Very Light Jet

[Cavgunner]

Something like this has probably been posted already, but here is my take.

Very Light Jet (VLJ)

Mass: 10 tons
Frame: Various
Power Plant: Civilian ICE turbine
Armor: BAR 5
Armament: None
Manufacturer: Various
     Primary Factory: Various
Communication System: Various
Targeting & Tracking System: Various
Introduction Year: Age of War or earlier
Tech Rating/Availability: D/E-D-D-D
Cost: 32,370 C-bills

Overview
Very Light Jets (VLJs), also known as personal jets or microjets, are a broad classification of small business aircraft used for private civilian transportation. Typically weighing in at 10 tons or less, their size and relatively low cost of operation makes them popular with corporations and wealthy individuals. They are also sometimes used as air taxis, but their small capacity (4-8 passengers) limits their commercial viability.

As a civilian aircraft, performance is modest. The use of a jet turbine allows the aircraft to attain sufficient speed and altitude to quickly reach regional destinations.

Code: [Select]

Type: Very Light Jet
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Tonnage: 10
Battle Value: 26

Equipment                                          Mass
Engine                         ICE                    3
Safe Thrust: 4
Max Thrust:  6
Structural Integrity:         4                       
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Fuel:                         225                   4.5
Cockpit                                               1
Armor Factor (BAR 5)          14                    0.5

                           Armor   
                           Value   
     Nose                    5     
     Wings                  3/3   
     Aft                     3     


Weapons
and Ammo (none)

Notes: Complement consists of a pilot, copilot, and 6 passengers. Accommodates .5 tons of cargo.

[Cavgunner]

Here is an even smaller Very Light Jet.

Personal MicroJet

Mass: 4.5 tons
Frame: Unknown
Power Plant:  ICE
Armor: BAR 2
Armament: None
Manufacturer: Various
     Primary Factory: Various
Communication System: Various
Targeting & Tracking System: Various
Introduction Year: 2900
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-E-D-D
Cost: 7,698 C-bills

Code: [Select]

Type: Personal MicroJet
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Tonnage: 4.5
Battle Value: 12

Equipment                                          Mass
Engine                         ICE                0.675
Safe Thrust: 4
Max Thrust:  6
Structural Integrity:         4                       
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Fuel:                         200                 3.0
Cockpit                                             0.5
Armor Factor (BAR 2)          8                   0.104

                           Armor   
                           Value   
     Nose                    2     
     Wings                  2/2   
     Aft                     2     


Weapons
and Ammo                           Location   Tonnage  Heat   SRV  MRV  LRV  ERV
SV Chassis Mod [Ultra-Light]         BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 

Carrying Capacity 
Cargo Space (1 door) - 0.166 tons 

Notes: 1 pilot, 4 passengers


[idea weenie]

I wonder what a fusion-powered VLJ would be like.  The limit would be the pilot food and water supply, rather than the jet's fuel supply.  Plus the owner's wallet.

It also means wherever you go you have a convenient source of power for whatever you want to do.

[Cavgunner]

Ackchyually... fusion powered aircraft, including support aircraft, still require fuel. With one exception.

At tech level D the 10-ton VLJ saves 1 ton switching to a fusion plant. In my opinion this is probably best used to increase the passenger capacity from 6 to 13 and cargo from .5 tons to 1.0 tons, making it an elite charter jet. Alternatively, you could forget all those changes and just upgrade the thrust rating to 5/8 (cost 54,870). Are these options worth the increase in cost? Eh, maybe.

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Very Light Jet (Fusion Charter)

Mass: 10 tons
Frame: Unknown
Power Plant:  Fusion
Armor: BAR 5
Armament:
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 2900
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-E-D-D
Cost: 40,710 C-bills

Type: Very Light Jet (Fusion Charter)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Tonnage: 10
Battle Value: 26

Equipment                                          Mass
Engine                         Fusion                 3
Safe Thrust: 4
Max Thrust:  6
Structural Integrity:         4                       
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Fuel:                         225                   4.5
Cockpit                                               1
Armor Factor (BAR 5)          14                    0.5

                           Armor   
                           Value   
     Nose                    5     
     Wings                  3/3   
     Aft                     3     


Weapons
and Ammo              Location   Tonnage  Heat   SRV  MRV  LRV  ERV

Notes: 2 crew, 13 passengers, 1.0 tons of cargo
The Personal Microjet can increase thrust to 5/8 and adds space for one more passenger. After all, the point is to be fast and flashy...

Code: [Select]

Personal Microjet (Fusion)

Mass: 4.5 tons
Frame: Unknown
Power Plant:  Fusion
Armor: BAR 2
Armament:
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 2900
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-E-D-D
Cost: 9,340 C-bills

Type: Personal Microjet (Fusion)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Tonnage: 4.5
Battle Value: 14

Equipment                                          Mass
Engine                         Fusion                 1
Safe Thrust: 5
Max Thrust:  8
Structural Integrity:         5                       
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Fuel:                         205                 3.075
Cockpit                                             0.5
Armor Factor (BAR 2)          8                   0.104

                           Armor   
                           Value   
     Nose                    2     
     Wings                  2/2   
     Aft                     2     


Weapons
and Ammo              Location   Tonnage  Heat   SRV  MRV  LRV  ERV
SV Chassis [Ultra-Light] BOD       0.0     -      -    -    -    - 

Notes: 1 crew, 5 passengers, .241 tons of cargo
If you change to a fusion plant *and* use a propeller-driven chassis, that is when you no longer need fuel on a support aircraft. However, serious constraints are placed on maximum altitude and maximum speed even when compared to other atmospheric craft, especially at the aircraft's ceiling. That being said, having unlimited range is a HUGE deal. With the right chassis mods you could make an Alaskan bush plane with unlimited range that can also land and take off from anywhere- although it would be a tad on the pricey side.

Code: [Select]

Puddle Jumper

Mass: 10 tons
Frame: Unknown
Power Plant:  Fusion
Armor: BAR 5
Armament:
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 2900
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-E-D-D
Cost: 65,085 C-bills

Type: Puddle Jumper
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Tonnage: 10
Battle Value: 26

Equipment                                          Mass
Engine                         Fusion                 3
Safe Thrust: 4
Max Thrust:  6
Structural Integrity:         4                       
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Fuel:                         0                     0.0
Cockpit                                               1
Armor Factor (BAR 5)          14                    0.5

                           Armor   
                           Value   
     Nose                    5     
     Wings                  3/3   
     Aft                     3     


Weapons
and Ammo                          Location   Tonnage  Heat   SRV  MRV  LRV  ERV
SV Chassis Mod [Amphibious]         BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 
SV Chassis Mod [VSTOL]              BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 
SV Chassis Mod [Prop-driven]        BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 

Notes: 2 crew, 13 passengers, 2 tons cargo.




[Daryk]

The puddle jumper is totally worth the trade offs in my book! :)