Excerpt from Fox's Combat Aircraft of the World, 2090 to 2091:

The Dakota II has been in service since the early Twenty-Sixties and remains in production today. Incredibly flexible, the aircraft was developed as a replacement for both the C-130 and C-37 transport aircraft. Unlike the designs it replaced, the V-47 Dakota II is a vertical take off and landing design. This was to facilitate the operation from tiny airfields which otherwise could not operate as large an aircraft as the Dakota II. The design can operate from basically any field which is large enough to fit the aircraft's form. Some areas which helicopters and the V-22 Osprey operate from are simply too small to operate the Dakota II from. There have been some experiments to see if the Dakota II can operate from aircraft carriers and amphibious vessels.

While at first designed as a pure transport, there have been several modified versions developed. These include an airborne radar version and a heavy gunship version. The main consumer of these aircraft is the United States military but it is operated by several other governments including the Canadian, British, and Japanese. As well, a small number of these transported aircraft are operated by civilian groups.

With the introduction of fusion turbine engines, older conventional powered aircraft were generally rendered obsolete. The new engines gave virtually unlimited range, mainly only limited by the air crews endurance. As well, the thrust based VTOL engines are computer controlled to reduce risks of take off and landing. The engine and flight systems were designed to reduce crew fatigue as much as possible and the engines allow operations of up to twenty-four hours without landing and cooling the flighting system.

The aircraft also uses the new high strength composites and alloys first developed in the Twenty-Thirties. It allows the aircraft to be extremely resistant to flight stresses as well as being virtually immune to corrosion. These new materials also allow the aircraft to withstand damage which would have destroyed any of the aircraft, such as the C-130 and C-27, which it replaced.

Initially, budgets did not allow for the introduction of new aircraft but with increasing budgets as the new Cold War heated up, there were funds finally made available for a new fusion powered transport aircraft. The new design for the transport was first made in 2052. The first prototype flew four years later in 2058 with few problems with the prototype. It was given the name Dakota II from the name of the famous World War II Dakota. With only minor modifications, production began in 2061 and continues until the present time. The airborne radar version and gun ship versions where both developed in the later part of the Twenty-Sixties to replace retiring designs.

Unable to carry a Jackson main battle tank, The Dakota is designed to be able up to a forty ton internal load, twice that of the C-130 Hercules. There is a large ramp in the rear of the transport. This means than a single Maverick infantry fighting vehicle can be carried and a wide variety of other loads as well. Instead of vehicles or other cargo, passengers can be carried with special seating able to be quickly mounted in the cargo bay. A total of eighty passengers can be carried or sixty equipped with light power armors. As well, the aircraft can carry fifty patients on litters and eight medical personnel. Each medical litter has a full support system capable of supporting even the most injured patients.

At first the Boeing 1020 was considered as a platform for a new airborne radar aircraft but in the end the Dakota was chosen due to its ability to take off and land vertically. This would allow it to operate from much smaller fields than it could otherwise. The Navy used the V-22N at the time which the airborne radar version was developed and it was decided that the Osprey was too smaller by the because the Air Force wanted to have more command and control facilities. A powerful phased array radar is carried on the sides of the Dakota II along with extensive command and control facilities.

The final variety is the AV-47 Spooky II named after the AC-47 Spooky of Vietnam War fame. All weaponry is carried on the port side. The Spooky II is armed with a single 50 mm rail gun identical to the cannon carried on the later models of the Maverick infantry fighting vehicle. As well, the aircraft mounts four pulse energy weapons. Originally, these were M-220 Infantry Support Pulse Lasers but these have been replaced by M-260 Infantry Support Ion mounts. There is also space for a small amount of cargo and eight troops (five in power armor) in the VTOL Guns Ship aircraft.

Model Type:	V-47	"Dakota II" Standard Transport Version
	EV-47	Airborne Radar Version
	AV-47	"Spooky II" Gun Ship Version

Class: Double Engine VTOL (Thruster) Transport Aircraft

Crew:	V-47	3 (Pilot, Co-Pilot, and Load Master)
	EV-47	15 (Pilot, Co-Pilot, Commander, 12 Sensor Operators & Communication)
	AV-47	8 (Pilot, Co-Pilot, Fire Control Officer, and 5 Gunners / Support)
Troops:	V-47	80 Troops (60 in Light Power Armor / 50 Medical Litters)
	EV-47	None
	AV-47	8 Troops (5 in Power Armor)

M.D.C. by Location:

	50 mm Rail Gun (Gun Ship Only, Port Side)	125
	Pulse Energy Mounts (3 - Gun Ship Only, Port Side)	65 each
	[1] Wings (2):	260 each
	[2] Elevators (2):	120 each
	[2] Rudders (2):	100 each
	Cockpit:	200
	Rear Cargo Bay Door:	100
	Side Doors (2):	50 each
	Side Radar Sensors (Airborne radar version only):	100 each
	[3] Engines (2):	225 each
	[4] Main Body:	550
	Landing Gear (5):	25 each

Notes:
[1] Destroying a Wing will cause the plane to crash
[2] Destruction of the tail will still allow the transport to be controlled by the varying of power levels of the engines but fighter has a penalty of -10 to dodge, and a -30% penalty to all piloting rolls.
[3] The destruction of one engine will reduce the aircraft top speed by half and give the pilot a -2 penalty to dodge as well as giving a 10% penalty to piloting. With one engine destroyed, the aircraft cannot make vertical take offs and landings. Destruction of both engines will cause the aircraft to crash. Pilot may attempt a emergency landing or pilot can choose to eject.
[4] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the Aircraft down completely, rendering it useless and causing it to crash if in flight.

Speed:
Driving on Ground (Taxiing): Only possible for take offs and landings as well as for parking and storage. Speed is 40 mph (64 kph) when traveling and not on take off or landing.
Flying: It has a maximum speed of Mach 0.96 (633.6 mph /1,019.68 kph) and a cruise speed of Mack 0.92 (607.2 mph / 977.19 kph.) Maximum altitude is 60,000 feet (18,288 meters) The aircraft is Vertical Take Off and Landing which allows it to take off virtually anywhere and can hover indefinitely.
Maximum Effective Range: Due to Fusion engine effectively unlimited range, need to cool down after 16 hours of flight at maximum speed. At cruising speed, range is increased to 24 hours of flight.

Statistical Data:
Height: 36 feet 3 inches (11.05 meters)
Wingspan: 120 feet 5 inches (36.70 meters)
Length: 92 feet 6 inches (28.19 meters)
Weight: 71,650.24 pounds (32,500 kg) empty and 159,283.98 pounds (72,250 kg) maximum takeoff weight
Power System: Nuclear, Should have an average life span of 10 years.
Cargo: V-47 Transport Version "Dakota II": 40 tons (36.29 metric tons), EV-47 Airborne Radar: Minimal (Storage for small equipment), AV-47 "Spooky II" Gun Ship: 3 tons (2.72 metric tons) with full load of ordnance.
Black Market Cost: V-47 Transport Version: 45 million credits, EV-47 Airborne Radar: 125 million credits, AV-47 "Spooky II" Gun Ship: 70 million credits.

Weapon Systems:

1. Hyper Velocity 50 mm Heavy Rail Gun (1 - Gun Ship Version Only): Mounted on the port side of the gun ship version. The cannon is controlled by a gunner inside the air craft. The vehicle has a special fire control computer that helps to aim the cannon. Gives +2 to strike with the cannon and vehicle does not have minuses to fire when it moving. This rail gun normally fires a solid dart of MDC materials that does massive damage to targets that it hits but can also use explosive warheads for softer targets and against aircraft.
   Maximum Effective Range: 2.5 miles (4.0 km)
   Mega Damage: A single round inflicts 3D4x10+20 (optional rule is that cannon gets a critical on a natural 18, 19, or 20 due to its high penetration). Can use High Explosive rounds that do 4D6 with a blast radius of 12 ft (3.7 m). High Explosive Anti Tank does 1D4x10 with a blast radius of 6 ft (1.8 m).
   Rate of Fire: Maximum of four per melee.
   Payload: 60 rounds. Normally 40 rounds are of standard anti-tank slugs.
2. Side Pulse Mounts (3 - Gun Ship Version Only): Mounted on the sides of the gun ship version are three energy weapon mounts. The weapon is controlled by the secondary gunners through the use of helmet display which operate in a similar fashion to virtual reality goggles. Basically, the gunner sees where ever the cannon is pointed and has target cross-hairs to show where the weapon is targeting. The weapon is usually used for suppressive fire but is useful at destroying the heaviest body armors and vehicles.
   1. US M-220 Automatic Pulse Laser: Modified version of the pulse laser carried by troops as a squad automatic weapon until replaced by the M-260 Pulse Ion weapon. Unlike the troop carried version of the weapon, the laser plugs directly into the aircraft's fusion power system and has virtually unlimited shots.
      Maximum Effective Range: 1600 feet (610 meters)
      Mega Damage: 2D6 per single shot, 6D6 for a rapid fire three shot burst, or use machine gun burst rules for higher burst setting.
      Rate of Fire: Equal the secondary gunners' number of hand to hand attacks - Single Shot, Three Round Burst, and Extended Bursts (Use Machine Gun burst rules).
      Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
   2. US M-260 Automatic Pulse Ion Weapon: Modified version of the pulse ion weapon by troops as a squad automatic weapon which replaced the M-220. Unlike the troop carried version of the weapon, the ion weapon plugs directly into the aircraft's fusion power system and has virtually unlimited shots.
      Maximum Effective Range: 2000 feet (610 meters)
      Mega Damage: 4D6 per single shot, 1D6x10+10 for a rapid fire three shot burst, or use machine gun burst rules for higher burst setting.
      Rate of Fire: Equal the secondary gunners' number of hand to hand attacks - Single Shot, Three Round Burst, and Extended Bursts (Use Machine Gun burst rules).
      Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
3. Anti-Missile Chaff Dispenser (All Military Versions): Located at the very tail of the aircraft are two chaff dispensers. When tailed by a missile, a cloud of chaff and other obtrusive particles can be released to confuse or detonate the enemy's attack. Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not operate against Phase World missiles due to technological difference. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (Add +20% to rolls for smart missiles.)
   Effect:
   01-50 Enemy missile or missile volley detonates in chaff cloud - Missile are all destroyed
   51-75 Enemy missile or missile volley loses track of real target and veers away in wrong direction (May lock onto another target)
   76-00 No effect, missile is still on target
   Also note that the chaff cloud will also blind flying monsters that fly through cloud. They will suffer the following penalties: reduce melee attacks/actions, combat bonuses, and speed by half. Duration: 1D4 melee rounds.
   Payload: Eight (8)

Special Equipment:
All Military Versions:
The aircraft has all the standard features of a standard fighter (same as standard robot including loudspeaker and microphone on this aircraft) plus these special features listed.

• Internal Active Jamming Gear: Causes -25% to detection but when it is active, other vehicles/ bases can detect that it is jamming, and some missiles will home in on jamming signals. Jamming also causes a -4 penalty to all radar guided weapons.
• E.S.M.: Radar Detector, Passively detects other radars being operated.
• FLIR: Forward Looking Infrared. Allows pilot and weapons officer to get visuals on targets at night.
• Laser Navigational System: Allow flight at low altitude without use of Radar. Gives a map of the Terrain.

• Airborne Three Dimensional Search Radar System Powerful airborne phased array radar. The incredibly advanced radar and computer system first developed before the coming of the Rifts. Powerful and flexible radar system that is comprised of side panels that each emit radar waves. The system gives 360 degree coverage. If allowed by the horizon, the system can track out to 600 miles (966 km) and can simultaneously track and identify up to 1024 targets at one time. The system controls missile launched from other linked vehicles and the system can track and guide each individual missile to a individual target for up to 256 targets. If a target is eliminated, missiles are automatically guided to a new target. The system gives a +10% to read sensory rolls, +2 on initiative, and +1 to strike.
• Advanced Communication Package: Give the aircraft the ability of multi-direction communication of 800 miles (1290 km) as well as direction communication out to 500 miles (800 km) to up to 64 individual targets. The system also has 48 laser/microwave communication systems that are only limited by line of sight (Range of about 100,000 miles / 161,000 km).

• Radar: Range 500 miles (805 km). Can identify and track up to 48 targets simultaneously. With Combat & Targeting Computer, the aircraft can fire missiles at up to twelve targets at the same time. It is also capable of Terrain Following for low altitude flight.

+2 to Dodge
+3 to Dodge while traveling over 250 Mph

[Coalition TM, New Navy TM, Phase World TM, and Triax TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright © 2007, Kitsune. All rights reserved.