Reach:Falcon

This article documents its subject as it pertains to the gameplay of the Halo games, rather than the lore.

Falcon
Gameplay role
Faction:	Human (UNSC)
Weapon type:	Air
Locomotion method:	Propeller
Counterparts:	Human Pelican
Weapon stats
Max occupants:	1 driver 2-5 passengers (variant dependent)
Variants
General variants:	Nose Gun Falcon Grenadier Falcon Transport Falcon

"Primary air-to-ground support/transport VTOL"

— Description in the Halo: Reach Instruction Manual.

The Falcon is an air vehicle in Halo: Reach. It is a medium-sized aircraft capable to transporting passengers and features dedicated gunner turrets on most variants.

Universe and lore

Main article: UH-144 Falcon

Created by Misriah Armory and introduced in 2497, the Falcon first saw use during the Insurrection. Numerous variants have been produced since, with service continuing all the way to 2552. The Falcon would continue to see service with the UNSC up to at least 2557.

The following is a list of all vehicles known by the "Falcon" moniker in Halo lore that have appeared in the games:

• 

  UH-144A Falcon
  Halo: Reach

• 

  UH-144S Falcon
  Halo: Reach

Gameplay

The Falcon, in both operation and appearance, is the stereotypical utility helicopter primarily geared more towards the movement of troops over full air combat.

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.

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.

The Falcon can also be skyjacked by players of either species. This also includes Non-playable character Elites in the campaign. It also has a unique Heads-up display with an altimeter.

Variants

Image	Name	Description	Seat count
	Campaign Falcon	A variant of the Falcon that exclusively appears in the Halo: Reach campaign*, used by NPCs. This variant features a gold canopy to hide the lack of a pilot model.	6 seats
	Standard Falcon	The standard Falcon available in Halo: Reach multiplayer, featuring two side-mounted machine guns, but no driver-operated weapons or useable passenger seats.	3 seats
	Nose Gun Falcon	Similar to the standard Falcon, but with extra seats and a pilot-controlled gun.	5 seats
	Grenadier Falcon	Similar to the nose gun Falcon, except the rear turrets are mounted grenade launchers.	5 seats
	Transport Falcon	A Falcon absent of weapons, with all passenger seats available to sit in.	6 seats

Counterparts

The Pelican is quite analogous to the Falcon as the pilot of the craft is unable to fire the attached weapon.

• 

  Pelican

Campaign

A yellow windshield Falcon from Tip of the Spear.

Much like UNSC aircraft in Halo Wars, Falcons that cannot be piloted have yellow windshields. If one punches out the windows of these Falcons, they'll notice that there is no character inside piloting the Falcon. In the first level of the game, Winter Contingency, Jun-A266 will ride passenger on a Falcon that follows the player and Noble Team.

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.

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 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. If a player is stranded on a roof or landable area, they can call for a new Falcon to land at their position.

Multiplayer

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, he must walk continuously in the same direction it's traveling so as not to fall off.

Four variants of the Falcon available in Halo: The Master Chief Collection version of Halo: Reach.

Forge

Main article: Forge Objects in Halo: Reach/Vehicles

The Falcon can be spawned in Halo: Reach's Forge on the maps Forge World, Tempest, Spire, Highlands, Breakpoint, Ridgeline, and Breakneck.

The Falcon can be affected by the Turretless vehicle glitch.

As part of the "Thorage" update for the Halo: The Master Chief Collection version of Halo: Reach, several more Falcon variants were added. They can be found in the "Vehicles (MCC)" category on the maps Tempest and Forge World.

Falcon

	Anchor 9	Boardwalk	Boneyard	Breakpoint	Countdown	Forge World	Powerhouse	Reflection
Cost				$100		$100
Max				8		8
	Spire	Sword Base	Tempest	Zealot
Cost	$100
Max	8

Grey Cost/Max cells indicate that the item is not available on a specific map.

Advantages

• Can move several people at once.
  • These players can reach areas that are harder to access on foot.
• Greatly extended Motion Tracker Range while using the Falcon.
• While hard to control this outcome, locked on Rocket launcher rockets can sometimes pass clean through the troop bay.

Disadvantages

• The side-mounted machine guns on some Falcons are extremely short-ranged.
• Passengers are exposed.
  • Passengers sitting in non-gunner seats cannot fire back while still being exposed.

Production notes

The flock Falcons (near UNSC Infinity) in an early build of Reclaimer.

Originally due to balancing purposes, the Falcon in Halo: Reach multiplayer lacks the chin-mounted autocannon that is normally usable by the pilot.

However, eventually, the chin-mounted autocannon campaign Falcons and a Transport Falcon capable of transporting five players as passengers were added to the Halo: The Master Chief Collection version of Halo: Reach Forge when Halo 3 was added to PC.

Additionally, the Halo: Reach Falcon was one of several vehicles left in Halo 4's files. Additionally, the Reach Falcon flock originally appeared in a pre-release screenshot of the level Reclaimer.

Gallery

• 

  The Falcon's heads-up display.

• 

  A Falcon lifting off.

• 

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

• 

  A turret broke off on the left-side Falcon thanks to a glitch in Halo: Reach.

• 

  Five Spartan-IIIs are using the Transport Falcon on Forge World.

• 

  The turrets have horizontal and vertical look limitations.

• 

  In Invasion, if an Elite player spawns in a Transport Falcon, not only will the elite be T-posed, but the Elite also can't exit the vehicle.