Survey plane

A survey plane was a type of aircraft in service in the 23rd century. It was a small helicopter.

Background
At least one survey plane was in service on the Federation wildlife preserve planet Salvum in 2267. It was used to fly over and inspect various ecological habitats on the surface. It was for atmospheric use only, but had sufficient environmental protection to withstand travel through environments ranging from nearly absolute zero to 389 degrees C.

Landing gear skis and a stepladder retracted during flight. A clear dome with a nearly invisible hatch on the port side protected the crew. A pilot sat up front, with one passenger seat on the right and a couch in back to accommodate two or three additional passengers. It had helicopter rotors at the top to provide lift, a smaller stability blade to the rear starboard, and three exhausts for rocket-propelled engines in the rear.

History
Axel Carruthers flew James T. Kirk, Spock, and Montgomery Scott aboard a survey plane after the crew of a Grotus transport knocked out preserve staff with sleeping gas and then fled from the planet after damaging its atmospheric shield. Nothing seemed amiss in the sectors for Aridan sandworms and Plutonian snow-beavers, but Carruthers spotted only female Gharian wedding birds in their habitat. Going undercover, the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) officers tracked down the missing male birds on the non-aligned asteroid Grotus.