UH-144 Falcon

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

Template:Vehicle Infobox The UH-144 Falcon^[1] is the primary air-to-ground support and troop transport aircraft of the United Nations Space Command.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Overview

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. There are two versions of the Falcon, which differ only in their armament. Both models feature a chin-mounted M638 Autocannon. The more common UH-144S has two side-mounted M247H Heavy Machine Guns, whereas the UH-144A has two side-mounted MG460 Automatic Grenade Launchers.^[5]^[4]

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.^[6]

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.
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 this to their teams advantage when piloting one by informing team mates on the ground of the locations of enemies.
Like most vehicles, the Falcon can be disabled by an overcharged Plasma Pistol bolt or an EMP burst from the Grenade Launcher. This can result in hijacking or the Falcon being destroyed when it hits the ground if it is at a high alititude.
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 stands on the top of the Falcon, however.
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 possible to destroy a Wraith with a Falcon if the pilot ensures the Plasma Mortar rounds miss by dodging and diving, and keeping it in view so that their machine gunners can continue to hit it. This does not work for Scorpions unless the player is constantly moving to be behind the turret. This is unadvisable and suicidal, but can however be a short-lived distraction for groundside teammates to get past.
"Splattering" an enemy may result in a hijacking, this should not be attempted except as a last resort.
If only one gunner is available, the pilot must ensure that this player is always facing the enemies on the ground. This is easily overcomed by pilots with moderate spatial awareness.

Trivia

The Falcon bears a certain resemblance to the Sparrowhawk gunship, seen as an upgrade for the Hornet in Halo Wars.
The Falcon is nicknamed the "Warthog of the skies" by fans and Bungie employees.^[7]
Superficially, the Falcon looks rather similar to the United States Marine Corps' V-22 Osprey tilt rotor.
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.
The words "BEWARE OF BLAST" can be found painted on the edge of the floor of the passenger cabin. This may be a reference to the rotorwash caused by the turboprops, or it may be referring to the small jets located on the bottom of the turboprop nacelles.
Two small jets are located toward the back of the Falcon, facing to the rear. These likely contribute to the Falcon's forward propulsion, as they glow red when the falcon is moving at high speed forward.
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 cannot be killed by the Falcon's rotors. However, if the player touches the rotor hub, he 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.
There is a non-usable medical kit in the troop bay.
It is possible for a SPNKR rocket to pass straight through the troop/gunner bay.