Vertibucks and You

Vertibucks and You: A Brief Report on Vertibuck Operations
Lieutenant TicTac, EAF
June 15th, 2077

The V-2 Vertibuck, workhorse of the Equestrian Air Force.  Commonly referred to as 'Verts' by their pilots, these aircraft have become an integral part of the EAF, owing to their versatility and ruggedness.  This report will detail on three key aspects of the Vertibuck: variants, crew, and specifications.

Variants

CV-2 Transport
The CV-2 Vertibuck is the cargo and transport variant, being able to transport troops and supplies around quickly.  The back of the Vertibuck lowers down into a ramp, providing access to the cargo hold.  The cargo hold can seat up to 32 troops, or hold up to 20,000 pounds of cargo.  The cockpit has a large plexiglass windshield, providing a wide field of view for the two pilots.  They stand in front of a firewall, separating them from the cargo area.

AV-2 Gunship
The AV-2 Vertibuck is the most commonly seen, as well as the smallest Vertibuck variant.  This model has no rear ramp, but rather two side doors leading into a small crew area, which can seat up to four.  The two pilots stand in front of a firewall, and only have a single line of plexiglass panels for the windshield, providing extra protection but less visibility.

A/CV-2 Special Operations
The A/CV-2 Vertibuck is a combination of the Gunship and Transport variants, and is used for special operations roles.  Like the transports, they have a back ramp, which leads into a small cargo bay that can seat eight troops, or hold 5,000 pounds of cargo.  Like the other two, the pilots stand in front of a firewall, and have a larger plexiglass windshield, similar to the transports.

Flying the Vertibuck

Crew Assignments
All three Vertibuck variants have a crew of two, a pilot, and a co-pilot.  Both are responsible for flying the aircraft and each has additional roles of their own.  The pilot is generally responsible for firing the Vertibuck's weapons, while the co-pilot is responsible for handling the defensive countermeasures and navigation.

Controls
All pegasi who enlist in the EAF are implanted with a small interface chip in their wings, which allows them to control the Vertibuck, or any other EAF aircraft, by simply flying in place and concentrating on where you want to go.  The Vertibucks do not have the traditional interface cage, but rather the interface is mounted into the firewall behind the pilots.  It takes immense concentration to keep a Vertibuck under control as a result, but the pilots are masters at it.  This configuration also requires the addition of a control panel and HUD to display flight information to the pilots.

Specifications

CV-2 Vertibuck

Crew: Two
Capacity: 32 troops or 20,000 lbs. (9,070 kg), 34 with pilots
Empty Weight: 33,140 lbs. (15,032 kg)
Max Takeoff Weight: 60,500 lbs. (27,400 kg)
Engines: 2× AE 1107C-Liberty turboshafts, 6,150 hp (4,590 kW) each
Armament: 1x Chin-mounted Gatling Laser
1x Ramp-mounted M-2 .50 caliber Machine Gun
1x Chaff Cannon
1x Flare Gun
Top Speed: 351 mph (565 km/h)
Cruising Speed: 277 mph (446 km/h)
Service Ceiling: 25,000 ft. (7,620 m)

AV-2 Vertibuck

Crew: Two
Capacity: 4, 6 with pilots
Empty Weight: 33,140 lbs. (15,032 kg)
Max Takeoff Weight: 60,500 lbs. (27,400 kg)
Engines: 2× AE 1107C-Liberty turboshafts, 6,150 hp (4,590 kW) each
Armament: 2x Chin-mounted Gatling Lasers
6x ASAG-3 Spitfire Missiles
1x M-2 .50 caliber Machine Gun
1x Chaff Cannon
1x Flare Gun
Top Speed: 351 mph (565 km/h)
Cruising Speed: 277 mph (446 km/h)
Service Ceiling: 25,000 ft. (7,620 m)

A/CV-2 Vertibuck

Crew: Two
Capacity: 8, 10 with pilots
Empty Weight: 33,140 lbs. (15,032 kg)
Max Takeoff Weight: 60,500 lbs. (27,400 kg)
Engines: 2× AE 1107C-Liberty turboshafts, 6,150 hp (4,590 kW) each
Armament: 1x Chin-mounted Gatling Laser
6x ASAG-3 Spitfire Missiles
2x .50 caliber Machine Guns
2x 19-Tube 70mm Rocket Pods
1x Chaff Cannon
1x Flare Gun
Top Speed: 351 mph (565 km/h)
Cruising Speed: 277 mph (446 km/h)
Service Ceiling: 25,000 ft. (7,620 m)