Flying Craft of the Distant Fringe

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A listing of some of the more common flying and grav vehicles found within the Distant Fringe region.

Details / Specifications

Each vehicle has a basic description. This serves to give a general impression of its construction and performance. Details such as the internal layout are representative only – alternative layouts are very common.

  • The vehicles's dimensions are given and are used to provide a very general outline of its mass in starship displacement tons ("dTons"): this can also be used to determine how much internal space a vehicle uses if it is carried within a starship. Different versions of the same general type of vehicle will have different physical characteristics.
  • Performance details are generic: different models of of the same vehicle will have different characteristics. Different manufacturers will also compete with one another to produce the model with the "best" performance figures, often trading off aspects of the handling to gain advantages in performance or vice versa.
  • Internal cargo storage can differ greatly between different models of the same vehicle. Manufacturers often emphasise the larger cargo capacity of their particular model as a selling point.

Technological Level

The listed technological level is the lowest at which the particular vehicle may be constructed. If the same vehicle is built at a higher technological level, it will be more efficient, it is likely to be constructed from more advanced materials, and it may have an improved performance. It may also include additional items of equipment or upgraded environmental systems. Often a higher technology design exists which directly supersedes an earlier version.

See also Technology of The Distant Fringe.

Power and Fuel

Each vehicle has a power plant and carries a supply of fuel. Some vehicles utilise lighter-than-air technology. Most use internal combustion power plants using hydrocarbon fuel (typically a liquid such as gasoline or ethanol) to drive propellors, rotor blades or powerful fans – more advanced models may use electrical batteries or fuel cells. Other air vehicles use jets or rockets. It also includes vehicles that use gravitic technology.

Cost

The listed cost for a vehicle represents the retail price from new: in some cases mass production of a vehicle and corporate marketing strategies create an artificially low price. Previously owned vehicles are likely to be significantly cheaper but are also likely to have minor faults, reliability issues, or perform less efficiently than a brand new model.

Aircraft

Aerostat Vehicles

An aerostat vehicle is an aircraft that utilises lighter-than-air principles to achieve flight.

Fixed Wing Aircraft

  • Primitive Glider, TL 3
  • Early Aircraft, TL 4
  • Basic Propeller Aircraft, TL 5
  • Large Propeller Aircraft, TL 5
  • Medium Passenger Jet, TL 6
  • Large Passenger Jet, TL 6
  • Executive Jet, TL 7
  • VTOL Jet, TL 7

Rotary Wing Aircraft

Grav Vehicles

Gravitic Components

The first experimental gravitic devices (Lifters) become available at TL 8, though their capabilities are very limited – by TL 9 Lifter Plates are relatively commonplace and far more efficient. They are typically built into hybrid aircraft and vehicles with otherwise conventional features such as wings and thrust-generating engines. At TL 10 bulky Low Power Heavy Grav Modules, capable of generating thrust (though with an average power-to-thrust ratio) are developed. At TL 12 smaller and more efficient Low Power Light Grav Modules (with an improved power-to-thrust ratio) become available.

Hybrid Vehicles

Light Grav Vehicles

Grav Transports

  • Compact Grav Car, TL 10 (1.5 dTons)
  • Grav Car, TL 10 (2 dTons)
  • Speeder, TL 10 (6 dTons)
  • Sports Speeder, TL 11 (6 dTons)
  • Advanced Speeder, TL 12 (5 dTons)

Grav Sleds

A Grav Sled is any commercial grav vehicle designed to carry cargo or freight.

  • G-Carrier, TL 9 (6 dTons)
  • G-Tractor, TL 9 (7 dTons)
    • Box Floater, TL 9 (15 dTons)
    • Flatbed Floater, TL 9 (5 dTons)
  • G-Hauler, TL 10 (32 dTons)
  • Heavy G-Hauler, TL 10 (70 dTons)

History / Background

See also Ships of the Distant Fringe, Vehicles of the Distant Fringe.

References & Contributors / Sources

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