NationStates Jolt Archive

RNN Report:

New Empire Aerospace believes they have developed a plane to rival Raysia Aerospace's top Dogfighter, the "Archangel."

Raysia Aerospace has formally challenged New Empire, to see if their new F-109D is as good as Raysia's famous RF-11D.

The terms of the competition are yet to be established, but what we know so far is that the competition will be held in Raysia, over the military buffer zone north of Ascension.

For those of you that don't follow the world of military Aerospace, here are the specifications and design notes of each fighter:

Raysian Aerospace RF-11D "Archangel"
http://www.bateshome.com/jordan/rf11d2.jpg
Tech Level: 2006+
Specifications:
Classification: The Ultimate Multirole
Crew: 2
Wing Span: 35.84 ft (11.20 m)
Length: 49.63 ft (15.51 m)
Weight: 55,018 lb empty (but including QAAM launchers and standard load) / 83,122 lb max. take off
Powerplant: 2 Vectored-Thrust REPH-1100 Pulse-Det Hybrids
Max Normal thrust:[/b] 25,000 lbs
Max plus afterburner: 30,000 lbs
Pulse Detonation: adds 7,500 lbs

Aux Power: Two Raysian Aero Aux. Pulse-Det "Blaster" pods, each outputting an additional 15,000 lbs of force (for STO and quick accelleration)
Maximum speed (with only QAAMs onboard, full fuel, and all engines and boosters at full, and flying at 30,000 feet): Mach 3.5
Cruising speed: Mach 1.15
Range: 2,400 km / 1,500 miles
Service Ceiling: 69,000 ft
g limits: +13, -9 (So be careful!) Automatic Safeties prevent the plane from pulling unsafe g-forces and harming the pilot.
Airframe can stand up to 15gs
Armament: One GSh-30-1 30mm cannon on the nose, One Raysia Arms FC-216 Flak Cannon mounted dorsally (35 ammo), 2 QAAM reloaders (with 6 QAAM-28s in each, for standard load), plus up to 22,000 lbs of payload over 8 hardpoints.

Unique Features: The turret mounted Flak Cannon with 35 ammo, Quad-rudders/tails, 3D thrust vectoring, "Blaster" pods for STO ability, and all are Carrier capable. Radar signature easily confused for a Mig-29, and has SuperManeuverability comparable to the Su-37 or F-22. Has built in reconnaissance equipment such as a digital Camera. Missiles can fire any direction.

Computers:Advanced Autopilot to automatically land the plane on a carrier or runway in case the pilot gets knocked out or any other emergency like that, may be engaged by C&C or a wingman. The HUD is used in tandem with the "VisorScreens," which is a display projected onto the Visor of the Pilot's helmet, and uses a sort of compass in tandem with the computer that can allow him to see highlighted targets in any direction, even what used to be a blind spot beneath him or behind him. The 'VisorScreen' does not display the Altitude, pitch, and Speed like the HUD, as most pilots found this very confusing, but the 'VisorScreen' does control the Flak Cannon's direction.

Another cool new feature of this plane is its ability to interact with and control up to 2 UCAV wingmen from the Navigator's seat... something that can come in handy in situations where jamming is heavy and the UCAVs can't be controlled by long distance.

Price: 45,000,000

F-109D Tempest
http://www.bateshome.com/jordan/f109d.jpg
The F-109D is the next generation in combat aircraft technology. With an array of advanced systems, the F-109D is a deadly combatant at both dogfighting and BVR engagement.
Situational Awareness
The F-109D features highly advanced sensor systems to ensure that it always can see it's enemy. LIDAR pods are mounted in the nose, wingtips, back, and under and over the fuselage to ensure full coverage of the airspace around the aircraft in a 200 mile radius. It also has forward, down, and rear looking 450-CPS Frequency Cycling radar, good for 250 miles. An advanced 190 Mile range EMS* sensor is also present on the aircraft, along with thermal, IR, X-Ray pulse systems. A laser satellite uplink is also provided.
True Supermanuverability
Instead of conventional flaps and airelons, the microhydraulic processors in the canards, forward swept wings, and tail fins can actually twist around, allowing the aircraft to have full control over it's lift, turn direction, and more in conjunction with it's 3D thrust vectoring. The F-109D can fly sideways, while still keeping it's nose on target. At lower speeds, the F-109 can spin around 360 degrees on it's axis, or even somersault forward and down to meet a pursuing enemy and engage it. The F-109D uses a 5-Layered system of high performance fly-by wire computers to give the pilot this grade of control. It can use it's mission adaptable wings and thrusters to take off at a 10 degree angle.
Advanced Combat Systems
The F-109D can be fitted with any following stealth system-
Athena Mk I (Common Export Version)
Athena- The earliest and one of the biggest technologies ever developed by the USNE.
The F-117, the B-2, the F-22. All stealth. All able to outwit radar systems.
But these aircraft were not agile, not as heavy hitting. Not as cheap as the average aircraft. Then there came Athena, in the F-98. An agile fighter, well armed, fast, affordable, and stealth. But how could it reach that performance? Athena. The radar waves are detected by Athena, and its raw data is put through a super conductive, liquid cooled computer. Then, the computer supervises and orders the release of out of sinc waves from tiny antennas under the planes surface. This effctively eliminates the radar signal, as in no return.
What about the scatter effects? Radar A transmits it, radar B receives it?
The computer knows the characteristics of the plane it is 'protecting'. It therefore emits the proper amount of energy in the right directions.
Athena Mk II (Allied Export Version)
Athena Mk II is relatively similar to the common version, but cycles at a much faster rate (Adjustable between 250-600)
Athena Mk III (New Empire Only Version)
All the features of Athena Mk II and Mk I, but the signature emission can be controllable. The Athena Mk III can imitate the signature of clouds, birds, other aircraft, baloons, even terrain at low altitudes. This upgrade involves the Chameleon programs installed in the Athena Computer "Brain".
The F-109D also can mount a new weapon, a 250KW HELLADS pod that can destroy aircraft up to 200 miles away. HELLADS was based off a research program by the American DARPA to create a high-energy Laser that could be carried by aircraft. The F-109D has a total of 16 weapons pylons, and a 20mm HYVELOC gatling gun.

Bare Stats-
Manufacturer-Berliston Aerospace
Crew-1
Propulsion-Dual BEPT-2080 PDE/Turbofan Engines
Thrust Vectoring, Afterburners, Supercruise rated at Mach 2, max speed at high altitude Mach 3+, VSTOL capable
Max Ceiling-Classified (Over 60,000 Feet)
Armarment-1x 20mm HYVELOC gatling, 16 weapons pylons (8 Fuselage, 6 Wing, 2 Wingtip), 1 HELLADS station
Systems-Athena MkIII, MAW, Photocell Visual distortion, heat masking, Wetball, Satellite uplink, multiple LIDAR and RADAR pods.
Cost-$80 Million per aircraft
Variants-F-109DN (Naval) F-109DE (Strike, proposed) EF-109D (Electronics Warfare/Strike)
*EMS- Electro Magnetic Spectrum- a wide range of emissions generated by 'modern' fighting vehicles and even power armor equipped infantry. The EMS spectrum was scanned for 'artificial' signals that did not occur normally as background radiation from the sun, from the Earth's magnetic poles, etc. Anything out of the ordinary (i.e. not occurring naturally in nature) could be tagged as a target. Target emissions and documentation was included in every database onboard a vehicle. Discrepancies were easily identified, and then correlated based on known information on a unit by unit basis.
Now, both teams have agreed that, since this will be a dogfight, there will be no missiles used. Because of this, both teams have deviated slightly from the standard Armament.

The Raysian RF-11 has had the QAAM launchers removed and replaced with a massive EGP-18 100mm triple-barrelled cannon. The removal of the QAAM launchers allowed room for Raysia to mount the support structure that holds the 10,000 lbm cannon, and about 300 rounds of ammo. Raysia will not be using any UCAV wingmen, which would normally escort the RF-11, but will have a 2nd seat to handle radar and man the flak cannon.

New Empire has swapped out their missile systems for a pair of 40mm Metalstorms cannons.

This is going to be an oldschool dogfight... no missiles whatsoever.

In summary, this is what the planes look like, totalled up.

The planes are basically equal. The RF-11 utilizes relatively tailless maneuverability, and engines that vector thrust, as well as 2 aux engines that act like booster rockets, allowing the pilot to pull some serious g's, and change vectors and velocity extremely fast.

The F-109D is also a supermaneuverable fighter, but its specialty is its twistable ailerons that allow it to strafe left and right in flight, making it able to literally dodge side-to-side.

The RF-11's only weapons will be the main cannon, the massive aux. cannon, and the 360x180 flak cannon.

The F-109D's only weapons will be the stock 20mm gatling cannon, and the 2 additional 40mm cannons.

This is going to be an awesome fight.

Oh, and in case you were worried, we're using Simmunition only, and are basically playing weighted laser tag.

We'll bring you live coverage of the competition between Raysia Aerospace and New Empire, here on RNN.

OOC-Before we do anything, can we get a weather and terrain overview?
IC-
The aircraft participating in this great competition will be a F-109D Super Tempest from the 904th Tactical Fighter Wing, or the "Frozen Eagles" based in Norstadt (A northern city-state). They are preparing a C-82 transport with the aircraft and supplies for this exciting event. We look forward to this old-style fight among two high tech aircraft.

Resi Corp watches, and makes a note to buy a sizable quantity of the winner's aircraft.

RNN Report:

We have an update on the competition! Piloting Raysia's RF-11D, in an almost mocking fashion, will be two 19 year old REF academy seniors. Lieutennant 2nd-Class Kristi Lighter will be taking the piloting and main gun seat, and Lieutenant SG Nick Hayes will be operating Radar, navigation, countermeasures, and of course, the flak cannon.

Don't be fooled by their age though, both have been flying combat aircraft in the military since they were 15 years old, and are currently top of their graduating class. They have flown in their RF-11D (Callsign "Matchbox") together for the last 9 months, but have flown Su-37-1800s for the last 18 months.

The pilots have logged enough hours and have proven their skills together worthy of a collective "airmaster" rank.

The plane has just arrived at Ascension REF base, and we have word that the NE competitor is close behind.

Conditions for the competition seem relatively optimal... clear 2 pm sky, few clouds at high altitude, no chance of rain. They will be fighting over a large expanse of the Sariah desert, in the buffer zone north of Ascension.

Both Competitors will be allowed to carry a single drop tank to make the 50km trip, then they may dump it to lighten their load.

OOC: You ready?

On the taxiway at the Air Base, Kristi walks around the plane, going through a long checklist, while Nick tests systems in the cockpit.

"Check Aft Port Ventral Stabilizer Fin.", Kristi shouts to Nick over the radio.

Hayes overrides the auto-stabilizer, and toggles a small joystick up and down. "I got a yellow light" he says, still flipping the switch up and down.

At the back of the plane, Lt. Lighter watches as the fin lurches and jolts as the pneumatics actuate. "It seems a little sluggish, if not stuck on something"

"Well, I'll see if I can't compensate for it, but it looks like we may be in for a little turbulance at high speed."

"Nothing we can't handle though..."

"Right, right... Well just keep ready... I don't want to lose control in our glide when we need it. OK, I'm going to test the Blasters, stand clear, and put your mufflers on."

"Roger," she says as she briskly walks away from the plane. Turbines in the dorsal auxiliary engines begin to spin, then prime with fuel.

"Burn in 3, 2, 1..." The engines combust with a loud roar, like being next to a semi truck's exhaust brake, pulses of exploding jet fuel one after another. After about 10 seconds, the pulses stop, and the engines cool down.

"Allright, looks good. We might consider leaving the drop tanks onboard, maybe at half full, just as extra fuel for the Blasters."

"Sounds good to me. I'll make sure that our tanks have a dump valve."

"Allright. So no missiles this time, eh?"

"Yeah, looks like you won't be able to fall back on your QAAMs this time."

"Right... just make sure my VisorScreen gets that Brother information. I want to know where my enemy is at all times."

"Yeah... I don't know what kind of stealth this F-109D might have, but I do know we're gonna need some good sensor data. Too bad we won't have any Brother relays in this competition. All we have is our onboard sensors."

"Our radar and optic scanners should be good enough"

"Heh, I wish we could have sprung for the active camo package on this baby."

"Gah, that stuff would fail as soon as we got hit in real life anyway."

"Yeah. Anyway, get back up here and help me with the rest of the pre-flight"

http://www.bateshome.com/jordan/matchbox.gif

"Have you test-fired the aux cannon?" Kristi asked the systems operator.

"I'm pretty sure they tested it," replied Nick. "As long as Matchbox can hold that thing on, it should be fine."

"Yeah, right. Want to double check those mountings for me?"

Hayes sighed, then double checked his computer readout. "The computer says all seals are tight and the shocks work fine."

"Yeah, well something is bugging me... I'm not sure what it is."

"Well, I'll hop out and run a check on safeties. They fitted the gun with explosive bolts that could be blown if we needed to drop the gun for some reason."

Nick jumped out and popped open a few access panels that covered up the integral supports for the cannon. "Everything seems to be in order... all connections look good... trigger mechanism looks fine. This thing is ready to rip the enemy apart!"

"Well, I'll take your word for it. Have you checked out the flak cannon yet?"

"Yeah. It looked like one of the shells got jammed, but I think I got it freed up pretty good."

"allright, I just don't want to see all those shells explode on us!"

http://www.bateshome.com/jordan/matchbox.gif

I would be my pleasure to offer a 1.75 Billion reward for the winning team for further research into the technonlgy hopefully making it better.

General Polshiv

I would be my pleasure to offer a 1.75 Billion reward for the winning team for further research into the technonlgy hopefully making it better.

General PolshivHeh, maybe you should just go ahead and give it to me ;)

Well I can only give it to the true winner, Good Luck my dear friend and even if you do end up losing SG-1 Aerospace will gladly finance any upcoming aircraft projects. Also the winning plane get a 3,500 plane contract fro SG-1 Areospace.

General Polshiv

*places $3 bill on the F-109D Tempest*

OOC: First off, quit yelling. Second... what does SG-1 stand for?

OOC: Wow, mission-adapative wings. Is this the same as the NASA proposed 'wing-morphing' project a while ago?

*Pats Taiidan Interceptor.*

Hmm... Old style craft engaging in old-style battle... figures.

IC: TIN wishes luck to both competitors.

*Pats Taiidan Interceptor.*

Hmm... Old style craft engaging in old-style battle... figures.

IC: TIN wishes luck to both competitors.OOC: heh, booyah:

CCF-90 Ammon
http://www.bateshome.com/jordan/ccf90.jpg (http://www.bateshome.com/jordan/ccf90.htm)

Perhaps I smell yet another competition? :P

Sorry... but it's more cost effective to not compete with others. The Imperial Army is not here to make profit or loss. :D

OOC: I wouldn't have the time. I'm starting a new job this weekend.

bump

OOC-Sorry for the delay...
Taiwan-Yes, the microhydraulics bend the wings, and can allow the use of the fuselage as a control surface.
IC-
"Aight people, how's Woodstock doing?"
'Woodstock' was the F-109D of the Frozen Eagles squadron, piloted by Captain Sean O'Connor, who was one of the combat experienced pilots who were chosen to fly the first squadrons of the new Super Tempest. The mech team was hooking up the dual Metalstorm 40mms, and then loading their long cylinders of ammunition and propellant into each of the seven tubes in the aircraft. The Metalstorm 40-7 was originally to be mounted on helicopters and VTOLs, and came with a pylon attachment that allowed them to rotate a fair amount. They had been special ordered from a nearby Army squadron for this contest. The Metalstorm had no moving parts save for the pylon, and the electronic firing allowed insane RPM. They were using a simulated AP/HE mix.
"Weapons are check. We've got the VAIS configured, and if you want you can set the MS to track on your head movements to a degree. The MAW should give them a little extra rotation, so you don't have to deal with that flak all the time. Just try and come in from below."
"We're beginning MAW test now!" shouted another mech as the wings, canards, and tail began to quiver and flap. The aircraft look as if it could take off solely by moving them, and it was an unreal sight to see.
"I figure the recoil on that decimeter wide gun is gonna screw them up real good, so I'm not worried about that. All I gotta do is slide outta the way. They'll only be able to get off a few shots at a time if they want to be able to manuver well. But that goddamn flak..."
The waving wings of the F-109D began to settle back into position, and the crews quickly jumped towards the fuselage, loading in the flare and decoy packs. The fight would be in visual range, but it was nice to have that extra something.
"All systems are good. I'm gonna configure the photocells for the best fitting camoflauge pattern and make sure Athena is working."
While not nearly as advanced as other systems, the photocells on the F-109D did allow them to change the camoflauge pattern every once and awhile, so they wouldn't need to stick to the gray and white used at the Norstadt base. Athena was different though. It was probably the thing that every pilot, and even some sailors were thankful for. It came as quite a surprise when the replacement for the F-15F "Cheetah" and F-16L "Cranked Arrow" lead to a design competition. The American F-22 and F-23 both lost out to a little known design company called Berliston Aerospace and their F-98 "Maelstrom". Although it was faster and more manuverable than the others, it was said to lack in Stealth. But with Athena, nothing was found on the radars as it flew. And now, with the third version on the descendant of the F-98, they could configure their system to outwit frequency cycling radar, or even mimic the radar signature of a cloud, bird, or another aircraft. It was a useful thing, even in visual range engagement.

A judge approaches each team, both layiong out the basic rules.

"OK, we've fitted your computers with the chipset necessary for the simunitions competition. We've stuck little pasties securely on to your hull, that will serve as the laser sensors. Points are weighted by shell size and explosive damage of the weapon, and of course, location of the hit. Your computer will lock up or shut down affected areas of your plane, should you sustain a hit. For example, if you get shot in the elevator, you will no longer be able to use it... or if you get some flak in your intakes, your engine will lock up and shut down.

"But don't worry, we'll be monitoring you guys the entire time, and if one of you loses control or sustains too much damage, you will lose the match, and your aircraft will regain control.

"There will be 3 rounds, all in the same flight. Winner of 2 matches.. well, wins. Everyone understand?"

*Team Matchbox salutes a ready signal*

OOC: Stupid server... I need to go do some work out back, maybe it'll be a bit better when I get back

O'Connor nodded as he snapped on his helmet, and climbed into the cockpit, snapping off a salute. His crew and squadronmates sat watching the two aircraft. O'Connor looked towards the RF-11D team, and so did his Metalstorms, now slaved to the helmet. Red boxes indicated the paths of the weapons, and he began his quickstart engines as they roared to life.
He smiled as he turned on the radio.
"Woodstock One ready for takeoff."

Resi Corp watches, and makes a note to buy a sizable quantity of the winner's aircraft.

Keyshona does the same.

OOC: First off, quit yelling. Second... what does SG-1 stand for?

Sorry if my font looks a bit like yelling and SG-1 is a name I came up for my areospace department

Tower: Woodstock, Matchbox, you are clear for take-off at your will.

The crews back away from the RF-11D and the 2 piltos snap their helmets on, fasten their harnesses, and close the canopy.

"Matchbox, ready for STO operation," Lighter said into her radio as she flipped several switches, starting the turbines on all four engines. The jet reaches the beginning of the runway, and valguely lines up with the end of the runway.

"10 seconds.... 5 seconds"
"Main engine startup" The main engines roared to life, idle throttle.
"2"
"Post-combustion detonation systems online." 12 exhaust tubes skirting the main engines spat out pulses of exhaust without care of the loud volume of the explosions."
"1... Launch!"
"Go Pulse-Jets" The brakes are released, the throttle is shoved to full thrust plus afterburner, and the auxiliary pulse-detonation engines drown out everything else as they rocket the fighter jet down the runway with a whopping total propulsion force of 105,000 lbf.

After maybe 100 meters, the canards and thrust-vectors guide the nose into the air, and before the plane even reaches 200m it leaves the ground.

Barely off the runway, the pulse engines cut, and the plane goes into a half-stall, sending the nose up to a 75 degree angle. before the plane completely stalls, the full 100k+ lbs of force kicks back in and rockets the plane straight up like a space shuttle.

Over the radio, you hear both pilots scream "Yeaah!!!!!!!!!" as the plane shows off its ability to perform a vertical launch.

OOC: I should probably note that, in case no one figured it out... if you were to put this plane on a space-shuttle-type vertical launch pad, it could almost take off ^_^

IC: "Allright Nick, lets level off and head towards the fight ground"

"Roger. Plotting course, balancing fuel and engines. "

"Flight path aligned, max thrust plus now."

At an altitude of 15,000 feet, the plane uses it's full overwhelming force to rocket up to Mach 2.5 in under 45 seconds.

http://www.bateshome.com/jordan/matchbox.gif

The engines screamed and wings flexed as the aircraft rocketed up at a 20 degree angle, as it left the ground, Athena radar cancellation activated. Incoming radar waves were cancelled out as the aircraft disappeared off the screens. The aircraft levelled off to 10,000 feet, following the Matchbox at around the same speed. The combat zone was coming up, and the guns were armed. He switched on the Hyveloc gun, and began his LIDAR scanning.

[Baleeted]

See revised post below

OOC: Gah, today is not a good day for the server... I'll try to post when I can

Anyway, about this radar cancellation thing... exactly how does it work? Does it work like sound cancellation? because if that's so, it probably won't work at close range, simply because there's a lot more bouncing off up close.

IC: Nick sighed as he saw the opponent drop off radar. "Looks like they have some sort of active stealth... we can't bounce a radar ping off them."

"Well, we better go into passive radar mode."

"Affirmative. Turning off ping, keeping receiver online. If they try to ping our position, we'll trace the origin."

"Heh. I swear, stealth is totally useless sometimes. It is just too easy to compensate for them."

"And if they wind up not pinging us, then we're at a fair game."

"Yeah, just keep your eyes on those infrared scanners. When the fight starts, I don't want to lose them."

"I'm trying to program the computer to track their radar signals, but they have yet to ping us... I'm going to keep the radio scanners going until we find it."

"Good job. be sure to feed that info to my VisorScreen as well."

"Roger."

http://www.bateshome.com/jordan/matchbox.gif

OOC-Nope. Scroll down here to read about how Athena works-
http://www.freewebs.com/new_empire/contractsandstore.htm
Or if that doesn't work-
Athena Series Advanced Active Stealthing System

Athena Mk I (Common Export Version)
Athena- The earliest and one of the biggest technologies ever developed by the USNE.
The F-117, the B-2, the F-22. All stealth. All able to outwit radar systems.
But these aircraft were not agile, not as heavy hitting. Not as cheap as the average aircraft. Then there came Athena, in the F-98. An agile fighter, well armed, fast, affordable, and stealth. But how could it reach that performance? Athena. The radar waves are detected by Athena, and its raw data is put through a super conductive, liquid cooled computer. Then, the computer supervises and orders the release of out of sinc waves from tiny antennas under the planes surface. This effctively eliminates the radar signal, as in no return.
What about the scatter effects? Radar A transmits it, radar B receives it?
The computer knows the characteristics of the plane it is 'protecting'. It therefore emits the proper amount of energy in the right directions.
Athena Mk II (Allied Export Version)
Athena Mk II is relatively similar to the common version, but cycles at a much faster rate (Adjustable between 250-600)
Athena Mk III (New Empire Only Version)
All the features of Athena Mk II and Mk I, but the signature emission can be controllable. The Athena Mk III can imitate the signature of clouds, birds, other aircraft, baloons, even terrain at low altitudes. This upgrade involves the Chameleon programs installed in the Athena Computer "Brain".
We're using MkIII right now.
IC-
O'Connor smiled as the pings were detected and cancelled out. He swiveled his nose as he flew, lining up his 20mm as he made the occasional LIDAR burst, less than a millisecond long. He switched to X-Ray pulse, and flashed another short burst. The computer transmitted the images from the pulse to a computer model, making it seem as if the X-Ray was still working. He lined up the reticle and nose, hoping they still couldn't find him.

Nick raised an eyebrow at the radio scanner readings. "I'm getting all sorts of crap, erratic and random."

"Anything traceable?"

"We can trace them in short bursts, but not too much. Basically what we got is a short-range radio telescope.. we'll be able to track anything they emit on radio frequencies, and possibly gamma ray... but it's so erratic and random, it's like they're only pinging us to update our speed and distance."

"Hmm... Well keep at it, and make sure Infrared still works."

"Yeah, we're picking them up on Infrared... very faint. I'll highlight it on your visor."

Kristi turned her head a full 180, and saw the highlighted "x" behind her, no range data given. "This is going to be a tough fight. We're entering the fight ground."

Judge, over radio: "You may begin competition in 45 seconds. Please drop to attack speeds. You may begin the fight on my mark."

The Pulse engines cut thrust and idle as the plane slows down to a mere mach 1, running in supercruise mode at 30,000 feet.

Judge: "There is no deck limit or ceiling limit, and you shouldn't need to go too far away from the immediate area. Fight in 30 seconds."

Kristi flipped the arm switches on all cannons, and Nick grabbed hold of a joystick that controlled the flak cannon. His visorscreen still worked, but while his eyes were on the control panel, the joystick controlled the cannon.

Open radio: "We are go for fight here. Team Woodstock you guys ready to lose?"

He armed the Metalstorm cannon, but switched back to gatling as he checked the LIDAR, and realigned his cannon. The information from the pulse wasn't as accurate now, but it still showed him where the aircraft was. The narrow orange path of the gatling was outlined on his visor as he lined up on Matchbox, and listened to their challange. As the 30 seconds finished, he answered with a burst of aimed 20mm fire.

"Kristi, I keep picking up bursts of non-visible light coming from that plane... it could be a communication device, or maybe a LIDAR of some sort... I doubt it will do them any good in combat though, really just a rangefinder. They are at 1400 feet and closing

"Yeah, yeah, right... 3... 2... 1... Hang on!"

The second the match began, Matchbox rolls 120 degrees to port (at roughly mach .65) and "pulls up," (which would actually mean goes towards the ground, but it's "up" in relation to the plane) pulling a 7 g turn. The pilots' g-suits keep their blood from draining too much as the plane quickly pulls around and passes below the other fighter, fires 3 shots from its flak cannon, pitches up, and kicks in the blaster jets to keep its speed up.

http://www.bateshome.com/jordan/matchbox.gif

O'Connor somersaulted the aircraft as the Matchbox flew below, and switched to Metalstorms, firing 10 simulated HVAP 40mms (High Velocity Armor Piercing Rounds) as one of the flak shells burst, sending shrapnel over the lower "microtail" under the fuselage used for manuvering. He rolled over, and realized the decoy dispensers had been hit, and could no longer use the IR and Laser masking aerosol grenades it launched. He matched speed with the Matchbox, and slid to the left and below for another shot.

Matchbox barrel rolls to the left and right, then pulls up and down, then rolls a 360, doing all sort of random maneuvers to make itself a hard target, while the flak cannon is firmly placed between the 'legs,' pointing backwards and firing a few ranged pot shots right into Woodstock's path. Matchbox finishes the maneuver by slamming on the air brake, pulling straight up, then throttling up the aux "blaster" engines for a vertical rocketting maneuver similar to the one on take-off.

O'Connor slammed on the VTOL jets as the 10 rounds were dodged by the Matchbox, and lifted into the air, engaging it's own PDEs to keep from stalling. He lined up the Metalstorms again, and unleashed a burst of 20 rounds, making sure that he was leading the target as he fired.

OOC: Your plane specs said NOTHING of VTOL jets... warn me next time.

IC: "Whoa!" Nick said as he saw Woodstock perform its maneuver, "They've got lift jets! Quick! They're going to fire!"

Kristi cuts the blasters, pulls back on the stick, and levels out with the horizon, upside down, then fires the blasters again with the main pulse-dets on too. However, the maneuver comes too late, and by the time they level off, several systems on the dorsal side of the plane lock up and read "NOGO" from simulated damage, namely the port Blaster engine, the port dorsal tail, and the aft radar/sensor pod... as if that was doing any good anyway.

Kristi: "Report!"

Nick: "We'll be fine, justbe careful with the blaster maneuvers from now on."

Matchbox cuts blasters and comes about seconds later (still full-throttle) in a downward half-loop that right's the plane with normal "up." Now on a near-collision-course pass for the Woodstock, it fires off about 10 rounds from the 100mm straight at theit enemy, shaking the crap out of the plane with the recoil, but not affecting speed because of the thrust still coming from the full-throttle engines.

OOC-That should read VSTOL... It can lift at a 20 degree angle, like I said in the stats.
IC-
"Shi-"
The warning light flashes as the two forward canards lock up, and the forward LIDAR pod deactivates.
The Metalstorms angled up as the F-109D risks eating jetwash and sprays 40 40mm rounds at the engines and tails of the aircraft. He couldn't turn as hard anymore, nor somersault, but he could still strafe to the sides.

OOC: LOL Big difference between VSTOL and VTOL... the letter V is waaay different :P

IC: Before nearly colliding with the Woodstock, Matchbox barrel rolls to port , narrowly missing a good chunk of the metalstorms, but catching a good deal of the initial fire. "We're hit!" Nicks shouted in report to Kristi as she piloted the plane through a 180 that matched course with the woodstock, right on its tail. "Starboard engine is damaged, no afterburner or pulse dets! Computers are failing, fly-by-wire systems are rerouting everything to direct hydraulic control.. g safeties offline, and forward canards locked up!"

"Oh come on, tell me some good news!" she says as she lines up with her target, full normal thrust, with the 2 remaining pulse dets balancing each other out on low power.

"Thrust vectoring still works, guns still work, flight control still works.. basically."

"Just give me 2 wings, an engine, and a gun, and I'll be fine," kristi says, riding a bumpy flight and firing both the main cannon and the 100mm and the fglak cannon straight forward at woodstock.

OOC: This is pretty fun... looks like you're winning this round lol

OOC-I know... Heh.
IC-
O'Connor knew this could be his last pass as his rear left stabilizer locked up... The target computer listed it as "distintegrated" from the 100mm shells that were 'whizzing by' the aircraft. It wasn't a pleasant thought, but he drowned it out in gunfire as the remaining 310 Metalstorm HVAP rounds flew from their guns in the seconds that Metalstorm was famous for.
OOC2-Yeah, but it's close. Much more fun than BVR missile sniping.

"Whoa! It's rainin' metal! Get us out of here!"

The RF-11 rolled and banked, but it was like trying to fly through an asteroid belt.

"we're hit!" Nick said as basically every system faded to "NOGO" or "OFFLINE."

A red text message appeared on all consoles in Matchbox:
You have lost round one.

Kristi pounded her fist against basically the only panel in the cockpit that wasn't covered with controls.

All systems came back on, and a 2 minute countdown began, ticking away the seconds before the next match.

Open-air message to O'Connor:

Kristi: "Hey, good fight. Ready for Round 2?"
Nick: "Just don't count on that Metalstorm next round... looks like you blew the last of your ammo in the last fight! ^_^"

OOC: Yeah, uhh.. like the judge said, 3 rounds, all in the same flight... no landing to refuel/rearm :)

O'Connor ejected the pods, and checked the ammunition on the gatling gun, which was full. The HYVELOC was actually more powerful per shot, designed to travel many times the speed of sound (Mach 5) so the aircraft wouldn't run into it's own bullets! Some called it the 'sniper in the skies', but for now it would be a machine gun. He was thankful the fuselage had been filled with extra ammo, he would need it.
"Heh, when the going gets tough, the tough go cyclic. Good luck next time!"
He flew up to 15,000 feet, flexing the regained wing controls.
"Hey, O'Connor, this is Birdhouse. You crazy sonuvabitch, you only won the battle. You better make up for that little stunt with a win."
"What can I say, instinct from Markov."
"Hah, cut the crap and fly."
The radio clicked off.

OOC: Clarification request: Did you dump the metalstorms? If not, which 'pods' did you drop? And which gun is now at full ammo?

IC: Flying about 800 feet in front of Woodstock, Matchbox prepares for the next fight.

"Allright, this time, the gloves come off."

Just before the match begins, Matchbox jolts upward suddenly as the 3000 lbm fuel tank is jettissoned.

"Heads up," Kristi says as the fuel tank catches the air and flies straight for Woodstock as the countdown reaches zero... she knew the opponent would be good enough to dodge it, but it gave her just the kick she needed to get this round started off right.

Matchbox pulls a sharp invert and flies right over woodstock at about mach 0.7, strafing the opponent with several shots of flak as it passes overhead.

OOC-The metalstorm were mounted on pylons on the wings, they've been dumped. I loaded the fuselage with extra ammo.
IC-
The aircraft rolled up, it's canards working once again. The flak caught the rear radar pod and once again the decoy pod was smoked, but he still had 1200 rounds of 20mm, which were readied for the passing RF-11 as he reverse somersaulted to track it. The green tail damage display had become yellowish, but no attention was paid to it. He completed, and was now flying upside down, with his gatling down their tail, and 20 rounds flew out.

Radar having no effect anyway, what with the active radar canceller on the F-109, Nick is carefully monitoring many camera angles and rear view mirrors, and identifying the target for the computer to recognize. "He's back on our tail!"

Still flying upside down, the flak cannon fires twice more as the F-109 lines up with matchbox. Kristi rolls the aircraft in a 520 degree barrel roll, dodging bullets and eventually righting the plane.

Nick: "We've taken a few hits, both main engines are partially disabled, we got normal thrust only..."

Kristi slams on the airbrake to let the close-range opponent fly right under, then engages the blasters once he's cleared and fires the 100mm cannon, minimally out of the jetwash, but for some reason the plane is sluggish and hard to control. "What's going on! We're getting major turbulance!" she says, unloading a bunch of 100mm rounds towards woodstock, and feeling control slip with every shot.

"We've lost both aft ventral stabilizers, the recoil is giving us more of a bump than usual!"

O'Connor swore as the rear stabilizers locked up, along with the top LIDAR pod. He descended to just below the Matchbox, threw on the thrust vectoring and went into a slide, coming around the left side of the aircraft as 20 rounds leapt from the cannons. He then took it out of the slide, as the aircraft was unstable from the loss of the rear stabilizers.

Half-amazed at the aircraft's ability to fly sideways (albeit unstable), Kristi took Matchbox into a full-on nose dive, descending well below Woodstock, but not before taking 2 or 3 hits to the port side, damaging the port blaster pod, airbrake, and even the 100mm cannon!

Taking advantage of the woodstock's current instability, Nick lines up the flak cannon and fires to shots right at the shakey opponent.

O'Connor grunted as he attemped to turn, but the flak splattered his cockipt with simulated shrapnel.

Your aircraft has been destroyed.
The simulated damage to the cockpit ahs prevented any chance of ejection. Was this a real battle, you'd be dead right now. Have a nice day :D

"Damnit!" he swore as the aircraft's computer brought him the news. He flicked on the radio as his aircraft leveled out, wings and canards realigning.

"Hey, looks like you guys can fight too. Now for the grand finale..."

O'Connor grunted as he attemped to turn, but the flak splattered his cockipt with simulated shrapnel.

Your aircraft has been destroyed.
The simulated damage to the cockpit ahs prevented any chance of ejection. Was this a real battle, you'd be dead right now. Have a nice day :D

"Damnit!" he swore as the aircraft's computer brought him the news. He flicked on the radio as his aircraft leveled out, wings and canards realigning.

"Hey, looks like you guys can fight too. Now for the grand finale..."

O'Connor grunted as he attemped to turn, but the flak splattered his cockipt with simulated shrapnel.

Your aircraft has been destroyed.
The simulated damage to the cockpit ahs prevented any chance of ejection. Was this a real battle, you'd be dead right now. Have a nice day :D

"Damnit!" he swore as the aircraft's computer brought him the news. He flicked on the radio as his aircraft leveled out, wings and canards realigning.

"Hey, looks like you guys can fight too. Now for the grand finale..."

"Critical hit!"

"Score!"

2:00 till final round.

"Oh, Umm... kristi... I guess I should let you know... I only have 1 more flak shot left... so I'm gonna be a little more conservative from here on out. Warn me when you're setting me up for a clear shot."

"Right Nick."

Open channel to O'Connor:

Kristi: "Good fight. I hope you're not out of your little tricks, cuz know we know what that lil' plane can do!"

"Oh, I have plenty left for you guys."
He checked the clock. There were less than two minutes left, and he leveled out 1800 feet behind and 100 feet below the Matchbox, preparing his cannon. He waited for the LIDAR to reactivate, along with the radar sensors. His decoy pod still carried 18 "Firecracker" IR decoy flares, and he thought about how they might be of use as the seconds ticked by to the final fight.

Judge: "Attention competitors. The last 2 rounds, Woodstock was chasing Matchbox. We ask that Matchbox start this round in the advantage position. Are there any objections?"

"If you insist..." His pulsejets kicked in as he raced in front of Matchbox, keeping his altitude level. He activated the rear IR/LIDAR/EO pod to keep an eye on the RF-11D as he moved.

Kristi smirked as she watched the clock tick down the last 30 seconds. Re-arming the main cannon and the 100mm, she lines up Matchbox with Woodstock, staying the same 100 ft above, but only about 800 ft behind, with matched speed.

When the clock hit zero, she immediately pitched down to lag shoot at Woodstock, pulling the trigger on both cannons, shaking the plane slightly.

OOC: Where is the radar canceller emitted from?

OOC-Transmitters under the thin skin, but above the armored section are placed throughout the aircraft for it to work.
IC-
When the time was up, he immediately somersaulted and dropped as the gun rounds whizzed by, but damaging his ventral control fin. He rolled over, firing his 20mm at the approaching RF-11.
He activated the decoy pods, and released a pair of the "Firecrackers" as he slid back for a new firing angle, his visor display highlighting the path of the cannon as he went.

"Oh.. crap... multiple bogeys on infrared."

"What? Must be those flares he's been dropping."

"I should be able to keep track of the original, as long as the IR doesn't lose track of him."

"Heh.. like keeping track of the ace in a 3-card shuffle."

Matchbox dives downwards to try to keep matched with Woodstock, staying close as they go through somersalts and rolls together, matching maneuver for maneuver.

O'Connor gripped the stick as he threw the F-109D into a high gee spin on his axis. He grunted as the short-but hard-spin came to an end. He began his 30 round burst on the aircraft as he started to ascend, his wings shifting, canards rotating, and thrusters adjusting to give him the lift he needed to avoid collision, keeping his nose pointed on target as he fired. Two more decoys from the ventral section of the dispenser were popped off, just to add to the confusion.

Kristi reflexively ducked her head as Woodstock scored a good hit and nearly collided. Before even noticing the damage done, Nick takes the oppurtunity to fire the flak cannon nearly point-blank at the ventral side of Woodstock as it burns over matchbox's dorsal.

Kristi dives suddenly to avoid the Jetwash. Not having time to check the damage dealt to Woodstock by the unavoidable flak shot, Nick goes over the damage the opponent did to Matchbox. "Radar and main sensors are down, canards are locked up in an unpleasant 'down' position, and primary cannon is offline. Computer is crashed, and starboard engine has a 'fire.' We're lucky to still be 'alive!'"

"Great, where's the bogey?"

"Uhh...."

"What is it?"

Nick watched as the computer finished its quick reboot cycle afgter being jolted. "IR lost him... he's got too many bogeys... I'm trying to find the obvious... jet... but right now they all have momentum."

"Crap. Can you find him with the turret?"

Nick swivelled the camera on the flak turret, now out of ammo, and searched for the opponent, while Kristi struggled to keep the plane on a relatively level plane, hitting the blasters to keep up speed.

The armored fuselage doors and munitions pods saved the aircraft from an ammunition fire, but the bottom LIDAR, radar, X-Ray Pulser, EO, and IR were gone. He rolled upright, descended below the Matchbox, and angled his nose up. Two more IR decoys popped up from the dispenser as he lined up his next 20 round burst.

"uuhhh... one of those flares just got on our tail. It's in my blind spot, but I think I got it. Highlighting it on the CPU."

"I see it, hang on!" They catch Woodstock's position just in time to dodge a critical shot by rolling to the right, then diving straight down, with blasters on full, giving them the boost they need to come around in a tight full circle, attempting to chase Woodstock until they wind up on his tail or otherwise.

OOC: We ain't ending this fight so easily ;)

O'Connor threw himself into an on-axis spin and a somersault, attempting to keep the RF-11D in his gunsights. The manuver tested the limits of the aircraft, and the flight computer peeped up a warning, but he got back in control, and ripped off a 50 round burst with his cannon. Another two decoys were added to the fray, trying to lose their attention among the devices.

"Dang, those flare he keeps sending out... the computer just can't keep track!"

"Hang on, we're going to start pulling some serious g's!"

"Man, I really wish we had out QAAMs!"

Matchbox drops its thrust and pulls a solid 8 g bank to the starboard, straining the pilots as it ducks around the bulelts, catching a few on its starboard wing, and damaging both blaster pods. Assuming woodstock would follow, it levels off after turning 540 degrees, then drops the flaps, allowing the plane to immediately slow to a near-stall speed.

Kristi shouts out a cheer as the engines kick back in full, vectoring their thrust and adjusting elevators as the plane pulls straight up while stalling, then falls backwards, fires about 20 rounds from the 100mm while pointing towards chasing plane, then recovers with full thrust, going relatively forwards again.

OOC: Maneuver looks like this:
http://www.bateshome.com/jordan/su37diagram3.gif
They fire when pointing backwards... your plane flies sideways, this one flies backwards :P (It's a real maneuever... I think its called the cobra)

*cheers on the F-109*

O'Connor, instead of following their turn, performs a slide, keeping the nose pointed towards the RF-11. As they perform the Cobra, his rear canards are knocked out, but he descends, keeping his nose up as the cannon rounds continued to be fired. As the RF-11 began to flip over, and it's nose was pointed down, O'Connor let loose 100 20mm rounds at the manuvering aircraft.

As the RF-11 rounded off the cobra, they took a god deal of hits, bringing them to within an inch of death... main engines both damaged to limited use, blasters offline, all stabilizers locked up, flying only on thrust vectoring. "Well gee, that was stupid."

Realizing they have little chance of still winning this competition, Kristi tries to think of a last ditch plan. She gives the engines as much thrust as she can and comes around in a very wide, bumpy, left bank, hoping to eventually regain some sort of avantage.

Judging by the manuvering of the RF-11, O'Connor knew this was their last gasp. They had flown well, but he wasn't about to soften up now. He pulled into a turn just behind the shaky Matchbox, armed his cannon, and another 20 round burst ripped through the air. Many of his sensors had gone out, but the visual and IR was enough to put the rounds in.

The match had seemed pretty hopeless in the last few seconds, and when the big bold red letters appeared crossed their screen, they knew it was over:
You have lost the match.

*sigh*

Open channel: "Good game! Maybe we could learn a little bit from you guys!"

"Well, you guys are the best I've ever gone up against. Nice flyin', I'll see you on the ground."
O'Connor switched off Athena as he made his way back towards the airfield, keeping at Mach 1 until he neared the runway.
"Woodstock requesting permission to land."

Matchbox blasted past Woodstock at full throttle, overtaking it easily, then cuts thrust and matches speed.

"Yeah, we should have a race or something next time! :P"

Tower: "Woodstock, Matchbox, you have permission to land at will."

The F-109D screamed in, but then slammed on the thrust vectoring, airbrakes, and adjusted it's wings to slow it's speed. The aircraft slowly lowered to the ground, and the cockpit popped open. O'Connor got out of the aircraft to meet the ground and maintinance crew, as well as his squadronmates. After rounds of high-fives, handshakes, and back slaps, he looked up and waited for Matchbox to land.

Matchbox uses its full landing distance to come to a stop, then taxis over to the welcoming party. For the most part, there were shoulder pats of "You did your best" and all, but Kristi and Nick still looked somewhat pissed, or dissappointed. They walk over to Woodstock's pilot, forging smiles, and extend their hands as a gesture of good sportmanship.

"Not bad, O'Connor!"

"Same for you guys. You're better than anybody or anything I've gone up against." He shook both their hands, knowing the mock enthusiasm that they felt. It was a feeling he'd seen in his squadronmates and in himself.

The maintinance crews were poring over the camera footage and flight records as the F-109D was hooked up to a series of cables. Every byte of data was being downloaded and copied as it was the best flight test short of actual combat.

OOC-Hey, I was wondering, would you ever be interested in a joint project?

OOC: Like what? I've got pretty much everything covered except for a stealth bomber :P

http://www.bateshome.com/jordan/rsig1.jpg (http://www.bateshome.com/jordan/rmtdex.htm)

OOC-We've got two stealth bomber prototypes at our equivalent of Area 51... If you'd be interested in developing them with us, go ahead.