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Frombola

502 AMPPL50  3 days ago

The Frombola (Sling) is the Grandine's smaller sibling. A specialized missile platform, this Tyrrhenian aircraft is clearly influenced by Iberian asymmetrical designs: The layout enables the aircraft to provide a clear nose for the aircrew of two to guide launched missiles while avoiding the issues faced by pusher arrangements.

In this case, the wing nacelle houses the engine instead of the cockpit (as is the case in the Iberian aircraft) in order to house large payloads under the Center of Thrust. Here, on top of the air-air guided missiles showed together with the Grandine, this Frombola carries a rocket-assisted glide bomb that consists of a canard glider attached to a rocket stage. Such weapons are typically used on strongly defended targets, where the extra range puts the launching platform at less risk of return fire or interception.
Unusually for an aircraft form one of the regions of the Free Network, the Frombola possesses flexible weaponry in the form of a single nose heavy machine gun manned by the observer.

Controls:
8: Engine+Gyroscope
7 (Throttle + VTOL): Nose gun
1: Rocket-assisted glide bomb
2, 3: Missiles

Notes: Missiles and glide bomb are dropped half a second after their number hotkey is toggled, giving the Player a window of time to fire the rockets, activating the weapons' motors. The glide bomb detaches the rocket booster 9 seconds after selection, giving the warhead time to distance itself from the still-running rockets before they explode.

General Characteristics

  • Created On Windows
  • Wingspan 57.9ft (17.6m)
  • Length 46.5ft (14.2m)
  • Height 13.6ft (4.1m)
  • Empty Weight 8,440lbs (3,828kg)
  • Loaded Weight 10,814lbs (4,905kg)

Performance

  • Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.129
  • Wing Loading 22.7lbs/ft2 (111.1kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 475.4ft2 (44.2m2)
  • Drag Points 3062

Parts

  • Number of Parts 153
  • Control Surfaces 20
  • Performance Cost 809