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Northwind NA-79 Thunderhead

3,606 aerobeeter  2.5 years ago

The Northwind NA-79 Thunderhead was a supersonic strike bomber commissioned by and delivered to the Wright Navy in the 60s after seeing the success of the NA-77 Longbow bomber and partially used some of the Longbow's airframe. During the testing phase, it was discovered that it was extremely manoeuvrable and was equipped with an onboard radar and few hardpoints for Air-to-Air engagements in case it needed to do so. It seated a pilot which could fire the short range IR guided Metra missile, and a radar intercept officer that controlled the radar guided Interceptor and Reaper missiles as well as the ballistic computer for the bombs the aircraft had mounted both internally and externally. Activation groups: 1 for arrestor hook, 2 for wing fold, 3 for bomb bay opening and bomb arming, 4 to arm the rest of the bombs once the first salvo is depleted, 5 to jettison externally mounted bombs, 6 to partially jettison missiles, and 8 to arm missiles. VTOL for flaps and Trim is itself.

General Characteristics

  • Created On Windows
  • Wingspan 44.5ft (13.6m)
  • Length 66.8ft (20.4m)
  • Height 20.7ft (6.3m)
  • Empty Weight 38,900lbs (17,644kg)
  • Loaded Weight 46,846lbs (21,249kg)

Performance

  • Power/Weight Ratio 3.022
  • Wing Loading 55.9lbs/ft2 (272.9kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 838.2ft2 (77.9m2)
  • Drag Points 8463

Parts

  • Number of Parts 199
  • Control Surfaces 7
  • Performance Cost 1,768