Flyable Pelican and Phantom
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
The Flyable Pelican and Phantom easter egg in Halo: Reach allows the player to pilot the Pelican and Phantom in the Halo: Reach campaign level New Alexandria. This was first revealed to exist to the players, after Bungie's campaign designer Dan Miller revealed that the Pelican is pilotable.[1] The easter egg was figured out several hours after the release of the weekly update.
Miller implemented the easter egg himself using the Pelican's internal debug controls (see here for a breakdown). As a result, the flyable vehicles are unintuitive to fly.[2][3]
Walkthrough[edit]
All objectives assigned must be completed before the final objective is given to destroy the Shade turrets at the ONI Headquarters. Fly to the tower with Club Errera (It will have an orange rectangle on the top of the tower, look high) and look outwards. Approach the tower to the West of Club Errera and head to the North side of this building. There should be a hollow area with a ceiling but no floor whatsoever. If all the mission objectives prior to the ONI Headquarters are completed, a switch should be on the ceiling. The player must toggle it before the next step. This is possible on Solo and Co-Op.
The building where the Easter Egg can be unlocked - the building containing Club Errera is to the left. The alcove area visible contains the switch.
Solo[edit]
The player must land their Falcon on the building's ledge, with its rotors balanced and touching the ledge so it remains in position. Then, using a jetpack, which is obtainable from Club Errera or the New Alexandria Hospital, fly up to the roof and trigger the switch. If done correctly and quickly enough, the Falcon should still be in place, and the player should be able to return to it.
Activating the switch in single-player.
Activating the switch. Note the compass markings in the HUD, if you are having trouble finding the easter egg.
Co-op[edit]
First, one player stands on top of a Falcon, the pilot must then carefully hover into the hollow area in the back of the tower and adjust the altitude until they can activate the switch. This is best done if the player has a jetpack, which is obtainable during the New Alexandria Hospital and Club Errera segments of the mission.
Master Chief Collection[edit]
In Halo: The Master Chief Collection, following the addition of the Acrophobia skull to Halo: Reach in 2022, players can use that skull instead of or in conjunction with the jetpack to hit the switch, either solo or in co-op. This skull allows players to fly by pressing the jump button twice, and unlike the jetpack, its use is not limited.
After Activating the Switch[edit]
After activating the switch, the player must fly through the oval ring in the tower that resembles the Shanghai World Financial Center. It may take several passes through the ring at a certain altitude to trigger the Easter Egg. Aim for about three-fourths the way up in the ring, or about an altitude of 1200.
At this point, if the player is in a Falcon or Banshee, they will be put into a Pelican or Phantom, respectively. The previous vehicle that they were in will then fall to the ground since the player is no longer piloting it.
The building you need to fly through.
A Falcon flying through the building.
Gameplay[edit]
The vehicles fly using the debug control scheme implemented by Bungie for internal testing.[3] Both vehicles are operated by using RB button to ascend and LB button to descend, with the default controls. With the Recon control scheme, in order to ascend press A button and descend with LB button. Both the Phantom and the Pelican can boost by pressing LT button. Co-op players can ride in the back by holding action (although the indicator is not shown, it will still work). The chain gun of the Pelican can be operated by a player that holds action near it, similarly to the Usable Pelican turret easter egg on Long Night of Solace. They will have full motion and firing abilities but cannot see anything because of camera placement, although sometimes the turret will become invisible if another person melees or shoots at it. The chin gun is the same as the Falcon's chin gun. Friendly Army troopers will automatically man the chin turret or ride in the back if the Pelican lands nearby. The Phantom's side plasma turrets where Unggoy usually man them can be manned by other players.
If the pilot exits the Pelican, it will disappear. Phantoms function almost identically, except that they are faster and the pilot cannot exit, except by committing suicide by flying too low. The Phantom can fly through buildings and other Phantoms and players, although the player will be killed instantly if they fly through a building. If the player wishes to finish the level by themselves with the Pelican they can simply push the Shade turrets off the edge and not have to worry about their health.
Achievements[edit]
The following achievement can be unlocked through this easter egg on the Halo: The Master Chief Collection edition of Halo: Reach.
| Halo: MCC (Xbox One) | Halo: MCC (Steam) | Title | Unlock requirement | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
Fly both the Pelican and Phantom via this easter egg. |