By Gonzalo218
04/13/2024 - 15:59:44
Type: Spaceship
Rating: 17.5 (Very good!)
Tags: 2nd-gen, celestial war, coalition of nations, fighter, finbari, gcn, gen 2, gonzalo218, low-observable, second generation
Description
The Z10 is a second-generation aerospace fighter unlike any other. A testament to human ingenuity and resourcefulness, its basic wing layout would come to define almost all aerospace fighters going forward.
The Z10 is a product of the short-lived but intense arms race between the Zir and Finbari, which the former often referred to hyperbolically as the ?Cold War?. Despite rapid technological advancement - which, ironically, stems from Finbari collaboration back in fairer times - aerospace engineers knew that it would be impossible to match the performance of Finbari fightercraft with domestic technology. In order to field a craft that?s up to galactic standards, they would have to adopt a radically new approach to making aerospace fighters.
The Federal government first placed the contract for a next-generation fighter during the late 3300s. Early development of the craft largely revolved around aerodynamic testing of unusual wing planforms, while clandestine operatives collaborated with propulsion firms in trying to illegally acquire an intact copy of a Finbari FF420?s engine for study. While the engine theft was an immediate success, the aerodynamics team made little progress for many years, until they made a chance discovery inspired by techniques from Ziravia?s past.
Back when the human race was still bound to its home world, certain nations explored the concept of blended wing and lifting body architecture, purported to increase lift and efficiency by turning the aircraft?s body itself into a lifting surface. The Zir aerodynamicists noted that none of the top aerospace fighters of the present utilize this technique.
In addition to this, the scientists found a way to fuse this concept with the hypothetical ?twin-boom? concept - which, without getting too technical, is a kind of frontal frame structure in aerospace fighters designed to minimize weight and maximize RCS size and leverage. By flattening the twin booms and warping the particle shield to cover the gap inbetween the booms, they were able to replicate the aerodynamic properties of a lifting body. This way, the Z10 could reap the benefits of improved maneuverability in space, while also avoiding the natural disadvantages of the twin-boom concept while in atmosphere.
Even with these innovations, development of the Z10 proved to be difficult, especially regarding the challenge of downsizing the front RCS thrusters to fit inside the flat forward ?wings?. Nevertheless, the men and women behind the project managed to prevail over all hardships, and with the application of radar-absorbing coating and jagged wing surfaces, the design was finally complete. Early testing of the YZ10 prototype craft was promising, and with a few additional tweaks and improvements, the production Z10 model managed to attain world-class performance.
The Z10 just about managed to impress everyone when first unveiled to the galactic community. Finbari engineers were stunned that the humans managed to produce a fighter with 90% the performance of the brand-new FF800, using much less advanced technology. The Z10 would come to be the pride of the Zir Space Force, serving as its mainstay fighter for nearly a century until the introduction of the cutting-edge Z12 during the Celestial War.
By T_B_II
Re continued: I mean, as every ship would use an ion-field to affect that purpose.
By T_B_II
Re: I think that I will feel better next time I play the Space Stage. That's how all those wacky designs made by other people and myself work.
By T_B_II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivLX9o6Ayl8 I learnt most of what I know about this phenominon from Real Engineering. Though I am certainly not an expert. Again, brilliant design, I don't want to distract from that. R
By T_B_II
It is implied that the craft can affect an atmospheric entry, I worry that the narrower structures would recieve damage due to atmospheric drag and the resultant plasma cloud.
By T_B_II
Outstanding effort in the description, it gives so much depth to the visual work. I notice that plausibility is an objective, while the terrestial element meets the specification superbly with the fictional aspect-
By T_B_II
You've really taken the symmetry to the next level, so many intricate design details: aerodynamic forms and illustrious curves in places.
By LucasTheGreatYT
Saw this on the Sporechives and I just want to say that you are so talented on vehicle and spaceship editors. Also, congrats on the first place on the MPN! R+
By RG4327
I love the complex simplicity of this. Stellar detailing as always. Love the exhaust!
By Gonzalo218
And so, the oldest trio is complete.