Blackbird

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The Blackbird is a prototype Colonial stealth fighter craft constructed by Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol, his deck crews, and other members of Galactica.

Blackbird
Race	Colonial
Type	Military
FTL	Yes
Propulsion
Crew	1 pilot
Capacity
CO	{{{co}}}
XO	{{{xo}}}
Role	Prototype stealth infiltrator
Weapons	Normally unarmed; equipped with missiles once
Armaments	{{{arm}}}
Status	Prototype destroyed
Other Images	More images...
Dimensions
Length	{{{length}}}
Width	{{{width}}}
Height	{{{height}}}
Weight	{{{weight}}}
Wingspan	{{{wingspan}}}
Other	{{{otherdi}}}

Contents 1 Overview 2 Laura and her Flight History 3 Notes 4 Sources

Overview

Originally, Chief Tyrol had intended merely to re-build a standard Viper but ended up constructing a ship of more value to Galactica than another Viper.

The Blackbird is designed to use the Viper launch tubes, and therefore shares the same general shape. It is built more for speed than for maneuverability. The Blackbird does not carry any guns^[1] but is equipped with a missile launcher in "Resurrection Ship, Part II". It does not have a metal skin since this metal is reserved for Viper repairs. Rather, on Karl Agathon's suggestion, the Blackbird uses a carbon composite material which makes it largely invisible to DRADIS scanning.

Along with the usual RCS mechanisms for directional control, the Blackbird is powered by four obsolete DDG-62 engines (designed by Peter Laird, a civilian aeronautical engineer) that came from the flight deck of a Colonial fleet ship named Baah Pakal. One must speculate that since a typical Viper's engines are vulnerable to heat-seeking missiles (Miniseries), these must be as well. Additionally, such engines would compromise the Blackbird's stealth features during powered flight. (This is less of a disadvantage in space than in atmospheric flight; a spacecraft's inertia is not disrupted by gravity, friction, and other factors an atmospheric-bound craft would be, and thus can fly straight almost indefinitely without firing its engines while in empty space.)

The Blackbird is FTL-capable, but is not equipped with a Colonial transponder, either for stealth purposes or due to supply shortages.

Laura and her Flight History

The first prototype is dubbed "Laura" in honor of President Laura Roslin. Kara Thrace pilots the maiden test flight, where, after some initial difficulties with handling the ungainly craft, she handily eludes her escort, Lee Adama.

The following individuals aid Galen Tyrol in Laura's construction:

• Anastasia Dualla improves communication systems.
• Anthony Figurski
• Cally Henderson
• James "Jammer" Lyman
• Diana Seelix
• Karl Agathon suggests the use of carbon composite materials for the Blackbird's skin.
• Saul Tigh offers the DDG-62 engines.
• Kara Thrace aids in a few design principles and tests the craft.

Colonel Tigh originally denounces the project as frivolous, but later provides assistance in procuring the DDG-62 engines. Others among Tyrol's own deck crew also at first consider the project a waste of time, as noted through their initial reactions to Tyrol's proposal. However, Commander Adama believes that the endeavor offers hope and purpose, and therefore permits it to continue despite the crisis with the Cylon logic bomb that has infected Galactica's systems (Flight of the Phoenix).

When commissioning a reconnaissance on the Cylon fleet (containing a mysterious ship) Pegasus's CAG Cole Taylor, although knowing of the Blackbird, choses to use Raptors for his mission despite Thrace's protests. Before his plan can be put into action Starbuck, with assistance from Apollo, absconds with the Blackbird, claiming she is running a test flight for Admiral Cain. In reality, she undertakes the mission single-handedly without being detected, taking several close-range pictures.

The sudden, unexpected return of this Colonial transponderless craft causes it to be mistaken for a Cylon craft, bringing an end to the standoff between Galactica and Pegasus. Starbuck transmits the images, and appeals over the comm that she is not a Cylon vessel. From discussing these photos with Gina, Gaius Baltar eventually details the name and purpose of the Resurrection Ship (Resurrection Ship, Part I).

Laura is later piloted by then-Lieutenant Lee Adama in the battle to disable the Resurrection Ship's FTL drive, preventing her escape so that Vipers can destroy it. While Adama is successful, a collision with a disabled Raptor destroys the Blackbird and Adama is forced to eject (Resurrection Ship, Part II).

Notes

• Since the Blackbird was designed for stealth, not maneuverability, it is logical that an FTL drive was added for advanced reconnaissance. The unused FTL drive might have come from a Raptor that was scrapped for parts, such as Raptor 305.
• The Blackbird's ungainly handling characteristics are quite evident during Starbuck's first test flight, as she spends the first several seconds out of the launch tube attempting to gain control over the craft (Flight of the Phoenix).
• Carbon composites are a family of materials used in lightweight or high-temperature-resistant construction, of which a type is used in the nose and leading edges of the wings of NASA's Space Shuttle Orbiter. Carbon composites are somewhat fragile, so impacts (even one from a champagne bottle, which Laura Roslin jokingly attempts to do as she christens the ship) may cause the material to splinter or break. It was damage to this material that caused the destruction of Space Shuttle Columbia on STS-107.
• Executive Producer David Eick stated in his video blog that the Blackbird is "not a Viper", so it is not classed as a modified Viper model ("Viper Mark VIII", etc), but is an entirely distinct craft.
• The fighter's nickname creates a curious comparison with her namesake, Laura Roslin. The ailing but influential President Roslin and her rapid, secretive actions in her quest for Earth's location (including diverting Lt. Thrace from her original mission to destroy the Kobol basestar) as well as her savvy political work in "Colonial Day", are humorously similar in perspective to the abilities of "Laura", a structurally weak, but highly agile and initially underestimated stealth fighter.
• From a behind-the-scenes perspective, the Blackbird is most likely named after the SR-71 Blackbird, an actual high-speed reconnaissance aircraft. The SR-71 not only shares the principle but also many design features. These include the engines pointing forward from the wings and also the swept long nose smoothing out on the sides.

Sources