Front [Pg 05-06]

Illustration by Hidetaka Tenjin

VF-1J Valkyrie: The Enhanced Firepower VF-1 Specification That's The First Beloved Aircraft Of Serviceman Ichijo Hikaru

Aircraft Explanation
The VF-1 Valkyrie, which is the first-ever thermonuclear reaction turbine engine equipped Variable Fighter, was developed by a joint development team composed of the Stonewell Co., the Bellcom Co., and so on. Later on, licensed production took place at several companies, such as Northrum, and a lot of variant aircraft appeared. The VF-1J, the so-called J model, are the aircraft produced by Shinnakasu Heavy Industry, who developed the engines in the Valkyrie Development Project, and the J at the end denotes that it was produced in the Japan area (J = Japan). This J model, in order to make up for the shortfalls in the A model, which was the current mass-produced model, adopted a new head unit made by the armament development manufacturer Kuboshi* Heavy Industry - and the VF-1J became a firepower enhanced specification that was equipped with two laser machine-guns.

* Translator's note: Kuboshi (= 9 Star) is part of a recurring theme in subsequent Macross series that plays on the words for Mitsubishi (= 3 Diamonds).

Main Pilot: Ichijo Hikaru

Data *data is for when it's in fighter form
Attached to: Earth Unified Forces
Length: 14.23 m
Height: 3.84 m
Width: 14.78 m (when wings are at the minimum swept-back angle), 8.25 m (when wings are at the maximum swept-back angle)
Empty Weight: 13.25 t
Engines: Shinnakasu Heavy Industry / P&W / Royce FF-2001 Thermonuclear Turbine Engine x2
Thrust: 11,500 kg x2
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.71 (at 10,000 m altitude), Mach 3.87 (when above 30,000 m altitude)
Standard Armament: Maurer ROV-20 Laser Machine-Gun x2, Howard 55 mm three barrel GU-11 Gun Pod x1

Size Comparison: VF-1J, human, Zentraadi

Development Genealogical Chart: VF-X > VF-1 > VF-4

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Reverse Left [Pg 07]

Operation Record
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* Translator's note: the original had "J model (a general craft)", the (general craft) being removed in the revised edition.

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Standard Equipment

Maurer ROV-20 Laser Machine-gun
A small pulse laser gun is a fixed armament in the VF-1. The J model is equipped with a total of 2 guns, 1 each in the turrets on both sides of the head, and it has a fire power stronger than the A model, which is equipped with only 1 gun. Even though it is basically ranked as an auxiliary firearm, the VF-1 can build up a thick barrage by using the laser machine-guns at the same time as the gun pod.

Howard 55 mm 3-barrel GU-11 Gun Pod
A machine-gun pod is the main weapon of the VF-1 series. It is fixed in the center of the lower side of the body in Fighter, and it is used in the arm manipulators in the other forms. As it fires 55 mm large calibre bullets at a high initial velocity, it demonstrated sufficient power even with battle pod opponents. It is loaded with 180 shells.

Cockpit
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Left: The Cockpit In Battroid
There are monitors on the top and sides.

Right: The Seat (when making an emergency ejection)

Left: The Cockpit In Fighter and GERWALK

Fighter Mode
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Caption: Ichijo's craft uses AMM-1 missiles to destroy battle pods in the battle within the atmosphere of Mars. In this case, he fought in the Fighter form.

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Reverse Right [Pg 08]

GERWALK Mode
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Extra Report: The Form That Was Also Used For Lifesaving
When Ichijo's craft withdrew from Mars while rescuing First Lieutenant Hayase Misa, he used the GERWALK mode in order to get far away from the self-destructing base at high speed. In order to move while protecting First Lieutenant Hayase with the single seater VF-1J, the GERWALK was the optimum form, as it can fly even though the arms are unfolded. Incidentally, when Hikaru piloted the D model, he also protected Lynn Minmei in the GERWALK form.

Caption: Only one person can get into the cockpit of the J model, because it's a single seater aircraft. If the VF-1 is in the GERWALK form, it can make a high-speed withdrawal while protecting a person gripped in its arm manipulators.

Battroid Mode
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Up: Head

Right: The Battroid form attains a perfectly humanoid silhouette. In the battle with the Zentraadi reconnaissance craft in October, 2009, the gun pod and laser machine-guns were used at the same time.*

* Translator's note: "October, 2009" not in the original edition.

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© Aaron Sketchley