A small fusion TAV built for Titan by Columbia Aerospace, which can also be used as a ramjet thanks to a pair of auxiliary fission air-ram drives. The Dragonfly is not powerful enough to lift off from actual planets, but it can land on or take off from any satellite thanks to a reasonable acceleration provided by a high-thrust fusion drive. Robust, reliable and versatile, the Dragonfly Minishuttle can transport 8 passengers and a typical 20 ton cargo. Its large ΔV allows several trips to orbit before refueling.
After the success of the Minishuttle, Columbia Aerospace developped a version equiped with combat features, in particular a laser weapon and chameleon skin. The characteristics of the armed version are noted between square brackets.
Dimensions are given in both imperial and metric systems (e.g. 50' / 15 m).
Pilot (Piloting (Aerospace)).
Streamlined delta hull (50' / 15 m long, 8 spaces, carbon composite [metal-matrix] medium frame, lifting body, smart hull);
cDR/cPF 1/1 (carbon composite [metal-matrix] armor).
Old cockpit;
small fixed PESA [F], small fixed RADAR [F];
1 compact high-thrust fusion pulse drive, 0.5 ultra light tank (nuclear pellets);
2 × 0.5 compact fission air-ram;
0.5 folding seats;
1 small entry module;
1.9 hull radiator;
[0.5 power pack (9 shots)];
[light fixed laser];
[chameleon skin];
4.15 cargo (20.75 t) [2.65 cargo (13.25 t)].
EMass: 41 t; DMass 55 t; CMass 58 t; LMass 61 t; [EMass: 36 t; DMass ; CMass 60 t; LMass 63 tons;];
Cost: M$7.6 [M$11.8];
Fuel cost: M$0.003;
cHP: 30;
Size modifier: +6;
HT 12;
Maintenance interval: 14h30m [11h39m].
sAccel: 0.20 g [0.21 g];
burn endurance: 2h05m;
burn points: 1547 [1547];
real ΔV: 4.6 mps / 7.4 km/s [4.6/7.4]; approximation: 4.7 mps / 7.6 km/s [4.7/7.5];
air speed: 3000 mph / 4800 km/h;
stall speed: 199 mph / 319 km/h.
Thanks to John for his corrections.