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VF-14 Battroid (Blue Colors)
VF-14 Fighter (Blue Colors)
VF-14 Battroid (Red Colors)
VF-14 Fighter (Red Colors)
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General Galaxy/Messer VF-14 Vampire (Macross M3 Version)
Equipment Type: main variable heavy fighter attack craft
Government: UN Spacy
Manufacturer: General Galaxy/Messer
Operational Deployment: 2030
Accommodation: pilot only (with armored cover for Battroid mode)
Dimensions:
Fighter Mode: overall length 19.58 meters; overall width 15.60 meters
Mass: empty 12.6 metric tons
Structure: SWAG energy conversion armor
Power Plant: two Shinnakasu-Daimler FF-2770D thermonuclear reaction engines
Propulsion: 52,500 kg x 2 (maximum instantaneous thrust in space), [515.0 kN x 2]; many x P&W/Daimler HMM-5C high-maneuverability vernier thrusters
Thrust-to-weight ratio: (empty) 8.33
Performance:
Fighter Mode: standard cruising speed at 10,000 m Mach 3.8+
g limit: +35.0 / -20.5
Design Features: 3-mode variable transformation; vertical Take-off and landing (VTOL); armored canopy cover; high maneuverability in space
- Armament -
Guns:
1 x 35mm gatling gun pod
2 x Mauler BC-27A medium-bore beam guns (mounted forward in port and starboard nacelles in Fighter mode, left and right shoulders in Battroid mode)
Bombs & Missiles:
2 x Bifors AAM-01S built-in missile pods
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The VF-14 was a fighter design in the "Nova Project" competition but lost to the VF-11 Thunderbolt as the variable fighter to replace the VF-4 Lightning III as the next main fighter. However, the Vampire was found useful on frontier immigration planets and emigrant fleets because it excelled in cruising performance in space and its airframe was easy to maintain. These factors lead to mass production of the VF-14 Vampire. Beginning mass production just one year earlier, the VF-14 Vampire was deployed in combat action in orbit of the planet Dahan in 2029. Dancing Skull squardron was once again called into action to protect a valuable satellite in orbit. A Zentradi warship folded into near orbit and unleashed a vast array of units to ensure the satellite's destruction. Unfortunately, they were once again up against the amazing talent of Max Jenius and Milia Jenius flying the new VF-14 Vampire variable fighters. Though vastly out-numbered, the powerful armament of the VF-14 and the incredible skills of the ace pilots allowed the UN Spacy to prevail against the Zentradi forces.
Production Notes: It is important to note that the VF-14 Vampire appears as two different designs in the Macross official continuity. The VF-14 debuted in Macross 7 PLUS "Spiritia Dreaming" based upon a rough concept by Shoji Kawamori. The VF-14 appearing in the Macross M3 video game is considered the official finalized design. A third variable fighter labeled the VA-14 has no line art. Since the VF-14 (Macross 7 PLUS "Spiritia Dreaming") strongly resembles the Fz-109 Elgerzorene it may have helped to distinguish the VF-14 as it was animated in Macross 7 using the term VA-14. Unfortunately, while helpful for classication, it is not the officially sanctioned designation as of this writing (a situation unlikely to change in the future). Therefore, both Shoji Kawamori VF-14 designs will remain designated as the VF-14 and will be distinguished by the production in which they appear (Macross 7 and Macross M3 respectively).
Additional Notes: The design inspiration for the VF-14 is the fictional General Galaxy/Messer-Varauta Fz-109 Elgersoln/Elgerzorene, initial designs for Elgersoln/Elgerzorene Fz-109A and Sturm Zorene Fz-109G (Knights in the Sky/Military History of the Knighthood in the Sky), Stonewell Bellcom VF-4 Lightning III, and the real world Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
Shoji Kawamori initially developed the Zorene series in 1990 for the Holy Zaibach Empire variable air attack craft of Knights in the Sky (later Military History of the Knighthood in the Sky), the parallel world project that eventually became The Vision of Escaflowne. Kawamori then extrapolated backwards from his and his partner Kazutake Miyatake's finalized Elgerzorene design for Macross 7 to create a rough VF-14 concept used in the Macross 7 P*L*U*S 7 segment "Spiritia Dreaming." Kawamori finalized the VF-14 design for Macross M3. Several aircraft similar to the VF-14 appear in Macross Plus Movie Edition, but Kawamori has not identified them.
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Debut: Macross M3 (Video Game, 2001)
Pilot(s): Max Jenius, Milia Jenius
Other appearances: none
Original mechanical designer: Shoji Kawamori |
Information Courtesy of the Macross Compendium: www.macross.anime.net/wiki/Main_Page
Images From - Macross Perfect Memory and other macross books
C. Wilson - Writer, Editor and Colorist
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