Flatmouse

Model number: N/A
Code name: Flatmouse
Unit type: reconnaissance plane
Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces
Operator: Earth Federation Forces
First deployment: unknown
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard canopy-style cockpit
Dimensions: unknown
Wingspan: unknown
Weight: unknown
Armor materials: unknown
Propulsion: turbojet/ramjet engines: total output unknown
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown
Fixed armaments: none

One of the variants developed from some of the research that eventually became the FF-X7 Core Fighter, the Flatmouse was designed as a high speed reconnaissance and EW (electronic warfare) aircraft. Unfortunately, the advent of the Minovsky particle largely rendered the Flatmouse’s equipment useless. A high resolution camera pod was mounted on the underside of the fuselage, for use in high speed passes on enemy positions, but this important feature was useless in areas flooded with Minovsky particles. The Flatmouse used hybrid turbofan/ramjet engines to perform the high speed reconnaissance runs it was designed for, and it could also operate at high altitudes. During development, however, there were major flaws in the cooling systems for these hybrid engines, causing them to frequently overheat. This problem was rectified by the simple measure of a liquid coolant tank placed directly over the engines. Much of the technology used on the Flatmouse was based on 20th century research, and as such, it was considered a mediocre aircraft.

First appearance: MSV
Original mechanical designer: Kunio Okawara

N/A