Blackbird/jp:ブラックバード

The Blackbird is a short-lived, prototype Colonial stealth fighter designed by Galen Tyrol and built by many deckhands and officers on Galactica.

ブラックバード
所属	コロニアル
船種	Military
FTL航行能力	Yes
推進方法
搭乗員数	パイロット１名
総搭載可能人数
船長/艦長名	{{{co}}}
副長名	{{{xo}}}
用途・目的	Prototype stealth infiltrator
兵装	Normally unarmed; equipped with missiles once
武器リスト	{{{arm}}}
状態	Prototype destroyed
関連イメージ	イメージ
寸法
船体/機体長さ	{{{length}}}
船体/機体幅	{{{width}}}
船体/機体高さ	{{{height}}}
重量	{{{weight}}}
翼端長または全幅	{{{wingspan}}}
その他	{{{otherdi}}}

Overview

損失や消耗により飛行可能なバイパーが少なくなっていくことにフラストレーションを感じたガレン・チロルは新しい戦闘機をゼロから作り始める。戦闘機のデザインは物資不足やクルーの改造や想像力で進化していった。そして戦闘機というより偵察機に近い機体が完成した。

The Blackbird under construction.

ブラックバードはバイパー・ランチ・チューブを使用するように設計されたため、基本的な形状は同じである。バイパーと異なり機動性よりもスピードを優先して作られ武器は装備されていないが「再生船（後編）」ではミサイル・ランチャーが装備された。カール・アガソンの提案により、ブラックバードは黒色のカーボン合成物質を使用しているためDRADISや肉眼では探知されにくい。バイパーの修理に鉄を節約するためには適切な考えである。

Along with the usual RCS mechanisms for directional control, the Blackbird is powered by four obsolete DDG-62 engines that came from the flight deck of the Baah Pakal. Further, unlike other ships of its size, the Blackbird is FTL-capable.

Laura and her flight history

A close-up of the cursive on the side of the Blackbird.

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:

• Karl Agathon suggests the use of carbon composite materials for the Blackbird's skin.
• Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza
• Anastasia Dualla improves communication systems.
• Anthony Figurski
• Cally Henderson
• James "Jammer" Lyman
• Diana Seelix
• 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 ^{(TRS: "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, chooses to use Raptors for his mission despite Thrace's protests. Before his plan can be put into action Thrace, with assistance from Lee Adama, 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 destruction of Laura during the Battle of the Resurrection Ship.

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

Notes

• Since the Blackbird was designed for speed over maneuverability and possessed stealth characteristics, it is logical that an FTL drive was added for reconnaissance capability. An FTL drive might have been salvaged from a scrapped Raptor, such as Raptor 305.
• The Blackbird's ungainly handling characteristics are quite evident during Thrace's first test flight, as she spends the first several seconds out of the launch tube attempting to gain control over the craft ^{(TRS: "Flight of the Phoenix")}.
• Instability actually adds to a vehicle's maneuverability in an atmosphere; an extremely stable aircraft resists any maneuvering. Modern real-world fighters are deliberately designed to be unstable with the flight surfaces constantly adjusted by the flight control system. The Blackbird's controls might have been initially uncalibrated for the plane's configuration (e.g. center of mass), and spent more fuel maintaining a desired attitude.
• 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 Laura Roslin, the person for whom it was named. 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

• See Also
  • props:Blackbird|Blackbird at Props Wiki
  • Stealthstar|Stealthstar, a stealth craft

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