VF-11 Thunderbolt
Encyclopedia
Variable fighter
A Variable Fighter is a series of fictional transforming aerospace fighter mecha primarily designed by Studio Nue's Shoji Kawamori for the animated series The Super Dimension Fortress Macross and later related projects...
in the Macross
Macross
is a series of science fiction mecha anime, directed by Shōji Kawamori of Studio Nue in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth/Humanity after the year 1999. It consists of three TV series, four movies, six OVAs, one light novel and five manga series, all sponsored by Big West...
storyline. It was created by mechanical designer Shoji Kawamori
Shoji Kawamori
is a Japanese anime creator, screenwriter and mechanical designer, having created or co-created such notable series as The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, The Vision of Escaflowne, Earth Maiden Arjuna, Genesis of Aquarion, Macross 7, and Macross Frontier. He is currently executive director at the...
.
Fictional Background
The VF-11 was designed and created as the replacement unit for the VF-4 Lightning IIIVF-4 Lightning III
The VF-4 Lightning III is a fictional variable fighter aerospace mecha from the Macross universe. It was created by mechanical designer Shoji Kawamori.-Fictional History:...
variable fighter. It began to enter widespread UN Spacy service in 2030 as the UN spacy's main variable fighter. It was deployed with long-distance immigration fleets, colonial defense forces, and deep outer space fleets. The VF-11 is an aerodynamic update and improvement of the VF-1 Valkyrie
VF-1 Valkyrie
This article is about a fictional vehicle; for the fighter squadron see VF-1.In the fictional Macross Japanese anime series and its English adaptation Robotech, the first mass-produced variable fighter or veritech fighter is called the VF-1 Valkyrie.-Background:The VF-1 was created by the...
, the world's first Variable Fighter, introduced 22 years earlier. Unlike the VF-1, the VF-11 did not have known "ace" and "commander" variants.
However, in continuing conflicts with alien
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
enemy units such as the rogue Zentradi "enemy battlesuits" seen in Macross Plus
Macross Plus
is a four-episode anime OVA and theatrical movie in the Macross series. It was the first sequel to the original Macross television series that took place in the official timeline...
, the decision was made to find a replacement for the fighter. Thus the Project Super Nova competition was created to select the next-generation advanced variable fighter (analogous to the 20th century Advanced Tactical Fighter
Advanced Tactical Fighter
The Advanced Tactical Fighter was a demonstration and validation program undertaken by the United States Air Force to develop a next-generation air superiority fighter to counter emerging worldwide threats, including Soviet Sukhoi Su-27 and Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters under development in the 1980s...
competition). Two variable fighter designs, the General Galaxy YF-21 and Shinsei Industries YF-19 were selected to compete in the 2040 competition. After the Sharon Apple incident at Macross City, the YF-19 was selected for production as the VF-19 Excalibur
VF-19 Excalibur
The VF-19 Excalibur is a fictional spacecraft in the anime Macross. It is an Advanced Variable Fighter, the UN Spacy's latest frontline variable fighter to replace the already aging VF-11 Thunderbolt. In the year 2040, a contest was held for the design of the Advanced Variable Fighter. Two...
. Five years later, the VF-11 was still the mainstay variable fighter although the production VF-19F started to replace it.
The story behind the canards on the VF-11 is an interesting one. Though the canards would slow down the fighter in an atmosphere, it did have the added benefit of increasing maneuverability. Captain Milia Jenius
Milia Fallyna Jenius
is a fictional character in the Macross Japanese animated science fiction series, voiced by Eri Takeda. In the 2006 English adaptation by ADV Films she is voiced by Luci Christian.-Macross:...
of the Eagle Nest Aerial Tactics Center supported the canard feature with passion. This led to the production of two prototypes: VF-X-11 No.1 without the canards and VF-X-11 No. 2 with canards.
Captain Jenius piloted the VF-X-11 No. 2 in a rescue operation of a UN chief advisor. The data collected on the VF-X-11 No. 2 used in the rescue operation led to the introduction of the canards.
Variants
- VF-X-11: Prototype version. Two produced, one equipped with fold booster.
- VF-11A: First production version. It was produced in limited numbers
- VF-11B: Standard version in UN Spacy service circa 2040. Improvements over the VF-11A were a lengthened barrel on anti-aircraft gun, one window on the main sensor, and increased engine thrust.
- VF-11C: Version with enhanced navigational electronic equipment. All VF-11s in 2040 were in the process of being upgraded to this standard
- VF-11D: Two-seater version of the VF-11C
- VF-11D Custom: Custom two-seater version manufactured by Shinsei Industry and the Macross 7 Project M Special Technologies Group. The VF-11D had enlarged canard wing, enhanced engines, VF-19's vernier thrusters, and space/atmospheric sound booster FAST Pack. Only 20 were produced and was deployed with the Jamming Bird force
- VF-11MAXL: Version with FF-2099A engines identical to those of the VF-17 NightmareVF-17 NightmareThe VF-17 Nightmare is a fictional variable fighter from the anime television series Macross 7 and Macross Frontier. This fictional variable fighter mecha was created by mechanical designer Shoji Kawamori.-Fictional History:...
, overall strengthened structure, and a redesigned and modified delta wing to increase fuselage strength and aerodynamic characteristics. They are built on demand by pilots. - VF-11MAXL Custom: Custom version manufactured by Shinnakasu Heavy Industry and the Macross 7 Special Technologies Group with internal sound system, speaker launcher pod, and FF-2099A engines similar to the VF-17's. Piloted by Mylene Flare JeniusMylene Flare Jeniusis a fictional character in the Macross universe. She first appears in Macross 7, and also appears in the movie Macross 7: The Galaxy Is Calling Me! and the OVAs Macross 7 Encore and Macross Dynamite 7. She is voiced by Tomo Sakurai...
.
Yamato Toys
- Macross Plus 1/72 VF-11B (2001)
- Unlike the YF-19 and YF-21 (which were based on resin model kits by Studio HalfEye), this replica of the VF-11B was designed from scratch. It transformed into all three modes and came with a Gun Pod (with retractable bayonet) and two heat shields molded from one thin sheet of plastic (double-sided tape was required to attach the heat shield to the canopy). The toy suffered from a design flaw on the hip structure, which easily cracked and snapped off.
- A second version was released in 2003 with FAST Pack parts and a pilot figure. The hips were redesigned to avoid breakage that plagued the first edition release.
- Macross Plus GN-U Dou VF-11B (2008)
- A non-transforming action figure of the VF-11B in Battroid mode. Features extensive poseability not found in any of its transformable counterparts.
- Yamato Toys released upgrade parts for the VF-11B figure in mid-2009. The set includes the FAST Pack (plus new leg parts) and a redesigned back plate to hold the booster units.
- Macross VF-X2 GN-U Dou VF-11B Thunderbolt (2008)
- A redeco of the VF-11B GN-U Dou figure in light gray.
- Macross Plus 1/60 VF-11B with Super Parts (2009)
- A newer, redesigned figure of the VF-11B was released in 2009 to complement the 1/60 YF-19 and YF-21. It features better articulation and proportions than its 1/72 predecessor. Aside from the FAST Pack and pilot figure, this VF-11 comes with adapter parts for Yamato's display stand and features a detachable cockpit that doubles as an escape pod.
- Macross 7 1/60 VF-11C with Super Parts (2009)
- A light gray repaint of the VF-11B figure with C-spec Gun Pod and boosters. The pilot is sculpted in a Macross 7-era flight suit.
Bandai
- Macross 7 1/144 VF-11C (1995)
- A non-transforming snap-kit of the VF-11C in Fighter and Battroid modes. Molded in light gray with a color guide to paint it in its Macross Plus VF-11B colors.
- Macross 7 1/144 VF-11MAXL Custom Mylene Valkyrie (1996)
- A non-transforming snap-kit of the VF-11MAXL Custom in Fighter and Battroid modes. Molded in white and pink.
Hasegawa
- Macross Plus 1/72 VF-11B Thunderbolt (2011)
- A non-transforming kit of the VF-11B in fighter mode.
Design Characteristics
- The VF-11 Thunderbolt was named after the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, a World War II American fighter, and the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, a close air-support attack aircraft.
- Its design is, according to the Shoji KawamoriShoji Kawamoriis a Japanese anime creator, screenwriter and mechanical designer, having created or co-created such notable series as The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, The Vision of Escaflowne, Earth Maiden Arjuna, Genesis of Aquarion, Macross 7, and Macross Frontier. He is currently executive director at the...
MacrossMacrossis a series of science fiction mecha anime, directed by Shōji Kawamori of Studio Nue in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth/Humanity after the year 1999. It consists of three TV series, four movies, six OVAs, one light novel and five manga series, all sponsored by Big West...
Design Works book, inspired by the Su-37. - The XFA-27, found in the games Ace Combat 2Ace Combat 2Ace Combat 2 is the sequel to the 1995 Arcade/Flight-sim Air Combat, released in 1997 by Namco. Ace Combat 2 is part of Namco's Ace Combat series and continues the arcade style gameplay of its predecessor, with major improvements. Various subsequent Ace Combat games use similar maps or missions...
and Ace Combat X: Skies of DeceptionAce Combat X: Skies of Deceptionis a video game for the PlayStation Portable handheld console. It is the seventh installment of the Ace Combat video game series, the first for the PlayStation Portable system, and the second for a portable console. It was released for the United States on October 24, 2006.-Plot:Aurelia is a...
, bears a striking resemblance to this aircraft. - Also, the FFR-31 MR/D Super Sylph from YukikazeSentou Yousei YukikazeYukikaze is a five-episode Japanese direct-to-video anime series produced by Gonzo and Bandai Visual and was released in Japan from August 28, 2002 to August 25, 2005. It is based on a popular science fiction novel of the same name by Chōhei Kambayashi, and was produced in commemoration of Bandai...
bears a resemblance to this aircraft, notably in its air intake configuration and its tailplanes, although the canards resemble the VF-19 rather than the VF-11.