Subject: Re: StarFury vs. Thunderbolt
From: Jms at B5
Date: 04/02/1997 01:26 AM
Forum: Usenet

Since the Thunderbolt is designed to handle atmospheric flight as well as space flight, some compromises were made making it a different beast to fly in space. It is equipped with the latest in offensive and defensive systems, and has more to keep under control than the 'fury, hence the two person approach. Control freak pilots don't care for the 'bolt, as it takes two to operate. It does have heavier armor, as well as the heat shielding that comes with atmospheric incursion.

Subject: SD - Thunderbolts
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
Date: 04/05/1996 04:34 PM
Forum: Compuserve

The Thunderbolts have extension wings on the sides, which extend to lock for full flight capacity.

Subject: <Severed Dreams, WOW>
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
Date: 04/03/1996 07:20 AM
Forum: Compuserve

Yes, the Thunderbolt furies were seen both on Mars and attacking B5.

A normal Starfury can't function in an atmosphere environment. The new Thunderbolt models have airfoils/wings that are folded back over the body of the ship for non-atmospheric maneuvering, and then extend out to full sized wings when entering an atmosphere. (You'll get to see in detail how this works back and forth in "Ship of Tears.")

Subject: <Severed Dreams, WOW>
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
Date: 04/01/1996 06:07 AM
Forum: Compuserve

The new fighters are pretty solid.

Sierra's OGB5

A much faster and more manevrable fighter than the Mk1 and Mk2 Starfury that it was designed to replace. The Thunderbolt is capable of trans-atmospheric flight.

Sierra's ITF web-site

The SA-31 "Thunderbolt" marks a break from traditional Earth Alliance fighter design. The Thunderbolt is the first Earth fighter designed for atmospheric as well as space flight. This sacrifices maneuverability and cockpit visibility, but these are accepted tradeoffs. The long nose meant that some older EarthForce stations and ships (for example, the Hyperion-class cruiser) might not be able to operate the Thunderbolt, but it allowed EarthForce engineers to install its four plasma cannon in a single gatling mount pointed directly down the centerline. This gives the Thunderbolt its characteristic "stream of plasma bolts" when it fires.

The SA-31 is slightly less maneuverable that its predecessor, the SA-23. The difference is noticeable to experienced pilots, but only the agile Centauri Sentri is fast enough to truly exploit it. The SA-31 is quite durable, and its weapons power approaches that of the Nial, its only real competition among known fighter designs.

В крыльях шасси не могут быть, т.к. "крылья" кривые и тонкие. Только если в брюхе, но тогда при посадке придётся хорошо поработать двигателями. Скорее всего - как можно лучше сесть на одно место, без проката.

Меня что-то смущает малый размер нижнего отверстия двигателя... В атмосфере с земли стартануть...

Такс, у кого есть Крестовый поход? Скриншотом поделитесь!