Blackbird

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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}}}
Defenses:	{{{def}}}
Aircraft:	{{{aircraft}}}
Aviation facilities:	{{{facilities}}}
Fate:	Prototype destroyed
Emblem:	[[Image:{{{patch}}}|175px|Ship's patch]]
Other Images:	Gallery
Dimensions
Length:	{{{length}}}
Width:	{{{width}}}
Height:	{{{height}}}
Weight:	{{{weight}}}
Wingspan:	{{{wingspan}}}
Other:	{{{otherdi}}}
Game Information
Cost:	{{{construction}}}
Construction Time:	{{{construction}}}
Hull Size:	{{{hull size}}}
Hull:	{{{hull}}}
Mobility
FTL Cooldown:	{{{ftl cooldown}}} turns
Speed:	{{{speed}}} m/s
Turn Rate:	{{{turn rate}}}°/turn
Armor Sum
Armor Total:	{{{armor total}}}
Armor Left:	{{{armor left}}}
Armor Right:	{{{armor right}}}
Armor Front:	{{{armor front}}}
Armor Rear:	{{{armor rear}}}
Armor Top:	{{{armor top}}}
Armor Bottom:	{{{armor bottom}}}
Armament
DRADIS Range:	{{{dradis range}}} m
Processing Power:	{{{processing power}}}
Munition Slots:	{{{munitions}}}
Munition Cooldown Period:	{{{munition cooldown}}} turns
Squadron Slots:	{{{squadrons}}}
Squadron Size:	{{{squadron size}}}
Special Abilities:	{{{special abilities}}}
Additional Information

The Blackbird is a prototype Colonial stealth fighter craft constructed by Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol, his deck crews, and other members of Galactica. This craft was meant to supplement the Viper, given the issues in maintaining the remaining craft aboard the battlestar. Chief Tyrol had originally intended just to build a standard Viper but ended up building a ship that was of more value to Galactica than another Viper.

Design and Technology

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 is not equipped with any guns but is equipped with a missile launcher in "Resurrection Ship, Part II".

It does not use metal for its skin since this metal was reserved for Viper repairs. Instead, 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. This would compromise its 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

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 CPO 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 William 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 the Galactica's systems (Flight of the Phoenix).

When commisioning a reconnaissance on the Cylon Fleet (containing a mysterious ship) Pegasus's CAG Cole Taylor knows of the Blackbird choses to use Raptors for his mission despite Thrace's protests. Before this dangerous plan can be put into fruition Starbuck, with assistance from Lee, 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 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 seriously damages the Blackbird, requiring him to eject. While Adama is later rescued, it is likely that the Laura is destroyed (Resurrection Ship, Part II).

Notes

• Since the Blackbird was designed for stealth, not manuverability, it was logical that an FTL drive was added for advanced reconnaissance. The unused FTL drive perhaps came from a Raptor that was scrapped for parts in "Fragged".
• 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 attempted to do as she christened 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 structually weak, but highly agile and initially underestimated stealth fighter. Like President Roslin (the only known surviving official of the pre-holocaust Colonial government), the Blackbird is a unique commodity.
• The Blackbird is most likely named after the SR-71 Blackbird, an actual highspeed 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.