Editing D77H Pelican

{{Status|Canon}}
{{Disambig header|the Pelican featured in ''[[Halo 3]]'' and ''[[Halo: Reach]]''|other Pelican models|Pelican}}
{{Ship class infobox
|name=Dropship 77 Heavy-Troop Carrier/Infantry
|image=[[File:H3 - D77H-TCI.png|300px]]
|hull symbol=
|architect=
|manufacturer=[[Misriah Armory]]{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=149}}
|class=
|role=[[Dropship]]
|length={{Convert|31.2|m|ft|sp=us}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Page=262}}
|width={{Convert|25.5|m|ft|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
|height=
|mass=
|power=
|engine=
*6 hybrid ramjet [[fusion drive]]s {{C|2 primary, 4 secondary}}{{Ref/Reuse|WF}}
*10 manoeuvring thrusters{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}
|slipspace drive=
|navigation=
|hull=
|shielding=
|armament=
*1 chin-mounted Class-3 weapon hardpoint{{Ref/Reuse|h3com}} (typically an [[M370 autocannon]])
*2 wing-mounted [[Anvil-II air-to-surface missile|Anvil-II missile pods]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
*4 wing-mounted weapons pylons {{C|optional}}
*1 rear bay Class-1 weapon hardpoint{{Ref/Reuse|h3com}} (typically an [[AIE-486H machine gun]])
|complement=
|crew=
*3{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
**1 [[pilot]]
**1 co-pilot
**1 crew chief
*1 [[smart AI]] {{C|optional}}{{Ref/Level|Id=Halo|H3|Halo (Halo 3 level)|Halo}}
|passengers=15{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
|othersystems=
|era=[[Human-Covenant War]]
|introduced=
|affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]]
}}
The '''Dropship 77 Heavy-Troop Carrier/Infantry''' ('''D77H-TCI''') is a [[dropship]] in the ubiquitous [[Pelican]] line of armed transports built by [[Misriah Armory]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Site|Id=h3com|URL=http://www.halo3.com/|Site=halo3.com|Page=Weapons & Vehicles|Detail=Pelican|LocalArchive=Halo3.com#Weapons & Vehicles|D=30|M=12|Y=2007}} It was introduced as a variant of the older [[D77 Pelican]],{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} and has been dominant in [[United Nations Space Command]] armouries for decades.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}

==Overview==
===Design details===
Like its standard D77 forebear, the D77H is an extremely versatile airframe. It features a power-efficient thruster configuration and dense ablative armour plating that make it suited for quick-transfer deployments deep into enemy territory. Where it differs most from the traditional D77 design is in the cockpit; where the D77 features tandem seating,{{Ref/Book|Id=WF|HWF|Page=44-45|Detail=While the page in question specifically discusses the standard D77, the general details are applicable to all D77 Pelican models.}} the D77H features vertically staggered seats for its crew, with a co-pilot situated behind the pilot.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} The cockpit features a [[Holography|holopedestal]] that allows for the display of a [[smart AI]].{{Ref/Reuse|Halo}} Other differences include the arrangement of the wings. The "shoulders" connecting the fuselage to the wing are much larger and more armoured on the D77H, with the wing itself only having one [[Wikipedia:Flight control surfaces|control surface]] on the back of the wing, rather than the two per-wing present on the regular D77.{{Ref/Game|Id=H3|H3|Pelican in-game model}} The dorsal surface of the craft contains a [[Anti-gravity technology|gravitic-assist]], which helps provide lift and stability during atmospheric flight.{{Ref/Reuse|WF}} The craft has four hybrid [[fusion drive]]s, with an engine pod situated in both of the wings, and with two located at the aft of the vehicle. Each drive consists of a vectored-thrust fusion ram-rocket with an air-breathing hyperfan. When operating in space, the ram-rockets require [[hydrogen]] reaction mass. The Pelican carries enough on-board fuel for two ground-orbit trips.{{Ref/Reuse|WF}}

As-standard, the craft can carry up to 18 personnel; 3 crew (a [[pilot]], a co-pilot, and a crew chief) and 15 passengers. However, this capacity can be upgraded for higher troop concentrations.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} The rear bay, or "blood tray",{{Ref/Novel|GoO|Chapter=23}} seats these infantry in jumpseats lining the sides, with a space in the middle which can be used for installing benches, cargo pallets, casualty stretchers, or even smaller utility vehicles like a [[Mongoose]] quad bike.{{Ref/Reuse|WF}} Alternatively, the seating can be ripped out to make for more space in the bay if required for more specialised deployments.{{Ref/Novel|Id=SoR17|HSoR|Chapter=17}}

A larger vehicle, such as a [[Warthog]] or [[Scorpion]] tank, can be lifted in the magnetic cargo clamp situated behind the troop bay. This clamp can also be used to carry a cargo pod or up to six [[Ordnance pod|resupply capsules]];{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} however, using it in this manner during orbital reentry is discouraged due to the complications it adds.{{Ref/Reuse|WF}}

===Armament===
The D77H's standard weapons loadout includes two integrated [[Anvil-II air-to-surface missile]] pods integrated seamlessly into the wing, below the fusion drive assembly.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} Each pod contains six silos.{{Ref/Reuse|H3}} In addition, a Class-1 weapon hardpoint is fitted in the rear bay.{{Ref/Reuse|h3com}} This can be used to fit a heavy machine gun, [[grenade launcher]], or even a [[Gauss cannon]] to provide protection for the bay during infantry embarking or disembarking.{{Ref/Reuse|WF}} The most commonly-seen armament in the D77H bay is a tripod-mounted [[AIE-486H machine gun]].{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}

Despite the standard armaments, the D77H is as versatile in its loadout as its D77 forebear.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} As such, more heavily-armed variants exist.{{Ref/Reuse|h3com}} A chin-mounted Class-3 weapons hardpoint is present on the craft's nose{{Ref/Reuse|h3com}} that can be used to equip an autocannon such as the [[M340 autocannon|M340 40mm]] or [[M370 autocannon|M370 70mm]].

===Variants===
*'''UNICOM Pelican''' - an altered D77H used by the [[UNSC Army]] and [[UNSC Air Force]] during the [[Fall of Reach]], boasting only ten seats in the passenger bay and other minor alterations to the body.
*'''[[D77C Pelican]]''' - a civilian variant of the D77H-TCI, replacing military armaments with sensors. These are mostly used by government, corporate, and [[law enforcement]] agencies such as the [[New Mombasa Police Department]].
*'''G77S Pelican''' - a gunship conversion of the D77H, boasting a much heavier ordnance loadout for ground support.
<gallery class="center">
File:Pelican render.png|A Pelican used by [[Unified Ground Command|UNICOM]] forces during the [[Fall of Reach]]. This variant only contains ten seats for passengers.
File:H3ODST-D77C-NMPD-PelicanDropship.png|The D77C-NMPD Pelican.
File:HW2 - G77S Pelican.jpg|The G77S Pelican gunship.
</gallery>

==Identified Pelicans==
*[[Echo 051]]
*[[Kilo 023]]
*[[Oscar 5]]
*[[Oscar 6]]
*[[Oscar 8]]
*[[Oscar 9]]
*[[Victor 398]]

==Operational history==
D77H Pelicans saw heavy use during the [[Battle for Earth]] in [[2552#November|November 2552]], alongside the ensuing [[Battle of Installation 00|campaign]] on [[Installation 00]].{{Ref/Reuse|H3}}

==Production notes==
The [[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)|2009 ''Halo Encyclopedia'']] lists the D77H-TCI's length and width stats as {{Convert|100|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}} and {{Convert|77|ft|m|sp=us|disp=flip}}, respectively.{{Ref/Book|Enc09|Page=252}} This was updated in the book's [[Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition)|2011 reissue]] to {{Convert|102.3|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}} and {{Convert|83.7|ft|m|disp=flip|sp=us}}.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}

Early concept art for the D77H produced by [[Isaac Hannaford]] during ''Halo 3''{{'}}s [[Development of Halo 3|production]] depicted the craft with much more exaggerated weapons and sensor antennae on its nose.{{Ref/Book|AoH3|Page=38-39}} This concept was reused as a texture on the [[laptop]] display screen inside the base on the multiplayer map [[High Ground]], and was also later revisited during the concept phase for the ''[[Halo Legends]]'' episode ''[[Homecoming]]''.
<gallery>
File:H3 HighGround Pelican.png|The Pelican on the laptop screen on High Ground.
File:Homecoming Pelican Concept.png|Concept art for the Pelican in ''Homecoming'', heavily based on Hannaford's original ''Halo 3'' work.
</gallery>

===''Halo: Reach'' model===
The Pelican model found in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' is called out in the [[Halo: Reach manual|game's manual]] and in-game tooltips as a regular D77 Pelican, despite otherwise being almost identical to the D77H design introduced in ''[[Halo 3]]'' (particularly the broader shoulders, the control surfaces on the wings and the vertically-stacked cockpit alignment - the latter of which was specifically noted in the [[Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition)|2022 ''Halo Encyclopedia'']] as a signature element of the D77H{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}). As such, this page considers the ''Reach'' manual and other sources which label it as a D77-TC to be an error.

The ''Reach'' model was reused in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]'' and ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''{{'}}s campaign gameplay including the updated cockpit alignment - though for ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' [[Blur Studio]] also made their own VFX-quality Pelican in the original D77 style for use in the game's prerendered cutscenes. The ''Reach''/''Anniversary'' Pelican was also later used as the basis for the design featured in ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.

==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
===''Halo 3'' design===
<gallery>
File:Halo3-PelicanDropship.png|A detail fore view of the D77H Pelican's cockpit.
File:Landfall Pelicans.jpg|D77H-TCI Pelicans under construction in ''Halo: Landfall''.
File:D77H-TCI Pelican Gunship.jpg|The D77H-TCI in ''Halo 3''.
File:H3 Pelican Anvil-II.jpg|A frontal view of the D77H-TCI, affixed with ANVIL-II pods.
File:HRS D77H TCI Pelican Bottom.jpg|A bottom view of the D77H-TCI.
File:Pelican bay.jpg|The rear seats of a D77H-TCI Pelican.
File:Ark2.JPG|The cockpit of the D77H-TCI.
File:Pelican Cockpit.jpg|Another view of the cockpit.
File:H3 The Pit out of bounds.jpg|D77H-TCI dropship outside [[The Pit]].
File:The Ark Pelican.jpg|A D77H-TCI dropping off two [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]] on [[Installation 00]].
File:PelicanCrash-large.jpg|A crashed D77H-TCI on Installation 00.
File:PelicanOnCortana.jpg|A D77H-TCI crashed on ''[[High Charity]]''.
File:Pelicans5e_copy.jpg|A comparison of the D77H-TCI and the D77-TC.
</gallery>

===''Halo: Reach'' design===
<gallery>
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: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:HCEA-PelicanDropship.png|An angled profile view of a Pelican in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''.
File:PelicansAnniversary.png|Two Pelicans during the [[Battle of the Silent Cartographer]] in ''Combat Evolved Anniversary''.
File:HE12 Space Combat2.jpg|Several D77H-TCI along with [[Longswords]] during the [[mission to Ven III]].
File:HGC-D77.jpg|A D77 Pelican in ''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''.
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.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: Landfall]]'' {{1st}}
**''[[Halo: Arms Race]]''
**''[[Halo: Combat]]''
**''[[Halo: Last One Standing]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''{{Ref/Note|Though the ''Halo: Reach'' manual identifies the Pelican in the game as the D77-TC model, all Pelicans seen in-game have the same internal design as the D77H-TCI, notably including the tandem seating configuration. This is most easily seen in the level ''[[The Pillar of Autumn (Halo: Reach level)|The Pillar of Autumn]]''.}}
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Pelican variants}}
{{Human Ships}}