FD COM – AIRCRAFT by A. Gubler Introduction In
2300 Pampas Aviation
Corporation A19A2 Boin
Personal Transport, VTOL Sadlier Aerospace
A60B2
Yahwulpa II Aircraft, Attack, VTOL Sadlier Aerospace
A66 Tanakan Aircraft, Utility, VTOL Sadlier Aerospace
A58A8 Bullfly Aircraft, Utility, VTOL Pampas
Aviation Corporation A55B2 Warral Aircraft, Light Utility, VTOL Sadlier Aerospace
A64A2 Bogong Aircraft, Transport, VTOL Kanandah A120A2 Dragonfly Aircraft, Attack, STOL Pampas
Aviation Corporation A101A9 Kargon Aircraft, Fighter, Strike Longreach Aerospace A195A2 Watabora Aircraft, Transport, Theatre Geographe Aerospatiale
A21A2 Pinduro
Aircraft, Transport, WIG Avalon
A40C3 Corama
Aircraft, Transport, LTA AST/Ansbach Industrie-Gesellschafte A65A2 6-cm Mass Driver Gun AST A61A4 3-cm Gauss Automatic Grenade Launcher DMA
Wimmera Missile Launcher, Six-Cell DMA
Bullamwall Missile Launcher, Twin-Cell Urandangi A210A3
Marrar Anti-Aircraft Missile Urandangi A209A1
Huntsman Anti-Vehicle Missile Urandangi A211A2
Deathleaper Anti-Aircraft Missile DMA
200-kg Bomb, Multi-Purpose DMA
200-kg Bomb, Anti-Personnel Pampas
Aviation Corporation A19A2 Boin Personal Transport, VTOL The Boin [NSW Ab: mosquito] is a one person VTOL platform of the type commonly known as “flying shoes”. The air vehicle is little more than a counter-rotating propfan and engine with a platform for a single operator to stand on top of the propfan. The operator flies the propfan using kinaesthetic control as well as more direct controls much like one rides a motorbike. The excellent reliability of the fuel cell engine and the ease of control through the natural stability with the centre of gravity above the lift device makes the Boin a much safer aircraft to fly than one would think by looking at it. While slow, short ranged and with a very small load carrying capability the aircraft is still useful for reconnaissance, runabout duties and providing soldiers with the capacity to effectively fly. Type: VTOL
personal transport Armour: none Pampas
Aviation Corporation A19B1 Boin II Special Forces
Transport, VTOL The Boin II is a special forces version of the Boin one person VTOL platform modified for additional stealth, more power, longer range and para-dropping. The SOF version adds a drogue chute to slow the air vehicle after para-dropping from a cargo plane and a para-glider chute for extended range. The upper surface of the para-glider chute is, like the standard Ornithider, a solar power collector; theoretically giving the Boin II unlimited range. Type: VTOL
special forces transport Armour: none Sadlier Aerospace A60B2
Yahwulpa II Aircraft, Attack, VTOL The Yahwulpa [Qld Ab: wasp] is
the standard Australian VTOL gunship found in the brigade aviation units.
The A60B2 is a remanufactured version of the original A60, itself a
gunship version of the A58 VTOL transport. The A60 uses a VTOL
system peculiar to Type: embedded-rotor gunship Armour: front: 5, bottom: 5, other faces: 3 Sadlier Aerospace A66 Tanakan Aircraft, Utility, VTOL The frontline utility VTOL of FD COM
the Tanakan (a very
large native insect found in the swamps of the Type: embedded-rotor utility transport Armour: front: 10, bottom: 10, other faces: 5 Sadlier Aerospace A58A8 Bullfly Aircraft, Utility, VTOL The secondline utility VTOL of Field Command the Bullfly (named after a persistent and obnoxious Australian fly now only found in the continent’s north-west) remains in service in large numbers. The A58A8 is very similar in appearance and operation to the A66 which is an evolved and improved version. The principle difference is that the pilot and loadmaster’s stations are of lower profile with far less back-up visibility. The A58 can carry the same cargo loads as the faster and more manoeuvrable A66. Type: embedded-rotor utility transport Armour: front: 5, bottom: 5, other faces: 3 Pampas Aviation Corporation A55B2 Warral II Aircraft,
Light Utility, VTOL The Warral [NSW
Ab: honey bee] is a light VTOL aircraft for
liaison and general duties. The A55 is a conventional
VTOL similar to most military liaison VTOL aircraft utilising two rotatable
propfans on the ends of conventional wings. The aircraft’s power source
comes from hydrogen fuel cells located in the wings that power the electric
motors of the propfans. These distributed “engines” give the Warral
a great degree of survivability for such a small VTOL. Passengers and
crew enter the VTOL via a hatch in the rear beneath the H-form stabilisers.
This hatch can be fixed in a semi open position with a pintle mount
for machinegun or sniper rifle. Type: tilt ducted fan light transport Armour: all faces: 3 Sadlier Aerospace A64A2 Bogong Aircraft, Transport, VTOL The Bogong [Vic Ab:
very large moth] is a very large VTOL transport aircraft able to lift
over 15 tons of cargo. The A64 is similar in appearance and layout to
the over embedded-rotor VTOLs in ADF service just much bigger. This
aircraft is the predominant type in service with the lift aviation units.
A civilian version the Sadlier HCA (Heavy
Cargo Aircraft) is common on frontier worlds and the outbacks
of Type: embedded-rotor cargo transport Armour: all faces: 3 Kanandah A120A2 Dragonfly Aircraft, Attack, STOL The Dragonfly
is the standard attack aircraft of FD COM’s strike aviation units and
represents the main combat power of the Corps of Aviation. The A120
is a conventional frontier fighter utilising a low-aspect ratio lifting
body with a Coanda effect active wing and vectored thrust to achieve vertical/short take-off
and landing. Subsequently the attack aircraft can operate from primitive
runways, usually just converted roads or fields. Type: vectored thrust STOL fighter bomber Armour: all faces: 5 Kanandah A101A9 Kargon Aircraft, Fighter, Strike The Kargon [Qld Ab: large kingfisher] is the main frontal fighter bomber of AF COM and while a multi-purpose aircraft is usually found deployed in support of FD COM deep battle operations. While able to conduct short take-offs and landings from rough surfaces the A101 lacks the Dragonfly’s active lift systems so is more likely to utilise prepared airbases. However the A101 can carry considerably more weaponry over longer ranges than the smaller Dragonfly. Type: conventional fighter bomber Armour: all faces: 6 Longreach Aerospace A195A5 Watabora
Aircraft, Transport, Theatre The
Watabora [NSW Ab: crow] is the standard large transport aircraft in service
with AF COM. There are over 600 of these large transport aircraft, in
12 wings (both full-time and part-time), in AF COM service. The Watabora is a large
lifting body aircraft with under-cover roof mounted engines and symmetrical
Coanda
effect active
wings. The large, wide fuselage has two cargo bays, each with ramps
forward and aft. The rear ramps can be opened in flight and cargo deployed
by parachute. Each of cargo bays is able to carry 36,000-kg and can
also be fitted out with various modules, including passenger and fuel
bays. Each passenger module can accommodate up to 200 passengers and
4,000-kg of extra cargo. The Watabora is most
frequently used by FD COM to lift the airborne infantry brigades as
each aircraft can carry 16 × F47A5 Waikerie airborne infantry carrier hovercraft over a
radius of 4,000-km. Type: heavy lift transport aircraft Armour: all faces: 3 Geographe Aerospatiale A21A2 Pinduro Aircraft, Transport, WIG The Pinduro [WA Ab: ocean
waves] is the standard transport wing-in-ground effect aircraft in ADF
service. These very large aircraft are attached to most ADF commands
and utilised as standard cargo transports for forces away from the “mag-lev”
rail nets that cover most of developed Type: wing-in-ground-effect transport air vehicle Nation: In-Service-Date: 2261 Armour: bottom: 10, other faces: 3 Avalon A40C3 Corama Aircraft, Transport, LTA The Corama [Vic Ab: feather] is a very large air vehicle combining aerodynamic lift (from its lifting body shape) and lighter-than-air lift (from its helium gas bags) to provide air transport for very large cargos with high efficiencies. The aircraft is 350-m long, 80-m high and 100-m wide. The Corama also has four retractable air cushion landing gears that enable it to land on any surface and reverse the air cushion thrust to “suck down” the LTA aircraft without the need for extensive ground crews and harnessing. These large LTAs are common across human space and fulfil a number of roles. ADF’s AF COM maintains six wings (mixed full and part-time service) operating around 150 of these large aircraft. As a military LTA the Corama is well defended and provided with stealthy features. The Corama can land and take off vertically but only at the expense of maximum cargo load. Type: lighter-than-air transport air vehicle Nation: In-Service-Date: 2293
(C generation), 2221 (A generation) Weight: n/a Armour: all faces: 2 Kanandah/RenoAirCorp
A305A3 Edibullawie
Aircraft, Transport, Theatre The
Edibullawie [SA Ab:
diamond sparrow at night] is a special forces
transport aircraft modified from surplus A30 Edie [SA Ab: diamond sparrow] theatre bombers.
The Kanandah/RenoAirCorp theatre bomber program was a joint Australian/American
project in the 2230s to develop a modern and capable deep penetration
strike aircraft. The subsequent diamond sparrow (in Australia) and diamond
back (American) aircraft served for over 40 years on the frontline as
a bomber before being replaced by more capable types. The Edie aircraft utilizes a wing system known as a diamond or joined
wing, in which a high-aspect ratio wing is swept back from the bottom
of the nose to meet another forward swept wing from the top of tail.
The two wings are usually joined by a stabiliser or a pod to create one connected lifting surface.
The advantages of this arrangement is that long high-aspect ratio wings,
good for high altitude performance, can be used without making the aircraft
excessively wide and the wings weak. Also a large wing surface area
can be provided without the low altitude buffeting common to large single
wings. With plenty of potential use still in the aircraft AF COM decided
to modify and re-role the Edies
to replace older, larger converted civilian freighters in combat support
and services missions. The ADF’s Naval Command
(NAV COM) had acquired its own version of the Edie, the A301 Edieowie [SA Ab:
diamond sparrow over water] for maritime warfare roles, in which the
fuselage and wing-joint pods are lengthened to increase internal volume.
AF COM found that as part of the rebuild of the old bombers the airframes
could be easily lengthened to provide extra space. The subsequent aircraft
are used for a number of roles including C4I, intelligence
gathering (from weather to signals) and supporting FD COM, the later
known as the Edibullawie. The basic Edibullawie
is a relatively simple multi-role transport and in-flight refuelling
aircraft to support FD COM SASR and Corps
of Aviation operations. The cargo bay extends from the rear ramp under
the steathly engine mountings forward to the cockpit and occupies
most of the fuselage. The bay has a row of foldaway crash resistant
seats along each side able to seat a total of 60 fully equipped soldiers.
The bay can also carry cargo pallets or vehicles on its floor, up to
four F47A5 Waikerie airborne infantry
carrier hovercraft, four F73 Liarbird
scout vehicle hovercraft,
32 combat walkers or 32 personal air vehicles. Other vehicle
loads are restricted due to the lack of cargo bay height. All cargo
can be para-dropped from the rear ramp at
subsonic speeds. The cargo bay can be fitted with a modular fuel tank
and clip on computer controlled refuelling probes to each wing-joint
to convert the A306 into an air tanker. Type: special forces transport aircraft Armour: all faces: 5 The Southern Cross Lasers A97 is a
high power laser weapon found on the latest Australian aircraft and
is very similar to the F72 found in ground vehicles. The primary role
of the A97 is point defence against incoming missiles and shells. It
has secondary roles as an anti-aircraft weapon and for engaging ground
targets. Because the A75 is mounted on the top of the aircraft it has
masked zone beneath the aircraft for attacking ground targets. The A97
usually operates in automatic mode and will engage missiles and personnel
that come within range without appropriate IFF signals. Type: 250-01 laser The A98 is the airborne version of the F23 Brownsnake laser machinegun. This laser can either fire high-powered single shots or bursts at a much lower power. Like the hand carried version the A98 is a very impressive weapon and ideal for clearing enemy ground troops from hot LZs. Type: 150-01 laser The A75A2 is the aircraft mounted
version of the high power laser F66. This weapon is used as point defence
against missiles and medium velocity shells and as an anti-aircraft
weapon. It is similar in conception to the A97 aircraft laser weapon. Type: 100-01 laser AST/Ansbach Industrie-Gesellschafte A65A2 6-cm Mass Driver Gun The A62 is a modified and improved aircraft version of the F100 itself a licence built Australian version of the Bavarian (now German) 6-cm mass driver gun fitted to the LkPz-VIII. The A62 replaced a less successful variant of the DunArmCo 40-MW plasma gun as the primary armament of the Yahwulpa VTOL gunship. Type: 60-mm Gauss gun ROF: 5 Armour
Piercing, Flechette: 80 Ammunition Expense: dependent on shell used: Armour
Piercing, Flechette: kA$ 20 (Lv 160) AST A61A4 3-cm Gauss Automatic
Grenade Launcher The Australian Steel & Technologies
A61A4 is the airborne version of their successful family of 3-cm grenade
launchers. The A61 is operationally identical to the ground based F39
(for more on this weapon see FD COM – Land Vehicles) except with a much
larger magazine and is designed for aircraft integration. Type: 30-mm Gauss gun ROF: 5 High
Explosive, Multi Purpose: as tamped explosion
(EP = 4) High
Explosive, Thermobaric: as explosion (EP = 8) with quarter normal fragmentation Ammunition Expense: dependent
on grenade used: High
Explosive, Multi Purpose: A$ 625 (Lv 5) DunArmCo F40C2 12-mm Conventional Machinegun The F40C2 is the aircraft mounted version of the F40 or Mini-12 machinegun. The F40C2 can be dismounted and fired from a field mount. Type: 12-mm conventional
machine gun ROF: 5 DMA Wimmera
Missile Launcher, Six-Cell The
Wimmera [Vic Ab:
spear thrower] is the standard missile rack for under-wing hardpoints.
The rack is fully enclosed and has six medium sized Australian standard
missile cells in a hexagonal arrangement. Missiles of any type can be
mixed and matched in the cells. Type: air-launched missile launcher DMA Bullamwall Missile
Launcher, Twin-Cell The
Bullamwall [Vic
Ab: two spears] is a standard heavy missile rack for under-wing
hardpoints. The rack is fully enclosed and has two large sized Australian
standard missile cells. Type: air-launched missile launcher Urandangi A210A3 Marrar Anti-Aircraft
Missile The Marrar (NSW Ab: tarantula) is the standard long range air to air missile of the ADF. The A210 is a very high speed boosted missile with several targeting systems to counter enemy countermeasures. It is broadly comparable to the French Aero-27 missile. Type: air-launched anti-aircraft missile Urandangi A209A1 Huntsman Anti-Vehicle
Missile The A209 is an air launched anti-vehicle missile, basically identical to the ground launched F49. The A209 is semi-autonomous after launching and will scan the designated area for enemy vehicles and subsequently attack the highest priority target. Type: air-launched anti-vehicle missile Urandangi A211A2 Deathleaper Anti-Aircraft Missile The A211 is the air launched version of the F51 and is an effective within visual range anti-aircraft missile. The A211 is a very high speed missile with several targeting systems to counter enemy countermeasures. Type: air-launched anti-aircraft missile DMA 200-kg Bomb, Multi-Purpose The
standard bomb type found on Australian aircraft the BMA is a high explosive
self-guiding glide bomb. Cheap, powerful and reliable BMA’s make up
a major component of the ADF’s firepower.
Up to three bombs in a staggered arrangement can be fitted to each under-wing
hardpoint. Type: air-launched guided bomb DMA 200-kg Bomb, Anti-Personnel The
BAP is a special fragment producing cluster bomb that releases hundreds
of tiny explosive bouncing balls over up to 1-km2. Up to three bombs of any type can
be fitted to each under-wing hardpoint. Type: air-launched guided bomb Several
aerodynamically terms are referred to in the above article with little
or no explanation. In order to avoid confusion they are elaborated on
here. When
an air vehicle enters very low altitude air pressure builds up under
between the air vehicle and the ground. This high pressure air creates
ground effect which provides additional lift. Basic
component of lift: streams of air forced over a curved aerodynamic surface
will follow the contour of that surface, entrain the surrounding air
and provide lift. Active Coanda effect wings
utilize circulation control to feed pressurised air onto the wing to
provide additional lift. When
a conventional bladed helicopter is hovering in ground-effect over rough,
mobile surfaces like long grass, or near vertical surfaces such as a
wall or the edge of a forest downwash can be recirculated. This recirculated
air re-enters the rotors and creates vortices which counter the lift
of ground effect and can actually require an increase in hover lift. Also
known as “power settling” creates induced flow at the inner portion
of blades upward rather than downward. This up-flow is caused by descent,
tailwinds, or turbulence and has overcome the down-flow produced by
blade rotation. Creates a vortex-ring state with unsteady shifting of flow along the
blades leading to roughness and loss of control. |