Golden Age Weapon Smiths P-51M Mustang Sky Cycle killers:

Because Sky Cycles are very expensive vehicles with their VTOL thrusters and computer controls, many groups have looked for alternatives for the inexpensive aircraft design. A pilot, General Moor of the REEF, was on a relaxation flight in a reproduction P-51 Mustang she had built and was ambushed by four sky cycle. In the course of the combat, she actually downed three of the sky cycles. While most realize that there are few pilots as good as her, suddenly they realized that there was an ultra-cheap aircraft that could still know down sky cycles. The reason why it is so cheap is because of the computer components and high tech thrusters make most aircraft very expensive.

Golden Age Weaponsmiths realized that this was a great opportunity and started on the P-51 Construction. The only real changes that they made was to replace the aircrafts aluminum skin with MDC composites and use ramjet rounds in the 6 machine guns. At first they simply converted some that they had found but since the aircraft is much like an automobile they found it very easy to convert one of their factories to producing this aircraft. Since then, several companies have also copied the design and are also selling it. The P-51 Mustang is the only combat aircraft on Rifts Earth without computer systems and the oldest combat aircraft being constructed on Rifts Earth

Model Number: P-51M Mustang
Vehicle Type: Single Engine Fighter
Crew: One or Two (90% are designed for one)

M.D.C. by Location:

	[1] Wings (2):	60 each
	[2] Elevators (2):	30 each
	[2] Rudders (2):	30 each
	Cockpit:	60
	Engine:	60
	Propeller:	25
	[3] Main Body:	120

Notes:
[1] Destroying a Wing will cause the plane to crash.
[2] Destruction of rudders or one elevator will still allow the fighter to be controlled by the varying of power levels of the engines but fighter has a penalty of -10 to dodge, and a -30% penalty to all piloting rolls. Destruction of both of the elevators will leave the plane uncontrollable and pilot must eject to survive.
[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the Aircraft down completely, rendering it useless and causing it to crash if in flight

Speed:
Driving on Ground (Taxiing): Only possible for take offs and landings as well as for parking and storage. Speed is 40 mph (64 kph) when traveling and not on take off or landing.
Flying: 487 mph (783.8 kph) with an altitude of 41,900 feet (12,780 meters)
Range: 1,300 miles (2,092 km) . The Mustang cannot be refuel in the air.

Statistical Data:
Height: 13 feet 8 inches (4.17 meters)
Wingspan: 37 feet .5 inches (11.3 meters)
Length: : 32 feet 2.5 inches (9.82 meters)
Weight: 7,125 pounds (3,232 kilograms) Empty, 11,600 pounds (5,266 kilograms) operational
Power System: Conventional, uses aviation fuel
Cargo: Minimal (Storage for small equipment), does not include hard points
Black Market Cost: 250,000 credits.

Weapon Systems:

1. Six (6) .50 BMG Machine Guns: This is the original weapons of the P-51. GAW and the other have simply replaced the standard Ammo with WI-20 Heavy Ramjet rounds. When all six fire together, the damage is incredible using Ramjet rounds.
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 4 or 5).
   Range: 3,000 feet (914.4 m)
   Mega Damage: 1D4 per single round. All six cannons can fire one round for 5D4. A burst of 40 round from one cannon does 5D6. When all six cannons are firing a burst of 40 round, the damage is 3D6x10 per burst.
   Payload: 800 rounds (20 bursts each cannon) for a total of 4800 rounds of ammunition.
2. Wing Hard Points: The Mustang can carry ordnance on its hard points.
   Rate of Fire: 1 at a time, or volleys of 2, 3, or 4.
   Range: Varies by altitude for bombs and varies by mini-missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Mega-Damage: Varies by bomb or missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Payload: Two heavy bombs per wing, Three medium bombs per wing, 4 light bombs per wing, or eight mini-missile per wing.

[Golden Age Weaponsmiths is a trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).

Copyright © 1998, Kitsune. All rights reserved.