by interfacing the inertial guidance and aircraft attitude sensors, altitude and course may be automatically maintained.
The engines are twin FNX-5010-J axial compression turbofans equipped with afterburners. These were later replaced with the FNX-5011-B, commonly known as the Phoenix Mk- XI. (The FRX99 and FRX00 are equipped with the FNX-5011-C and FNX-5011-D variants, respectively). The 5011 (Mk-XI) line of engines can burn hydrogen fuel as well as standard jet fuel. When burning hydrogen fuel, it can operate as a ramjet. To select ram air mode, the pilot must slide the throttle past the MAX position to the MR position. However, below speeds of M2.0 and an altitude of 18,000 meters on Faery, it will not operate. The pilot can move the throttle freely between the MAX and MR positions — there is no stopper between the positions — but regardless of the individual lever setting the pilot must maintain a constant fifteen pounds of pressure on the throttle to hold it at the MR position. Selecting the MR mode automatically switches over the fuel system, intake configuration, and engine operation. MR mode should yield a thrust increase of 160 percent over the regular afterburners, although the exact increase will vary according to indicated air speed and altitude.
When the afterburners are engaged, once the fuel level in the feed tank drops below a certain point the afterburner shut-off valve closes and they are no longer usable. It is possible to override this by turning the V-max switch to ON, but because the fuel consumption rate is significantly higher when using afterburners, the danger of running out of fuel also increases significantly.
Switching to V-max will simultaneously cut out all engine system limiters as well as the aircraft’s G-limiter. It should not be used except in emergencies. When the auto-maneuver system is on it may also automatically engage V-max if prompted to do so by the central computer. In that situation, it is impossible to manually switch V-max off. Once the central computer confirms that the emergency has ended, it will automatically return to normal engine mode.
Engine control is executed via an integrated electronic control system based on data provided to it by the flight control computer, various sensors, and the central computer. The engine controller of the 5011 line (the Mk-XI) is programmed to realize maximum efficiency not only in the atmosphere of Faery but also in Earth’s atmosphere, with the flight control computer automatically selecting the appropriate mode.
The Sylphid’s fire control system consists of the FCR (fire control radar), IR (infrared) receivers, passive airspace radar, passive wide-area search radar, the fire control computer, navigation computer, and so on, all under the integrated command of the tactical computer, with the central computer acting as backup.
The fire control computer will automatically select the pulse Doppler FCR mode and then identify and track the target, determine target range, calculate attack vectors, select armaments, determine missile launch timing, number of missiles, guidance data for active homing missiles, and so on.
The fire control radar possesses a wide range of modes, including long-range search and detection, long-range measurement, single target tracking, multiple target tracking, short- and medium-range search and detection, ground attack, short- and medium-range single target tracking, pilotinitiated radar lock-on, and rapid lock-on.
The Super Sylph is equipped with a 20mm Vulcan nose cannon. With its high-velocity ammunition and firing control mechanisms, it can be used even at supersonic speeds.
The Super Sylph can be loaded out with air-to-air and air-to- ground missiles as well as precision guided explosive ordnance. Its main air-to-air missile armaments are the AAM- III, -IV, and -V (short-, medium-, and long-range missiles, respectively). They can function as passive or active homing missiles, or they can be guided from the aircraft. The internal AI systems will self-select guidance mode as well as optimal detonation timing. HAAM (high-velocity air-to-air missiles) armaments were later implemented to increase missile flight velocity.
The Super Sylph can also carry a variety of mission-specific tactical data collection pods, such as a TARPS (tactical aerial reconnaissance pod system). The TARPS has electronic intelligence data collection capabilities and mounts a variety of cameras but possesses no AI system of its own. If the plane’s central computer judges the data collected by the TARPS to be especially vital, it will be added to its data file.
The Super Sylph possesses an advanced wireless digital data link function, allowing the plane’s central computer to maintain direct, secure communications with the base tactical control computers via the tactical data line.
Details of engine performance, avionics instrumentation, and exact airframe dimensions have not been publicly released on Earth. The figures below represent estimated performance in Earth-standard gravity.
FNX-5011-B
Dry Weight
2,425 lb (1.1 t)
Maximum Thrust
21,605 lbf (9.8 t) military power
31,967 lbf (14.5 t) full afterburner
49,604 lbf (22.5 t) MB power
FFR31-MR
Length
64 ft 11 in (19.8 m)
Wingspan
44 ft 3 in (13.5 m)
Height
20 ft 4 in (6.2 m)
Empty Weight
26,015 lb (11.8 t)
Loaded Weight
54,010 lb (24.5 t)
Maximum Takeoff Weight
83,775 lb (38.0 t)
From “Appendix – Mainline Fighter Craft of the FAF” in
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