AV-14 Hornet: Difference between revisions

{{Status|Canon}}

{{Center|''Were you looking for the [[M441 Hornet Remote Explosive System]], a nuclear weapon used by the UNSC?''}}

{{Vehicle infobox

|image=[[File:H2A AV-14Hornet.png|300px]]

|name=AV-14 Hornet

|manufacturer=[[Misriah Armory]]<ref name="HTEVG">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 96''</ref>

|model=AV-14

|class=

|length={{Convert|9.6|m|ft}}{{Ref/Reuse|HTEVG}}

|width={{Convert|8.7|m|ft}}{{Ref/Reuse|HTEVG}}

|height={{Convert|4.45|m|ft}}<ref>'''Halo 3''', ''3D model data''</ref>

|engine=Turbofan/turbojet engine

|armament=*Two [[Class-2 Guided Munition Launch System]]s

*Two twin-linked rotary cannons {{C|standard}}

*One nose-mounted [[GUA-23/AW/Linkless Feed Autocannon]] {{C|variant}}

|crew=One pilot

|passengers=Four

|firstuse-title=In service

[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]] <br>

|role=Close air support,<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=13368 '''Bungie.net''': ''Bungie Weekly Update: 3/14/08'']</ref> light troop transport, light anti-vehicle/personnel

|affiliation=[[Colonial Military Authority]]<ref name="HLL">'''[[Halo: Last Light]]'''</ref>

<br>[[United Nations Space Command]]

The '''AV-14 Hornet''', more formally known as the '''AV-14 Attack VTOL''', is a [[United Nations Space Command]] airborne assault vehicle.

The AV-14 is a vertical take off and landing vehicle (VTOL) that has been in service since the [[Insurrection]],<ref>'''Halo Legends''', ''Origins''</ref> at least as early as [[2524]].<ref name="enyc">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 248''</ref><ref name="evo">'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', "Dirt", ''page 113''</ref> It serves as the UNSC's primary assault, search and reconnaissance, and close air support aircraft. The Hornet is an atmospheric craft and as such cannot be deployed by orbital vessels unless a ship rated for atmospheric entry can deliver it to the battlefield. It is easier for the Hornet to be deployed from an air base located on the surface than from a ship.

The AV-14 Hornet consists of a one-man cockpit and a rear section, extending approximately one meter backward. Variant models feature a tandem seating configuration, presumably allowing a second passenger to operate the aircraft's weaponry or navigation systems.<ref>'''Halo Legends''', ''Homecoming''</ref> At the top of this rear section are a set of wings with what appear to be advanced turbofan engines mounted on gimbals at the ends, providing the Hornet's main source of propulsion. The front of the Hornet contains a target acquisition and designation system which includes cameras and sensors. On each side of the cockpit is a jump-seat extending backward that doubles as a landing skid. These skids allow up to four passengers.<ref name="harv">'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 9''</ref>

Although the AV-14 Hornet primarily serves as an attack craft, the Hornet can be reconfigured for a number of other roles. For example, some AV-14s are configured as dedicated troop transports. These Hornets lack the Class-2 Guided Munitions Launch System equipped by the standard model in order to improve airspeed.<ref>'''Halo 3''', multiplayer level, ''[[Avalanche]]''</ref>

===Armaments===

The AV-14 Hornet is armed with both anti-infantry and anti-vehicle weapon systems. The AV-14 Hornet can be configured with one of two anti-infantry systems. The first configuration contains two triple-barreled, fire-linked rotary cannons. These are located on either side above the cockpit on the leading edges of the wing. The guns fire synchronously, and can be elevated and depressed to a small degree, without affecting the flight pattern of the Hornet. The second is a single, nose-mounted [[GAU-23/AW/Linkless Feed Autocannon]] that fires .50 BMG ammunition.{{Ref/Reuse|evo}}<ref>'''Halo Wars'''</ref><ref name="wars">'''[[Halo Wars: Official Strategy Guide]]''', ''page 45''</ref> The anti-vehicle system is composed of two [[Class-2 Guided Munition Launch System]]s that are mounted on the ventral surface of the aircraft's landing skids. When triggered, each pod fires a single missile. Like the [[LAU-65D/SGM-151 missile pod]], the Class-2 GMLS is capable of achieving a target lock. In addition the Hornet can be armed with two chaff pods to counter radar-guided missiles. These are copper nickel-coated glass fibers or silver-coated nylon fibers having lengths equal to half of the anticipated radar wavelength.{{Ref/Reuse|wars}}

The AV-14 Hornet is known for its efficiency in combat situations; its multi-purpose role allows the vehicle to take on a wide array of missions and can perform without any major problems. In its role as an attack craft the AV-14 is very effective at hunting down and destroying armor with relative ease; the homing Class-2 GMLS can take down the toughest Covenant armor in only a few strikes, making it the UNSC's prime choice for hunting down tanks, aside from the [[AV-22 Sparrowhawk]]. Its ability to engage infantry also makes the AV-14 both an offensive and defensive aircraft; the triple-barreled rotary cannons can destroy heavily armored and heavily shielded targets with little effort, and its ability to place itself in a stationary position to lay down cover fire while a larger craft retrieves fellow infantry also allows it to perform its role as a support craft. The firepower of the craft is a major asset when escorting other aircraft which could be susceptible to ground fire into dangerous territory. Its role as a support craft is further bolstered by its ability to easily insert small strike teams into combat situations.

While the AV-14 Hornet has a wide variety of roles and advantages, its greatest weakness is its light armor — making it susceptible to anything larger than small arms fire.{{Ref/Reuse|enyc}} Although the Hornet is rather nimble, it lacks the maneuverability of the [[D77-TC Pelican]] and the AV-22 Sparrowhawk, which can occasionally be a liability in combat conditions. Infantry atop of vehicles landing skids are also at risk of taking enemy fire, as they have no protection at all, which is why the AV-14 Hornet is often used to insert small strike teams, but not to extract them, in combat operations.{{Ref/Reuse|evo}}<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 20''</ref> The risk of casualties from anti-aircraft fire mandates the use of more heavily armored aircraft like the D77-TC Pelican or the [[UH-144 Falcon]] for extraction.

==Variants==

*'''2531 Hornet''': Deployed by the crew of the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} during the [[Harvest campaign]] through to the [[Battle of Trove]], this variation has a large rotary cannon built into the nose of the aircraft, rather than the two guns on later models.{{Ref/Reuse|wars}}

*'''AV-14B Attack VTOL''': Modified by the crew of UNSC ''Spirit of Fire'' for deployment against the [[Banished]], this model is used for combat reconnaissance and surprise attacks on high-priority targets. The AV-14B is armed with medium autocannons that are effective against all targets, and are particularly adept at taking out light vehicles. It features a modified airframe that is considerably blockier in shape than the base model.<ref name="art of war">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/the-art-of-war-s '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Canon Fodder: The Art of War(s)'']</ref>

*'''NMPD Hornet''': An air support variant of AV-14 utilised by the [[New Mombasa Police Department]]. This variant is painted in black and white livery, and has blue and red lights.<ref name="Air Support Hornet">[https://www.megaconstrux.com/en-us/worlds/halo/playsets/police-air-support-hornet-97429 '''Megabloks''' ''- Police Air Support Hornet'']</ref>

The Hornet is a drivable vehicle in two games including ''[[Halo 3]]'' and ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''. They are also units in ''[[Halo Wars]]'' and ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.

*The Hornet bears a slight resemblance to its namesake insect with the "wings" growing slightly wider towards the end (like a real hornet's wing) and with the personnel jump seats mimicking the long back legs that often trail behind the posterior of the insect.

*In ''Halo Wars'', when the "Wingmen" upgrade is unlocked for the Hornet, the Marines sit on the wings instead of stand as they do in ''Halo 3'', due to the scaling of the two units. Such scaling differences are common in real-time strategy games.

File:ODST Fast roping.png|A flight of Hornets deploy ODSTs into the occupied city of Cleveland on Earth in 2552 in ''[[Halo: Uprising]]''.

File:H3_Hornet_Concept.png|An early Hornet concept for ''[[Halo 3]]'', with a gunner being placed on the back. This idea was later abandoned.

File:H3 AV-14.jpg|Turnaround reference of the AV-14 Attack VTOL as seen in ''Halo 3''.

File:HW-AV14chaffpod.png|A Hornet with chaff pods.

File:Homecoming_Hornet_Concept.png|Tandem-seater variant of the AV-14 Hornet as seen in ''[[Halo Legends]]: [[Homecoming]]''.

File:AV-14 Hornet.jpg|A Hornet in the background of [[Skyline (level)|Skyline]] in ''[[Halo 4]]''.

File:Hunt for the Phantom.png|A squadron of Hornets pursue Covenant forces during the [[Battle of Draetheus V]].

File:H2AMP Hornet Render 1.jpg|Render of the Hornet model in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.

File:HSS-Cinematic-Oscar Mike.jpg|A Hornet flying towards a city in ''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''.

File:AV-14B Halo Wars 2 Blitz Beta.png|A Trooper AV-14B Hornet in the ''[[Halo Wars 2 - Blitz Beta]]''.

File:HW2 Hornets and Vulture.png|Title card art from a cut ''Halo Wars 2'' mission featuring AV-14B Hornets and an [[AC-220 Vulture]].

File:H2A Hornet Guns deployed.png|The Hornet's guns deployed on ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.

==List of appearances==

*''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''

*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'' {{C|Halo: The Master Chief Collection only}}

*''[[Halo Legends]]''

**''[[Homecoming]]''

**''[[Origins]]''

*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''

**''[[Dirt]]''

*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''

*''[[Halo: Legacy of Onyx]]''

==Sources==

{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Human aircraft}}

{{Hornet variants}}