CAep19
IF-63 Roc
Aircraft designers in the early '60s were enamored with the cult of speed. Higher and faster was the name of the game and the original IF-53G excelled at both when it was introduced. However, its avionics were already getting long in the tooth upon its introduction and its inability to conduct air-to-ground strikes made it a one trick pony.
So was born the IF-63. Developed from the stretched trainer version of the IF-53, both crew stations feature flight controls but the backseater is formally the Weapons Operator-Navigator, WON. The Roc replaces the pure delta of its forebear with a variable geometry wing. This allows it to excel in a wider range of flight profiles and significantly lowers the landing speed. The developers decided that the increase in maneuverability, handling and survivability made up for the reduction in top speed.
The Roc incorporated a wide range of further changes: reduction to a single 20mm rotary cannon rather than two 30mm cannons, an omnidirectional RWR in the vacated cannon bay, compatibility with a wide range of air-to-ground munitions, and a new radar.
Thanks to Awe for the render and Centurion for the background.
IF-63 Roc
Aircraft designers in the early '60s were enamored with the cult of speed. Higher and faster was the name of the game and the original IF-53G excelled at both when it was introduced. However, its avionics were already getting long in the tooth upon its introduction and its inability to conduct air-to-ground strikes made it a one trick pony.
So was born the IF-63. Developed from the stretched trainer version of the IF-53, both crew stations feature flight controls but the backseater is formally the Weapons Operator-Navigator, WON. The Roc replaces the pure delta of its forebear with a variable geometry wing. This allows it to excel in a wider range of flight profiles and significantly lowers the landing speed. The developers decided that the increase in maneuverability, handling and survivability made up for the reduction in top speed.
The Roc incorporated a wide range of further changes: reduction to a single 20mm rotary cannon rather than two 30mm cannons, an omnidirectional RWR in the vacated cannon bay, compatibility with a wide range of air-to-ground munitions, and a new radar.
Thanks to Awe for the render and Centurion for the background.