This helicopter, which is pretty much a flying hardsuit, came about as an after thought. I picked up the wind shield and handle bar thing-a-majig and said to myself, this would make an awesome helicopter. And thus the MRH-1 was born. I tried to make it as skeletal as possible, even including an exposed feul tank.
About this creation
The Micro Recon Helicopter was envisioned as a way to penetrate enemy defenses(usually being disregarded as a "flock of birds" when seen on radar) and gather intelligence. The MRH-1 earned its nickname of "Gnat" for being like the small insect. Fast, tiny, and hard to catch, but easily crushed. The lightweight design and lack of armor make the Gnat cheap and easy to manufacture, ensuring any losses are quickly replaced.
The thin armor plates on either side of the pilot provide little to no protection, but were added for psychological benefit.
The exposed fuel tank contains a highly compressible gaseous fuel, allowing the Gnat to fly for 3-4 hours depending on speed and maneuvering.
The Gnat is armed only with a single small machine gun, with a total firing time of 20 seconds.
The craft is controlled via an awkwardly angled flight stick, which takes some time getting used to.
Since the Gnat has such a small landing space, it is possible for it to land on a modified FPB-5 "Minnow" that has had the cannon removed.
Just some pictures with flash to bring out the details.
Once landed the craft opens up to allow the pilot an easy exit. This is probably my favorite picture of the Gnat.