Fandom Post: Actual Planes Referenced in the Stargate Franchise
Here I toss off any remaining doubt that I am not an aviation geek, and describe the not-ficticious planes and helicopters depicted or referenced in the Stargate franchise.
SHEPPARD: Apache, Black Hawk, Cobra, Osprey ...
O'NEILL: That's a lot of training for the Antarctic.
SHEPPARD: It was the one continent I never set foot on.
AH-64 Apache attack helicopter
The Apache is the US Army's principal attach helicopter, beginning service in 1982. The AH-64 is a two-seat attack helicopter. The crew compartment, which houses the pilot and co-pilot/gunner is armored against 23mm anti-aircraft fire. The helicopter carries a 30mm M230 chain gun as well as a range of external stores on its stub-wing pylons, typically a mixture of anti-tank missiles, general-purpose unguided 70mm rockets, and anti-aircraft missiles for defense. The AH-64 is currently used in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter
The Black Hawk's main use is as a troop and equipment transport. It's crewed by a minimum of two pilots, and is armed with 2 7.62mm machine guns. It can move a squad of 11 combat troops with equipment or reposition the 105mm M102 howitzer with thirty rounds of ammunition, and a four-man crew in a single lift. Alternatively, it can carry 2,600 lb (1,170 kg) of cargo or sling load 9,000 lb (4,050 kg) of cargo. A Black Hawk variant (the VH-60 Whitehawk) is used to transport the President of the United States as Marine One. The Air Force's variant is the HH-60 Pave Hawk.
AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter
The Cobra was the US Army's main attack helicopter from 1967 until the introduction of the Apache, which was designed as its replacement, although the Cobra still sees action with the US Marine Corps and in foreign armed services. It's crewed by a pilot and a co-pilot/gunner and is armed with a 3-barreled 20mm Gatling cannon, 70mm rockets (14 rockets mounted), and 4 or 8 missiles mounted in two-missile launchers. It was the basis for the 'Dragonfly' helicopter in the GIJoe cartoon series.
V-22 Osprey VTOL transport helicopter
This is the helicopter that Sheppard mentioned as requiring both arms and legs to fly in First Strike. The Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft, meaning that the rotors can be vertical for takeoff and landing (VTOL) or horizontal for short distance takeoffs and landings (STOL). The rotors can also be switched mid-flight (this makes for an uneven and bumpy ride). It's typically operated VTOL, with a mid-flight switch. It's crewed by two pilots, can carry 24 troops, and is armed with a rear mounted 51mm M240 machine gun.
A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft
This is the aircraft seen in a flyover during Sheppard's flashback to Afghanistan during Phantoms (could not find a cap - curses!). It's official designation is the Thunderbolt II, but pilots call it the Warthog because it's so butt-ugly. It first flew 1972, and is still used as a ground attack plane in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's durability and ability to take heavy fire and still fly make it a favorite. It's flown by a single pilot, and is armed with a 30mm gatling gun and up to 11 missiles or bombs.
F-117 Nighthawk stealth bomber/attack aircraft
The F-117 Nighthawk is the plane that Sheppard has on his SGC desk in The Return, part 1 (I could not for the life of me find a cap). It's the first plane designed entirely with stealth technology, and it first saw service in 1981. It's use was widely publicized during the Gulf War, but the US Air Force, it's sole operator, is trying to retire it due to the more efficient F-22 Raptor.
F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft
This is the jet flown by Cameron Mitchell during his flashback in Collateral Damage. It's the US Air Force's main fighter jet currently in use - it's used in the demonstration squadron, The Thunderbirds - but it's being phased out for the more efficient joint service F-22 Raptor. It began service in 1974, and is no longer actively produced for the US. The single-seat plane is heavily armed, with a 20mm gatling gun, 6 air-to-air missiles, 6 air-to-ground missiles, 4 anti-ship missiles, and 2, 4, or 6 bombs, or a single nuclear bomb.
If anybody thinks of anything more, let me know. Also, does anybody think I should make this public?
SHEPPARD: Apache, Black Hawk, Cobra, Osprey ...
O'NEILL: That's a lot of training for the Antarctic.
SHEPPARD: It was the one continent I never set foot on.
AH-64 Apache attack helicopter
The Apache is the US Army's principal attach helicopter, beginning service in 1982. The AH-64 is a two-seat attack helicopter. The crew compartment, which houses the pilot and co-pilot/gunner is armored against 23mm anti-aircraft fire. The helicopter carries a 30mm M230 chain gun as well as a range of external stores on its stub-wing pylons, typically a mixture of anti-tank missiles, general-purpose unguided 70mm rockets, and anti-aircraft missiles for defense. The AH-64 is currently used in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter
The Black Hawk's main use is as a troop and equipment transport. It's crewed by a minimum of two pilots, and is armed with 2 7.62mm machine guns. It can move a squad of 11 combat troops with equipment or reposition the 105mm M102 howitzer with thirty rounds of ammunition, and a four-man crew in a single lift. Alternatively, it can carry 2,600 lb (1,170 kg) of cargo or sling load 9,000 lb (4,050 kg) of cargo. A Black Hawk variant (the VH-60 Whitehawk) is used to transport the President of the United States as Marine One. The Air Force's variant is the HH-60 Pave Hawk.
AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter
The Cobra was the US Army's main attack helicopter from 1967 until the introduction of the Apache, which was designed as its replacement, although the Cobra still sees action with the US Marine Corps and in foreign armed services. It's crewed by a pilot and a co-pilot/gunner and is armed with a 3-barreled 20mm Gatling cannon, 70mm rockets (14 rockets mounted), and 4 or 8 missiles mounted in two-missile launchers. It was the basis for the 'Dragonfly' helicopter in the GIJoe cartoon series.
V-22 Osprey VTOL transport helicopter
This is the helicopter that Sheppard mentioned as requiring both arms and legs to fly in First Strike. The Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft, meaning that the rotors can be vertical for takeoff and landing (VTOL) or horizontal for short distance takeoffs and landings (STOL). The rotors can also be switched mid-flight (this makes for an uneven and bumpy ride). It's typically operated VTOL, with a mid-flight switch. It's crewed by two pilots, can carry 24 troops, and is armed with a rear mounted 51mm M240 machine gun.
A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft
This is the aircraft seen in a flyover during Sheppard's flashback to Afghanistan during Phantoms (could not find a cap - curses!). It's official designation is the Thunderbolt II, but pilots call it the Warthog because it's so butt-ugly. It first flew 1972, and is still used as a ground attack plane in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's durability and ability to take heavy fire and still fly make it a favorite. It's flown by a single pilot, and is armed with a 30mm gatling gun and up to 11 missiles or bombs.
F-117 Nighthawk stealth bomber/attack aircraft
The F-117 Nighthawk is the plane that Sheppard has on his SGC desk in The Return, part 1 (I could not for the life of me find a cap). It's the first plane designed entirely with stealth technology, and it first saw service in 1981. It's use was widely publicized during the Gulf War, but the US Air Force, it's sole operator, is trying to retire it due to the more efficient F-22 Raptor.
F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft
This is the jet flown by Cameron Mitchell during his flashback in Collateral Damage. It's the US Air Force's main fighter jet currently in use - it's used in the demonstration squadron, The Thunderbirds - but it's being phased out for the more efficient joint service F-22 Raptor. It began service in 1974, and is no longer actively produced for the US. The single-seat plane is heavily armed, with a 20mm gatling gun, 6 air-to-air missiles, 6 air-to-ground missiles, 4 anti-ship missiles, and 2, 4, or 6 bombs, or a single nuclear bomb.
If anybody thinks of anything more, let me know. Also, does anybody think I should make this public?