UH-144 Falcon

Falcon redirects here. For other uses, see Falcon (disambiguation).

The UH-144 Falcon^[1] is the primary air-to-ground support and troop transport aircraft of the United Nations Space Command.^[2]^[3]

Design details

The UH-144 Falcon is a versatile, tilt- and transverse-rotor, multi-purpose utility helicopter. Two Falcons can transport a fully-equipped fireteam faster than any other previous system, and can provide overwhelming fire support in most weather conditions.

In the campaign, the aircraft's crew consists of one pilot, two crewmen who may serve as door gunners, and three passengers. However, in multiplayer, there is only room for one pilot and two gunners.^[4]

Propulsion

The Falcon's rotors are mounted on a pair of stub wings on each side of the fuselage. Since the Falcon is a tiltrotor, the rotors are mounted on rotating shafts at the end of the wings. This combines the vertical lift capability of a helicopter with the speed and range of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft.

To take off, the Falcon's rotors are angled so that the rotor blades are horizontal, lifting the way a helicopter rotor does. When the Falcon has reached the desired height, the pilot tilts the rotors are forward so that the rotor blades are vertical. In this mode the wings provide the lift, and the rotors provide thrust as a propeller. Additionally, two small jets are located toward the back of the Falcon, facing to the rear. These contribute to the Falcon's forward propulsion, and glow red when the Falcon is moving forward at high speed.

To protect passengers and crew from the downwash caused by the rotors, the words "BEWARE OF BLAST" are painted on the edge of the floor of the passenger cabin.

Armaments

The base model of the Falcon features a chin-mounted M638 Autocannon as its primary armament, capable of firing explosive 20mm shells at a moderate rate, in short bursts. Depending on the variants, the Falcon is either equipped with two side mounted M247H Heavy Machine Guns or with two side mounted M460 Automatic Grenade Launchers.

Variants

UH-144A: Features two side-mounted M460 Automatic Grenade Launchers as secondary armament.^[3]^[5]
UH-144S: Features two side-mounted M247H Heavy Machine Guns as secondary armament.^[3]^[5]

Tactics

Campaign

During Winter Contingency, Noble Team's Falcon can provide fire support during the first section of the mission.
The Falcon used in the level Tip of the Spear is equipped with semi-automatic grenade launchers which can produce an EMP effect when the trigger is held down, then released to manually detonate the grenade. This EMP can shut down enemy vehicles.
The player pilots a Falcon during the level New Alexandria which is equipped with a pilot-controlled, chin-mounted autocannon that has a larger field of fire, and is more accurate and more powerful than the side-mounted machine guns (this is not in multiplayer). In Co-Op on this level, other players can ride in the passenger seats of one or fly their own, as there will be an extra Falcon with mounted Grenade Launchers.
When piloting the Falcon, the player can face one side of the Falcon towards attacking Banshees, allowing an ally to open fire on them. Skilled pilots will place their craft to put their gunners in an optimum position to fire upon a target.

Multiplayer

The Falcon's side-mounted machine guns are extremely short-ranged and the pilot will need to take this into account when attacking a target.
Players must keep moving to avoid being hijacked by players using the Jetpack armor ability. Beware of hijacking a Falcon with gunners, though, as they will continue firing on your allies which may force them to destroy the Falcon with you still aboard.
The cockpit area takes roughly double damage from all weapons compared to the rest of the vehicle. Approximately eight sniper rifle rounds is required to destroy a Falcon. Explosives are slightly more effective, with one or two Plasma Launcher rounds stuck to the cockpit being enough to destroy the Falcon in most situations, as well as Plasma Grenades.
The Falcon has a unique ability most players are unaware of: a greatly extended Motion Tracker Range. It is even capable of detecting hostile players that normally wouldn't show up (not moving, crouched, players using the 'Active Camo' armor ability, etc). This applies to everyone in the Falcon, regardless of position or species. Players can use this to their teams advantage when piloting one by informing team mates on the ground of the locations of enemies.
While the Falcon can be used to insert players near enemy objectives, players carrying objective items cannot ride in Falcons, as there is no "passenger seat". The carrier can stand on the top of the Falcon, however, though he must walk continuously in same direction it's traveling as to not fall off.
Pilots must remember to keep at least one side of their Falcon trained on opposing players to allow allies to provide fire support for team mates on foot. Skilled pilots will coordinate with their gunners to keep the nose pointed directly at an enemy and focus weapons' fire on a single target.
The Falcon can be used to re-locate snipers, as it can reach otherwise inaccessible vantage points for the sniper. However, players must be aware of Kill and Soft-Kill areas.
It is unwise to engage heavy armor with the Falcon, as it possesses no heavy anti-vehicle weapons, and cannot carry passengers with such weapons. A single hit from a Scorpion or Wraith will destroy the Falcon.
It is also unwise to attempt to splatter with a Falcon, as its forward speed is rather slow compared to ground vehicles like the Ghost or Warthog.
It is difficult to do so, but Falcons can avoid locked-on rockets by letting it fly through the passenger bay. Face your opponent head on initially, wait until after the rocket's been locked on, then turn the Falcon to face one side towards the firer. The Falcon must be turned after the lock-on, or else the rocket will simply lock onto a different part of the aircraft.

Trivia

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 Cyclops and Gremlin, which are named after mythical creatures, and 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.^[6]
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/she cannot be killed by the Falcon's rotors. However, if the player touches the rotor hub, he/she will be killed 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.
Elites can hijack Falcons in the Campaign, disrupting the flow of the level and forcing the player to start it over again.

Gallery

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

Early concept art for the Falcon 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.
Another view of the Falcon.
A Falcon lifting off.
The Falcon's Heads Up Display.
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Two Falcons on Reach.
Two UH-144 Falcons flying over a mountain.
View from one of the Falcon's grenade launchers.
A Spartan sitting in a Falcon.
A Spartan firing one of the Falcon's grenade launchers.
A rough model of the Falcon, used in background battles.
A Falcon passing over Kat during the Battle of Fumirole.
A pair of Falcons glide into battle to support UNSC troopers in the Battle of Fumirole.
The Falcon's cockpit.