Golden Age Weaponsmiths V-22 Osprey:

The first tilt-rotor aircraft produced in any numbers, the Bell-Boeing Osprey began its career as a military transport aircraft that filled a similar role to contemporary helicopters where it virtually replaced them in United States military service in most areas. While under development, the program was almost canceled several times and had a number of highly publicized crashes although eventually all the problems were worked out and it became an excellent aircraft with an accident rate less than most helicopters. While not quite as fast as a conventional transport aircraft, it is still quite a bit faster and longer ranged than a more conventional helicopter. The first model introduced was the marine model which was soon followed by a special operations model. Other models followed afterwards. Several otehr nations adopted the V-22 as well.

Tilt-rotor type aircraft extremely similar were later adopted in various civilian areas although it took a while to catch on. One of these was by executives to more in and out of crowded cities with the aircraft's ability to land virtually anywhere even on the top of buildings. Other jobs included fire fighting, emergency rescue, and various cargo carrying roles. The fact that the aircraft had far better range than standard helicopters also helped in the aircraft's popularity. Surplus Osprey tilt rotors also were declared surplus and sold to various civilian groups.

Being a relatively new design, when the revolution in new high strength materials occurred, new versions of the V-22 was developed using these new high strength materials. Using these materials creates a much stronger aircraft. Some older V-22 were simply refitted but new airframes was greatly preferred. Later, a few powered version was developed. Due to lack of enough replacements, quite a number of these remained in service until the coming of the Rifts in the United States military and other forces.

Because the aircraft served in both military and civilian roles and manufactured in large numbers, Golden Age Weaponsmiths has found a surprising numbers of this aircraft, borh those made from conventional materials and the new high strength alloys and composites. As with other aircraft the company recovered, Golden Age have refitted them and sold them. Some groups these aircraft have been sold to include Mercenary Companies, Independent Nations, and to simply wealthy individuals and transport companies. With the lack of ful air facilities, they are extremely useful. The tilt rotor aircraft is so popular that the engineers at Golden Age Weaponsmiths is considering manufacturing modern versions of the V-22 Osprey with upgraded materials and systems. It is also believed that the aircraft serves as the basis for Metalworks Incorporated's Kestrel VTOL transport.

Whether the aircraft started as military or as civilian, the aircraft are virtually identical and can fill several different roles. They can be used for scouting, carrying cargo, or can be used to carry personnel. Golden Age Weaponsmiths has done only minor modifications to the Osprey that basically is only refitting the aircraft with high strength composite and alloy armor, if not already fitted, and replacing the avionics of the aircraft with more modern equipment. Transport variations can carry up to twenty-four passengers or troops or up to nine metric tons of cargo (can carry up to six metric tons of cargo slung underneath instead of internal cargo). Internal fuel tanks can also be carried instead of cargo.

There are a number of options as far as weaponry. About half of the V-22 Ospreys used for troop operations are armed with a Remote Guardian System. Controlled from inside of the aircraft and retractable into the fuselage when not in use, it was originally armed with a 7.62 mm Mini-Gun. It was found to not be effective so replaced by a fifty caliber heavy machine gun. In addition, the crew can mount a machine gun in the main cargo hatch.. Of course, even civilian models can theoretically mount a machine gun in this position. In most cases, a second fifty caliber machine gun will be mounted in this position as well. In both cases, Golden Age Weaponmiths replaces the conventional ammunition with Wellington Industries ramjet ammunition.

While not originally fitted, many later versions of the V-22 were fitted with hard points and these were back fitted to many older V-22 as well. The aircraft could carry four sidewinder missiles and four larger missiles, such as Harpoon missiles, or torpedoes. Primarily this was for anti-shipping strikes. Golden Age Weaponmiths refitted these hard points to carry standard modern Post-Rifts missiles and torpedoes. The company can also refit these aircraft with the hard points if not fitted.

As previously listed, there are several modifications on the basic design. There is a Navy anti-submarine version that has the capability to carry dipping sonars, sonar buoys, and have magnetic detection gear. This version replaced many anti-submarine helicopters in Navy service and served for a great many years. There is a second version that acts as an airborne radar platform in a similar fashion to the late twentieth century Hawkeye. These have only been recovered in limited numbers but are considered very useful.

Model Number:	V-22B	Original Production Model
	V-22C	Upgraded Model

Vehicle Type: Double Engine VTOL Transport Aircraft
Crew: Four (4, Pilot, copilot and two flight engineers.)
Troops/Passengers: 24 seated / 32 floor loaded (In place of cargo) - 14 carried with one internal fuel tank, 6 with two internal fuel tanks, and none with three additional internal fuel tanks.

M.D.C. By Location:

V-22B (Refitted)

V-22C

Remote Guardian System (Under Fuselage):	40 (Optional)	40 (Optional)
Cargo Door	70	90
[1] Wings (2):	70 each	100 each
[2] Elevators (2):	40 each	50 each
[2] Rudders (2):	40	50
Cockpit:	70	90
[2] Engines (2):	80	100 each
Landing Gear (3):	5 each	10 each
[3] Main Body:	135	165

Notes:
[1] Destroying a wing will cause the plane to crash.
[2] Destruction of rudders or one elevator will still allow the aircraft to be controlled by the varying of power levels of the engines but aircraft has a penalty of -10 to dodge, and a -30% penalty to all piloting rolls. Destruction of both of the elevators will leave the plane uncontrollable and pilot must eject to survive. The destruction of one of the engines will cause the aircraft to crash.
[3] 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. The tilt rotor aircraft can land and take off from primitive air fields.
Flying: The Osprey can hover and go up to a maximum speed of 284 knots (326.6 mph, 522.6 km/hour). The Osprey can hover stationary up to 5,040 feet (1,646 meters) and can fly up to 24,700 feet (7,528.6 meters) if not hovering. Aircraft cannot use vertical take off mode if over ninety percent loaded with cargo but can still take off and land in a short distance.
Range: 1,200 miles (1931.2 km / 1042.8 nautical miles) with no ordnance / cargo load. Reduce aircrafts range by 15% if partially loaded (over 50 percent of capacity) and by 25% if fully loaded. Also reduce range by 25% if spending considerable time hovering. Has an endurance of around four hours. Do not include passengers against the aircrafts range due to their light weight when compared to cargo. Can carry up to three fuel tanks internal in cargo bay. Each is 1,628 liters (weights approximately 2,900 lbs / 1,315.4 kg each) - extends range by 240 miles (386.2 km / 208.6 nautical miles) each. The Osprey can be refueled in the air

Statistical Data:
Height over Tail Fins: 17 feet 8 inches (5.4 meters)
Width, Rotors Turning: 84 feet 7 inches (25.8 meters)
Rotor Diameter: 38 feet (11.6 meters)
Fuselage Length: 57 feet 4 inches (17.5 meters)
Weight: Combat - 42,486 lbs (19,118.7 kg); Landing - 33,615 lbs (15,126.75 kg)
Power System: Conventional, Two pivoting engines: Two Allison T406-AD-400 turboshafts (6,150 hp / 4,590 kW) each), uses aviation fuel.
Cargo: 9.9 tons(9 metric tons) in Cargo Hold or 7.5 tons (6.8 metric tons) slung underneath, does not include hard points
Black Market Cost: Refitted V-22B: 1.2 million credits (Can sometimes sell for double that price.) V-22C: 1.6 million credits. Increase cost by 200,000 for Remote Guardian System.

Weapon Systems (Military Versions):

One (1) .50 BMG Remote Guardian System: Optional weapon system. Weapon system mounted under the fuselage on some military versions. Originally mounted a 7.62 mm machine gun but was replaced by a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. Controlled by a gunner from inside of the aircraft. Mounted on approximately half of military Ospreys. Weapon system is able to be retracted when not in use. Has three hundred and sixty degree rotation and ninety degree arc of fire. Golden Age Weaponsmiths simply replaced the standard ammo with Wellington Industries WI-20 Heavy Ramjet rounds.
Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914.4 meters)
Mega Damage: 1D4 per single round. A burst of 40 round from one cannon does 5D6.
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the remote gunner (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: 800 rounds (20 bursts.)
One (1) .50 BMG Cargo Door Machine Gun: Can be carried on all models with a cargo door and fired from a pintle mount. This weapon systems are normally used when trying to protect the tilt rotor while it is dropping troops. While Golden Age Weaponsmiths simply replaced the standard ammo with Wellington Industries WI-20 Heavy Ramjet rounds, some operators have replaced the weapon with light rail guns or automatic grenade launchers.
Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914.4 meters)
Mega Damage: 1D4 per single round. A burst of 40 round from one cannon does 5D6.
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the remote gunner (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: 400 rounds (10 bursts.)
Ordnance Hard Points: On military versions of this aircraft, the aircraft has eight hard points that carry ordnance. Four of the hard points can only carry up to one medium range missile in mass each (originally designed to carry sidewinders) and four of the hard points can carry up to one long range missiles, heavy torpedoes, or heavy bombs each (originally designed to carry harpoons and like ordnance). Hard Points can carry the same ordnance or may be mixed and matched but each hard point must carry all the same type of ordnance.
1. Four (4) Light Hard Points: Can carry up to one medium range missiles or two short range missiles per hard points.
  Maximum Effective Range: Varies with missile types, Medium or Short range missiles only (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
  Mega Damage: Varies with missile types, Medium or Short range missiles only (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
  Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) [Missile must be all the same type.]
  Payload: One (1) medium range missile or two (2) short range missiles per hard point.
2. Four (4) Heavy Hard Points: The only restriction is that a hard point must carry all the same type of missile and missile. Both unguided and guided bombs can be carried.
  Maximum Effective Range: Varies by missile type for missile type and varies by altitude bombs are dropped at (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.) Torpedoes: 20 miles (32 km) for medium range and 40 miles (64 km) for long range torpedoes.
  Mega Damage: Varies by missile, torpedo (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details) or bomb type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
  Rate of Fire: Missiles and torpedoes can be fired and bombs can be dropped one at a time per hard point. Multiple hard points can be linked as one attack but must be the same size (light, medium, or heavy) and style of ordnance (all missiles, torpedoes, or bombs in a volley.)
  Payload: Four (4) short range missile, light torpedoes, or light bombs, two (2) medium range missiles, medium torpedoes, or medium bombs, or one (1) long range missile, heavy torpedoes, or heavy bomb (all ordnance on a hard point must be the same size and type of ordnance.)
One (1) Anti-Missile Chaff/Flare Dispenser: Use the same effects as the TRIAX model. However, each time the system is engaged, the system fires off one chaff and 1D4 flares. Rifts Earth decoy 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:
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: 20 chaff, 40 flares. Each time the system is engaged, the system fires off one chaff and 1D4 flares.

Special Equipment:
The equipment of the aircraft been upgraded but many of the original systems are still on the aircraft. The Osprey carries all standard equipment that robot vehicles have (not including loudspeaker and microphone) plus the following extra systems:

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.
M.A.D. Gear: This gear is only carried on Naval ASW versions of this aircraft. This is special equipment that has the ability to detect metal objects. M.A.D. stands for Magnetic Anomaly Detector. This is very effective at detecting submarines. Range: 2 miles (3.2 km) to either side of aircraft.
Dipping Sonar: Dipping sonar is only carried on Naval ASW versions of this aircraft. The sensor includes a passive sonar, active sonar, and an underwater communication unit. The active sonar and communication system can be detected by any vehicle using passive sonar if within their detection range.. Sonar can track up to 60 simultaneously and identify up to 30 of them. The sonar equipment has a unit that can be lower into water while hovering or flying up to 30 mph (26 knots/ 48 km) per hour. Range: Passive Sonar: 4 miles (6.4 km) Active Sonar: 6 miles (9.7 km). Underwater Communication: 2 miles (3.2 km)

Combat Bonuses:

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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