Viper (TRS): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:22, 11 February 2009

This is an overview page on the subject of Viper fighter craft. For detailed information, see Viper Mark II and Viper Mark VII.

The Viper is the Colonial Fleet's primary space superiority fighter / attack craft.

The Viper Mk II was originally introduced into Colonial service shortly before the outbreak of the Cylon War where it served with distinction throughout the war. It was subsequently retired and replaced with newer models. By the time of the renewed Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies, the Mark VII was the standard front-line model.

Flight Regimes

The Viper is designed to operate in both space and atmospheric conditions.

In space flight, the Viper is highly maneuverable, dangerously so in inexperienced hands. Reaction control system (RCS) thrusters for rapid and flexible attitude control, a cluster of 3 main thrusters for high acceleration, and retractable reverse thrusters housed in both port and starboard cowlings for some degree of deceleration can subject the pilot to punishing g-forces. Its retractable landing struts can be magnetized to secure the Viper on metal decks and surfaces in zero gravity.

In atmospheric flight, Vipers consume more Tylium fuel than in the vacuum of space. Once in an atmosphere, the engines must run continuously to maintain sufficient airflow over the wing lifting surfaces. Depending on the composition of the atmosphere itself, this can place severe strain on the Viper's engines (You Can't Go Home Again). In addition to greater fuel consumption, the high wing load (i.e. small wing area relative to weight) may compromise the Viper's overall maneuverability. Because the smaller wing surfaces generate less lift, higher speeds are needed to stay aloft. The fighter's RCS thrusters might partially compensate for this.

Life Support

Viper cockpits are pressurized and heated, and pilots wear flight suits which, along with a breathing pack housed within the back, provide full life support should ejection be required (You Can't Go Home Again). In atmospheric ejections, the seat jettisons automatically once clear of the Viper, exposing a parachute which is deployed at a safe altitude (Act of Contrition).

Because of the stamina required to operate Vipers, battlestars have a specialized weight room where the pilots maintain their physical conditioning.

See Also
- Viper Mark II|Mark II Viper
- Viper Mark VII|Mark VII Viper
Other Series
- Viper (TOS)|Original Series Viper
- Viper (1980)|Galactica 1980 Viper

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-:''This article discusses the two Viper-class fighters seen in the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]]. Detailed information for each fighter can also be found in [[Viper Mark II]] and [[Viper Mark VII]]. For information on the Viper used in the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]] and in [[Galactica 1980]], see [[Viper (TOS)]].''
+: ''This is an overview page on the subject of Viper fighter craft. For detailed information, see [[Viper Mark II]] and [[Viper Mark VII]].''
+__NOTOC__
-The '''Viper''' is the [[Colonial Fleet]]'s primary space superiority fighter / attack craft.
+The '''Viper''' is the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]]'s primary space superiority fighter / attack craft.
 [[Image:Bsg-viper-1.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The Mark II Viper.]]
 [[Image:BSG-Mark-VII.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The advanced Mark VII Viper.]]
-The Viper was originally introduced into Colonial service shortly before the outbreak of the [[Cylon War]]. After the war, newer models, such as the Mark VII, replaced the Mark II.
+The Viper Mk II was originally introduced into Colonial service shortly before the outbreak of the [[Cylon War]] where it served with distinction throughout the war.  It was subsequently retired and replaced with newer models. By the time of the renewed Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies, the Mark VII was the standard front-line model.
-The Mark II served with distinction throughout the Cylon War, but was subsequently superseded by newer models. At the time of the renewed Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies, the Mark VII was the front-line variant of the Viper design.
 <div style="clear: both;"></div>
-=== Atmospheric Operations ===
+=== Flight Regimes ===
-The Viper is designed for atmospheric as well as space-based operations. However, Vipers consume more fuel during atmospheric operations than in the vacuum of space. Once in an atmosphere, the engines must run continuously to retain sufficient airflow over the wing lifting surfaces. Depending on the composition of the atmosphere itself, this can place severe strain on the Viper's engines ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]).  In addition to excessive fuel consumption in atmospheric flight, the very high wing loading (a very small wing area relative to their weight) may compromise the Viper's overall atmospheric manueoverability. Because of the smaller wings (which generate less lift) higher speeds may be needed just to stay in the air. It is probable that the fighter's reaction control thrusters may offset one or both of these problems.
-=== Life Support ===
+[[Image:Mk VII with Mk II, patrol.jpg|thumb|right|A Viper Mk. II and a Mk. VII on patrol ([[33]]).]]
-Viper cockpits are pressurised and heated, but they are flown with the pilot wearing a [[flight suit]] that provides full life support should ejection be required ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]).  A life support backpack is built into the pilot's seat itself. During an ejection, the back of the seat separates automatically, effectively becoming a backpack for the pilot using the seat's harnesses as straps ([[Act of Contrition]]).
-Should ejection take place within an atmosphere, the life support backpack also incorporates a parachute.
+The Viper is designed to operate in both space and atmospheric conditions.
-Life support systems do not include artificial gravity, inertial dampeners, or the like, so pilots are actually exposed to the effects of acceleration. To prepare for the strains this causes on the body, battlestars have a specialized [[Weight Room]].
+In space flight, the Viper is highly maneuverable, dangerously so in inexperienced hands. [[Navigation in the Re-imagined Series|Reaction control system]] (RCS) thrusters for rapid and flexible attitude control, a cluster of 3 main thrusters for high acceleration, and retractable reverse thrusters housed in both port and starboard cowlings for some degree of deceleration can subject the pilot to punishing [[w:g-force|g-forces]]. Its retractable landing struts can be magnetized to secure the Viper on metal decks and surfaces in zero gravity.
-=== Crew ===
+In atmospheric flight, Vipers consume more [[Tylium]] fuel than in the vacuum of space. Once in an atmosphere, the engines must run continuously to maintain sufficient airflow over the wing lifting surfaces. Depending on the composition of the atmosphere itself, this can place severe strain on the Viper's engines ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]). In addition to greater fuel consumption, the high wing load (i.e. small wing area relative to weight) may compromise the Viper's overall maneuverability. Because the smaller wing surfaces generate less lift, higher speeds are needed to stay aloft. The fighter's RCS thrusters might partially compensate for this.
-*Pilot in Terrell ES 24C ejection seat. <ref>Ejector seat details from David Bassom's ''[[The Official Companion|Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]''.</ref>
-==See Also==
+=== Life Support ===
+Viper cockpits are pressurized and heated, and pilots wear [[flight suit]]s which, along with a breathing pack housed within the back, provide full life support should ejection be required ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]). In atmospheric ejections, the seat jettisons automatically once clear of the Viper, exposing a parachute which is deployed at a safe altitude ([[Act of Contrition]]).
-*[[Viper Mark II]]: Detailed information on the older Mark II fighter.
+Because of the stamina required to operate Vipers, battlestars have a specialized [[weight room]] where the pilots maintain their physical conditioning.
-*[[Viper Mark VII]]: Detailed information on the newer Mark VII fighter.
-== Sources ==
-<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>
 [[Category:A to Z]]
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 [[Category:Technology (RDM)]]
 [[Category:RDM]]
+[[de:Viper (RDM)]]
+<pagesidebar>
+* See Also
+** Viper Mark II|Mark II Viper
+** Viper Mark VII|Mark VII Viper
+* Other Series
+** Viper (TOS)|Original Series Viper
+** Viper (1980)|Galactica 1980 Viper
+</pagesidebar>