T.L.A. (Three Letter Acronym) ace pilot Maverick stands next to the newest addition to the T.L.A. Navy's arsenal. The F-57 Rapier is an advanced transatmospheric fighter, designed to act as a multi-role heavy fighter in atmosphere and low orbit, and a long-range fleet defense vessel in deep space.
This was probably one of the most frustrating things I have ever built. With the exception of the cockpit the entire interior of the vessel is structural supports, sometimes set at angles that are probably found only in this spacecraft and R'lyeh. Even now, the compact spaces have led to some problems with the landing gear and canopy movement.
The Rapier's lifting body design gives it the high fuel-to-structural-mass ratio needed for prolonged space maneuvers, without sacrificing the streamlining needed for high-performance atmospheric flight.
The Rapier's main weapon is a Mk.IV laser cannon designed to shoot down fighters and anti-capital ship missiles (the ship's primary role in space; it is not designed to engage capital ships, a task for which the T.L.A. prefers missiles). T.L.A. laser cannons are more cumbersome than those wielded by the Immortals and Assyrians (among others) and require a large, complex system of focusing lenses.
The T.L.A. Navy distinguishes itself from the ground forces by adding yellow, rather than white, to the basic gray color schemes of their ships.
Oops! Moving on...
Side. Since this is a test flight the Rapier carries only minimum ordinance, but the nose cone of a missile can be seen poking out beneath the wing.
Propulsion is provided by a fusion drive torch and two jet turbine engines. In space, the turbines can be sealed and flooded with fuel to increase the ship's endurance. Secondary maneuvering jets provide attitude control. They can also be used in atmosphere to increase maneuverability, but this is a dangerous gamble and requires a skilled pilot to keep the ship from spinning out of control.
Ventral view, showing the two Mk.II missiles carried for ground combat. I originally expected this ship to be about 8" long: clearly, it's more like 10. I'll need to adjust its armament accordingly. Eventually I'll also produce smaller missile pods that carry counter-missiles for space combat, but right now I don't have the parts for that.
