Viper (TRS): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:59, 18 February 2024

The Viper is the primary attack/interceptor vehicle in use on the Twelve Colonies with a wide range of both atmospheric and space capable craft dating back to before the First Cylon War.

Pre-Cylon War

See also Air Force Viper and Vintage Viper

The history of the Viper can be traced back to before the Cylon war, where propeller powered, and later, jet engine powered Vipers were utilized by colony based air force organizations, prior to the unification of the Colonies.

Digital representations of these early Vipers are popular with holoband users, available for flight simulations in the virtual world ^{(CAP: "The Imperfections of Memory")}. Earlier Vipers are also appear in the popular hacked environment, New Cap City ^{(CAP: "There is Another Sky", "The Imperfections of Memory" and "Ghosts in the Machine")}.

Cylon War

After the outbreak of the Cylon War, and the unification of the Colonies, the Viper Mk. II became the colony-wide service plane of choice, serving with distinction throughout that conflict. By the end of the war, the Mk. II was being phased out in favor of the Mk. III, however the Mk. II still continued to see action, even up until the Armistice. The Mk. II is later chosen for preservation in the Battlestar Galactica Cylon War Museum, following its decommissioning nearly 40 years since the end of hostilities ^{(TRS: "Miniseries")}.

Post-Cylon War

By the time of the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, the Viper Mark VII has taken up the mantle of the Mark II. However, due to its advanced construction and computer system, the standard Mark VII is vulnerable to the Cylon computer virus. Most of these are destroyed by the Cylons, who break in, and shut the Viper's computers off. A few remain with the fleeing Colonials, only after having their computer systems purged of the offending software ^{(TRS: "Miniseries")}.

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 ^{(TRS: "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 (TRS: "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 (TRS: "Act of Contrition", "Razor").

Viper cockpits are also hardened against radiation, including a canopy made of a radiation-resistant glass and is capable of protecting a pilot against radiation levels that would kill a healthy human in 30 seconds ^{(TRS: "Blood and Chrome")}

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

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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)]].''
+{{disline|This is an overview page for all Viper fighter craft. For detailed information on ''de facto'' variants, see: [[Viper Mark II]] and [[Viper Mark VII]].}}
+__NOTOC__
+[[File:Viper Mk VII retcon and Mk II.jpg|thumb|Two Vipers circa {{ACH|3}} on patrol {{TRS|Maelstrom}}.]]
+The '''Viper''' is the primary attack/interceptor vehicle in use on the [[Twelve Colonies of Kobol|Twelve Colonies]] with a wide range of both atmospheric and space capable craft dating back to before the [[First Cylon War]].
-The '''Viper''' is the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]]'s primary space superiority fighter / attack craft.
+== Pre-Cylon War ==
+::''See also [[Air Force Viper]] and [[Vintage Viper]]''
+[[File:Vintage Viper.jpg|thumb|left|Early Vipers fly in formation.]]
+The history of the Viper can be traced back to before the Cylon war, where propeller powered, and later, jet engine powered Vipers were utilized by colony based air force organizations, prior to the unification of the Colonies.
-[[Image:Bsg-viper-1.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The Mark II Viper.]]
+Digital representations of these early Vipers are popular with [[holoband]] users, available for flight simulations in the [[virtual world]] {{CAP|The Imperfections of Memory}}. Earlier Vipers are also appear in the popular hacked environment, [[New Cap City]] {{CAP|There is Another Sky|The Imperfections of Memory|Ghosts in the Machine}}.
-[[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 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.
+{{clear}}
-<div style="clear: both;"></div>
-=== Atmospheric Operations ===
-[[Image:Mk VII with Mk II, patrol.jpg|thumb|right|A Viper Mk. II and a Mk. VII on patrol ([[33]]).]]
+== Cylon War ==
+[[Image: Viper Mk II atmospheric flight.jpg|thumb|left|A Viper Mark II in atmospheric flight.]]
+After the outbreak of the Cylon War, and the unification of the Colonies, the [[Viper Mark II|Viper Mk. II]] became the colony-wide service plane of choice, serving with distinction throughout that conflict. By the end of the war, the Mk. II was being phased out in favor of the [[Viper Mark III|Mk. III]], however the Mk. II still continued to see action, even up until the [[Cimtar Peace Accord|Armistice]]. The Mk. II is later chosen for preservation in the Battlestar Galactica Cylon War Museum, following its decommissioning nearly 40 years since the end of hostilities {{TRS|Miniseries}}.
-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 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 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.
+{{clear}}
-=== Life Support ===
+== Post-Cylon War ==
-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]]).
+[[Image:Mk VII with Mk II, patrol.jpg|thumb|right|A Viper Mk. II and a Mk. VII on patrol {{TRS|33}}.]]
+By the time of the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies]], the [[Viper Mark VII]] has taken up the mantle of the Mark II. However, due to its advanced construction and [[Computers in the Re-imagined Series|computer system]], the standard Mark VII is vulnerable to the [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]] [[Cylon computer virus|computer virus]]. Most of these are destroyed by the Cylons, who break in, and shut the Viper's computers off. A few remain with the fleeing Colonials, only after having their computer systems purged of the offending software {{TRS|Miniseries}}.
-Should ejection take place within an atmosphere, the life support backpack also incorporates a parachute.
+{{clear}}
-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]].
+== Flight Regimes ==
+The Viper is designed to operate in both space and atmospheric conditions.
-=== Crew ===
+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.
-*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==
+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 {{TRS|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.
-*[[Viper Mark II]]: Detailed information on the older Mark II fighter.
+=== Life Support ===
-*[[Viper Mark VII]]: Detailed information on the newer Mark VII fighter.
+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 ([[TRS]]: "[[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 ([[TRS]]: "[[Act of Contrition]]", "[[Razor#William Adama|Razor]]").
+Viper cockpits are also hardened against radiation, including a canopy made of a radiation-resistant glass and is capable of protecting a pilot against radiation levels that would kill a healthy human in 30 seconds {{TRS|Blood and Chrome}}
+Because of the stamina required to operate Vipers, battlestars have a specialized [[weight room]] where the pilots maintain their physical condition.
-== Sources ==
-<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>
-== External links ==
-* [[Wikipedia:Colonial Viper|Viper]] at Wikipedia.
 [[Category:A to Z]]
 [[Category:Colonial]]
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 [[de:Viper (RDM)]]
+{{#related:Viper Mark II}}
+{{#related:Viper Mark VII}}
+{{#related:Viper (TOS)}}
+{{#related:Viper (1980)}}