From:	WILLIAM FRIERSON <will1am@*****.ASU.EDU>
Subject:	Re: Banshee Bird Strikes
Date:	Wed, 7 Jun 1995 04:09:18 -0700

acgetche@****.ucdavis.edu (Adam Getchell) wrote:

>Not in and of itself, no, a Barrier spell doesn't hurt much of anything.
>It's just when the Banshee's doing 720 kph at medium altitude and strikes
>something solid like that it tends to radically alter its aerodynamic
>properties. A vectored thrust vehicle by definition requires
>microturbulent airflow over the hull and a relatively static pressure
>wave in the intake nozzles. Slamming into a magical barrier disrupts
>both of these, causing flame-out and loss of lift/maneuverability. In
>addition, the resultant turbulence vortices in the intake nozzles
>interfere with the process of restarting the engines.

Well, the barrier is going to give. Just like a fence or stone wall
would slow a tank down. It won't stop it completely. I haven't
played for a while, but I remember that the barrier would give if
a large enough object rammed into it.

And Vectored thrust vehicles don't generate lift by forward airspeed. They
generate lift by vectoring thrust down towards the ground in excess of their
weight. I imagine that the intakes are armored and multiple, as those of
a tank should be. It's a fighting vehicle, not an airplane.

>A Vectored Thrust vehicle is basically a flying brick, so the loss of
>lift is distressing, but not fatal like the loss of engine power.

They don't generate lift via airspeed. They are not aerodynes.

>The U.S. Air Force has lost several combat aircraft due to mid-air
>collisions with birds.

Yes, they have. But when has a bird strike crippled or destroyed an
armored fighting vehicle? I know the bird wouldn't scratch the paint
on an APC. Unless you shot it out of a cannon at close range. And it
still wouldn't affect the operation of the vehicle.

Modern combat aircraft are very light. Especially when compared to
armored vehicles. And that's what the Banshee is. An armored fighting
vehicle.

Later

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William Frierson Internet: WILL1AM@*****.asu.edu