l_e_m

Hmm, I'm kinda annoyed that the numbers presented don't give anything conclusive about their performance versus the AVF planes. The only thing we can say conclusively is that the engines used are newer (Shinsei/P&W/RR FF-3011As and P&W HMM-9s versus FF-2550s and HMM-7s). The listed speeds are even the same which is really a non-issue since most dogfights occur in high-subsonic speeds to transonic speeds.

Maximum thrust output for a base VF-25A in space exceeds the VF-19S by more than two times.

Speed matters in this context. Having a higher thrust ratio will give you quicker bursts in Gerwalk and Battroid not available to other VFs.

If the VF-171EX can compete with the VF-25/VF-27, then its performance would have to exceed any of the Macross Plus/Macross 7 AVFs.

I don't see how the VF-171EX couldn't, but this is just supposition on my part.

The only problem with that is, if I recall correctly, standard carrier landing procedure means that as soon as he touches down (regardless of the hook catching or not), the pilot will punch his engines into full throttle so that he can put the bird back in the air in case he misses.

Reverse your thrust while landing on a carrier, then there's a 1 in 5 chance that you'll end up taking a swim.

Commercial airliners, which have thrust reversers, don't land on carriers if I recall correctly.

You can see evidence of a thrust reverser (thrust expelled from the intake) in the Max and Milia marriage episode in the original series.

How the heck do VFs land on such short runways? Especially in the case of the VF-1 and VF-0 which were seen to operate of normal, similar to real world, aircraft carriers when they don't seem to have any visible arrestor hooks?

The VF-1 would need THRUST REVERSERS.

This is basic equipment for many commercial airliners.

ATF aircraft were supposed to have these (initial requirement) but they were dropped due to added cost/complexity.

VERY COOL. Couldn't tell if ya changed the RDF to UN NAVY. Hope ya did.

Thanks.

Comments like this are always nice to see.

This project is done.

I'd like to thank hellohikaru for the U.N. Navy paint scheme.

You can see my latest demo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rSqCTBPsbo

Sometime before the end of the year. I will update this model to be used in X-Plane v9, and that's it.

I was expecting more from Sterne.

The new VF-27 control interface reminds me of

It was refreshing to see that Alto was channeling a bit of Shin Kudo during that episode .

It doesn't make sense to me that gerwalk would require less power and thus have power left over for ECA. Just the dynamics of keeping the valk hovering would require more power since the wings aren't doing any lifting and then there's the power used for forward momentum and then there's the power used in moving the limbs. Same for battroid.

If anything, fighter mode seems the most energy efficient, at least to me.

I agree on both counts to some extent.

You have to keep in mind the thrust required to hover versus the thrust typically used to propel the Valkyrie forward in an atmospheric environment.

Are the intakes open or closed? Newer AVFs have lower power output in space due to this limitation in reactor design (cooling). (See Macross Compendium's VF-22 entry.) This may affect the pussiance of ECA in a given environment.

anyhows, when the lobster pulled gilliam from the sky originally, the vf-25 was in fighter mode and then transformed trying to get away. If fighter mode were more vulnerable, the initial grab on the legs should have resulted in some pretty nasty damage.

I thought that Varja (sp?) jumped on the Valkyrie's back, forcing the nose down, and Gilliam compensated by switching to Gerwalk, redirecting the thrust to stay aloft. I don't think fighter is any more vulnerable than Gerwalk or Battroid despite its inherent limitations and what I mentioned earlier.

Nice catch, Gubada.

Does anyone think that some of the Ghost AI is featured in the VF-25?

The advanced optical system used so far seems to be completely animated. In fact, we don't see pilots use any control inputs extensively except the HOTAS.

If this optical system works the way I think it does, it can overcome nearly any optical deficiency of the pilot. Michael is without his glasses when piloting.

Alto is the genius pilot after all.

Perhaps, this is just me, but I preferred the music and how it was placed in the TV special.

The music doesn't establish the mood like it did before, and it's taking a lot a way from what's going on screen.

It could be the torrent, but the episode seemed a bit off.

Kresphy, it's SICK.

WOW.

VF-25 Nova

with FAST PACKS and ARMOR

VF-25 Super Nova

He may be.

For people who don't get Graham's use of "crack shot", it means marksman or sharpshooter. It doesn't say he's a genius pilot, but he is the best shooter in the fleet.

I suppose it's based on how you see things. In SDF:M, is genius pilot synonymous with genius warrior?

Those paint schemes are FANTASTIC.

That's a cool avatar.

Nice work.

I liked how you snuck in that SAAB reference.

From watching the 25th Anniversary Special, it looks like the "Red Variables" are easy Armored VF-25 particle cannon fodder after all.

If the Armored VF-25 can do this as the "Main Valkyrie" class while outnumbered, I shudder to think what the next Special Operations Valkyrie could do.

Of course, this is all pilot dependent.

The VF-4 is my favorite.

Hopefully, it'll make cameo in a Macross series someday.

Actually, if the VF-171 is a dumb-down version of the VF-17, then it inherited the cockpit layout (and wrap-around imaging screens) from the VF-17, not the YF/VF-19. And the VF-17 did have wrap around imaging.

Link

The wrap around imaging seen in Macross Frontier for the VF-171 was not relegated only to Battroid but fighter as well.

(We don't see a closeup Battroid VF-171 in the first episode anyways.)

Please, check the sequence when the VF-171s conducted a standoff missile barrage during Cheryl's concert.

The first time I've seen this wrap around imaging was in the YF-19 in M+.

It is my contention that this feature does not make the VF-171 simply a dumbed down version of the VF-17 but a fully updated one with avionics from the YF-19.

It is doubtful the VF-171 packs nearly the same kind of specialized hardware the VF-17 did.

The VF-171 has the same wraparound interface pioneered on the YF-19, which is something I believe the original VF-17 did not have.

Ok... I'm a little tired of the flock-of-birds thing.... Radar screens don't show high-resolution images of the shape of the target generating the return... Just dots. (OK, dots, sometimes with lines extending off them, to show travel heading.) Even the F-22 radar doesn't show airplane shapes, and it's the latest/greatest thing around, radar-wise.

An AESA radar linked with an EOTS system pioneered in the F-35 would show images of the target.

As far as I know, the F-22 does not have this capability yet.

And in MF, we get Alto, who's somewhat broody and irate (rightfully so, I suppose), who's bishouneness doesn't win likeable points for a male viewer like myself, who'd rather a character be likeable or "cool" than pretty, who's only marginally relateable trait is that his pretty-boy-ness is as annoying to him as it is to us, but who doesn't display any other likeable trait. He doesn't seem to show much likeability even in his desire to fly, as his main attempt at flying has been so far to fly on fun-but-fruity-looking wings, which again, doesn't really scream "badass" or "cool" to me. A character like that needs to be handled with some wit and humor-- or else he's just a broody, emo elf, and I guess that's just not my cup of tea.

For all of Alto's bad points, he has gumption.

He barely survived his first encounter with the red Variable, watched one of his colleagues pounded into V8, and still had the wherewithal to put himself on the line to help someone else, knowing full well he might die.

That sort of character is "cool" to me.

It's a lot more than what Hikaru did in the first episode of SDFM.

But, was'nt that an experimental weapon, and it was sued against an old Monster Destroid (Red Bug could be more heavily armored than even that old Destroid), AND IIRC you need to be in Gerwalk or Battroid mode to use it. One can't actually transform to Fightermode with that thing on.

I looked at macross.anime.net for more information, and I did not find an entry for it. Perhaps, I missed it though.

I cannot say for certain whether you could not employ the weapon other than Battroid. From the shoulders, it does appear to be apart of a FAST Pack system.

This weapon's appearance and effect most resembles the cannon seen on the red Variable in Macross Frontier.

While the red Variable might have more armor protection, this weapon should do some damage to it moreso than the 25s gunpod or missiles.

Heh, PPB Punch anyone? :-)

There is a possibility that the PPB would have prevented access into the VF-25/VF-171 canopy by the Hammerheads and the red Variable.

Also, I'm with Graham, I just do not see this "super robot" vibe, here. Even the VF-25's seemed only marginally effective against the aliens, despite their massive FAST packs (as I mentioned in another thread, I'm not really a fan of these Stampeed like augmentations). The gun pods don't seem to do any damage at all, and the missles only seem effective when they actually hit. And even then, the red thing seemed to shrug off a direct volley.

I don't see the "super robot" vibe here or in most of Macross series, which is one of the reasons why I like it.

The heroes of the series, generally, don't get a free ride and are subject to the same dangers all characters, even the minor ones, face.

While the armored super/super VF-25 weapons were marginally effective against the red Variable, the red Variable continued to actively disengage (evade) from the 25s. From the red Variables' actions, the 25s seem to be effective enough. This makes me question whether these red Variables are actually piloted by a machine and not a sentient being who recognizes his/her mortality. I don't think a machine would act this way. At least, the Ghost Fighter didn't.

All the VF-25 needs is an upgrade in its weaponry (a better gunpod and the YF-19 attachment seen in Mac+ could do the job) and a speed boost. Considering the other series, Macross Frontier could be worse off, so far they don't seem to be massively outnumbered.

Ozma's wingman could've benefited from a PPB as well seen on the 19s and 22s.