XF-2 (Imperial Experimental Airframe)
From ExodusWar
| XF-2 Imperial Experimental Airframe | ||
|---|---|---|
| Description | ||
| Mission Profile | Experimental Trans-Atmospheric Fighter Design | |
| Crew | 1 pilot | |
| First Flight | Unknown | |
| Manufacturer(s) | Royal Imperial Labs | |
| Operator(s) | Royal Imperial Air Force | |
| Variants | None | |
| Length | 15 meters | |
| Wingspan | 10 meters | |
| Height | 4 meters | |
| Main Systems | ||
| Powerplant | Liquid Cesium and Jet Fuel | |
| Propulsion | 1 x Royal Imperial Labs Series-1 Ramjet 1 x Royal Imperial Labs Series-1 Ion Engine | |
| Avionics Package | Standard Fly-By-Wire System | |
| Control Systems | Aeroelastic Control Surface for Atmospheric Flight | |
| Sensors | None | |
| Communications | Royal Imperial Labs Series-1 Radio Transceiver | |
| Performance Ratings | ||
| Maximum Airspeed | Mach 1 | |
| Cruising Airspeed | 1300KPH km/h | |
| Acceleration Rate | 30 km/h/s | |
| Maximum Velocity | Escape Velocity km/s | |
| Operation Time | 1 Hour hours | |
| Combat Systems | ||
| Fixed Weapons | None | |
| Variable Payload | None | |
| Armor | Reinforced Airframe | |
| Shields | None | |
| Countermeasures | None | |
The XF-2 program continued using the XF-1 airframe, but served as an ion engine test bed. While highly successful in terms of space use, it could not achieve escape velocity at all, because the ion engine would not function in atmosphere.
After two flights, one launched from space to test the ion engine and one from a runway to test the use of the ion engine in boosting the aircraft to escape velocity, the XF-2 program was terminated and the staff were reassigned to the XF-3 program.
