Chronicle Mechanic: FB UN 02a VF-4 Lightning III

[Sketchley]

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Front:
VF-4 Lightning III
The successor aircraft of the VF-1 that is characterized by it's three-hull type structure.

Airframe Explanation:
The VF-4 Lightning III, whose development was advanced as a successor craft to the VF-1 Valkyrie, is a variable fighter (VF) that succeeded in a design that gives priority to mobility in the void of space.  When it was designed, as a result of the inclusion of existing Over Technology, as well as the introduction of Zentraadi series technology, it has it's characteristic three-hull style airframe structure and is quite different from the VF-1.  It is said that it's fighting power has improved 40% over that of the VF-1, due to the increase in the fuselage volume from the three-hull style, which increased it's propellant capacity, armament loading ability and so on.  Though it had a little problem with in-atmosphere mobility performance, it was deployed to the space flying corps of emigrant fleets, etc., and it served as the mainline fighter craft of the UN Forces in the 2020's.  It is an especially famous airframe as it is the craft that Hikaru Ichijo rode when he was deployed to the 1st Super Long Range Emigration Fleet.

Main Pilot:
Ichijo Hikaru

Data: * Data is when in fighter mode
Length: 16.8 m
Width: 12.65 m
Height: 5.31 m
Empty Weight: 13,950 kg
Engine: FF-2011 thermonuclear turbine engine x2 (thrust: 14,000 kg x2) made by Shinnakasu Heavy Industry, P&W and Royce companies.
Vernier: P&W HMM-1A
Maximum Speed: mach 3.02 (at 10,000 m) / mach 5.15+ (at or above 30,000 m)
Standard Armament: large beam gun x2, long-range missile x12, others

Size Comparison:
VF-1J
VF-4

Development Genealogy Chart:
VF-1 > VF-4 > VF-5000


Reverse left
[Translator's note: the images with 他 (other) on this side indicate the images don't come from one of the animations.  In this case, they come from the game, Macross M3.]

Operation Record
The VF-4's development started in the prototype VF-X-4 and VF-X-3 that were competing for better work.  However, when the Earth is devastated in Space War I, the VF-X-3 disappears together with military facilities.  The VF-X-4 escaped from disappearance, and was expanded into and completed the VF-4.  (Amongst the airframes underdevelopment exist the prototype [trial manufactured] No. 1 craft VF-X-4V1, the increased prototype [trial manufactured] VF-4A-0, and so on).  Production is begun in February, 2012, and in addition to being deployed to the Megaroad-01 that departed in September that same year, the VF-4 was operated as the main battle strength [might, capability] of the UN Forces' space flying corps.  Moreover, it is said that the G type, with it's improved engine output, was deployed to the Special Duty Force "Dancing Skull".  8,245 craft are produced by the end of production in 2022, and the VF-4 carried on it's shoulders the core of the space battle strength of the UN Forces until the appearance of the VF-11 Thunderbolt from 2030.

Caption: The Skull squadron, equipped with the VF-4, are deployed to the Megaroad-01, and Hikaru Ichijo served as the squadron's commanding officer.

Caption: The VF-4G, which was operated by the Dancing Skull, is the craft that Makushimirian Jinasu [Maximillian Jenius] "Makkusu [Max]" boarded.


Standard Armament
The standard equipment of the VF-4 are two large beam guns and 12 semi-embedded [semi-conformal] long-range missiles; both built into the engine nacelles.  The VF-4 differs from the VF-1, whose majority of armaments were optional; as with the VF-4, it's feature [characteristic] point is that this fixed equipment is it's main armaments.

Caption: A Long-Range Missiles
Long-range missiles are built-into the fuselage in a partly-internal [semi-conformal] form.  There are several theories concerning the total number of missiles.

Caption: B Large Beam Guns
Large beam guns are built into the upper block of the engine nacelles (that correspond to the arms in battroid).  It is also possible to detach this block, and it is also said that it is possible to operate the VF-4 with unfastened lightweight equipment used within the atmosphere.


Cockpit:
Even though the VF-4 tried an ambitious airframe design, if you remark about the cockpit specification, it isn't greatly changed from existing VFs.  The cockpit structure is arranged with the control stick on the right of the seat, and the throttle on the left; which is the system of the single-seat type VF.

Caption: Max sitting in the cockpit of the VF-4G.  The control stick can be seen on the inner side of the inside of the cockpit.  Below the canopy are the notches of craft that Max has shot down.

Caption: A large main display is arranged in the front console within the cockpit.  This also contains the HUD function.

Caption: Makkusu [Max] enduring G forces in the cockpit.  The interior of the cockpit has a simple construction, and the backpack of the pilot's suit settles into the back of the seat.


Fighter Mode:
The VF-4, which was designed stressing operation in the void of space, aimed for an improvement in the fighter mode mobility, cruising range and so on in a peculiar [unique] three-hull structure that ensured the airframe's capacity [volume].  On the other hand, the in-atmosphere flight performance was not excellent compared to the VF-1.  For that reason, the later-starting VF-5000 Star Mirage became the main within-atmosphere battle force craft, and the VF-4 was operated mainly in the void of space.  If you limit the VF-4 to space, it's performance far surpasses that of the VF-1, and it exhibits enough ability to bear the role of the main force fighter.

Caption: Even though the VF-4 is equipped with nose cannards, ailerons and so on, it's in-atmosphere flight performance cannot be said to be enough.  It's speciality was manueverability performance in the void of space.

Caption: The fighter form of the VF-4 Makkusu [Max] craft.  Compared to the VF-5000 that flies lined up below, it is understood that the size of the VF-4 is somewhat large.

Caption: The main nozzle is a two-dimensional nozzle, and it has a thrust deflection function in the vertical directions.

Caption: The fighter form of the VF-4 (Ichijo's craft is pictured).  It is a three-hull structure, with engine nacelles arranged to the right and left of the airframe, and the main-wing area is small.

Caption: The main wings and the nacelle ventral fins each possess a variable structure [construction] which inclines below for high-speed flight.

Caption: The vertical tails in the upper part of the engine nacelles are inclined inwards, in a construction designed to avert the reflection of radar.


Other:

Caption: Max's VF-4 G
Makkusu's [Max's] VF-4G, operated in the Dancing Skull.  Even though it has blue colouring, it is different from the craft he previously boarded.

Caption: Miria's VF-4G
This is the VF-4G that Miria operated in the same force [unit].  It is coloured only red, and except for the colouring, it has the same specifications as Max's craft, the normal [general] VF-4G, and so on.


Reverse right
This craft adopts a transformation system different from the VF-1.  Even though the structure of the engine nacelle becoming the leg is the same as the VF-1, as the nacelle's upper block the composes the arm and so on, the tendency of the composition of each part being unique from the VF-1 markedly appears.  This is especially true in battroid form.  Furthermore, even though it is possible to exchange the nacelle's top part block with a large, out-of-atmosphere use booster, in that situation, it enters a state where there aren't any arms.

Caption: The GERWALK form of the VF-4 (it's state is with the left arm omitted).  A large thigh is pulled out of the underside of the inner wing, and the leg is expanded.

Caption: The Ram-Wing Nozzle, that corresponds with the rear section of the fighter's fuselage can be seen in the back.  This also functions as the airbrake when in fighter.

Caption: The battroid form of the VF-4.  The cockpit block is horizontally stored in the body, it is a design that can be seen extending into VFs from later years.


Other

Caption: Max's VF-4G
The battroid form of the VF-4 Makkusu [Max] craft.  The large beam guns are located in the forearm, and they can guarantee a wide field of fire.

Caption: Miria's VF-4G
Here is the battroid form of the VF-4G Miria craft.  It features a unique [characteristic] silhouette that leaves the main wings and tails in the shoulders.


Transformation System:

Body

Caption: The transformation of the body.  The nose cone folds and slides behind.  The upper part of the where the head expands from slides forward, and covers the cockpit.  The rear substructure of the body descends and slides forward, and becomes the pelvic region.

Arm/Leg:

Caption: Half stored in the top block of the nacelle are the upper arm and hand, which expand and cover panels extend from the front and back of the folding shoulder

Caption: The expanding structure of the leg.  The nacelle, which continues with a large thigh on the airframe's underside goes down below, and at the same time that the knee-joint slides forward, a shutter closes and the leg is composed.


Related Matters:
The Prototype of the VF-4
The VF-X-4 in the experimental stage attempted to shorten the development period by sharing parts with the VF-1.  Even though parts of the VF-1 were appropriated into the VF-X-4V1 in the ratio of 35%, that ratio was held back to about 25% with the VF-4A-0.  By such great efforts, the deployment of the VF-4 was in time for the sailing of the Megaroad-01.

Caption: The prototype conveying the VF-X-4.  Even though the three-hull air frame structure is the same as the VF-4, there are no canards and the details are different.

Caption: Overall, its form takes on a roundness more than the VF-4, and the ventral fins of the engine nacelles have not been installed.

M (SDFM)
Ichijo Hikaru holding a VF-X-4 model.  It is said that opinions were taken from the ace pilots at the time of it's test flight, and it is assumed that Ichijo was also taking part.

[Sketchley]

FINISHED!