gives the Falcon an extremely agile range of maneuverability.[11] 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.[2][6] The Falcon is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 296 kilometers per hour (184 miles per hour).[1]

Armaments

Distinguished by its unquestionably effective and relatively heavy weaponry,[2][6] the Falcon is capable of being fitted with a wide variety of armaments. The primary armament of the Falcon is an 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.[1] Flanking the vehicle on both sides are modular weapon emplacements that vary depending on the Falcon variant.[6] The emplacements are installed on flexible mount hardpoints on either side of the open cabin, selected at the discretion of the Falcon's crew.[1] The UH-144A variant is armed with a pair of M460 Automatic Grenade Launchers, while the UH-144S variant sports standard 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.[6]

Variants

Operational history

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.[1] The Falcon was used during the Insurrection.[4]

Falcons were used throughout the Human-Covenant War, including during the Battle of Fumirole in April 2552.[12] Falcons were used extensively during the Fall of Reach throughout the summer of 2552. Notably, the Falcons Kilo 33 and 34 transported NOBLE Team to Sword Base in an effort to end the Covenant assault on the facility.[13] Numerous Falcons later participated in the Battle at Szurdok Ridge.[14] Falcons would later participate in evacuation efforts and troop movement operations during the Siege of New Alexandria.[15]

During their 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.[16] Over the course of the battalion's battle with the Keepers, the remaining Falcon provided troop transport and supply drops for the UNSC forces.[17] However, the Falcon was eventually crashed in the Montero Jungle when the pilot was killed mid-flight days later.[9] As of 2557, the Falcon remains in active service with the UNSC Army.[18]

Trivia

Main-Legendary.png See our gameplay information related to UH-144 Falcon on its gameplay page.
Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.
  • A 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 Longsword, Shortsword, and Sabre, which are named after bladed weapons.
  • The Falcon is nicknamed the "Warthog of the skies" by fans and Bungie employees.[19]
  • Superficially, the Falcon looks rather similar to the United States Marine Corps' V-22 Osprey tilt rotor. However, the Osprey's rotor blades tilt directly forward in flight.
  • As seen in early concept art, it appears the Falcon would originally have possessed ducted air fans, like those of the AV-14 Hornet and D77-TC Pelican, rather than rotors.
  • Much like UNSC aircraft in Halo Wars, Falcons that cannot be piloted have yellow windshields. In campaign, if one punches out the windows of these Falcons, they'll notice that there is no character inside piloting the Falcon.
  • A Falcon avatar gear is one of the bonus items included with the Halo: Reach Limited and Legendary editions.
  • Unlike most vehicles in Halo: Reach, the smoke from a badly damaged Falcon blocks a substantial portion of the screen, increasing the difficulty of flying a critically damaged aircraft.
  • Unless the player jumps on top of a rotor hub, he or she cannot be killed by the Falcon's rotors. However, touching the rotor hub will kill the player instantly.
  • It is possible to fly the Falcon in the first level. The player must hit the Falcon that Jun is not in with an overcharged plasma pistol shot. When it falls, the Falcon has a small chance of flipping on the ground and forcing the pilot out.
  • Due to balancing purposes, the Falcon in multiplayer lacks the chin-mounted autocannon that is normally usable by the pilot.[20]
  • Elites can hijack Falcons in the campaign, disrupting the flow of the level and forcing the player to start it over again.
  • Falcons are seen flying past UNSC Infinity in a screenshot from the Halo 4 level Reclaimer released during the E3 2012 Xbox Media Briefing. However, they do not appear in the final version of the game.

Gallery

  • A Falcon passing over Kat during the Battle of Fumirole in Deliver Hope.

    A Falcon passing over Kat during the Battle of Fumirole in Deliver Hope.

  • A pair of Falcons glide into battle to support UNSC troopers in the Battle of Fumirole.

    A pair of Falcons glide into battle to support UNSC troopers in the Battle of Fumirole.

  • Falcon concept.jpg

    Early concept art for the Falcon for Halo: Reach suggests that it was originally a helicopter.

  • VTOL.JPG

    Concept art of the UH-144 Falcon.

  • ReachConcept FalconDetail.jpg

    A concept model of the Falcon.

  • Ih falcon04.jpeg

    Concept art of the Falcon, side view.

  • A few of the original renders, note the chin gun.

    A few of the original renders, note the chin gun.

  • Views of the Falcon from Halo: Reach's development.

    Views of the Falcon from Halo: Reach's development.

  • Another view of the Falcon.

    Another view of the Falcon.

  • A Falcon lifting off.

    A Falcon lifting off.

  • The Falcon's heads-up display.

    The Falcon's heads-up display.

  • 5.jpg

    Two Falcons on Reach.

  • Two UH-144 Falcons flying over a mountain.

    Two UH-144 Falcons flying over a mountain.

  • View from one of the Falcon's grenade launchers.

    View from one of the Falcon's grenade launchers.

  • A Spartan sitting in a Falcon.

    A Spartan sitting in a Falcon.

  • A Spartan firing one of the Falcon's grenade launchers.

    A Spartan firing one of the Falcon's grenade launchers.

  • A rough model of the Falcon, used in background battles.

    A rough model of the Falcon, used in background battles.

  • The Falcon's cockpit.

    The Falcon's cockpit.

  • Falcons (near UNSC Infinity) in an early build of Halo 4.

    Falcons (near UNSC Infinity) in an early build of Halo 4.

  • A UH-144 Falcon during the Insurrection in Halo Mythos.

    A UH-144 Falcon during the Insurrection in Halo Mythos.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Halo Waypoint: Falcon
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 67
  3. ^ Halo: Reach Official Strategy Guide, page 343
  4. ^ a b Halo Mythos, page 56
  5. ^ a b Halo: Reach manual
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Halo Waypoint: UH-144 Falcon (defunct, backup on Archive.org)
  7. ^ Bungie.net: UH-144 Falcon
  8. ^ Halo: Last Light, page 238
  9. ^ a b Halo: Last Light, page 260
  10. ^ Halo: Reach
  11. ^ Halo Encyclopedia, page 260 (2011)
  12. ^ Deliver Hope
  13. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level, ONI: Sword Base
  14. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level, Tip of the Spear
  15. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level, Exodus
  16. ^ Halo: Last Light, pages 162-168
  17. ^ Halo: Last Light, page 235
  18. ^ Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Feet First
  19. ^ Bungie.net: Bungie Weekly Update: 01.29.10
  20. ^ Bungie.net: Bungie Weekly Update: 08.06.10

Template:UNSC Aircraft

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