A medium-sized transport aircraft designed to carry high ranking diplomats and other VIP's.

Credits:
The SPHINX Diplomatic Courier is an original aircraft that shares a design style with the other vehicles of the ARCHON CHANCELLERY. Since I am unable to do mod's on my system, all the modifications used are the products of you wonderful folk here on SimplePlanes. I would specifically like to thank dfsjoe for the weightless mega-fuel tank that I have reinterpreted as the Umbra Reactor and Spefyjerbf for many amazing weapons systems. There are also a great many others whose names are not known to me, but whose works I have gratefully utilized and whose talents are hugely appreciated.

Background Story:
As the fifth cycle of the XIX Dynasty dawned, the High Command found that they had an increasing need to move emissaries, negotiators, and factors around the various worlds with which they maintained contact. They also determined that such an aircraft would be a useful and desirable addition to the air fleets of many of their clients. Consequently, they commissioned the Archon Chancellery to develop a medium sized aircraft to be used as a VIP transport. The requirements for such a plane plane included speed, stability, and the ability to defend itself from unfriendly aircraft and ground forces. The Chancellery responded to this challenge by offering a sleek, canard designed craft that incorporated the Chancellery's signature SERAPHIM multi-wing architecture. They powered the craft with the UMBRA dark energy reactor. thus giving the new plane virtually unlimited range. They also utilized a variation on their very successful CONSTELLATION integrated power system, that included the QUANTUM DRIVE indirect thrust/boost engines along with two GRAVITON VTOL motors that could be used either along with or separate from the plane's two standard ARCHON main jet engines.

Almost by definition, a Diplomatic vehicle carries no weapons, and, since the SPHINX -is- a Diplomatic Courier it is not armed...well, not so as the casual observer might notice, anyway. The Chancellery was well aware of the risks any negotiator might face when venturing into hostile territory and they were determined to minimize those risks as much as possible. To that end the plane is still equipped with eight radar and infrared countermeasures dispensers as well as a number of clandestine weapons systems. These include: a STAR STREAK long range maser cannon buried in the forward ventral radar dome; two MAGNATAR electro rail guns hidden in the central radio arrays; a dozen FANG anti-aircraft missiles buried within the central fuselage; a pair of slide-out SAGITTARIUS rocket pods hidden in the front sides of the passenger cabin; and a single STAR BURST burst-pulse stern-chase laser concealed in the aft radar dome.

As a diplomatic vessel, the SPHINX is also equipped with the sorts of amenities not normally found on warplanes. The aircraft features a long, wide central passenger compartment that includes an aft conference/dining room/office suite with a panoramic rear window and a translucent dome; a small onboard galley; a private sleeping cabin and bath for the ranking diplomat; convertible sleeping berths for aides and other specialists; and a situational awareness room connected to a suite of advanced communications equipment, including an inter-dimensional radio with extendible antenna. Externally, the SPHINX has numerous running lights, landing lights, and illuminated cockades to aide others in securing a quick and positive identification.

Activation Groups:
1 - Engages the CONSTELLATION integrated engine system, which includes an enhanced gyro-stabilization unit (on whenever AG-1 is active), the QUANTUM DRIVE indirect thrust booster engine (VTOL bar up), and two anti-gravity GRAVITON VTOL motors (VTOL bar down).
2 - activates the STAR STREAK long range maser cannon.
3 - Activates the aircraft's two MAGNATAR electro rail guns.
4 - Activates the FANG long-range Air-to-Air missiles (Interceptor based).
5 - Activates and extends the two SAGITTARIUS rocket pods, each equipped with seven explosive rockets.
6 - Activates the STAR BURST stern-chaser burst-pulse cannon.
7 - Activates the inter-dimensional radio and extends and rotates the antenna.
8 - Disconnects the main UMBRA integrated power reactor, deactivating all active sensors (shown by extinguishing the various engine and running lights), cutting off the plane's back-up stabilization gyro.