Foxtail Duplane
| Foxtail Duplane | |
|---|---|
| Type | Skyfighter / Duplane |
| Designation | FxD (standard), AFxD (Azrunite) |
| Affiliation | Brazak West, Azrune (variant) |
| Manufacturer | Locke & Samson Heavy Industries |
| Designer | Myers Samson |
| First flight | 5 March 9296 |
| Unit cost | ƒ58,200 |
Built by the famous Locke & Samson Heavy Industries, the Foxtail Duplane is probably the most famous duplane in the world and among the most successful skyfighters ever built.
Attributed as the brainchild of Myers Samson (father of the current company owner, Matilbeth Samson), the prototype was completed in 9296. Many parts were based on the Sprockworth Z, the company’s older model for the skyfighter Duplane class. In fact, some later variants of the Sprockworth Z were modified to use the Mithron engine. The new design was a big improvement on its predecessor however with the Foxtail gaining meaty acceleration and robust performance from the massively improved engines, stronger frame and extra firepower from the Morzer cannons. These were the main flaws of the Sprockworth, the result being one deadly new skyfighter.
Once the prototype had satisfied requirements, the Foxtail went into production at the four L&S factories in Tovstok, Laronor and Kilwasu. The first Foxtails were delivered in 9298. Around a year later L&S Azrune division completed the modified design, the AFxD, an Azrunite edition which featured the first duplane-size electromagnetic countermeasure system.
The Foxtail typically operates in squadrons of six. It carries a single pilot, and in the hands of a skilled professional can outmanoeuvre most opposition (and outgun the rest). Approximately 3,700 have been built, of which only 803 have been destroyed in combat. Over 15,800 eliminated aircraft have been verified as downed by Foxtails. The Azrunite flagship Akron carries a complement of three squadrons of six AFxD Azrune-variant fighters on standby, plus an additional four spare.
Because of the difficulty in recovering downed pilots before they fall through the Understorm, the Foxtail also introduced an auxillary cargo space that is just big enough to seat a single passenger in emergency. It also has an incredibly low Stall speed, which has been used for civilian rescue and even in conjunction with off-the-wall Cloudgazer tactics.
