A question on Fission powered fixed wing support craft.

[Primus203]

The question is can these go into space like aerospace fighters.

[AlphaMirage]

No, support/conventional aircraft can only reach the lowest High Altitude level if jet powered. Likely it requires the air to generate thrust (via a ramjet or similar) rather than carrying sufficient remass to generate it like Aerospace fighters do

[cray]

If fission units could operate in space, they'd get a lot less fuel points per ton than fusion spacecraft. I think that might show up in the satellite rules.

[glitterboy2098]

Yep, basically why we also don't see ICE spacecraft to reflect chemical rocketry. Instead of thrust points per ton, you'd be looking at tons per thrustpoint.

[idea weenie]

Yep, basically why we also don't see ICE spacecraft to reflect chemical rocketry. Instead of thrust points per ton, you'd be looking at tons per thrustpoint.

And you'd likely have to recalculate the thrust rating after you burn every thrust point due to the sheer tonnage of fuel being used?  I.e. a 3/5 vessel has burned 25 tons of fuel, so that means it is now 4/6.

[cray]

And you'd likely have to recalculate the thrust rating after you burn every thrust point due to the sheer tonnage of fuel being used?  I.e. a 3/5 vessel has burned 25 tons of fuel, so that means it is now 4/6.

That's how I made my home rule chemical and fission fighter rules.

[RifleMech]

Does that happen for any other unit in BT?

[CloaknDagger]

The question is can these go into space like aerospace fighters.

Yes, actually.

If you look at Tac Ops rules for vacuum, conventional vehicles and support vehicles can operate in vacuum when they have environmental sealing and nuclear engines or batteries, and in the case of fliers, VSTOL equipment that they use to hover around.

It's an obscure rule, but a way to get around the regular restrictions. The trick is that non-ASF aren't really made to do re-entry, so you're effectively reliant on dropships and small craft to move your units back to a habitable planet afterward.

As for unlimited range in-atmosphere fighters, the rules allow propellers on fixed-wing support vehicles. Though I agree there should be something like a Project Pluto where a reactor itself uses the air as propellant.

[cray]

The altitude limit on conventional fighters and support vehicles generally hinders their ability to get into space regardless of propulsion.

[CloaknDagger]

The altitude limit on conventional fighters and support vehicles generally hinders their ability to get into space regardless of propulsion.

They work in vacuum, so you'd have to pretend there's a magical forcefield preventing them from flying away in that case. VSTOL equipment and environmental sealing already gives them the maneuverability they need to move without air.

[Daryk]

You have to be at least 3/5 to get out of the atmosphere.