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This is my estimate of what the F/A-37 Strega would be like, if one were willing to shell out the hundreds of $Millions$ needed to build one. For those of you who haven't played Philosoma... well, you'll be at a total loss as to the aircraft I'm talking about.
Like the Raiden Mk.1, the Strega is a holy terror. It has more ordnance than several of today's fighters could carry, and that's only the little stuff that's BUILT-IN. It can also equip large numbers of IR-Honing missiles, rockets, and a handful of Tactical Antimatter bombs known as "Mega Busters".
The propulsion is really something too, with FOUR engines, retro-rockets, and a cluster of lift-jets in each utility pylon. Given the large size and (likely) weight of the Strega, coupled with the way they zoom around at ridiculous speeds, they must have at least 150000lbs of thrust.
Also, the lower engines and utility pylons can be collectively lowered, and the lifting thrusters activated to produce forward vertical lift; this configuration is called "Ground Mode", and practically turns the Strega into a hovercraft --- a SUPERSONIC hovercraft.
As the Stregas were shown launching from a Spaceship, they are also (obviously) capable of space flight, though just how capable has never really been confirmed.
So, not only is the F/A-37 Strega a totally badass Aerospace Fighter, but it can also wreak havoc in cramped spaces (thanks to the ingenious "Ground Mode").
Definitely not a pushover warplane.
In case you are wondering what this monstrosity looks like in battle, check out this youtube link; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8P3JVftOEM
NOTE: I just realized that I forgot to type a few notes at the end --- I'll correct this as soon as I've typed this description.
Like the Raiden Mk.1, the Strega is a holy terror. It has more ordnance than several of today's fighters could carry, and that's only the little stuff that's BUILT-IN. It can also equip large numbers of IR-Honing missiles, rockets, and a handful of Tactical Antimatter bombs known as "Mega Busters".
The propulsion is really something too, with FOUR engines, retro-rockets, and a cluster of lift-jets in each utility pylon. Given the large size and (likely) weight of the Strega, coupled with the way they zoom around at ridiculous speeds, they must have at least 150000lbs of thrust.
Also, the lower engines and utility pylons can be collectively lowered, and the lifting thrusters activated to produce forward vertical lift; this configuration is called "Ground Mode", and practically turns the Strega into a hovercraft --- a SUPERSONIC hovercraft.
As the Stregas were shown launching from a Spaceship, they are also (obviously) capable of space flight, though just how capable has never really been confirmed.
So, not only is the F/A-37 Strega a totally badass Aerospace Fighter, but it can also wreak havoc in cramped spaces (thanks to the ingenious "Ground Mode").
Definitely not a pushover warplane.
In case you are wondering what this monstrosity looks like in battle, check out this youtube link; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8P3JVftOEM
NOTE: I just realized that I forgot to type a few notes at the end --- I'll correct this as soon as I've typed this description.
Category Story / Miscellaneous
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 120 x 120px
File Size 2.2 kB
I remember this aircraft, and flying it. I also remember how insane it is ordnance-wise. Like many video-game aircraft, it seems to have unlimited missiles. I absolutely ADORED this monster of a ship, and still do. For some reason, just likely for sheer damn BURLINESS of it and toughness, it made me think it HAD to have been conceived by someone with the old Soviet mentality: make it able to land ANYWHERE and that you can kick it around and never worry. Tough as nails. Feed it dirt and it spits out bullets kind of tough. I love it!
You forgot to mention the disposeable one-shot droppable inflatable re-entry ballute system.
Mmmm, Strega. Yesss... *goes off on un-ladylike dreams of sheer destruction in the sexy white multiform...*
Yours,
Mika Kyubi
Kitsune-at-Large
You forgot to mention the disposeable one-shot droppable inflatable re-entry ballute system.
Mmmm, Strega. Yesss... *goes off on un-ladylike dreams of sheer destruction in the sexy white multiform...*
Yours,
Mika Kyubi
Kitsune-at-Large
All right, another Strega affictionado!
I can't believe I forgot to mention the disposable heat shield --- it's half the reason for having those damned utility pylons in the first place!
While the Strega is REALLY tough (a few of them actually survived the Planet-220 debacle), it had no landing gear, and seems to depend solely on the capture arm of a friendly space carrier to recover it. That sounds more like Soviet military mentality to me.
Not only is the Strega a tough, powerful, flying arsenal, but it is also surprisingly aerodynamic as well. The broad, all-lifting body can store lots of fuel and equipment, and the ridiculously long fuselage fairing (while not useful in itself) area-rules the wider rear section quite well. The design of the wings is both aerodynamically AND geometrically sound, and the contoured engine pods and triple dorsal fins provide excellent vertical stability. The utility pylons also add additional lift and stability as well (with aerodynamics similar to those of contemporary cruise missiles), and provide a more "square" position for negative all-moving canards, and a cluster of steering/lifting rockets. The cropped tailcone not only houses the "Ray-B" tailgun, but also pulls the area-ruling out to the rear end of the Strega. Finally, the position of the contoured canopy (behind the root of the fairing) reduced both drag from the canopy, and friction against it --- a critical feature for an aerospace fighter.
So, surprisingly, it's a sound design that could probably fly well if built.
I can't believe I forgot to mention the disposable heat shield --- it's half the reason for having those damned utility pylons in the first place!
While the Strega is REALLY tough (a few of them actually survived the Planet-220 debacle), it had no landing gear, and seems to depend solely on the capture arm of a friendly space carrier to recover it. That sounds more like Soviet military mentality to me.
Not only is the Strega a tough, powerful, flying arsenal, but it is also surprisingly aerodynamic as well. The broad, all-lifting body can store lots of fuel and equipment, and the ridiculously long fuselage fairing (while not useful in itself) area-rules the wider rear section quite well. The design of the wings is both aerodynamically AND geometrically sound, and the contoured engine pods and triple dorsal fins provide excellent vertical stability. The utility pylons also add additional lift and stability as well (with aerodynamics similar to those of contemporary cruise missiles), and provide a more "square" position for negative all-moving canards, and a cluster of steering/lifting rockets. The cropped tailcone not only houses the "Ray-B" tailgun, but also pulls the area-ruling out to the rear end of the Strega. Finally, the position of the contoured canopy (behind the root of the fairing) reduced both drag from the canopy, and friction against it --- a critical feature for an aerospace fighter.
So, surprisingly, it's a sound design that could probably fly well if built.
Dear, hearing you rave about it warms my heart!
I would think, though, only one thing: the game as far as I know, unlike a simulator, doesn't exactly give a point where one /could/ land. I think most pilots would feel very put upon flying an aerospace fighter with no gear.
I /am/, however, pleasantly surprised to hear that it is aerodynamically sound. Thus, it now has even MORE love from me. ^_^
Hugs and kisses,
Mika
I would think, though, only one thing: the game as far as I know, unlike a simulator, doesn't exactly give a point where one /could/ land. I think most pilots would feel very put upon flying an aerospace fighter with no gear.
I /am/, however, pleasantly surprised to hear that it is aerodynamically sound. Thus, it now has even MORE love from me. ^_^
Hugs and kisses,
Mika
Damn, that's a monster. O.o There's more armament on one of those than on some of the smaller ships I've come up with, if you include the payload. Big thing that makes me cringe, though, is the engines. XD If you have an atmospheric capability, why use up all that space carrying oxidizer? If the planet's remotely habitable, it's likely to have more than enough oxygen to power a scramjet/conventional ramjet. I realize that for slower speeds, a turbofan would likely be necessary, but from that movie, it looks like the damn thing hardly ever slows down. >.< Besides, you could just scrap some of the built-in weaponry and use some of the space you'd save from eliminating a goodly portion of the oxidizer to put a quad-mode propulsion system in. Add conformal tanks for space operations and you'd be all set. Besides, I don't like the idea of holding that much fuel-oxidizer combo in a combat craft. Nasty things are likely to happen if you have a fuel leak. >.<
But hey, that's just my two cents. I'd already have my novel done if I knew all the answers here. :P
But hey, that's just my two cents. I'd already have my novel done if I knew all the answers here. :P
The F/A-37 Strega's engines all seem to have intakes, so they probably mix air into their combustion chambers in an atmosphere (likely to extend their fuel supply --- as Philosoma especially featured a "drop" mission, this would seem to be the F/A-37's forte).
All the weaponry stated is fully-internal, and all stated external stations (whose existence only conforms to my estimates) are for nothing but munitions and external fuel. As the F/A-37 has a gigantic combined lifting area and powerful propulsion, it can probably carry large loads with little effort.
All the weaponry stated is fully-internal, and all stated external stations (whose existence only conforms to my estimates) are for nothing but munitions and external fuel. As the F/A-37 has a gigantic combined lifting area and powerful propulsion, it can probably carry large loads with little effort.
Thanks for clarifying. The air intakes would make sense, though it's probably not strictly a rocket if that's the case. Perhaps something like a pulse-detonation engine that can switch over to a rocket mode while in space (certainly simpler than the quad-mode setup I described, silly me).
I'm still in shock over the sheer firepower described. It sounds like a capital ship-buster more than a fighter. Of course, that's without knowing the sort of armor/"shields" on a typical capital ship in that game, which one can probably assume would be more than enough to withstand an attack by a Strega.
One would need fairly sizable fuel stores even get out of the atmosphere on an Earth-sized planet, so it makes sense that it would have at least some capability to carry external fuel. The "drop" mission you mentioned causes some complications - the hardest part, fuel-wise, of a space mission is always getting into orbit. Presumably, "bingo" fuel is set fairly high in proportion to total fuel stores to allow for this, so it would make sense to carry drop tanks or similar on just about every flight, in order to extend the amount of time that a dropped Strega would have to complete its mission before bingo. Of course, carrying tanks on hardpoints means that you have fewer of them for weapons, so there's a trade-off going on there.
That gigantic lifting area is something to take note of, I think. I might consider using a similar design for a fighter in my novel, although I prefer conventional-swept wings (less stress on the airframe), or perhaps a blended wing-body type configuration. I'd have to think on that one. :P
I'm still in shock over the sheer firepower described. It sounds like a capital ship-buster more than a fighter. Of course, that's without knowing the sort of armor/"shields" on a typical capital ship in that game, which one can probably assume would be more than enough to withstand an attack by a Strega.
One would need fairly sizable fuel stores even get out of the atmosphere on an Earth-sized planet, so it makes sense that it would have at least some capability to carry external fuel. The "drop" mission you mentioned causes some complications - the hardest part, fuel-wise, of a space mission is always getting into orbit. Presumably, "bingo" fuel is set fairly high in proportion to total fuel stores to allow for this, so it would make sense to carry drop tanks or similar on just about every flight, in order to extend the amount of time that a dropped Strega would have to complete its mission before bingo. Of course, carrying tanks on hardpoints means that you have fewer of them for weapons, so there's a trade-off going on there.
That gigantic lifting area is something to take note of, I think. I might consider using a similar design for a fighter in my novel, although I prefer conventional-swept wings (less stress on the airframe), or perhaps a blended wing-body type configuration. I'd have to think on that one. :P
The sheer firepower that the Strega possesses is obviously critical to success in the game. Judging from how routine VFA-29 considered the mission to be (at least for the first HALF of it...), Aerospace Warfare in the world of Philosoma seems to involve a lot of long, continuous "Flying Circus" battles with a plethora of different foes.
The Shingfokaifor company (builder and owner of the Planet-220 colonies and mines) seems to have invested in an incredibly massive defense network as well, and this probably characterizes the intensity of the threat that remote outposts would consider "routine". That said, it's no wonder that a pure military warplane contemporary to this would be so heavily armed.
As for fuel supplies, the UNS Gallant went into orbit before launching VFA-29, which were magnetically catapulted to P-220. From this, it seems likely that very little fuel is consumed in a typical Strega descent, and as only enough fuel would be burned during exfiltration to get the Stregas back into space (and then maneuver to re-embark with their Carrier), it's likely that as much as 90% of all fuel use only occurs during the mission itself.
In fact, the entire operation area would seem to be about the size of Massachusetts, so Stregas probably don't fly very far from the insertion point.
But that's all conjecture...
The Shingfokaifor company (builder and owner of the Planet-220 colonies and mines) seems to have invested in an incredibly massive defense network as well, and this probably characterizes the intensity of the threat that remote outposts would consider "routine". That said, it's no wonder that a pure military warplane contemporary to this would be so heavily armed.
As for fuel supplies, the UNS Gallant went into orbit before launching VFA-29, which were magnetically catapulted to P-220. From this, it seems likely that very little fuel is consumed in a typical Strega descent, and as only enough fuel would be burned during exfiltration to get the Stregas back into space (and then maneuver to re-embark with their Carrier), it's likely that as much as 90% of all fuel use only occurs during the mission itself.
In fact, the entire operation area would seem to be about the size of Massachusetts, so Stregas probably don't fly very far from the insertion point.
But that's all conjecture...
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