Vertibird

The VB-02 VTOL craft, codenamed Vertibird, is a pre-War military multipurpose helicopter, extensively used by the Enclave in post-War America. It has a heavily armored fuselage and can be outfitted with a variety of offensive weapons and defensive countermeasures, the most common being a Gatling Laser and a missile rack.

It was still in prototype phase when the Holocaust of 2077 struck, preventing it from entering full military service (scheduled for 2085). However, aircraft that was produced were seized by Enclave members and loyalists and either transferred to their bases or secured in shelters.

Two models of the craft used by the Enclave - a less combat oriented version with a glass canopy, six legs and a large cargo bay and a dedicated gunship version with a more heavily armoured hull, four retractable landing struts and an impressive air maneuverability.

Events related to the Vertibird

 * In 2241, one crashed near the trapper town of Klamath and was the first sign of the Enclave encountered by the Chosen One.
 * The Chosen One stole the Vertibird Plans from the Navarro base, but it is not certain whether he gave them to the Brotherhood of Steel, the Shi, or simply kept them.
 * In 2277, several Vertibirds were destroyed by Liberty Prime.

Design background
The Vertibird is a lateral twin-rotor (non-synchronized) helicopter design. An actual experimental prototype for this type of aircraft was the Platt-LePage XR-1/XR-1A tested by the US Army in the 1940's. Others included the German Fa 223 and the McDonnell XHJD-1 "Whirlaway".

The XR-1 was the first American military helicopter to takeoff and hover with good control, but the lateral design was generally plagued by significant vibration and control problems when in motion. Synchronized lateral rotor aircraft like the Kellett XR-10 worked better, but the concept was eventually abandoned in favor of the tandem (fore-aft) twin-rotor configuration that is in use today (e.g. the Chinook). In Fallout 3, closer inspection has revealed that they are indeed tilt-rotor craft.

The name "Vertibird" is the trademark for a toy helicopter playset popular in the 70's. Some design aspects of the unusual aircraft appear to be inspired by that hovering insect, the dragonfly. For example, the six legged landing gear and twin bulges in the forward fuselage.

Random Vertibird landing encounter
In Fallout 3, after escaping from the Jefferson Memorial, the player may encounter random Vertibird landings when in any exterior location (both in Washington D.C. and the Capital Wastelands). The Vertibird will approach from a random direction and land near the player, deploying up to three hostile Enclave Soldiers or an Enclave Sentry Bot. If they do not see the player, they will start patrolling the area and attack anybody around.

Vertibirds may also randomly fly overhead, especially near the DC area, and and attempt to drop several Mini-Nukes in your vicinity. Naturally, you should seek cover if one flies overhead, as the detonations will follow shortly, and are always fatal in the event of a direct hit.

Note: Vertibirds can be destroyed with sufficient firepower, though they cannot be targeted in V.A.T.S.. The Fat Man, Experimental MIRV, Plasma Rifle and the Gatling Laser perform this task well; Nuka Grenades can also, with difficulty. If the troops have already disembarked when the Vertibird is destroyed, the resulting explosion will kill them if they are close enough. If the Vertibird is destroyed with the troops still aboard, they will also be destroyed along with any possible loot.

Appearances in games
Vertibirds appear in Fallout 2 and Fallout 3.