SA-32A Mitchell-Hyundyne Starfury

A Thunderbolt in flight

The **SA-32A Mitchell-Hyundyne Starfury** "Thunderbolt", or Starfury Mk3, is an Earthforce aerospace superiority fighter craft.

## History

The Thunderbolt was first deployed in 2260, the same year the Earth Alliance Civil War broke out. The Earth-Alliance ThunderBolt is one of, if not the most powerful fighter of all the younger races, with the exception of the Nial class fighter used by the Minbari.

## Characteristics

Unlike previous production model Starfurys, the Thunderbolt is capable of atmospheric maneuvering through the use of deployable airfoils mounted on the main engine pods. The frame of the craft is extended and has a smoother shape for aerodynamic purposes. This fighter has a crew of two who sit in the traditional fighter plane position and operate the controls using a combination of hand, foot, eye and voice commands; the repositioning, though, means the pilots are more vulnerable to G-Forces than in older Starfury models. The ejection system throws the cockpit module upwards rather than forward; there are a pair of secondary thrust charges mounted at the rear of the upper surface that fire at the same time as ejectors in order to push the body in the opposite direction and prevent the module from colliding with the rear third of the craft.

Thunderbolts mount 4 advanced pulse cannons in an underslung position beneath the cockpit. The Thunderbolt also has hardpoints for up to 10 extra weapons (usually missiles), enabling it to also serve as a light bomber for planetary strikes. Despite the increase in size and mass, the Thunderbolt's improved engines are able to maintain the Starfury's impressive maneuverability and give it an even higher forward speed, although at the cost of slightly slower braking.

# Notes

1. ↑ The Kitsune Sci-Fi conversions website lists this fighter as the **SA-26 Thunderbolt Star Fury**
2. ↑ At maximum output, duration is 60 minutes
3. ↑ When operating within an atmosphere, pilot will normally keep velocity below Mach 10 (7695 mph / 12384 kph).
4. ↑ Only possible using already formed jump points such as those formed by jump gates.
5. ↑ Storage for small equipment
6. ↑ Designation: SA-26
Length: 64 feet (19.5 meters)
Width:56 feet (17 meters)
Height:26.2 feet (8 meters)
Weight: 24.3 tons (22 metric tons)
Armament:1 x Gatling Pulse Cannon, plus missiles carried externally under its wings.In space the fighter normally carries eight long range missiles with fusion warheads but can carry sixteen medium range or thirty two short range missiles as well. In a atmosphere the fighter normally only carries missiles under its lower wings for stability.
7. ↑ TV Movie "A Call to Arms", TV Series episodes "Severed Dreams", "Interludes and Examinations", "Ship of Tears", "War Without End, Part I", "Into the Fire", "The Illusion of Truth", "No Surrender, No Retreat", "The Exercise of Vital Powers", "The Face of the Enemy", "Between the Darkness and the Light", "A View from the Gallery", "In the Kingdom of the Blind", "A Tragedy of Telepaths" and Crusade episodes "War Zone", "The Well of Forever", "Patterns of the Soul", "Ruling from the Tomb", "Racing the Night", "Each Night I Dream of Home"

# Sources

1. ↑ http://kitsunesden.xyz/SF-Conversions/Rifts-B5-Ships/Earth\_SA-26\_Thunderbolt\_Starfury.htm
2. ↑ B5 Episode **Severed Dreams**
3. ↑ B5 Episode **Ship of Tears**
4. ↑ http://babylon5.wikia.com/wiki/SA-32A\_Mitchell-Hyundyne\_Starfury