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Pg 020-021
VF-0 PhoenixThe archaeopteryx [original bird, first bird] of the variable fighters, which was completed partly against (the UN Forces)'s will.
Active StealthIt is equipped with the initial active stealth mechanism. It is useful against fighter mounted radar, radard-guided missiles and so on, but it is difficult to deceive large radars and the like.
Conventional Jet EngineBecause the thermonuclear reaction engine wasn't developed in time, (conventional) jet fighter use EGF-127 engines, with the maximum level of thrust in a turbofan engine, were tuned up and installed (in the VF-0). In combination with the power generating system, (the engines) become the source of power for the operation of the transformation system, laser machine-gun, and so on. However, the cruising range is pretty short because of the amount of fuel the VF-0 can load.
Ghost (Fighter) EquipmentThe back was occasionally equipped with a QF-2200D Ghost as a booster. Rather than increasing the (VF-0's) high mobility, the nuance is quite large when it is said that the heavy Ghost Equipment only compensates for the decrease in mobility that it causes; however it is also thought to lead to the later FAST Packs and Super Packs.
Outline of the airframeA testing craft (one of the testing craft actually) of variable fighters that unites technology produced from the analysis of a crashed alien battleship with existing aircraft.
Though the engines cannot operate without optional packs in space because they are conventional jet engines, (the VF-0) has been completed as a VF (variable fighter), with alien technology (OTM) used in the energy conversion armour, (power) generating equipment, capacitors, and so on.
However, as it's development is because of a new category of weapon [arms] called VF, the pilot's training is difficult to master. In the "Tori no hito" struggle [contest, competition] in the vicinity of Mayan Island by the UN Forces and the Anti-UN Forces, the fight with the Anti-UN Force's mutual prototype VF, the SV-51, unfolded [opened up].
VF-0 SpecDevelopment Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman / Stonewall / Shinsei
Length: 18.69 m (in fighter mode)
Width: 11.2 m
Height: 12.92 m (battroid mode)
Empty Weight: 16,191 Kg
Engine: EGF-127 Turbofan Engine Kai [custom]
Thrust: 91.08 kN (A/B time 148.9 kN) x2
Armament: Laser Machine Gun, 35 mm Gun Pod, Medium Range Air to Air Missiles, Micro-missiles
Another Possibility, the SV-51The SV-51 is designed by a different concept than the VF-0, which is said to be "opposing alien powered suits, battle pods, and so forth". Though the technological level of the SV-51 and the VF-0 had both merits and demerits, it can be said that the SV-51's concept had gone further ahead than the VF-0's. If the SV-51's system method had been adopted, the VF history of evolution after that might have been greatly changed.
(In) Flight Refuelling ReceptacleHas an already existing (prior to OTEC) conventional mid-air refuelling probe receptacle. More than the sacrificing of the amount of fuel onboard to install OTM devices, the VF-0 had high fuel-consuming high-tuned engines installed, so the In-flight refuelling receptacle equipment can also be called the VF-0's lifeline.
Seat With Anti-G MechanismIt is not an OTM device; though the optimization of the angle of the seat is the subject of the body current stimulant system (the so-called vital point stimulation), in case of high g, it is also possible to handle an increase of about 20 to 30% more.
Consideration and Verification by this MagazineFor the sake of "contact" with a little over 10 m tall giant space aliens, so that a humanoid robot is efficiently moved on its own, given a transformation mechanism to take the form of an aircraft... this is the development concept of the VF series.
In short, the function of battroid = human form was main. Therefore, the size restriction of the battroid form was strictly observed.
Moreover, because it was confirmed that the aliens used high mobility battle pods, in aircraft (fighter) form, regardless of being in space or atmosphere, the ability of a fighter craft was also sought.
Even though the VF-0's technical problem was the installation of tuned existing jet engines, the balance was broken from the limitations of the size of the dimensions and large output engines that were jammed in. It's said that the VF-0 had been on the level of it's abilities as a fighter craft only somewhat exceeding those of the latest currently used fighter craft.
Of course, even though they didn't have these limits in the situation where as a variable fighter the 3 forms were used freely. However, it is said that it was a problem to establish things like flying methods and tactics from zero; which also took time (to establish).
Nonetheless, the abilities of the technical camp and experimental force should be praised as they finished up the VF-0, which were new weapons for combat with a not-yet-known enemy, using an unknown technology, and were able to endure actual combat while problems remained.
Dr. Chiba's Private Opinion [personal view; personal opinion]Even if you fight with huge space aliens, the size might not have had to match that of the naked space aliens at all (laughs). They also use things like battle pods and powered suits. Concerning the result, the VF-0 and SV-51 class size was consequently good.
Pg 022
35 mm Gun PodThe shell's [bullet's] initial velocity is 1,100 m per second. Though it's destructive power is excessive when used against general aircraft, it is the "standardized" power against the hypothesized opponet of a battle pod equipped with a VF-0 class energy conversion armour.
FCSA helmet pointing system built into the helmet, that takes aim by following one's eyes, is adopted for shooting the gun pod and laser machine-gun.
Accidentally Discovered GERWALKThough gerwalk is counted as one of the three forms of a VF, it's origin was an accidental imperfect transformation in the transformation program that occured. However, with pilot's training (with only a little bit of psychological resistance), gerwalk form's stability and so on, it's predominance during combat was admitted [observed, recognized], and it became one of the formal forms of a VF.
Laser Machine GunThough it can be said that the head laser machine-gun is "standard equipment" of a VF, in the VF-0's case, particulars of why it was adopted is that the space efficiency of a laser machine-gun is better than that of a machine-gun and ammunition.
Energy Conversion ArmourElectricity is generated by a surplus of engine power, which is on the mechanism operated in the energy conversion armour; with the prerequisite that the VF-0 must be in battroid form. However, by a leap in improvement in engine power, the latest VFs are able to partially operate the energy conversion armour in fighter mode.
Fighter Oriented D variantThe manoeuvrability of the D type VF-0, with a clipped delta wing, in below sonic speeds, has been improved by lowering the wing load (compared to the A/S types). On the other hand, because the main wing is bulky, mobility in battroid mode is somewhat inferior to the A and S types (of VF-0).
Pg 023
VF-1 Valkyrie
Retractable Antenna(no text)
ManipulatorThough they can be manually operated, the controls of the sensitive limbs in battroid form are done by AI auto-control by the integrated control support system. The firing of the gun pod when in battroid form is also determined by aiming dependant on the helmet pointing system, and the limbs' mobility is controlled for steady shooting. Furthermore, magic arms for repair work and so on are built-into the manipulators.
2 Dimension Thrust Vectoring NozzleEven though a conventional jet fighter has 3-dimension thrust vectoring as well, continuing from the VF-0, the VF-1 employs a 2-dimension vertical thrust vectoring nozzle (they are also movable to a degree to the left and right)*. 3 dimension (thrust vectoring) can be seen on later-made General Galaxy (Zentraadi-series) VFs.
Limited [constrained] to what is said as "the same size as giants"The total height when in battroid was set at 12 m. It is thought that the purpose of that was for the hypothesized "invade a giant alien's mothership and fight" case. The fighter form having received that influence, consisted of a small 14 m fighter with comparable engine output, but bore drawbacks in the armaments, loading capacity and so on. From the time of the VF-11, that thinking of "the same size as giants" changed, and thereafter VFs increased in size and became the same size as an average fighter in the latter half of the 20th century.
Electronic Warfare Specificied VF-1The VT-1* is another VF-1 that is in charge of an early-warning system, as well as bombardment [bombarding, shelling] control to allied craft. Though a large booster pack is installed, except for this it has a shortened velocity differential with lightweight equipped general (VF-1) craft, and it seems to be the craft for supporting operations [tactics].
[*translator's note: I think this is a typo. As the picture next to it is a FAST pack equipped VE-1.]
Floodlight(no text)
55 mm Gun PodIt from [after] the VF-0's 35 mm gun pod, and has had it's calibrer [bore] enlarged. It was for battle with energy conversion armour possessing alien battle pods, and also was shown to have more than enough power (against them).
Pg 024-25
VF-1 Valkyrie
Because it was the first actual combat craft, there were also a lot of problems!?Pylons and Hard-pointsOn each of the main wings, there are 2 places for pylons that mount air-to-ground missiles, micro-missiles, and so on. Regardless of the angle of the main wing, the pylons and hard-points are constructed to always turn the armaments mounted on them to the front.
The Long-awaited Thermonuclear Turbine EngineEquipped with the thermonuclear turbine engine, the VF-1 is radically changed from the VF-0, and is able to attain the ability of almost limitless flight within the atmosphere. However, the thrust itself isn't that large a difference from the amount of the VF-0, and when in space, the built-in propellant load as well as the time that the VF-1 can operate at full speed is unusually small.
Floodlight(no text)
Outline of the AirframeThe mass-production Variable (Space) Fighter that Earthlings made using Zentraadi Overtechnology.
It is a 2-motored fighter and because it has thermonuclear turbine engines built-into it's small airframe, it has large points of difference as well with the prototype VF-0; and these engines enable action within atmosphere and space.
The roll-out of the production type of VF-1 was in 2008. Though a main candidate for a successor craft, such as the VF-4, appeared afterwards, the VF-1 airframe also continued to play an active role in active service until the development of the VF-11 in the 2030's.
Because there were a lot of manufacturers that took part during the production period, in production itself and so on, a lot of derivative craft, updated versions and so on were produced.
CockpitThough the seat is an ejector seat, the cockpit block can be seperated in an emergency and function as a lifesaving capsule. In a structure similar to the descendant VF-25, in this way, it has the merrit that is said to be the ability to quickly change the nose to one with the built-in avionics that suit the operations.
VF-1(J) SpecDevelopment Manufacturer: Stonewell / Ballcom
Length: 14.23 m (fighter mode)
Width: 14.78m (wings at maximum extension)
Height: 12.68 m (battroid mode)
Empty Weight: 13,250 Kg
Engine: Shinnakasu Heavy Industry / P&W / Royce FF-2001 x2
Thrust: 11,500 Kg x2 (maximum available thrust in space)
Armament: Anti-air laser machine gun, 55 mm gun pod, micro-missiles, other
There are a lot of OP (option) packs, but if you turn it around...The VF-1, for which option packs are prepared. which are also typical for later VFs, are said to be Armour Packs and FAST Packs. However, for the VF-1, more than the stated positive strengthening, the things are said with a nuance of the VF-1 is compensating for lacking aspects.
Consideration and Verification by this MagazineThe airframe of the VF-0 is redesigned, and what is completed to act as a space fighter with such things as the installation of thermonuclear reaction engines, is the VF-1. In actually combat, referred to as Space War I, it is thought that some problems with the VF-1 also appeared.
Being the first to launch, it seems there were concerns about it's operations in the void of space. When compared to existing fighters, the VF-1 was a size smaller as the size of the airframe was decided to match the height of the Zentraadi in battroid; and there wasn't room for the equipping of such things as propellant and armaments. Such things as the equipment named FAST pack and Armoured Pack appear to have been powerful equipment whose significance was to compensate for the insufficient parts (of the VF-1 design). Moreover, even when operating in the atmosphere, as for the composition of "engines with power significantly more than that of existing fighters installed in a small airframe", it was very likely the VF-1's airframe balance was worse than that of the VF-0.
Nevertheless, in actual combat, combat in the atmosphere didn't really take place. Instead, in space the main duty of the VF-1 was air defence duties to defend the mother-ship from the enemy force that of a scale that far exceeded expectation. Even though there weren't completely no cases where an enemy battleship was penetrated by a battroid form VF-1, it is in doubt that the reason for that is because the element that was secured in the VF-1's design (battroid form being the same height as the Zentraadi) came at the expense of its abilities in fighter form. Might the weakness have resulted from there not having been any actual combat experience with the Zentraadi?
However, the VF-1 fought a good fight as the sparing partner with the Zentraadi fleet, and it shouldn't be exchanged as the key factor that led the fighting to victory. Boiling down the concept of the airframe, it is said that the VF-1 is an airframe that didn't achieve comparatively enough big successes.
Dr. Chiba's Personal OpinionThough there was also a problem concerning the propellant load, compared to the VF-1's heir, the VF-11 and needless to say the airframes on and after the VF-19, the VF-1 has a heavy empty weight. As a matter of fact, because it's thrust is small, there is actually a possibility that there was a lack of feeling that the VF-1 is a space fighter from it's (limited) mobility.