Aigios Raptor

Aigios Raptor
Role	V/STOL transport aircraft
Designer	Aigios Defence
First flight	12 August 1991
Introduction	24 March 2004
Status	In service
Primary user	Belfrasian Army Belfrasian Air Force Federation Navy See Operators

The Aigios Raptor is an aicraft manufactured and designed by Aigios Defence capable of both vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities through the usage of two rotating nacelles sporting turboprop propeller systems. Despite early setbacks in it's design period, it has quickly been adopted by the Belfrasian military and by foreign buyers, both military and civilian based.

The emergence of the Raptor by Aigios Defence came when Aigios founder Gregorios began development of the prototype for what was intended to be both a proof of concept model and as a civilian vehicle. Interest by the government led to a dramatic funding increase which ultimately resulted in the first flight being made in 1991 as a major success. Despite invested interest in the abilities of the Raptor, the complexities of developing what was at the time the first tiltrotor in history resulted in many years of development.

After thirteen years of development and a trial period of service in test scenarios the Raptor entered service with the Belfrasian Armed Forces in 2004

Design and development

One of the two prototypes being flown by Gregorios Aigios personally

Members of the Belfrasian Army boarding a Raptor in Peloponasia, Belfras.

Variants

Raptor HC.1

First production version of the Raptor. Featured current hull form and current generation electronics.

Raptor HC.2

Second and current multi-purpose model of the Raptor. Replaced HC.1 with new glass architecture and add-on slots for additions of a refuelling system as needed along with installation points for hull-conforming aerodynamic fuel tanks and updated counter measures systems to improve survivability in a combat environment. New terrain-following radar allows pilots to operate at night more effectively and allows the on-board computer to better estimate landing zones for the pilots with fewer margins for error.

Raptor C.1

Brought into service as a branch-off of the HC.2, the C.1 is a specialised cargo variant designed initially as the 'COD.1' by the Federation Navy. The intention to create a new carrier onboard delivery (COD) system for the Navy ended up resulting in the repurposed C.1 cargo aircraft. Primary differences features a public address system and enlargened sponsons allowing for a range of 1,323 miles (2,129 km) without needing to refuel. In the Federation Navy this allows the aircraft to resupply task forces at long range, and for the Army and Air Force it provides a V/STOL cargo aircraft capable of filling the gap between the Arthuristan-made Centaur and existing light cargo aircraft.

Raptor EAW.1

Variant brought into service in 2009 by the Federation Navy as an Early Airborne Warfare platform to replace older designs. Features a AESA triangular radar and advanced secure communications equipment to allow the vehicle to communicate with it's base securely and a permament in-flight refuelling system allows it to extend it's range.

Raptor HAS.1

Operators

Belfras

• Belfrasian Army
• Federation Navy
• Belfrasian Air Force
• Federation Coast Guard

Orun Redisus

• Royal Orun Army
• Royal Redisan Air Force
• Royal Redisan Navy

Accidents

• On 5 August 2003 the second final-hull protoype suffered a port-engine failure during a test flight over the Thalassan Ocean resulting in both the loss of the aircraft and the loss of it's two test pilots, Euclio Auspex and Henricus Calerus.

• On 23 December 2010 a Naval Raptor C.1 flying from F.N.S Leonidas suffered a critical gearbox malfunction and had to ditch into the Periclean while transporting crew to a nearby land base. Thanks to the efforts of the pilot, Captain Olcinia Dannicus, all 18 souls aboard survived and were recovered shortly afterward.

• On 5 May 2017 an Air Force Raptor HC.2 suffered a large-scale bird strike, causing a breach through the cockpit windows and extensive damage to the starboard engine that resulted in a shut-down. The aircraft was able to bring itself down, but debris from the windows being breached caused fatal injuries to co-pilot Lieutenant Lusia Iunius. Post-crash investigation cleared the remaining crew of any wrongdoing, although stated that emergency procedures for bird strikes should be drilled more regularly as for almost two minutes post-incident no safety checks were carried out, with the crew attending to Lieutenant Iunius instead rather than the pilot beginning his check-list whilst the remaining crew rendered aid.

Specifications

Orthographical view of the Raptor

General characteristics

• Crew: 4 (pilot, copilot, flight engineer, crew chief)
• Capacity:
  

• 24 troops (seated), 32 troops (extended seating)
• 20,000 lb (9,070 kg) internal cargo, 15,000 lb (6,800 kg) external cargo

• Length: 17.5 m (57 ft) ()
• Rotor diameter: 14 m (46 ft) ()
• Height:
  

• 6.73 m (22.1 ft) (Nacelles vertical)
• 5.5 m (18 ft) (top of tail wings) ()

• Empty weight: 15,030 kg (33,140 lb) ()
• Max. takeoff weight:
  

• 57,000 kg (126,000 lb) Rolling take-off
• 52,600 kg (116,000 lb) Vertical take-off ()

• Powerplant: 2 × Augmenn 6150 turboshaft, () each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 350 mph (560 km/h)
• Combat radius: 426 mi (686 km) ()
• Ferry range: 2,230 mi (3,590 km) ()

Armament

• 1 x 7.62mm mount on ramp, removable
• 2 x 7.62mm mounts on side doors, retractable
• 1 x 7.62mm mount on belly, retractable, remote-operated