VF-11 Thunderbolt
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The VF-11 Thunderbolt is a fictional variable fighter in the Macross storyline. The VF-11 was designed and created as the replacement unit for the VF-4 Lightning III variable fighter. It began to enter widespread UN Spacy service in 2030 as the UN spacy's main variable fighter. It was deployed with long-distance immigration fleets, colonial defense forces, and deep outer space fleets. The VF-11 is an aerodynamic update and improvement of the VF-1 Valkyrie, the world's first Variable Fighter, introduced 22 years earlier. Unlike the VF-1, the VF-11 did not have known "ace" and "commander" variants.
However, in continuing conflicts with rogue enemy units such as the "enemy battlesuits" seen in Macross Plus, the decision was made to find a replacement for the fighter. Thus the Project Super Nova competition was created to select the next-generation advanced variable fighter (analogous to the 20th century Advanced Tactical Fighter competition). Two variable fighter designs, the General Galaxy YF-21 and Shinsei Industries YF-19 were selected to compete in the 2040 competition. The VF-11's gunpod can reload from a magazine stored on a clip in its shield. After the Sharon Apple incident at Macross City, the YF-19 was selected for production as the VF-19 Excalibur. Five years later, the VF-11 is still a mainstay variable fighter although the production VF-19F is starting to replace it.
The story behind the canards on the VF-11 is an interesting one. Though the canards would slow down the fighter in an atmosphere, it did have the added benefit of increasing maneuverability. Captain Milia Jenius of the Eagle Nest Aerial Tactics Center supported the canard feature with passion. This led to the production of two prototypes: VF-X-11 No.1 without the canards and VF-X-11 No. 2 with canards.
Captain Jenius piloted the VF-X-11 No. 2 in a rescue operation of a UN chief advisor. The data collected on the VF-X-11 No. 2 used in the rescue operation led to the introduction of the canards.
[edit] Variants
- VF-X-11: Prototype version. Two produced, one equipped with fold booster.
- VF-11A: First production version. It was produced in limited numbers
- VF-11B: Standard version in UN Spacy service circa 2040. Improvements over the VF-11A were a lengthened barrel on anti-aircraft gun, one window on the main sensor, and increased engine thrust.
- VF-11C: Version with enhanced navigational electronic equipment. All VF-11s in 2040 were in the process of being upgraded to this standard
- VF-11D: Two-seater version of the VF-11C
- VF-11D Custom: Custom two-seater version manufactured by Shinsei Industry and the Macross 7 Project M Special Technologies Group. The VF-11D had enlarged canard wing, enhanced engines, VF-19's vernier thrusters, and space/atmospheric sound booster FAST Pack. Only 20 were produced and was deployed with the Jamming Bird force
- VF-11MAXL: Version with FF-2099A engines identical to the VF-16's, overall strengthened structure, and a redesigned and modified delta wing to increase fuselage strength and aerodynamic characteristics. They are built on demand by pilots.
- VF-11MAXL Custom: Custom version manufactured by Shinnakasu Heavy Industry and the Macross 7 Special Technologies Group with internal sound system, speaker launcher pod, and FF-2099A engines similar to the VF-16's.
[edit] Trivia
- First appeared in Macross Plus
- The VF-11 Thunderbolt was named after the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, a World War II American fighter, and the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, a close air-support attack fighter.
- Its design is, according to the Shoji Kawamori Macross Design Works book, inspired by the Su-37
- The XFA-27, found in the games Ace Combat 2 and Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception, bears a striking resemblence to this aircraft.
- Also, FFR-31 MR/D Super Sylph from Yukikaze bears a resemblance to this aircraft, notably its air intake configuration and its tailplanes, although the canards resemble VF-19 rather than VF-11.
