Type T IMTU

[Blue Ghost]

I never implimented this, but am going to include it in some fiction/adventure stuff I'm writing, and that is that the lower tips of the Type-T patrol cruiser fold up from atmospheric operations.

Kind of silly, but I thought it was neat

 

[Jame]

I want to read this when it's ready.

 

[far-trader]

Not silly at all Blue Ghost. The original miniature from years ago has lines that suggested the same to me. Coupled with it being streamlined it only made sense to have them fold for landing.

 

[Blue Ghost]

Far Trader, that's exactly the way it came across to me. Great minds and all...

 

[jfetters]

Aren't there a few illustrations of the classic type T that had angled fins? I kind of always imagined they did this, too, so add me to the list...

 

[Blue Ghost]

I've never seen one showing folding wings or wingtips.

 

[Ishmael]

Because of the 'wingtips', Inever thought if it as being able to land at all. I just figured it was streamlined to go after ships hiding in a gas giant...or maybe dipping into a world's atmosphere like a big fighter bomber, but not actaully landing.

more for looks than practicallity

 

[Blue Ghost]

There's a pic in one of the Traveller computer game manuals showing a Type-T in the background on a landing pad. I don't recall much of the pic itself though.

 

[jfetters]

Yeah, I think that is in a few of the other materials as well. IIRC, that picture actually has the nose of the craft lowered, similar to the way the Concord used to operate.

 

[Gadrin]

Here's a 3D-model image from the GURPS Traveller Classic Starships

Nice deckplans too (it's available as a downloadable PDF from e23).

 

[mbrinkhues]

Does it actually have to "touch down"? It could simply hoover on AGrav a few centimeter above ground.

 

[far-trader]

Does it actually have to "touch down"? It could simply hover on AGrav a few centimeter above ground.

Yeah not a big problem if it's the GT one pictured on the previous page with those puny girlie-man fins :smirk:

The one from CT would have the doors about 12m off the ground iirc. Watch that first step or take the Ship's Boat or G-Carrier to shuttle down In which case, and probably a fair point, why not leave the ship in orbit. But then why even bother with an airframe? A simple streamlined or partial would do.

And of course there is the problem of just hovering while you do maintenance on say the power plant or maneuver drives...

...as in you can't. I'm also of the school that running the drives like that is hard on them and the immediate area.

 

[Gadrin]

It should be relatively easy at that TL to build folding fins, much like modern day fighters and aircraft that work off of aircraft carriers.

I'll see if my Traders + Gunboats has a nice CT pic.

Edit: nope, I guess it's in one of the MT books I have.

 

[Blue Ghost]

Here's a 3D-model image from the GURPS Traveller Classic Starships

Nice deckplans too (it's available as a downloadable PDF from e23).

Think I've seen that pic in one of the GT books, but I'm not sure.

Anyways, I was thumbing through one of my old Stewart Cowley books on a whim last night, and came across the "Starblade" entry. It looks like the Starblade pic inspiored the Type-T's after shape. Just an interesting note.

Yeah, the Type-T, with unfolded wings, would sit pretty high up off the ground. Kind of like stepping down a mobile stair ramp from a 747 down onto the tarmac. I've never seen the official deckplans for the Type-T, only the fan web stuff. It'd be interesting to see one a cross sectional done for the patrol cruiser (something like the Japanese Traveller fan base did for the Empress Marava).

The Type-T's a sleek bird, and deserves a little attention

 

[Blue Ghost]

Yeah, I think that is in a few of the other materials as well. IIRC, that picture actually has the nose of the craft lowered, similar to the way the Concord used to operate.

Yeah, exactly. That's the one I'm thinking of, but I'll be darned if I can remember much from it.

 

[Starviking]

The one from CT would have the doors about 12m off the ground iirc. Watch that first step or take the Ship's Boat or G-Carrier to shuttle down In which case, and probably a fair point, why not leave the ship in orbit. But then why even bother with an airframe? A simple streamlined or partial would do.

Well, if you look at the one from CT it seems that if you tilt the lower sections of the fins inward you can get them touching the fuselage, which would leave the ship similar to the Quiet Supersonic Platform of the 2000's.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/b-3-qsp-2.jpg

Sorry for the link, can't do attachments

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

Found It!

I found the pic of the Type-T grounded....*dramatic pause*

It's in MegaTraveller, Imperial Encyclopedia (ick, I hate that, we all know it's the freaking AAB, damnit!) on the lower right corner of Page 9 in the Emperor's List. Found it refreshing my memories whilst at Breakfast, thought you all might like to know.

Ask the 3I Historian, I got the books.

Oh, and it is nose point only down and no fins showing with what looks (Fair Witness Protocals and all) two landing struts forward, though my ship-wrighting suggests that there are four struts, in two pairs. The struts are extending from the wing roots.

There is also a pic of a Type-T in space flight, on page 10.

 

[Captain Midnight]

I found the pic of the Type-T grounded....*dramatic pause*

It's in MegaTraveller, Imperial Encyclopedia (ick, I hate that, we all know it's the freaking AAB, damnit!) on the lower right corner of Page 9 in the Emperor's List.

Not to be overly nitpicky, but what proof do you have that the ship pictured there is actually a Type-T? Without a view of the fuselage and the wings, there's nothing to base a definitive answer on, and the drooping nose (a la the Concorde) would seem to argue against that identification. It might very well be a picture of ship much like a Type-T, but it might just as easily be one totally different. The whole point of that little piece of filler art seems to be to show off the guy in the parka standing under the ship, so we shouldn't draw too many conclusions from one piece of artwork.

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

*bows to superior skills*

You are Correct, Master Witness!

However, I have Witnessed a few Type-T Starships in other views, and the portions shown conform to the Type from the forward elevations. I took note of the Bug-eye Canopies as well as other presented hull structures to reach my conclusion.

*sighs* I am still new to using the Fair Witness Protocols, and will endeavor to be a better Witness in the future, Most Humble Apologies.

*bows again.

 

[Blue Ghost]

I'm sold