Tomlinson Industries C-188 Wren STOL Transport:

Having major facilities in both the United States and Australia, Tomlinson Industries was a major pre-Rifts manufacturing company. The company had interests in shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing, and even involved in small arms productions. Production including both military and civilian designs. The company got its start with the founder buying parts of companies in trouble and allowing employees to have a wide latitude. In most cases, she was able to turn around companies by doing this.

The Wren was designed as a small civilian aircraft. The design was primarily as both a small airliner and for private operators as a VIP transport. In this role, the aircraft was in direct competition with Gulfstream. In addition, there were also a limited number of these aircraft purchased by various militaries as transports. Because these aircraft can take off and land in a short distance, they could often be found in remote areas. As a result, a surprising number of these aircraft survived the coming of the Rifts.

Development of the design was begun before the beginning of the second cold war when the Communists came back into power in Russia. Originally the design was suppose to be a combined project between the Antonov company and Tomlinson Industries. The plan was for a smaller aircraft based on the An-74 transport. Later however, Antonov pulled out of the development and Tomlinson Industries continued development on their own. Interestingly, the Wren and the An-74 were in competition with each other. An extremely popular design, it is believed that production of the Wren continued until the coming of the Rifts.

The Wren still does look a little like a smaller version of the An-74 transport. It uses the Coandă effect in order to improve STOL performance. To do this, the aircraft utilizes engine exhaust gases blowing over the wing's upper surface to boost lift. As a result, the Racoon requires far shorter runways than a similar sized aircraft might otherwise require for take off and landings.

Initially the Wren was conventionally powered but later models, designated the Wren II, replaced the conventional engines with fusion turbine engines. This gave the aircraft virtually unlimited range compared to the original design as well as increasing payload. Both conventional and fusion powered models have survived the coming of the Rifts and can still be found. Most operators prefer fusion powered models.

Top speed for conventionally powered models is three hundred and eighty knots with fusion powered models improving somewhat with a maximum speed of three hundred and ninety-five knots. Maximum range of conventional models is around thirty-five hundred nautical miles. Fusion powered models can operate for up to twenty hours operating at a cruise speed of three hundred and fifty knots and can operate up to ten hours at full power before overheating.

The first prototype models of the Wren used conventional composite materials and aircraft aluminum. Only a very few were produced when there was a revolution in high strength composites and alloys. As a result, production quickly switched over to these new materials. Even though a civilian design primarily, the use of these high strength materials made it extremely popular. As far as known, all surviving Wren are made from advanced modern materials.

Standard crew is two with an ergonomic cockpit. The cockpit design was updated several times after it first entered service. The aircraft can practically fly itself on autopilot and has flight systems for terrain following. Few other civilian aircraft featured such systems. Airline versions of the aircraft usually have two or three attendant and cargo versions usually have a cargo master.

As an airliner or military transport role, the Wren can carry up to thirty-eight passengers or up to eight metric tons of cargo. While passenger capacity was not increased in fusion powered models, cargo was increased to twelve metric tons. Cargo transport models have a rear cargo while airliner models do not. In the VIP transport role, the aircraft normally only carries around a dozen passengers. The cabin in such models is often quite luxurious.

As designed, the Wren is not armed. There was some discussion early on to develop a gunship version of the Wren but never went beyond the design stage. Those in military service did however have the option of being equipped with chaff to decoy missiles. After the coming of the Rifts, a number of owners have equipped these aircraft with various weapon systems. Most arm their aircraft for self defense purposes but some arm the aircraft with a variety of offensive weaponry. Most common offensive weaponry is a pair of mini-missile launchers.

Model Type:	C-188 Wren	Conventionally Powered Version.
	C-188-2 Wren II	Nuclear Powered Version.

Vehicle Type: Light STOL Transport.

Crew: Two (Pilot and Co-Pilot). Cargo versions also have space for a cargo master and airliner / VIP transport have space for two attendants.

Crew:	Airliner:	2 (Pilot and Copilot) - Also usually has two flight attendants.
	Civilian Transport:	2 (Pilot and Copilot).
	Military Transport:	3 (Pilot, Copilot, and Cargo Master).
	VIP Transport	2 (Pilot and Copilot) - Also usually has two flight attendants.
Passengers:	Airliner:	38 Passengers.
	Civilian Transport:	2 Passengers.
	Military Transport:	40 Troops.
	VIP Transport	12 Passengers.

M.D.C. by Location:

	Rear Cargo Door (Cargo Transport Models):	160.
	Side Doors (2):	30.
	[1] Wings (2):	200 each.
	[2] Elevators (2):	75 each.
	[2] Rudders (1):	100.
	Cockpit:	150.
	[3] Engines (2):	160.
	Landing Gear (5):	10 each.
	[4] Main Body:	400.

Notes:

[1] Destroying a wing will cause the plane to crash.

[2] Destruction of one elevator will still allow the aircraft to be controlled by the varying of power levels of the engines but transport 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 aircraft crew must evacuate to survive. Elevators are mounted above rudder so the loss of the rudder also causes the loss of elevators.

[3] The destruction of one engine will reduce the transports top speed by one half and give the pilot a -4 penalty to dodge as well as giving a 10% penalty to piloting. Destruction of both four engines and/or propellers will cause the aircraft to crash. Pilot may attempt a emergency landing or transport crew 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. Aircraft can land and take off from primitive runways.

Flying: Conventional: Designed for short take offs and landings. The Wren can reach a top speed of 437.3 mph (703.8 kph / 380 knots). The aircraft does not have an afterburner and the aircrafts normal cruise speed is 391.3 mph (600 kph / 340 knots) but varies on situation. The Wren has a maximum altitude of 42,000 feet (12,801.6 meters).

Nuclear: Designed for short take offs and landings. The Wren II can reach a top speed of 454.6 mph (731.5 kph / 395 knots). The aircraft does not have an afterburner and the aircrafts normal cruise speed is 402.8 mph (648.2 kph / 350 knots) but varies on situation. The Wren II has a maximum altitude of 44,000 feet (13,411.2 meters).

Range: Conventional: 4,027.7 miles (6,482 km / 3,500 nautical miles) with maximum payload. The aircraft has approximately 25% better range when the aircraft is non carrying any cargo. The Wren cannot be refueled in the air.

Nuclear: Effectively Unlimited but does overheat when operated for long periods of time. The Wren II engines will overheat after 10 hours of continuous operation when running at top speed and 20 hours when run at under 402.8 mph (648.2 kph / 350 knots) .

Statistical Data:

Height: 25 feet 9 inches (7.85 meters).

Wingspan: 95 feet 6 inches (29.11 meters).

Length: 82 feet 3 inches (25.07 meters).

Weight: Wren (Conventional): 31,967.0 pounds (14,500kg) empty and 62,170.4 pounds (28,200 kg) maximum takeoff weight. Wren II (Nuclear): 32,628.4 pounds (14,800 kg) empty and 66,579.6 pounds (30,200 kg) maximum takeoff weight.

Power System: Wren (Conventional): Two Pratt & Whitney PW8000 turbofans, uses aviation fuel, Wren II (Nuclear): Two Nuclear Fusion Turbines, Should have an average life span of 12 years.

Cargo: Wren (Conventional): 8.81 (8 metric tons), Wren II (Nuclear): 13.23 tons (12 metric tons).

Black Market Cost: Wren (Conventional): 4 to 6 million credits, Wren II (Nuclear): 10 to 15 million credits.

Weapon Systems (None Standard):

Anti-Missile Chaff Dispenser (Military Version): 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:
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:

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.

[ Altarain TM, Bandito Arms TM, Brodkil TM, Chipwell Armaments TM, Coalition States TM, Cyber-Knight TM, Federation of Magic TM, Free Quebec TM, Golden Age Weaponsmiths TM, Horune TM, Iron Heart Armaments TM, Kankoran TM, Kittani TM, Kydian TM, Larsen’s Brigade TM, M.D.C. TM, Mechanoids TM, Mega-Damage TM, Megaversal Legion TM, Millennium Tree TM, Mutants in Orbit TM, Naruni Enterprises TM, Naut’Yll, New Navy TM, New Sovietskiy TM, NGR TM, Nog Heng TM, Northern Gun TM, Phase World TM, Psyscape TM, Rifter TM, SAMAS TM, S.D.C. TM, Shemarrian TM, Splugorth TM, Stormspire TM, Sunaj TM, Tolkeen TM, Triax TM, Wellington Industries TM, Wilk’s Laser Technologies TM, Xiticix TM, and Zaayr TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

[ Beyond the Supernatural®, Heroes Unlimited®, Nightbane®, Ninjas & Superspies®, Palladium Fantasy®, and Rifts® are registered trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Return