VA Series

[David Hingtgen]

1962 was the big "official" change. Where possible, things made sense. (F8U became F-8, F9F became F-9, F4H became F-4, but sometimes it just didn't work and the A3J became the A-5, etc)

All you'd ever want to know about designations:

http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/

[The_WOZ]

I read somewhere that the P designation means 'Patrol'

[Southcross]

Was watching a documentary on the History Channel this week...

the documentary was on the WWII PBY's

(P)Patrol (B)Bomber (Y)consolodated

[The_WOZ]

I read somewhere that the P designation means 'Patrol'

[The_WOZ]

Sorry, slow connection. I thought the previous reply wasn't sended

[daeudi]

Pre-Korea:

P-38J Lightning and other Propeller driven fighter planes were labeled

P for Pursuit.

The P (patrol) designation of craft like the PBY Catalina are another story entirely.

If it was just a P-## then it was a fighter. if it was P@@-### then it was a patrol craft.

[EganLoo]

The VA-3 was in service in at the time of the Anti-Boddle Zer Fleet Battle (2010) limited numbers as they were replacing the VF-1 Valkyrie VA-1 Skull squadron (attack duty-this squadron designation for the Skull can be found in the DYRL storyboard book).

It is inaccurate to say the VA-3 was in service at the time of The Battle with Boddole Zer Main Fleet. The VA-3 was *not* in service during Space War I. This is a bad mistranslation of two text sections in This Is Animation Special Maross Plus.

http://www.anime.net/macross/mecha/united_...s/variable/va3/

It is inaccurate to say that the VF-1 Skull Squadron was arbitrarily re-assigned the designation VA-1 for the attack mission role. This is fan speculation, not the creator's intent.

[EganLoo]

Ah, I see.

For the moment though it looks like VA doesn't really apply- both the VA designs are aircraft (Unless Kawamori makes other Variable designs- helicopters? )

There was a VTOL craft... the non-Macross design VAG-37 Rafaga which is a Variable Attack Gunship from the Capcom giant robot fighting game, Kikaio:

http://www.capcom.co.jp/newproducts/arcade...aga2/index.html

But, again although Shoji Kawamori designed it-it is not a Macross design.

The Rafaga is called the YF-37, not the "VAG-37", and it is a strategic [tactical, strictly speaking] variable fighter, not a "variable assault gunship." Please read the very page you are trying to cite, instead of fan speculation.