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Description
A F33 Oriole is refueled over the Cascade Mountains.
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The Maydock Aerospace F33 Oriole is a stealthy, 5th generation, multi-role fighter. During the 90s, the Raehill republic began a program of downsizing their military forces after the end of the cold war with Strojia. New strategic and political reforms suggested a more professional military reliant on high technology and precise use of force to win and deter conflicts. The draft was abolished, the size of Raehill's navy was reduced and international parternships were deepened. As for the Raehillaean airforces, their strategy was to merge as many types and capabilities into one airframe, the reduce operating costs.

Unfortantely for Maydock, that goal was easier said, than done. Numerous design compromises had to be made to replace various roles. For the Oriole to be stealthy, it had to carry weaponry internally. Also the aircraft had to act as an interceptor, ECM and advanced trainer, so a second seat was added. This made the aircraft size larger overall, increasing weight and complexity.

The stealthly design allowed the aircraft to have less drag. This would have translated into better maneuverability, if it had extra power. Again, a single engine was determined to be more cost, effective. Which again, would have be effective, if the powerplant was not clean sheet design. Though the Reyes-Motola P100 Delta turbofan could generate 28,000 lbs of thrusts, it was new technology and prone to failure. Extensive testing and redesign was needed and this increased costs.

This and other teething issues, drew the ire of Raehillean law makers, but the military stood by the project. Flight testing and training exercises demonstrated that the Oriole could eliminate threats while vastly outnumbered and while in hostile airspace.
Ultimately, the project's final compromise allowed the F33 to escape budget cuts- some versions of the Oriole were 'knockdown' with less sensitive technology. This allowed the type to be exported to allies, recouping development costs.

Dimensions
Length: 62.22 ft.
Span: 36.8 ft.
Height: 12.2 ft.

Weights
Empty: 43,340lbs
Loaded: 64,840lbs
Performance
Max Speed: Mach 1.7
Range: 1,100 miles on internal fuel.
Powerplant
1 x Reyes-Motola P100 Delta turbofan. 28,000 lb dry thrust with 44,385 lb with afterburner.

Armament
1 x 25 mm cannon in gun pod configuration.
4 external hardpoints. 6 internal hardpoints in fuselage.
--

All the usual tools here. Aircraft and background were made in Blender. Aircraft textured mostly in Substance Painter. Everything rendered Cycles and post work was in gimp mostly.

Description
A F33 Oriole is refueled over the Cascade Mountains.
--

The Maydock Aerospace F33 Oriole is a stealthy, 5th generation, multi-role fighter. During the 90s, the Raehill republic began a program of downsizing their military forces after the end of the cold war with Strojia. New strategic and political reforms suggested a more professional military reliant on high technology and precise use of force to win and deter conflicts. The draft was abolished, the size of Raehill's navy was reduced and international parternships were deepened. As for the Raehillaean airforces, their strategy was to merge as many types and capabilities into one airframe, the reduce operating costs.

Unfortantely for Maydock, that goal was easier said, than done. Numerous design compromises had to be made to replace various roles. For the Oriole to be stealthy, it had to carry weaponry internally. Also the aircraft had to act as an interceptor, ECM and advanced trainer, so a second seat was added. This made the aircraft size larger overall, increasing weight and complexity.

The stealthly design allowed the aircraft to have less drag. This would have translated into better maneuverability, if it had extra power. Again, a single engine was determined to be more cost, effective. Which again, would have be effective, if the powerplant was not clean sheet design. Though the Reyes-Motola P100 Delta turbofan could generate 28,000 lbs of thrusts, it was new technology and prone to failure. Extensive testing and redesign was needed and this increased costs.

This and other teething issues, drew the ire of Raehillean law makers, but the military stood by the project. Flight testing and training exercises demonstrated that the Oriole could eliminate threats while vastly outnumbered and while in hostile airspace.
Ultimately, the project's final compromise allowed the F33 to escape budget cuts- some versions of the Oriole were 'knockdown' with less sensitive technology. This allowed the type to be exported to allies, recouping development costs.

Dimensions
Length: 62.22 ft.
Span: 36.8 ft.
Height: 12.2 ft.

Weights
Empty: 43,340lbs
Loaded: 64,840lbs
Performance
Max Speed: Mach 1.7
Range: 1,100 miles on internal fuel.
Powerplant
1 x Reyes-Motola P100 Delta turbofan. 28,000 lb dry thrust with 44,385 lb with afterburner.

Armament
1 x 25 mm cannon in gun pod configuration.
4 external hardpoints. 6 internal hardpoints in fuselage.
--

All the usual tools here. Aircraft and background were made in Blender. Aircraft textured mostly in Substance Painter. Everything rendered Cycles and post work was in gimp mostly.