The Dragonfly

The Dragonfly is an experimental stealth VTOL "helijet" created primarily by Teddy Rodriguez with some aid by Mika Kānekaii at VALER's Mattaponi Aerodrome, that was purchased by Gyzmotech and Claymore from the FAA in 2020. It was the first craft built by what is now known as Rodriguez Engineering that exists as a extension of VALER's R&D department and supported by Gyzmotech.

### **Early Concept**

The basic structure of the Dragonfly and it's functions were drawn by Teddy long before he joined VALER's R&D department, with drawings and technical studies of the mechanics involved on the same scrappy piece of paper as his Hecatoncheires suit when he was barely 13.

### **Design**

Teddy always wanted to provide VALER with more than just a robot in the form of RODGER after he joined the group, but a means of getting around without relying on Clay's overworked helicopter pilot Nigel. Trying to think of new ideas and concepts he spent many nights conversing with Gyzmo over aircraft design, in awe of her highly advanced vehicles and suits, she suggested he stick with something simple yet innovative. He remembered the old designs for his helijet he made long ago. Gyzmo agreed they would be perfect and that she'd stick with him and help him every step of the way. In the mean time Gyzmo asked Teddy to wait a few months for his birthday for a surprise before building anything.

### **Construction**

Purchasing a small but convenient airfield Northeast of Washington DC near the Patuxent River, Gyzmo, Clay and the rest of VALER surprised Teddy with the property. When the opportunity to have enough space for Teddy to play around with bigger mechanics arose, he jumped at the chance to challenge himself; already reeling in the success of RODGER, and still working on his Hecatonchires suit (at least with help from Hidaki Tengan and Robin Reid) Teddy would use three altered concept models of Rodger altered by Gyzmo as hands in creating the craft.

In addition to the aerodrome, Clay and a somewhat reluctant Dylan brought a retired Ch-47 helicopter for Teddy; His idea was to utterly strip the vehicle to it's frame and then remake the aircraft in his image.

Much of the recourses and metals used were standard aluminium alloys, but with added kinzium that, along with a layer of RAM paint and it's sharp angles, make the Dragonfly highly radar reflective.

It is powered by two bespoke RE-005 Dualdrive engines based on the GE T408 turboshafts that power modern Chinooks, but the RE-005 engines have been designed to be both much more powerful, and to be linked to the helijet's dual fight modes, to balance torque between the rotation of the turbine and rotors when preforming as a rotorcraft. When the vehicle is in jet mode the engines switch from a turboshaft to a turbofan mode to apply thrust force rather than shaftpower solely increasing thrust during jet-mode and up the power dramatically to keep the Dragonfly airborne at high speeds. These engines deliver 4,770 - 5000 lbf at full thrust.

During transition from helicopter to jet the specialised rotor blades lock to a fixed-position and extend their surface by 5 percent whilst sinking into a streamlined retraction, the engines switch power from shaft to thrust before the blades sweep back as thrust and power increases.

The wing-blades also act as a variable configuration system whilst in jet-mode, allowing the Dragonfly to cruise at slower speeds.

### **Weapons and Defences**

While not designed to be equipped with weapons, the Dragonfly does have a retractable chin-mounted photon compressor that can fire high-powered laser, heating matter to ignition point in moments. It can melt steel and is controlled by a low-level AI protocol, allowing it to lock on to targets moving at high speed, or whilst at speed itself.

It also possesses heat and chaff flares, electronic and communications jammer, encryption broadcast systems and highly accurate scanning camera and sensor suite.

It's aluminium-kinzium armour is covered with radiation-absorbing paint, is highly resistant to impact forces throughout it's frame whilst maintaining flexibility for surprisingly agile manoeuvres.