Paper Kite Biplane

BARD PAPER: VERA0004

Paper Kite-Class Biplane

Constructed of wood and canvas or similar materials, the Paper Kite represents the lowest tech fixed-wing aircraft possible. The aircraft is a biplane, with the engine (driving a single large "pusher" propellor) at the rear of the fuselage, mounted between twin booms which support the tailplane. The crew of two are provided with rather cramped positions in the fuselage - the pilot sits above and behind the gunner/observer, who mans the aircraft's single ring-mounted LMG. Despite it's armament, the Paper Kite is not really designed for combat - it is intended to be used more for artillery spotting and scouting. It is difficult to use as a ground attack aircraft, the machine gun being unsuitable for strafing, but in extremis it can be pressed into service, the observer/gunner throwing hand-grenades over the side of the cockpit. Because of its slow speed and low agility, the Paper Kite easily falls prey to any aircraft purpose-built for combat.

Due to the aircraft's flimsy construction and lack of sensors it can only be used in daylight, and then only if the weather allows it. While it is theoreticly possible to navigate the craft at night or in bad weather using the compass, airspeed indicator and maps, it is a risky prospect at best, and in any case landing is virtually impossible in darkness or low cloud.

One advantage of the Paper Kite and it's low-tech brethren over other, more advanced craft is that they can take off and land virtually anywhere - "airfields" for these craft are often just empty paddocks or converted sports grounds.

The plane was designed with Fire Fusion & Steel.

Paper Kite-Class Biplane

General Data

Price: 7490 Cr

Tech Level: 4

Size: 18m³

Mass: 300 kg fueled, 405 kg max takeoff.

Power: 0.036 MW internal combustion engine with propeller generating 0.018 tonnes thrust (no surplus power)

Maint: 1

Controls: Primitive Mechanical

Comunications: None

Sensor: None

Electronic Countermeasures: None

Life Support: None

Cargo: None

Crew 2: Pilot in cramped crewstation, gunner/observer in open crewstation.

Fire Control None

Aramanment: One TL-4 LMG (sans bipod) in forward flexible mount

Ammo: 5 50-round drum magazines.

Maxiumum Speed: 159 kph, 132 kph loaded.

Cruising Speed: 119 kph 99 kph loaded.

NOE Speed: NA

Travel Move: 476 km, 396 loaded.

Combat Move: 22, 18 loaded.

Agility: 3

Fuel Consumption: 7.2 L HCD/hour

Internal Fuel Capacity: 12 liters HCD

Endurance: 1.7 hours

Range: 99 km, 82 km loaded.

Takeoff Roll: 110 m, 201 m loaded.

Landing Roll: 75 m

Weapon Stats

Round	ROF	Dam val	Pen Rtg	Bulk	Mag	Recoil	Short
7*57mm ball (flexi)	5	3	2-Nil	6	50	-	130