As the smoke from a burning settlement casts a dark pall over the desert, an Alliance rotodyne descends to extract the surviving members of a badly mauled militia squad. These transports were built to fill the niche between aeroplanes and helicopters. Though tiltrotors can fly higher and faster, rotodynes’ greater lifting potential and lower operating costs arguably make them superior strategic assets.





Design Features:





- The rotor mast, engines and landing gear are housed in external pods to increase cargo space. Streamlining reduces drag and extra armour can be fitted in high-risk environments.





- The twin turboshafts are linked by cams so both propellers will keep spinning if either engine fails. Power can be transferred to the main rotor for VTOL and hovering; no tail rotor is needed as prop pitch provides yaw control.





- Full power is applied to the props while the main rotor autorotates during high speed level flight. The stub wings and tailplanes provide extra lift while the twin rudders behind the props allow tighter turns than usual for an aircraft of this size.





- Rotodynes are generally much stronger and safer than tiltrotors. The engines do not have to tilt, so construction is simpler; there is no danger of tilting nacelles being jammed in one position; and losing a camshaft along with an engine is less likely to be fatal. Rotodynes’ large main rotors allow more efficient hovering and are harder to stall during fast descents. Their less concentrated rotor wash makes parachute drops easier and their exhaust is less likely to cause damage during takeoff and landing as it is not projected downwards.





- While many older rotodynes carry manually aimed guns some have been refitted with semi-automated weapons controlled by hull or cabin crew. Chainguns in nose and tail barbettes can lay down suppressive fire while radar jammers, chaff and flares give these aircraft a chance against missiles.





- Though Alliance forces lack the means the rotodyne concept could be improved. Veyon engineers ignore it in favour of tiltrotors, but the CMIC has made tests. Hypothetical advances include lighter, more efficient airframes, shrouded fan or jet propulsion, and rotors that slow down or stop for fast flight.





This concept was inspired by the X3 Eurocopter (www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7fWDO…) though the aesthetic owes more to the Fairey Rotodyne – which used a jet-tipped main rotor – and several more conventional transports.



