Gridrunner: Difference between revisions

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Officially categorized as the 'Quest Corporation Global Rapid Infantry Deployment Craft, Mark II', the ''Gridrunner'' is a ultratech recon/transport craft with V/STOL/trans-atmospheric capability, a top-rated speed of Mach 10 and a cruising speed of Mach 7. It is able to place or retrieve troops anywhere on the planet within ninety minutes.

With a estimated cost of ~~five hundred~~ ~~million~~ dollars per craft, the ''Gridrunner'' can carry (in its original configuration) one hundred troops and their equipment~~, or forty and a support vehicle~~. The ''Gridrunner'' has a special interior modular design that allows ground crews to quickly swap out interior sections according to specific mission profiles.

With a estimated cost of one billion dollars per craft, the ''Gridrunner'' can carry (in its original configuration) one hundred troops and their equipment. The ''Gridrunner'' has a special interior modular design that allows ground crews to quickly swap out interior sections according to specific mission profiles.

The specialized avionics package aboard the ''Gridrunner'' is priced at roughly two hundred million dollars: this includes a liquid-based, onboard artificial intelligence hardened against outside interference and EMP’s, which can act as an autopilot and complete a flight without a pilot (but optimally requires a passenger in the pilot seat to give simple instructions). The designers were able to circumvent several major problems in the design process (such as metal fatigue and temperature variants in flight causing extreme wear on aircraft parts) by using Secondary Adamantium for the craft's outer skin, many of the aircraft parts, and as a coating for many other aircraft parts (to increase their lifespan). As part of the deal which allowed the Quest Corporation access to the creation process of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adamantium Adamantium] (among other things), The U. S. Government received thirty-four of the aircraft free of charge; four of those aircraft have been turned over to [[DELPHI]] for the organization's needs.

The specialized avionics package aboard the ''Gridrunner'' is priced at roughly two hundred and fifty million dollars: this includes a liquid-based, onboard artificial intelligence hardened against outside interference and EMP’s, which can act as an autopilot and complete a flight without a pilot (but optimally requires a passenger in the pilot seat to give simple instructions). The designers were able to circumvent several major problems in the design process (such as metal fatigue and temperature variants in flight causing extreme wear on aircraft parts) by using Secondary Adamantium for the craft's outer skin, many of the aircraft parts, and as a coating for many other aircraft parts (to increase their lifespan). As part of the deal which allowed the Quest Corporation access to the creation process of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adamantium Adamantium] (among other things), The U. S. Government received thirty-four of the aircraft free of charge; four of those aircraft have been turned over to [[DELPHI]] for the organization's needs.

There are six variants of the ''Gridrunner'' in existence:

*Mark I - the prototype (three in existance).

*Mark I - the half-scale prototype (three in existance).

*Mark II - standard transport.

*Mark II - standard troop transport with specialized seating for high-G maneuvers at transonic speed.

*Mark III - ~~heavy~~ transport; ~~can~~ ~~carry~~ ~~two~~ ~~hundred men and~~ two ~~support~~ vehicles.

*Mark III - standard vehicle transport with specialized brackets for two vehicles.

*Mark IV - multi-role assault craft; modified with a specialized weapons-bay that can be deployed at trans-sonic speeds (not above Mach 6). Can carry strategic ordinance if required.

Two additional craft are in development using Gridrunner technology. One is a heavy transport with approximately twice the capacity, 200 troops or four vehicles. The other is a smaller personal transport along the lines of a Gulfstream or Learjet, proposed to cruise at Mach 3.5 and maximum of Mach 5.

*Mark V - elite personal transport. This craft is one-half the size of the earlier models, and can carry up to twenty-five persons in comfort. It is otherwise identical to the other models, but can travel at Mach Five speeds (maximum; cruising speeds of Mach 3.5).

In addition, the ''Gridrunner'' tasked for Legion use is an advanced version of the Mark V. Reverse-engineered and upgraded by USAES engineering and aviation cadets in cooperation with Quest Corporation technical staff, the ' ''Gridrunner-A'' ' is the most advanced version of the craft to date~~, with a significantly-reduced price-tag even with her radically-advanced features)~~. At an estimated cost of ~~just under~~ one ~~hundred~~ ~~fifty~~ ~~million~~ dollars, she is faster (cruising speed of Mach 8), has a more advanced onboard A.I., sensory/communications-electrical countermeasures and electrical warfare package, and comes with the capability to operate outside the Earth's atmosphere. Among the enhanced capabilities of the ''Gridrunner-A'':

In addition, the ''Gridrunner'' tasked for Legion use is an advanced version of the Mark I. Reverse-engineered and upgraded by USAES engineering and aviation cadets in cooperation with Quest Corporation technical staff, the ' ''Gridrunner-A'' ' is the most advanced version of the craft to date. At an estimated cost of one point five billion dollars, she is faster (cruising speed of Mach 8), has a more advanced onboard A.I., sensory/communications-electrical countermeasures and electrical warfare package, and comes with the capability to operate outside the Earth's atmosphere. Among the enhanced capabilities of the ''Gridrunner-A'':

*Ease of operation: any pilot with experience in flying military craft can easily learn to handle the aircraft.

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*The aircraft has the capability to carry 2 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformal_fuel_tank conformal fuel tanks], allowing it to achieve low Earth orbit. Unlike most CFT systems, the ''Gridrunner's'' CFT's can be ejected once orbit has been achieved. Furthermore, she can be connected to the [[Cradle]] launch system, allowing her to be launched from the ground.

*An exotic 'power conversion chamber' has been created for installation, which will allow Legionnaires with the appropriate ~~ablities~~ to act as a 'power source' to allow the ''Gridrunner-A'' to travel into space. ~~The~~ craft has the ability to make a trip to the Moon and return to Earth.

*An exotic 'power conversion chamber' has been created for installation, which will allow Legionnaires with the appropriate abilities to act as a 'power source' to allow the ''Gridrunner-A'' to travel into space. Theoretically, the craft has the ability to make a trip to the Moon and return to Earth. However, this is expected to generate serious exhaustion in those the provide energy.

*The ''Gridrunner-A'' is ~~also~~ equipped with a unique 'atmospheric processor unit', which can create breathable gases and regulate the environment within the craft. When in use, ~~both~~ the PCC and ~~the APU~~ ~~gives~~ the craft an effectively unlimited operational capability (based upon the nutritional needs of the crew and passengers).

*The ''Gridrunner-A'' is equipped with a unique 'atmospheric processor unit', which can create breathable gases and regulate the environment within the craft. The craft uses a standard Water Recovery System of the same type used on the International Space Station. When in use,the PCC, APU, and WRS give the craft an effectively unlimited operational capability (based upon the nutritional needs of the crew and passengers).

*The craft has inertial dampening field generators, which can counteract 90% of the force imparted upon the craft's occupants due to accleration. The IDF generator uses a great deal of energy, and thus is used only when necessary (ex. on takeoff, landings, and in case of emergency maneuvers).