The F203 Dragon II (F203 ドラゴンII) is an aircraft developed by McNell Douglar, and used by UN Forces during the Unification Wars. It appears in the Super Dimension Fortress Macross television series. Known pilots of this aircraft are Roy Focker.
Development
During development of OverTechnology gained via research of the fallen Alien Star Ship-1 (ASS-1), the United Nations Government decided to attempt incorporating early discoveries into existing human technology. Destroids and variable fighters were still several years away from being realized so the new technologies developed by the OTEC research institute would be used to build a jet fighter called the F203 Dragon II.
Technology & Combat Characteristics
The F203 Dragon II is a jet fighter created from the combination of human technology and OverTechnology gained from the ASS-1. Externally its design aesthetics looks similar with F-14A+2 Tomcat or older jet fighter model, but the implementation of OverTechnology such as the 2D Thrust Vector engine increased its overall performance, particularly its maneuverability.[1] It also had Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capability thanks to the 2D engines. In terms of armaments, it was equipped with 30mm Gatling Cannon mounted on each side F203's wing root, and in total of three Homing Missiles mounted on the aircraft's wing hardpoint. Thanks to that, the F203 boast a high performance against jet fighter of the era such as MIM-31 and its excellent maneuverability makes it deadly in the hands of experienced or ace pilots.
Armaments
- 2 x 30 mm Gatling Gun
- A gatling type weapon that shoot 30mm caliber rounds, and these weapons are mounted on each side F203's wing root.
- 6 x Homing Missiles
- In total of 3 x missiles can be mounted on each of F203 wing hardpoints.
Variant
- F203 Dragon II (Roy Focker Use)
- A customized F203 used by Roy Focker, and it was painted with black markings on its fuselage.[1]
History
Unification Wars
The F203 began design only a year and a half after the establishment of OTEC and was formally adopted as the main fighter of the United Nations Military in A.D 2003.[1] Sometimes in the A.D 2000s, several F203 was deployed on an unknown rural UN Military base, and Roy Focker is amongst the one who pilots it. During one of the battle Roy's unit led two F203 and engaged several MIM-31 Karyovin and manage to destroy most of them with ease.[2]
Space War I
On February 7, A.D 2009, several F203 Dragon IIs were seen parked around South Ataria Island during the launch day of the SDF-1 Macross.[3]
Gallery
Linearts
_Front.jpg "F203 Dragon II (Roy Focker) Front.jpg (136 KB)")
_Rear.jpg "F203 Dragon II (Roy Focker) Rear.jpg (98 KB)")
_Bottom.jpg "F203 Dragon II (Roy Focker) Bottom.jpg (100 KB)")
_Landing_Gear.jpg "F203 Dragon II (Roy Focker) Landing Gear.jpg (103 KB)")
_Front_Blank.jpg "F203 Dragon II (Roy Focker) Front Blank.jpg (144 KB)")
_Rear_Blank.jpg "F203 Dragon II (Roy Focker) Rear Blank.jpg (106 KB)")
_Bottom_Blank.jpg "F203 Dragon II (Roy Focker) Bottom Blank.jpg (112 KB)")
_Landing_Gear_Blank.jpg "F203 Dragon II (Roy Focker) Landing Gear Blank.jpg (118 KB)")
Anime
Notes & Trivia
- According to the book "Shoji Kawamori: Macross Design Works" the F203 Dragon II design was inspired by McDonnel Douglas F-15 Eagle jet fighter series.
- Its manufacturer name also a fictional version of the McDonnel Douglas.
- Although the book never specify which F-15 variant its based on, in terms of design and functionality, the F203 resembles the F-15 STOL/MTD without the forward canards.
- Despite the Macross supplementary material such as "Macross Chronicles" stated the F203 had VTOL capability, in the anime it was shown to have STOVL Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) instead of VTOL.
- The difference between STOVL and VTOL aircraft, is that STOVL aircraft requires short runway to takeoff, whereas VTOL aircraft generally doesn't need one.
References
External Links
 For the Robotech equivalent, visit F-203 Dragon II. |