Raptor

The Raptor is a vehicle utilized by both the Colonial military and government emergency service operators. A versatile craft, it is designed to perform multiple roles, but the Raptor most commonly takes part in reconnaissance and scouting operations. Three variants of this design are in use by the Colonials since the outbreak of hostilities with the Cylons.
== First Cylon War-era Variant ==
=== Overview ===
The First Cylon War-era Raptor (nicknamed "flying pillboxes" or "buses") is little changed from its later counterpart, but features a longer cabin with an aft-facing gun emplacement. This design also relies on the main sublight engines for maneuvering. 
This design was considered by the Colonials to generally be slow, and an easy target for Cylon forces to attack and destroy. However, it was not impossible to eliminate enemy targets while flying one. 
The Raptors of this type are eventually replaced by their modern counterparts .
=== FTL Operations ===
It is not known if this design commonly carries FTL drives, like their later counterparts do. Ten years into the War, circa , Raptor 909 does not carry one, however, a statement by CO Silas Nash suggests that the Colonials do utilize smaller FTL capable ships. It is possible that the FTL drive and related components were removed in order to enlarge the cabin, and to accommodate the "Toaster Slayer" aft-mounted cannon. 
=== Life Support ===
The main flight deck / cabin of a Raptor is fully pressurized. However, crews operate in flight suits and helmets to help protect them against any hull breach. The cabin can also be depressurized and used in space rescue operations.
=== Propulsion ===
*2x rotating sublight engine pods mounted aft.
*RCS points
=== Armament ===
Raptors of this era are more commonly armed that the later design. This design can be outfitted with mission specific ship to ship missiles, incorporates a rear cannon, and is equipped with electronic countermeasures for defense . 
===Gallery===
Image:Cylon War Era Raptor.png|Cylon war era generation Raptor. Its sublight drives are configured differently.
Image:Cylon War Era Raptor Rear.png|Engine pods and rear view bubble.
Image:Blood and Chrome Raptor Tail Gun.png|"Toaster Slayer".
==Modern Raptor==
=== Overview ===
The Raptor is usually operated by a crew of two (one pilot and one ECO), has synthetic gravity on board, and is controlled by means of a fly-by-wire system . It is capable of atmospheric flight and is also equipped with a short-range FTL engine, allowing it to make short faster-than-light hops. The vehicle has been a mainstay of the Colonial fleet for over 40 years, having entered service sometime prior to the twelfth year, , of the first Cylon War (TRS: "Razor Flashbacks," Episode 3). Its versatility and reliability in various roles has likely prevented it from being phased out by newer Colonial craft.
As a scout, Raptors can:
*Undertake short and medium-range scans to detect electromagnetic, heat or other signatures from other vessels.
*Scan planetary surfaces for signs of life, energy output, or to locate and assess mineral deposits .
*Scout ahead of its parent warship in other planetary or celestial systems for any signs of hostile intent or stellar conditions prior to the parent ship's arrival .
*Undertake search & rescue operations after an engagement with Cylon forces.
When scouting, Raptors can operate independently, or in concert with other Raptors and Vipers . 
As an ECM platform, the Raptor contains a full suite of electronic countermeasure and monitoring tools, enabling it to:
*Jam wireless or relay transmissions (by wireless or optically) from other spacecraft .
*Scramble control signals used by guided weapons .
*Undertake IFF operations for Viper squadrons .
In addition to reconnaissance and scouting, the Raptor can also undertake the following roles: 
*Airborne warning & control and electronic countermeasures platform supporting Viper operations 
*Marine assault craft 
*Ambulance / evac vehicle (
*General purpose transport 
*Combat Search and Rescue 
*Secure communication with other vessels 
*Launching decoy drones 
*Combat assault vehicle 
In the transport role, a Raptor is capable of carrying around eight to ten adults in addition to the two-person crew. In the assault role, it can carry a squad of some eight equipped Marines .
=== Atmospheric Operations ===
The Raptor is designed for atmospheric as well as space-based operations. However, a critical element for atmospheric operations is that to remain airborne requires fuel: once in an atmosphere, the engines must be run constantly to maintain lift and to hover. Depending on the composition of the atmosphere itself, this can place severe strain on the Raptor's engines .
Due to their overall configuration and bulk, Raptors may also suffer from poor handling at low speeds, and rely heavily on directed thrust to remain airborne.
=== FTL Operations ===
Raptors are fitted with small, general purpose FTL drives, but unlike larger drives on capital ships, they seem to be limited to ten to twenty FTL jumps, depending in part on the amount of tylium fuel being carried. A Raptor can also be outfitted with a Heavy Raider's navigational computer that, when operated by a Cylon, can be used to calculate and safely make longer jumps than normal .
After allying with the Cylon rebels, Galactica Raptors were updated with Cylon FTL drives to enhance their jump range 
=== Life Support ===
The main flight deck / cabin of a Raptor is fully pressurized. However, crews operate in flight suits and helmets to help protect them against any hull breach . The cabin can also be depressurized and used in space rescue operations. Re-pressurization takes 10 seconds (TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again," "A Day in the Life"). The forward pilot and co-pilot seats can eject in an emergency as the forward canopy is blown away prior to the ejection .
=== Propulsion ===
*2x fixed sublight engines mounted aft
*1x small-scale FTL system
*RCS points
=== Armament ===
====Offensive====
Raptors are normally unarmed as they make for a poor general-purpose fighter. The craft have an internal weapons bay capable of holding both offensive and defensive weapons. They are also capable of carrying heavy external armaments on four wing hardpoints, two wingtip hardpoints, and two fuselage hardpoints on the sides of the Raptor's body. Known weapons carried include:
*nuclear missiles
*bombs/munitions pods
*quad racks of missiles
*multiple-tube rocket batteries mounted on the fuselage points
*dual Kinetic Energy Weapons
====Defensive====
The Raptor's contours reduce its DRADIS signature to avoid detection. In addition, the craft carries an assortment of pods to aid in communications or defense as well as electronic countermeasures such as a jigger.A close-up of a Raptor display in the Miniseries (timestamp 57 m 41 sec) shows the name and number of these items.
*Up to 6 decoy drones
*Up to 4 communication drones
*Up to 4 sets of flares
*Up to 4 chaff pods
=== Layout ===
The Raptor is an angular vehicle built for function, not aesthetics. The forward section consists of a flight cabin with side-by-side ejection seats for the pilot and ECO, with a large bubble canopy providing wide fields of view both forward and side. The flight cabin opens into the main compartment where a workstation containing early warning, electronic countermeasures, and other equipment is manned by the ECO when not co-piloting the craft. The main compartment features a few fold-out jump seats attached to the bulkhead, and stowage for repair kits, medical supplies, and emergency pressure seals to deal with small hull breaches from the interior .
Access to the Raptor's main compartment is primarily through a large port-side hydraulic door, and a floor-mounted hatchway provides access through the deck. A pressurized docking skirt can also be extended from the underside, enabling the Raptor to dock to the hulls of other vessels. In assault missions, marines can use this skirt to breech a hull and board a hostile vessel .
Aft of the pressurized area are the FTL drive and main sublight engines. Port and starboard stub wings provide additional lift during atmospheric flight, and winglets reduce drag and provide step access to the wings and hull. RCS thrusters are placed throughout the craft for landing, maneuvering and stabilization .
===Gallery===
Image:Raptor front down.jpg|Zoic CGI model.
Image:Raptor back side.jpg|Zoic CGI model.
Image:Raptor port.jpg|Zoic CGI model.
Image:Raptor front canopy.jpg|Zoic CGI model.
==Civilian Variant==
=== Search and Rescue Raptor ===
A civilian "Search and Rescue" Raptor is utilized by medical facilities to airlift patients to nearby hospitals. These craft were used after the renewed Cylon attacks to evacuate injured persons from the rubble of targeted cities. After the attacks on Picon, John Cavil took an injured Ellen Tigh to one of these Raptors, which made its way to Rising Star before escaping with at Ragnar. These craft have a red/white paint scheme which differentiates them with their military counterparts. 
It is presumed that the remaining fleet is destroyed or captured by Cylon forces during their occupation of the Colonies . 
== Alternate Variants ==
Alternate Raptors with different color schemes are in use up to the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. One such Raptor can be found in a floating dock off the coast of Picon, near the Club Pink Moon that Ellen Tigh frequents before the Fall, with a two-tone green and white paint scheme .
File:The Plan - An Evacuation Raptor Lands in the Distance Behind Tory Foster.jpeg|On , a bloodied Tory Foster leaves the wreck of her car as an evacuation Raptor makes its landing nearby .
File:EVAC Raptors.jpg|Tory Foster leaves her wrecked car as civilian search and rescue Raptors recover survivors during the Fall of the Twelve Colonies .
File:The Plan - Cavil Oversees Ellen Tigh's Rescue on Picon.jpeg|After is bombarded during the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, John Cavil watches as an injured Ellen Tigh is brought aboard an evacuation Raptor .
File:The Plan - Two-Tone Raptor in a Picon Harbor.jpeg|On , a two-tone green and white Raptor sits on a landing platform in midst of a harbor .
== Notes ==
* "Raptor" is a Latin word meaning bird of prey.
*The design of the Raptor originally began as this sketch. "Sketches like this are great for selling a concept," explains production designer Richard Hudolin. "The Raptor is derived from an Apache helicopter and we wanted to give it a retro feel, a nuts-and-bolts look, to give the impression that in its time it was the best of the best, but now its time is almost over."
*The design of the Raptor was based on the US Army's Apache helicopter. Ronald D. Moore thinks of it "as analogous to the Navy's EA-6 Prowler (a variant of the A-6 Intruder popularized in Flight of the Intruder)."
*The joystick seen inside of the Raptor appears to be a Logitech Attack 3.
*The usage of Raptors in both military and civilian applications suggests that the Raptor, which has seen service for over 50 years dating back to the First Cylon War, has entered civilian life in the aftermath of the Armistice.
==== Making the Raptor fly ====
thumb|right|Shooting of the Miniseries.
 
Richard Hudolin explains: "The Raptor is made out of foam on a steel frame. We built it so that we could have people safely in there as a 100ft crane picks it up and swings it around. The actors were a little bit surprised: 'Oh, my God, it goes up that high!'"
It's custom-built and then it's painted. We have painters who are literally standing by on the day to add to it before the camera rolls [the wires are removed digitally later in post production]."
"The actors are rehearsing and we have people aging [the Raptor], adding the gunshot hits. One day we had to paint it up as if it had crashed and been on fire - the next day it had to be made pristine again." 
== See Also ==
* List of Raptors
==References==
 
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Category:Colonial Craft (RDM)
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