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YF-19 in Battroid mode
YF-19 in GERWALK mode
YF-19 in Fighter mode
YF-19 Fighter schematics
Color Code Transformation Guide
GU-15 Gun Pod (spare magazine shown from rear)
GU-15 Gun Pod (Alternate Colors)
BMM-24 Micro-Missiles
(drawn by Neldorwen, colors by C. Wilson)
High Speed Maneuverable Air-Interception Missile
(drawn by Neldorwen, colors by C. Wilson)
Fold Booster
FAST Pack Arm Armament Unit
(original art by Shoji Kawamori, redrafted by C. Wilson)
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Shinsei Industry YF-19
Equipment Type: UNAF/UNS prototype main advanced variable fighter
Unofficial codename: Alpha One, Eagle One
Government: U.N. Air Force, U.N. Spacy
Manufacturer: Stonewell Bellcom (Shinsei Industry)
Introduction: 2034
Operational Deployment: 2040
Accommodation: pilot only in Marty & Beck Mk 12a g-endurance zero/zero ejection seat (pilot wears Tactical Life Support System with upper and lower g-suits and pressure breathing); optional accomodation for passenger in rear rumble ejection seat
Dimensions:
Battroid Mode: height 15.48 meters (without cannon)
Fighter Mode: wingspan 14.87 meters [14.89 meters]; height 3.94 meters; length 18.62 meters
GERWALK Mode: wingspan 14.87 meters
Mass: empty 8.75 metric tons [8.73 metric tons, 8.759 metric tons]; max T-O mass in atmosphere 37.509 metric tons; max T-O mass in space, with fold booster 46.102 metric tons
Structure: SWAG energy conversion armor, stealth composition
Power Plant: two Shinnakasu Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2500E thermonuclear turbine engines, replacing two Shinsei Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2200B engines in initial specifications
Propulsion: 42,700 kg [x g] x 2 class maximum instantaneous thrust in atmosphere (67,500 [64,700] kg [x g] x 2 class in space) (662.18 kN x 2 in space); initial specifications featured 56,500 kg [x g] x 2 class maximum instantaneous thrust in space; engines utilize air as coolant/propellant in atmosphere, but problems with cooling efficiency (attributed to exceeding output and melting the core) limit maximum thrust to 40% to 60% of thrust in space; 2 x vertical two-dimensional vectored exhaust nozzles; many x P&W HMM-6J high-maneuverability vernier thrusters
Thrust-to-weight ratio: (empty) 15.43 (ratio is 9.26 when limited to 60% thrust in atmosphere)
Performance:
Fighter Mode: standard cruise speed 15,000-22,000 m Mach 1.8; max cruise speed 15,000-22,000 m Mach 5.1 [Mach 5.1+]; max cruise speed at 30,000+ m Mach 21+ [Mach 24+ (8.1 km/s)]; max rate of climb at S/L 65,000 meters/minute; min time to aerodynamic ceiling (over Planet Eden) 48 seconds
g limit: +31.0/- 18.5
Design Features: 3-mode variable transformation; variable geometry sweep (VG) main wing featuring forward-swept standard cruising configuration and overswept high-speed configuration (mode also used for storage); canard forward wing; two-section double-hinged cockpit canopy glass with rear canopy air deflector panels and retractable segmented canopy cover (for rear seat ejection); vertical take-off and landing (VTOL); supersonic cruise and maneuvering in region of Mach 5.0+ below the stratosphere; two-dimensional thrust vectoring (independent pivot); capable of attaining unassisted orbital velocity over an Earth-class planet; wrap-around imaging monitor system in cockpit (all modes); anti-projectile (bulletproof) shield; internal pallets for various weaponry (engine/leg sections); fighter-scale pin-point barrier system (PPB); active stealth system; anti-laser coating; 3 x special equipment hard point stations for optional 2 x all-environment FAST Pack conformal propellant tanks (mounted dorsal aft in Fighter mode, atop shoulders in GERWALK/Battroid modes) and optional 1 x Shinnakasu Industry/OTEC FBF-1000A external prototype fighter fold booster (not certified for performing folds beyond a one-way limit of 20 light years; by the end of the 2040s improvements had been made to reliability and accuracy of the system); optional 2 x all-environment FAST Pack weapon packs with micro-missiles (mounted ventral side fuselage in Fighter mode, lower legs in GERWALK/Battroid modes); the hard points compromise stealth capabilities so are limited to use in space for long-distance ferry propellant tank and other special equipment; option of yf-19 protoype arm armament unit
- Armament -
Guns:
1 x fixed rear Mauler REB-30G anti-aircraft laser gun turret (mounted center dorsal section in Fighter/GERWALK mode, becomes head turret in Battroid mode)
2 x semi-fixed internal Mauler REB-20G converging energy cannons OR Mauler REB-23 laser cannons (mounted in both leading wing roots with exit ports)
1 x Howard GU-15 new standard external gatling gun pod in Four hard point weapon stations, maximum sustainable rate of fire is 2,000 rounds per minute, a maximum effective range (with any accuracy) of 3,000 meters, muzzle velocity of 4,000 m/s, 150 round magazines (Variable Fighter Master File: VF-19 Excalibur, 2010) (mounted ventral fuselage in Fighter mode or in manipulator in GERWALK/Battroid modes); spare magazines stored underneath shield
1 x fixed Howard PBS-03F fighter-carried pin-point barrier system (pin-point barrier system needs 60% of the output and thus cannot be used in fighter-mode)
1 x standard bulletproof (anti-projectile) shield (mounted center rear dorsal fuselage in Fighter mode, mounted on arm in GERWALK/Battroid modes)
Bombs & Missiles:
2 x Stonewell/Roice B-7 standard internal pallets (mounted right/left ventral rear fuselage in Fighter mode, lower legs in GERWALK/Battroid modes) featuring air-to-air/air-to-ground general-purpose micro-missile pallets, Bifors BMM-24 all-regime high-maneuverability micro-missile cluster, OR 2 x [4 x] B-19A YF-19-exclusive internal weapons pallets
4 x chaff dispensers (mounted aft)
Optional Armament:
2 + 2 x all-environment FAST Pack conformal propellant tanks and weapon packs with micro-missiles, conformal-type to avoid adversely impacting stealth performance (each main body hardpoint for FAST packs can hold 4,500 kg)
1 x optional FAST pack arm armament unit with high offensive ability tested but not included with FAST pack that features: 1 x double-barrel beam cannon, 1 x large-bore cannon, 5 x missiles (mounted on right arm in Battroid mode)
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Following success of the VF-11 Thunderbolt in the late 2020's, Shinsei Industries was determined to remain an industry leader when the Project Super Nova Advanced Variable Fighter (AVF) began. When the United Nations Air Force (UNAF) and United Nations Spacy (UNS) announced the final demonstration/validation phase contractors, Shinsei was suddenly required to build a different type of fighter equipped with technologies much more complex than the old VF-11. Producing two prototypes and a ground based avionics test bed, Shinsei built the YF-19 for competition; a larger variable fighter with a completely unique transformation system. Rather than reinvent a control system for variable fighter craft, Shinsei opted to use a conventional control cockpit with an innovative wrap-around imaging monitor system. This new imaging system covered opaque sections of the cockpit interior, recreating a perfect window-like view of the surrounding environment and granting the pilot superior situational awareness. With Super AI control avionics and motion sensitive controls to reduce pilot workload, the YF-19 made it possible for a conventionally controlled craft to maintain parity against any competing Human-Machine Interface (HMI). In September 2034 the first flight of the YF-19 prototype No. 1 was completed (Macross Chronicle states YF-19 development begins in 2034). Utilizing forward canards once again and a forward swept main wing that could achieve stable high supersonic speeds, the YF-19 was poised to prove itself against the competing YF-21 made by rival company General Galaxy.
The YF-19 was designed with several technologies that would become the standard for those next generation variable fighters built to fulfill the operational demands of the UNAF/UNS. These technologies included an active stealth system, an anti-projectile shield, an optional fold booster for interstellar travel and a fighter-scale pin-point barrier system which sheathed portions of the variable fighter in an energy barrier that could move across the hull to intercept and defeat incoming fire. Installed Shinnakasu thermonuclear engines provided the YF-19 with unparalleled thrust, also allowing the variable fighter to attain orbital velocity over an Earth-class planet unassisted. The VF-11 achieved much for Shinsei Industries with a stripped-down, basic design but the YF-19 benefited from advances such that Shinsei built the craft with much greater standard ordnance. Superior miniaturization and the larger airframe of the YF-19 created space for internal missiles mounted in the engine/leg units that maintained the variable fighter stealth capabilities. With up to four internal missile palettes, the YF-19 additionally utilized a fixed rearward anti-aircraft laser gun turret, two semi-fixed converging energy cannons in each wing (optionally laser cannons) and a new Howard GU-15 standard external Gatling gun pod (with field-replaceable magazines). The YF-19 transformation time is 20% less than the VF-11 Thunderbolt and pilot survivability in Battroid is improved over traditional VFs due to the cockpit being stored inside the body rather than at the front of the body. The YF-19 was initially a difficult craft to operate in the testing phase and was flown by seven different test pilots during various trials. Shinsei was nonetheless determined to move forward and the YF-19 achieved incredible success in the Super Nova AVF, proving that Shinsei could rely upon practical proven methods for a superior next generation variable fighter.
Many UNS analysts argued that Shinsei's next generation fighter was too traditional in the face of groundbreaking advances implemented in the competing General Galaxy YF-21. Yet by January 5, 2040 the YF-19 (flown by the seventh test pilot, Isamu Alva Dyson) produced consistently higher test scores in the variable fighter competition. Late in the development of both fighters the UN Spacy halted the Super Nova AVF in favor of a secret unmanned fighter project producing the Ghost X-9. Isamu Dyson was furious over the decision as was lead Shinsei designer Yang Neumann and the two stole the YF-19 with the intention to disrupt introduction of the X-9 Ghost at the 30th Anniversary Armistice ceremony on Earth. Guld Bowman in the YF-21 was sent in pursuit of the YF-19 and the three craft eventually battled in what became known as the "Sharon Apple Incident". With the YF-21 and X-9 Ghost prototypes destroyed in combat, the YF-19 was ultimately declared winner of the Project Super Nova AVF in 2041. The craft was then re-designated the VF-19 Excalibur and entered mass production as the UNAF/UNS main variable fighter.
Note: The design inspiration for the YF-19 is the Grumman X-29 (primary). Shoji Kawamori has joked tongue-in-cheek that the design of the Sukhoi S-37 Berkut (now renamed Su-47) might suggest that Sukhoi is studying his work. Naturally, he knows that Sukhoi has been developing the S-37 well before he unveiled the YF-19 in 1994, and vice versa. (The S-37 Berkut was publically unveiled in 1997.)
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Debut: Macross Plus, Episode 1 (GU-15 Gun Pod Alternate Colors, Episode 4)
Pilot(s): Isamu Dyson
Other appearances: Macross Plus Movie; Macross 7
Original mechanical designer: Shoji Kawamori, Kazutaka Miyatake (cockpit), Shigeki Ninomiya (colored schematics) |
Information Courtesy of the Macross Compendium: www.macross.anime.net/wiki/Main_Page
Images From - This Is Animation Special Macross Plus and other macross books
C. Wilson - Writer, Editor and Colorist
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