Fighters and other subships
- Reliant121
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There's the rub. I HATE the idea of wings on a non-atmospheric craft. Pylons for weapons mounts I can live with, but true airfoils are ridiculous.
And the A-10 "Warthog" is an absolutely perfect example, Graham. Even an aesthetically "ugly" craft has a certain practical beauty when it's so well designed for its purpose. A lot of people like English bulldogs, too - or even worse, French bulldogs.
And the A-10 "Warthog" is an absolutely perfect example, Graham. Even an aesthetically "ugly" craft has a certain practical beauty when it's so well designed for its purpose. A lot of people like English bulldogs, too - or even worse, French bulldogs.
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- Graham Kennedy
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Anytime I see wings on a fighter intended to operate only within space, I take it as a sign that the people making that movie or TV show are not serious about what they are doing... or not competent in it.Reliant121 wrote:I think its the bulbous nature of the Fighters which puts me off. And I am rather partial to wings
My all time favourite space fighter design is the Babylon 5 Starfury. Now there is a ship that looks like it can operate in the place it is supposed to. If ever we build fighters for space, it would not surprise me in the slightest if they actually look something like a Starfury.
Give a man a fire, and you keep him warm for a day. SET a man on fire, and you will keep him warm for the rest of his life...
Although the starfury does have wings. They're just in a X pattern. So you might call the thing a......nevermind.
Anyway I think wings of some kind add a bit of graphical flair. Which I imagine is why they tend to be included. Though with a variety of sci fi spins.
I do, however, like it more when they take the time to come up with a reasonable excuse why there are wingy things involved.
Anyway I think wings of some kind add a bit of graphical flair. Which I imagine is why they tend to be included. Though with a variety of sci fi spins.
I do, however, like it more when they take the time to come up with a reasonable excuse why there are wingy things involved.
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The A-10 Warthog is called the Tank Killer for a reason: It's 30mm Avenger cannon. No, not 20mm, 30mm. They actually built the plane around it, so that the cannon is centerlined in the nose. If you've seen pictures of it with the landing gear down, you'll notice that the front wheel is actually askew of the centerline, because the cannon is in that spot. It's also better armored than any other fighter in existance.
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Ummm... OK, all that happens to be true. Is this in relation to something? We've been describing that the pragmatic, if ungraceful, design of the A-10 is a positive thing.
BTW - with the advent of new mission-specific C-130 derivatives, the A-10 is no longer the only primary application of the 30mm cannon.[
BTW - with the advent of new mission-specific C-130 derivatives, the A-10 is no longer the only primary application of the 30mm cannon.[
I can't stand nothing dull
I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
- Reliant121
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I find the Starfury a beautiful design. And it seems that wings are viewed as unnecessary for interstellar travel. Thats not always why wings are there. Take the Romulans. Their symbol is the Hawk, with wings, clutching Romulus and Remus. The Wings are symbolic, a way of representing the Nature of the empire. I admit on the Peregrines, there appeared to be little purpose of the wings apart from mounting the Warp engines.GrahamKennedy wrote:Anytime I see wings on a fighter intended to operate only within space, I take it as a sign that the people making that movie or TV show are not serious about what they are doing... or not competent in it.Reliant121 wrote:I think its the bulbous nature of the Fighters which puts me off. And I am rather partial to wings
My all time favourite space fighter design is the Babylon 5 Starfury. Now there is a ship that looks like it can operate in the place it is supposed to. If ever we build fighters for space, it would not surprise me in the slightest if they actually look something like a Starfury.
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Using up even more resources to build ships that are hundreds of metres long than is absolutely necessary is the height of stupidity. Particularly if it's for symbolism, or some such.
Another competant design is the Viper from BSG and nBSG.
Another competant design is the Viper from BSG and nBSG.
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- Reliant121
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Thanks. I think hitting Rear Admiral is just another little indication that I need to get a life.
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- Reliant121
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You don't get to 4000 posts without making your own self-deprecating jokes first.
And yese, I've always had a soft spot for the Vipers.
As far as aesthetic extravagance, Reliant - it's great for civilian ships, but the guiding factor in designing a governmental/military craft MUST be practicality and utility.
And yese, I've always had a soft spot for the Vipers.
As far as aesthetic extravagance, Reliant - it's great for civilian ships, but the guiding factor in designing a governmental/military craft MUST be practicality and utility.
I can't stand nothing dull
I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
I got the high gloss luster
I'll massacre your ass as fast
as Bull offed Custer
- Reliant121
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- Graham Kennedy
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Those aren't wings, they're pylons to hold the engines. They don't even look much like wings.sunnyside wrote:Although the starfury does have wings. They're just in a X pattern. So you might call the thing a......nevermind..
It actually makes sense to have the engines on the end of pylons, even. Having them further from the centre of mass increases the moment for a given force, so makes you turn faster.
The Viper I would hate if it was just a space fighter, but it's designed for atmosphere too so I accept the aerodynamics and wings on it. Love the RCS thrusters though, they actually show them firing!
Give a man a fire, and you keep him warm for a day. SET a man on fire, and you will keep him warm for the rest of his life...