Structural Modifications
Structural Modifications

Armament Wings
Armament wings are for helicopters that nominally do not carry weapons (like gunships). They are designed to improve the capability of the aircraft, and allow it to act as a quasi-gunship. There are two versions, 2-point and 4-point. The 2-point version has only two hardpoints (one hardpoint per wing), while the 4-point has four hardpoints (2 per wing). Each hardpoint is modified to accept drop tanks (as in Rigger 2) and can hold up to 4 CF of weapons or pods per hardpoint. Another benefit of these is that they are removable, allowing aircraft to be stowed inside a smaller area. It requires 20 minutes to remove, and 30 minutes to install. Adding Armament Wings is only a custom job, it cannot be included in the vehicles design. Mounting the wings reduces the Signature by 1.

Customization Specifications
Parts Cost: 2-point: 20,000¥, 4-point: 40,000¥
Parts Availability: 2-point: 7/1 week, 4-point: 10/2 weeks
Street Index: 2
Maximum Improvement: Reduce Signature by 1 when mounted.
Base Time: 24 hours
Skill: Appropriate vehicle B/R Skill
Target Number: 8
Equipment: Vehicle Facility
CF Consumed: 4 CF
Load Reduction: Body x 100 kg

Forward Swept Wings
Developed by Germany in the early 1940s, forward swept wing is an old but new design when it comes to wings. Then in the early 1980s, the X-29 took off with the design, with forward mounted canards (not tandem triplane). This is currently a test demonstrator for NASA. The only other design that features FSW layout is the S-32/37 (or my version of it, the Su-44 "Flashback"). The wing cannot be made of conventional materials, due to the torsion effects on the wing. The faster the speed, the greater chance of the wings ripping off. At these regimes, the tips flap up like a piece of paper being blown. This cannot be done by conventional materials, due to the less structural resistance of it. Composite materials, which can take the stress, can only be used for this. The main aerodynamic benefits of this is that the AoA is higher, up to 60 degrees. Stall speeds are lower, with the fighter reducing it by 20 km/h. Also, with the forward mounted canards, the air is directed over the main wing, much in the fashion of tandem triplane, with the same benefits. Another benefit is the light weight of the wings, reducing the weight of the frame, allowing more equipment or weaponry carried. For game rules, the canards and wings give an automatic total of -3 to any Handling Tests. This can only be a design option, rather than as a custom modification. This can be installed on various types of aircraft, not just fighters.

Design Specifications
Design Cost: Body x 200 points
Maximum Improvement: -3 Modifiers to Handling Tests, stall speed is reduced by 20 km/h
CF Consumed: 0 CF
Load Reduction: Aircraft gains an additional Body x 5 kilograms

More CF and Load
Yes, I know, you want more CF because you want more installed on a vehicle than is allowed. While yes it's possible, it does however have to be balanced out. First off, I simply double the point value on the vehicle for the required necessity. However, some GMs aren't going to like it when Joe Gamer wants a Yamaha Rapier with an Vigilant, and 3000 rounds. I figure you can go as far as much as 2 times the max amount for Load, but CF is at 2 times space = + 1 Body. While FASA says it dropped that rule, well, you can only do so much then it has to be changed. I couldn't put 10,000 CF on a UD-4L without expecting the size to be the same, because it wouldn't!. So I leave it at that for my thoughts (as you can see, it's not totally figured out yet), but email me and tell me what you think would be good.

Refuelling Probes
Air to air refuelling probes have been in use since tacticians discovered the use of the technology and applied it. The most commonly used version is the hose and drogue. The aircraft being refueled had a retractable hose, or the probe. The tanker aircraft usually trailed a fuel line with an air basket to keep it stable during flight, therefore allowing aircraft to go further with a full load of fuel. The only other different one is used by the UCASAF is the "injection fueling". Mounted somewhere on the aircraft is a simple receptacle for the fuel. The tanker aircraft has a extendable rod that "shoots" into the fuel tank, giving fuel. Given the hazards of such an operation, the hose and drogue is more common. Another version of the hose and drogue system is bolt on systems that attach to an existing aircraft to allow it in flight refuelling. However, since the outside nature of the system is that it reduces the aircraft’s signature by 1. These are commonly fitted on one side of the aircraft. Both retractable and fixed versions are available. Helicopters, usually special mission aircraft, feature fixed mounted probes. The HH-60 is a good example of this, requiring it to be mounted on the side. The probe is long enough to clear the rotor’s diameter for use. To operate a retractable probe (internal or external) requires a Simple Action. To simulate inflight refuelling, the aircraft and the refuelling plane have the same speed, to ensure safe refueling. The pilot makes a Handling Test with a +3 modifier due to the fact of the turbulence of the refueling aircraft, damage, or any other reasonable modifier. To figure out how long, divide the amount of fuel in liters/100 = Combat Turns that the refuelling takes. Note that as a safety feature, in "refueling mode", the aircraft’s weapon systems are automatically disengaged. The character has to do is disengage and then deal with the threat. Needless to say, disengaging does not require a Handling Test.

Retractable Probe (internal)
Design Specifications
Design Cost: 300 points
Maximum Improvement: Reduce Signature by 1 when extended.
CF Consumed: 2 CF
Load Reduction: 75 kg

Customization Specifications
Parts Cost: 3,000¥
Parts Availability: 5/1 week
Street Index: 2
Maximum Improvement: Reduce Signature by 1 when extended.
Base Time: 3 days
Skill: Appropriate vehicle B/R Skill
Target Number: 8
Equipment: Vehicle Facility
CF Consumed: 3 CF
Load Reduction: 75 kg

Retractable Probe (external)
Design Specifications
Design Cost: 200 points
Maximum Improvement: Reduce Signature by 1 Permanently
CF Consumed: 1 CF
Load Reduction: 75 kg

Customization Specifications
Parts Cost: 2,000¥
Parts Availability: 5/4 days
Street Index: 2
Maximum Improvement: Reduce Signature by 1 Permanently
Base Time: 3 days
Skill: Appropriate vehicle B/R Skill
Target Number: 6
Equipment: Vehicle Facility
CF Consumed: 2 CF
Load Reduction: 70 kg

Fixed Probe
Design Specifications
Design Cost: 100 points
Maximum Improvement: Reduce Signature by 1 Permanently
CF Consumed: 1 CF
Load Reduction: 60 kg

Customization Specifications
Parts Cost: 1,500¥
Parts Availability: 3/4 days
Street Index: 2
Maximum Improvement: Reduce Signature by 1 Permanently
Base Time: 3 days
Skill: Appropriate vehicle B/R Skill
Target Number: 4
Equipment: Vehicle Facility
CF Consumed: 1 CF
Load Reduction: 55 kg

Tandem Triplane Layout
Tandem triplane layout is currently used in the Su-33/34/35/37, S-32/37 designs, as well as the Su-30MKI being sold to India. This simply means that canards are mounted in front of the main wings, following a typical layout (main wing + tail wings), while tandem triplane layout is canards + main wing + tail plane in that order. Aside from looking cool, it also has aerodynamic benefits for fighters. The canards produce better vortices over the wing, increasing energy over the main wing. While LERX (leading edge root extensions) helps, it doesn’t help as much as the canards. In game terms, this gives a -2 modifier to any maneuver based rolls, such as turning for a better position in a dogfight. The fighters Maneuver Score is also improved, adding 5 to the score.

Design Specifications
Design Cost: Body x 500
Maximum Improvement: -2 to Handling Tests, +5 to Maneuver Score.
CF Consumed: 0 CF
Load Reduction:
Body x 10 kg (Body 3 to 5)
Body x 100 kg (Body 6 to 8)
Body x 1,000 kg (Body 9+)

Customization Specifications
Parts Cost: Multiply the vehicle’s original cost by 20%
Parts Availability: 7/1 month
Street Index: 2
Maximum Improvement: -2 to Handling Tests, +5 to Manuever Score.
Base Time: 2 weeks
Skill: Appropriate vehicle B/R Skill
Target Number: 8
Equipment: Vehicle Facility
CF Consumed: 10 CF
Load Reduction:
Body x 10 kg (Body 3 to 5)
Body x 100 kg (Body 6 to 8)
Body x 1,000 kg (Body 9+)

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