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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-==[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Viper]]==
+{{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]].}}
-=== Overview ===
+__NOTOC__
+[[File:Viper Mk VII retcon and Mk II.jpg|thumb|Two Vipers circa {{ACH|3}} on patrol {{TRS|Maelstrom}}.]]
-[[Image:Bsg-viper-1.jpg|thumb|Viper Mk II (credit: Gabriel C. Koerner)]]
+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 Defence Force's primary space superiority fighter / attack craft. Capable of atmospheric flight, the Viper is a single-seat craft mounting two kinetic energy weapons ([[KEW]]s), as well as having hardpoints beneath the wings for mounting missiles, munitions pods and other ordnance ([[The Hand of God]]).
-The Viper was originally introduced into Colonial service shortly before the outbreak of the [[Cylon War]]. However, it was the Mark II variant, designed specifically for use with the new Colonial [[Battlestar]]s that is best remembered.
-The Mark II served with distinction throughout the Cylon War, proving a capable fighting vehicle that won renown across the 12 colonies and is regarded as one of the reasons the Colonials did not suffer defeat at the hands of the Cylons.
-The Mark II remained in service after the end of the war, but was subsequently superceded by newer models. At the time of the renewed Cylon attack on the 12 Colonies, the Mark VII was the front-line variant of the Viper design, retaining the Mark II general layout but using fully networked systems providing superior battle management and fight information for the pilot.
-Ironically, it was the incorporation of the new integrated systems that prevented the majority of Mark VIIs from being effective during the Cylon attack: as with the majority of Colonial Fleet, the Mark VII suffered fatal computer glitches on contact with Cylon forces. Thanks to Six's relationship with Baltar, the navigational software in standard use onboard the majority of Colonial Fleet vessels had backdoors that allowed the Cylons to infiltrate a vessel's network by wireless signals and disable its power systems. While the problem could be overcome by removing the navigational upgrade comprimised by the Cylons, this information was not discovered in time to be of major benefit to the surprised and hard-pressed Colonial forces. Galactica herself never had the upgrade installed, on the order of Commander Adama ([[Mini-Series]]). Since Galactica's systems are not networked, it is unclear as to what affect if any the comprimised navigational system would have had on her.
+== 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.
-==== Atmospheric Operations ====
+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}}.
-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 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]]).
-Due to their wing configuration, Vipers may also suffer from poor handling at low speeds within an atmosphere.
+{{clear}}
-==== Life Support ====
+== Cylon War ==
-Viper cockpits are pressurised and heated, but they are flown with the pilot wearing a flight suit that is capable of providing full life support should ejection be required ([[You Can't Go Home Again]]). The life support systems  are built-in to the back of the pilot's seat itself, together with the flight harness. Following an ejection, the back of the seat separates automatically, effectively becoming a backpack for the pilot ([[Act of Contrition]]).
+[[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}}.
-Should ejection take place within an atmosphere, the life support backpack / seat back also incorporates a parachute.
+{{clear}}
-=== Technical Specifications ===
+== Post-Cylon War ==
+[[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}}.
-[[Image:Bsg-viper7-1.jpg|thumb|Viper MkVII (credit: Sci-Fi Channel)]]
+{{clear}}
-==== Dimensions ====
+== Flight Regimes ==
-<b>Mark II</b>
+The Viper is designed to operate in both space and atmospheric conditions.
-*Length: (approx) 25ft
-*Wingspan: (approx) 12ft
-<b>Mark VII</b>
+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.
-*Length: (approx) 28ft
-*Wingspan: (approx)  14ft
+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.
-==== Propulsion ====
+=== Life Support ===
-*<b>Both:</b> 3x sublight engines mounted aft; 2x reverse thrust motors; [[RCS]] points
+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]]").
-*<b>Mark VII:</b> Angular exhaust nozzle design suggest possible thrust-vectoring.
-==== Armaments ====
+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}}
-*<b>Mark II:</b> 2x forward-firing kenetic energy weapons ([[KEW]]) mounted in the wing roots
-*<b>Mark VII:</b> 3x forward-firing kenetic energy weapons (KEW); 2 mounted towards the outboard sections of the wings; 1 mounted in the vertical stabiliser
-*<b>Both:</b> Weapon hardpoints for mounting missiles / munitions pods, etc. under the wings
-==== Instruments ====
+Because of the stamina required to operate Vipers, battlestars have a specialized [[weight room]] where the pilots maintain their physical condition.
-*<b>Mark II:</b> [[Radio Magnetic Indicator]]
-*<b>Mark II:</b> [[Torque Percent Gauge]]
-*<b>Mark II:</b> [[Attitude Indicator]]
-*<b>Mark II:</b> [[Altimeter]]
-==== Crew ====
-*Pilot
-==== Notes ====
-Since the Galactica only had 20 Viper Mark II's aboard, they needed as many fighters as possible, thus the remaining Mark VII's were refitted and stripped of their advanced computer systems. However, since this is not how the Mark VII was designed, it makes the craft increasingly difficult to handle and can only be flown by the most experienced pilots ([[Apollo]]).
-=== Layout ===
-The Viper is a long, sleek vehicle that can be spilt into two parts, fore and aft.
-*Fore section: comprises the nose back to the cockpit. This contains the forward RCS systems for manoeuvring the craft; the forward landing gear; the main avionics and sensor packages, plus the single-seat cockpit itself
-*Stern section: comprises the main engines, fuel tanks, wings and vertial stabiliser. The wings themselves contain the kinetic energy weapons ("guns") and their munitions storage and feeds. Harpoints beneath the wings allow missiles, munitions pods and other items to be rack-mounted ([[The Hand of God]]). The wings roots contain the main landing gear. This section of a Viper also contains a number of RCS manoeuvring packs.
-The stern section of a Viper is distinctive because of the offset "intakes" mounted just behind the cockpit. The port / starboard "intake" nacelles incorporate small but powerful reverse thrust engines that can quickly counter a Viper's forward momentum in an emergency ([[The Hand of God]]).
-==[[TOS Battlestar Galactica|Original Series Viper]]==
-[[Image:bsg-viper-tos.jpg|thumb|Starhound Viper (credit: Universal / ABC)]]
-The Colonial Starhound Viper was the primary space superiority fighter / attack craft deployed by the Colonials. Capable of atmospheric flight, it was a single-seat craft mounting two laser-torpedo guns as standard, as well as having hardpoints for mounting missiles.
-The Viper was originally introduced into Colonial service during the 1,000 yahren war with the Cylons, and was a far superior craft to the [[Cylon Raider#Original Series Raider|Cylon Raider]].
-Propulsion was said to be provided by a hybrid tylium / fusion reactor powering three ion engines with a "turbo-boost" facility for very rapid acceleration. For atmospheric flight, the engines are additionally supplied with atmospheric gases as combustibles to conserve on-board fuel supplies. The viper cockpit is fully pressurised, and in the event of catastrophic system damage, the entire module can detach and eject away from the damaged Viper.
-==== Dimensions ====
-*Length: (approx) 8.7m
-*Wingspan: (approx) 3.8m
-==== Propulsion ====
-*3x ion engines mounted aft
-==== Aramaments ====
-*2 x forward-firing laser-torpedo guns
-*4 x two-hundred kiloton Solonite missiles
-*2 x thirty megaton Solonite bombs
-====Crew====
-* Pilot
-===Layout===
-[[Image:tos-viper-cut.jpg|thumb|Starhound Viper Cutaway (credit: Mike McAdams)]]
-The Viper is a long, sleek vehicle that can be spilt into two parts, fore and aft.
-* Fore section: comprises the nose back to the cockpit. This contains the targeting dish and sensor array, the forward landing gear; the main avionics and sensor packages, plus the cockpit module
-* Stern section: comprises the main engines, reactor systems, turbo-boost injection systems, fuel tanks, wings and vertial stabiliser. The wings themselves contain the laser-torpedo guns and their power packs. Harpoints beneath the wings allow missiles, munitions pods and other items to be rack-mounted.
---[[User:Ernestborg9|Colonial Archivist]] 20:07, 1 Feb 2005 (EST)
-==Video Game Variants==
-Within the [[Video Game]], three variants of Viper are available: the Mark I, which is designed to be an earlier version of the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|original series]] Viper; the Mark II, which is largely based on the original series Viper, and the Mark III, which is described as "superior to the Mark II in every respect".
 [[Category:A to Z]]
+[[Category:Colonial]]
 [[Category:Colonial Craft]]
-[[Category:Colonial Craft (TOS)]]
+[[Category:Colonial Craft (RDM)]]
 [[Category:Colonial Military]]
-[[Category:Colonial Military (TOS)]]
+[[Category:Colonial Military (RDM)]]
+[[Category:Ships]]
+[[Category:Ships (RDM)]]
+[[Category:Technology]]
+[[Category:Technology (RDM)]]
 [[Category:RDM]]
-[[Category:TOS]]
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+[[de:Viper (RDM)]]
+{{#related:Viper Mark II}}
+{{#related:Viper Mark VII}}
+{{#related:Viper (TOS)}}
+{{#related:Viper (1980)}}