AH-33 Topachula

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AH-33 Topachula
Vehicle in Just Cause 2
Type	Heavy attack helicopter
Weapons	Dual miniguns and rocket pods
Rarity	Common
List of owners	Panau Military Roaches (at Lembah Firdaus)
The following statistics are from the official strategy guide.
Top Speed	55
Acceleration	55
Armour	65
Handling	60

The AH-33 Topachula is an armed helicopter in Just Cause 2.

Description/appearance

This is a gunship best resembling the AH-1Z Viper or the Boeing AH-64 Apache with a rear-end similar to the Boeing Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche. The cockpit bears a slight resemblance to the Kamov Ka-50 Black Shark. It is armed with missile pods and miniguns. It can be found in one of three color schemes, including desert, snow, and jungle.

The helicopter has an impossible design and could not actually fly in reality. The reason for this is the lack of the tail rotor. Without a tail rotor, the torque from the main rotor would cause the craft to spin uncontrollably. However, there are two types of real helicopters that do not need a tail rotor, but this helicopter is clearly neither, as those would need other components that are also not present on the AH-33:

• The first option would be the NOTAR system. See the schematic below in the gallery.
• The other type would be a second co-axial main rotor that spins in the opposite direction, like the Kamov 27 (link to Wikipedia).

The "AH" in this helicopter's name conforms to the US armed forces tri-service designation system.

The name "Topachula" likely refers to an obscure Florida unrecognized Native American tribe.

In the Panau Military arsenal, this is probably some kind of attack helicopter that would not otherwise be regularly used due to its heavy armaments.

Performance

This helicopter is slightly slower than the Sivirkin 15 Havoc (probably due to its size) but faster than the UH-10 Chippewa. Because of its slow rate of turn, it's best used in ranged attacks against bases. Its dual miniguns can not aim as low as the Havoc's. This makes it difficult for taking out ground troops and small objects. Its takeoff sequence is much more lengthy than those of the other two attack helicopters and you may get shot while waiting for it to complete. The Topachula has the same armor as the Havoc.

Notably, the Topachula can carry a LOT more weight than the Chippewa as it isn't built to carry passengers, yet has large and powerful rotors. However, it can barely lift a Si-47 Leopard.

This helicopter is good at close and long-range attacks on military bases, though the player must descend in order to target low-lying destructible objects when performing close-range attacks. It works well for hit-and-run missions, as it can destroy virtually any destructible object within seconds, and can take a significant amount of damage from opposing forces as it makes its rather slow escape. It's very bad at close-range helicopter duels because of its painfully slow rotation speed, but at a distance, it can easily lay waste to oncoming aerial forces.

Overall, the Topachula is quite good, especially if the pilot knows how to compensate for its shortcomings.

Locations

These helicopters are very common in Military bases in Panau.

• Very rarely used by the Panau Military in some military bases where an AI soldier might get into one to kill you.
• The Panau Military uses the Topachula in the mission "The Setup" at Kem Sungai Sejuk, when a soldier is seen operating it while protecting the jet. It is possible to prevent this, however. See the article for more details.
• The Topachula can be found at many Military bases in Panau, Ports, Airports, and Communications Outposts, sometimes alongside an H-62 Quapaw on helipads.
  • Banjaran Berawan Besar Gamma.
  • Bukit Bura.
  • Bukit Ketot.
  • Bukit Rendah.
  • Bukit Tinggi.
  • Fasility Gunung Hutan Tinggi.
  • Gunung Lapik.
  • Kampung Curah Dalam.
  • Kampung Lima Batu.
  • Kem General Abidin.
  • Kem General Hong.
  • Kem Helang Merah.
  • Kem Jalan Kilang Lama.
  • Kem Jalan Merpati down by Colonel Dollah. The spawn point is broken because the chopper spawns under the helipad. It will fall down the mountain once it spawns. See the article for more details.
  • Kem Jalan Padang Tembak.
  • Kem Kapitan Luk Ya Sian.
  • Kem Kuala Utara - Uniquely green-marked.
  • Kem Lembah Hutan.
  • Kem Port Rodrigo.
  • Kem Tentera Timur.
  • Kem Udara Wau Pantas.
  • Kepulauan Selatan Eta.
  • Kepulauan Selatan Lambda.
  • Kuala Gandin.
  • Lembah Genting Tinggi
  • Loji Bahan Bakar Fossil.
  • Negeri Cabang.
  • Paya Dalam.
  • Paya Luas.
  • Pulau Berapi - There are several here. See the main article for more details.
  • Pulau Kait.
  • Pulau Ombak Ribut.
  • Pulau Panau Kecil.
  • Pulau Tiga Gunung.
  • Sungai Cengkih Besar - This one is oddly designed. See the article for more details.
  • Sungai Geneng.
  • Sungai Jernih.
  • Tanah Raya Timur Eta.
  • At several other military facilities.
• It is also found at the Lembah Firdaus stronghold in the Selatan Archipelago at X:19105; Y:25870, north side of the compound next to two garages. Uniquely green-marked.

This YouTube video shows all of its locations: Link.

Modifications

There is a mod at justcause2mods.com for this vehicle. Once installed, the vehicle armament will change from dual miniguns and dual rocket pods to 8 miniguns, 2 rocket pods, and even 2 autocannons. There is also increased speed and better maneuvering. Link here.

Trivia

• If the player gains enough momentum, it is possible to spin around very quickly with this vehicle. The wide, rotor-less tail is also prone to catching onto buildings if the player isn't careful.
• On the underside of the tail boom, just above the landing skids, there are two small, circular vents. While these appear to be exhaust vents, they aren't, because the vents are on the top of the helicopter, just aft of the engine. These vents appear to be thrusters. When outputting thrust, heat can be seen coming out of these vents.
• This is one of three vehicles with dual rocket pods. Only the G9 Eclipse has more rocket pods.
• It is the successor to the Delta MAH-15 Chimaera from Just Cause and predecessor to the Urga Mstitel and Just Cause 3.
• Despite the AH-33 Topachula at Lembah Firdaus being green-marked (the one under Roaches control), you will still be given heat if the Panau Military sees you in it. This may be some kind of development oversight.

Gallery

At Kuala Jernih.

At Kem Kuala Rajang.

At Kem Kuala Utara.

At Tanah Raya Timur Eta.

Near some village. If you look closely enough, you will see a resource item's symbol showing where it is from a very long distance away. The reason why is unknown. Usually when your signal beacon starts flashing with 5 bars will the symbol appears.

Alongside a UH-10 Chippewa at Lembah Firdaus after Paradise Valley.

One plus 2 UH-10 Chippewas in the foreground at some Communications Outpost.

A promotional screenshot from game developers.

One outside of Lembah Genting Tinggi.

Scheme of the NOTAR system, which some people keep insisting is present on this helicopter, despite the obvious lack of the number 5 component.

One alongside an unarmed UH-10 Chippewa at some Communications Outpost.

At Kem Jurang Gurun. Contrary to what the picture implies, this vehicle does not spawn there.

At Pasir Putih.

One brought to Kem Singa Menerkam.

All three Panau Military attack helicopters. This is at center, while at left is a Sivirkin 15 Havoc and at right is a UH-10 Chippewa.

One along side a glitched UH-10 Chippewa.

Near the Unnamed settlement at X:26460; Y:28800.

Modded AH-33 Topachula. The weapons appear to be kind of clipped into the sides.

Rear side view of the modded Topachula.

Another view of the modded Topachula.

An extremely damaged Topachula.

At right.

The AI in Just Cause 2 is not perfect. In this case, a civilian driving a SnakeHead T20 somehow drove this boat onto land, with the boat impossible to re-enter water again without intervention by Rico. Rico is piloting this vehicle somewhere in the Pelaut Archipelago in this screenshot.

Video

Just Cause 2 AH-33 Topachula

Witness the raw firepower of the Topachula.