Origin

The Helicarrier is a flying aircraft carrier that acts as a mobile HQ for SHIELD. It is powered by a fusion core, and partially supported by "repeller rays". At least six have been seen, with variants used by other organizations. They cost at least 9 billion dollars each.

Models

Helicarrier Gold

In Mighty Avengers #1, Iron Man introduced Helicarrier Gold, basically a gold Helicarrier. Sadly, it was recently destroyed by Red Hulk in .

Silvereye

In Blade, the Vampire-hunting SHIELD-offshoot Silvereye used a custom carrier called Blackeye-1, with a silver-impregnated hull and a cloud-generator for stealth. Destroyed in Blade: Vampire Hunter #6.

The Behemoth

White Whale

In Livewires, the mysterious villain codenamed "White Whale" (a hive-mind of Nick Fury LMDs) was stationed on a Helicarrier that had been recovered from wreckage and repaired.

H.A.T.E

The Aeromarine is a cluster of submarines with rocket engines bolted together, used in Nextwave. It is armed with Drop Bears and a squadron of H.A.T.E Pterosuits, Samuroid Batch 23, the very phallic-looking Armageddon Horn, and a lot of big @%^$# guns.

Alternate Realities

Ultimate Marvel

Ultimate S.H.I.E.L.D uses a fleet of airborne carriers, retrofitted from Naval sea vessels using a special rocket engine designed by Tony Stark. Most were destroyed by the Chitauri in Micronesia. They were also given a Helicarrier by Ultimate Galactus.

Squadron Supreme

Colonel Fury had a Helicarrier commissioned and built by Tucker Ford, the Biogeneral. Fury is using it as the mobile headquarters of the new Squadron Supreme.

Marvel Zombies

In a desperate attempt to save mutants and humans alike, Nick Fury summons all uninfected superheroes to the S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarrier to develop a cure and rescue as many humans as they can. During one of the evacuations, nearly all of the uninfected guarding the Helicarrier lead by Magneto become casualties by being eaten whole, or have been infected.

In Other Media

Film

Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1998)

The Helicarrier appears in the made-for-TV film.

The Avengers (2012)

The Hellicarrier makes a major appearance in the film, where it is used as the primary headquarters of Nick Fury and the Avengers for most of the movie. The Helicarrier is critically damaged when a brainwashed Hawkeye leads an attack on the ship in order to rescue Loki, and as such is absent for most of the final battle.

The Helicarrier is also shown to house a fleet of Quinjets.

Animated Films

The Hellicarrier appears in Ultimate Avengers, Iron Man: Rise of Technovore, and Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

With the original model damaged beyond repair, three new Helicarriers are commissioned as part of Project Insight. It is later revealed that HYDRA has infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. and plans to use the ships to kill large swaths of people as part of a plan to force the world to bow to the organization as their new masters. The plan is thwarted when Captain America and his new ally, the Falcon, manage to destroy the three Helicarriers before they can begin firing.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

During the final act, Nick Fury brings an old Helicarrier out of storage to help evacuate Sokovia. War Machine helps defend the ship from Ultron's duplicate bodies while the civilians are brought aboard.

Deadpool (2016)

The final battle between Deadpool (assisted by Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead) and Ajax's forces takes place on an old decommissioned Helicarrier. Most of the ship is destroyed in the ensuing fight.

Video Games

Helicarriers have appeared in Marvel Ultimate Alliance and its sequel, Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Man: Friend Or Foe, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, Iron Man 2, Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Avengers Alliance, and Lego Marvel Super Heroes.

Television

The Helicarrier has appeared in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, X-Men: Evolution, The Super Hero Squad Show, Iron Man: Armored Adventures, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Ultimate Spider-Man, and Avengers Assemble.

Toys

• Hasbro released a massive Helicarrier toy for its line based off the Avengers live-action movie.
• Hasbro later released an even larger Helicarrier toy as an San Diego Comic-Con exclusive.
• Lego also released a "Helicarrier Breakout" kit for the movie, but the set only depicted the detainment center from inside the Helicarrier, rather than the ship itself.
• A Helicarrier toy was relased as part of Hasbro's Marvel Super Hero Adventures line as part of a box set that also included War Machine and the Hulk.
• Hot Toys began work on a massive Helicarrier model kit based on the versions seen in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but the kit never made it to active production.
• The Helicarrier later received a full Lego kit as part of the Avengers: Age of Ultron line.