It's been a long while since my last post. I'm finally done with exams and have been working on a few projects, and this is one of them.

In the spirit of patriotism, I decided to make a race plane with a Jamaican livery. Using a Pilatus PC-21 as inspiration, I then turned this build into a 'motorjet'.

Fictional lore: The Swallowtail

• Initially manufactured to serve as a test bed, the aircraft was given the designation HD-1 "Vulcan" (Hybrid engine, technology Demonstrator #1). It was seen as a marvel of engineering for its time, featuring a sleek design considered to be difficult to achieve, given technological constraints and the unavailability of high strength and lightweight materials required to produce such shapes.

• • Years prior, dating back to 1936, the Arkhalian Empire of Jamaica (AEJ) initiated extensive research programs in partnership with the efforts of the German Empire, striving to identify feasible means of implementing new propulsion systems, and stronger materials for airframes. The HD-1 was later designed in 1938 and finally built on March 12, 1939, employing the use of motor jet propulsion.

• Both nations had high expectations for this project, however, after the aircraft's first flight, it was undeniable that the jets on their own produced sub-par levels of thrust. Taking this into consideration, the aircraft was then fitted with a 3-bladed propeller, serving as the main source of thrust.
  With jet propulsion still in its infancy, this proved to be an effective work around.
  Over the course of the project's lifetime only two models were built; It was later canceled the Summer of 1939 in favor of a more reliable option, which would later be known as the PF-9 Magnus.

• • After the project was canceled, the 'B' model was then converted into a race plane and registered to compete in Tactonia's upcoming "World Prix" air races. It was later named after Jamaica's national bird, the Swallowtail Hummingbird, then given the new designation HDR-1 (Hybrid-engine Racer #1) and would go on to compete in numerous races across the globe.

As always, Enjoy

Controls:

(All controls are available in cockpit view. Its part count was already getting high, so I didn't bother adding other details or a functional canopy)

AG1 - Strobe Lights
AG2 - Engine Off/On (on by default)
AG3 -

Trim: Trim
VTOL: Flaps

VR:

Center
Custom Joystick:
- Pitch
- Roll

Not assigned (Switch 1)
Not assigned (Switch 2)
Strobe Lights (AG1 - Switch 3)
Engine Off/On (AG2 - Button 1) On by default

Left
Landing Gear Lever (Custom)

Right
Brake Lever (Custom - Left of Throttle Lever)
Throttle Lever (Custom - Infront of Trim Lever)
Trim (Lever 1)
Flaps (Lever 2 - Behind Trim Lever)

Specifications:

• Wingspan: 29.4ft / 8.9m
• Length: 36.8ft / 11.2m
• Height: 14.2ft / 4.3m
• Engine: Single, Hybrid; Motor jet
• Payload: 2x 100 gal / 455 L Drop tanks
• Series/Variant: T/B - Topaz
• Role: Experimental Platform, Racer (Planned - Fighter, Interceptor)

Performance:

• Max speed (in level flight): 419 MPH / 674 KPH
  at height: 31,000 ft / 9449 m
• Climb rate: 99.36 ft/minute / 0.5 m/s (10° AOA)
• Take-off speed: 110-125 MPH / 177-201 KPH (flaps half deflected, 50-100% throttle)
• Landing speed: 105-130 MPH / 166-209 KPH (flaps fully deflected, 100% trim down, 10% throttle)
• Stall speed: 95 MPH / 153 KPH

Armament: (HF-75 "Vulkan" - Proposed)

• Nose: 1x 20mm cannon
• Wings: 4x 20mm cannons

Gallery:

• More information on the Jamaican Swallowtail Hummingbird
  Other links here and here