Fairchild F611 Brigand http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/Apache_10/p_fairchild-1.gif

The Fairchild Brigand first saw service in 1935, initially flown by the Arlington Angels (Columbia). Almost immediately, the Brigand earned a reputation as a reliable and effective combat plane, and has become enormously popular.

The F6II is fast—powered by a 16-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R600 engine though this speed comes at the expense of fuel economy. (While the Brigand’s innovative fuel-injection system is likely the culprit here, it does provide one advantage: gravity has no effect on fuel flow, a problem with some older craft.)

The Brigand is surprisingly small, which, when coupled with the powerful 991 horsepower engine, makes it quite agile for a heavy fighter. As a result, the Brigand has become a popular anti-zeppelin aircraft particularly among pirates.

Despite the powerful engine and high speed, the Brigand is not without drawbacks. The heavy engine not only has created some interesting hiccups in the craft’s handling, the plane also has a rather wide turning circle. Surprisingly, the Brigand’s acceleration is mediocre as well; making it easy prey for fighters that are better in a sprint.

These flaws are offset by the Brigand’s armament: a pair of .50-caliber cannons on each wing, and a rear mounted duo of .30-caliber cannons. When loaded with a combination of explosive, armor-piercing or incendiary shells and a full load of rockets, the Brigand can deliver a withering hail of fire.

Type: 2-man Heavy fighter; Engine:1 Pratt & Whitney R600 (991hp) ; Max Speed: 250mph; Ceiling: 18,000 ft'; Range: 350 m; Arms: 2 Westmore "Dragon" .30 cal machine guns and 4 Anderson Mk103 .50 cal cannons

Grumman E-1C Avenger http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/Apache_10/p_grumman-1.gif

The Grumman E-1C Avenger was introduced in 1936, marking a radical departure from the E-1 series design. Like the modern E-1C model, the original E-1 model could reach speeds up to 250 mph, powered by a pair of air-cooled Feldman engines. Twin engines on a craft of this size was unusual, though it allows for a mix of speed and fuel efficiency; the E-1’s operational range is almost fifty percent more than aircraft of comparable size.

The modern Avenger, the E-1C, retained the E-1’s twin-engine configuration, but made radical alterations to armor and weapons. The E-1C’s armament was upgraded substantially—two of the craft’s cannons were changed to .60-caliber guns (replacing the original .30-caliber cannons) and the remaining six were fire-linked to improve shot-grouping. The aircraft also received additional cockpit armor, which greatly increased pilot survival rate.

The E-1C operates primarily as an interceptor, though a handful serve as reconnaissance or light-strike craft. The Avenger’s mediocre maneuverability and armor make this aircraft a poor choice for dogfighting; the Avenger rarely serves as an escort.

Type: 1-man fighter/interceptor; Engine: 2 Feldman-16s (630 hp each) ; Max Speed: 250mph; Ceiling: 18,000 ft'; Range: 600 m; Arms: 6 Sperry-Browning "Zephyr" .30 cal machine guns and 2 Sperry-Browning "Crusader" .60 cal cannons

McDonnell S2B Kestrel http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/Apache_10/p_kestrel-1.gif

The McDonnell S2B Kestrel is the primary service aircraft of the Confederation of Dixie. Working in partnership with the British, the Confederation has closed the technology gap and even overtaken the ISA and the Empire State in many areas. McDonnell’s Kestrel is a prime example of this Dixie-British partnership.

The Kestrel uses a unique dual hull that allows for enhanced stability in level flight. Equipped with two Rolls-Royce Merlin II engines (each delivering 1,180 horsepower) the Kestrel is a fast aircraft that can carry a substantial load of bombs and rockets. However, the unusual airframe widens the craft’s turning radius and makes it very difficult to pilot in a dogfight.

Despite its handling problems, in the right hands the Kestrel’s centerline-mounted gun pod can prove devastating. Its seven weapons two .30-caliber machine guns, two .40-caliber machine guns, and three .60-caliber cannons are primarily intended to engage slow-moving targets, and are of limited use against agile fighters. Most Kestrel pilots use the gun cluster to attack unarmored ground and air targets. When combined with the bombs and rockets mounted on the eight wing pylons, these armaments make the Kestrel a deadly, if ungainly, aircraft.

Type: 2-man heavy fighter; Engine: 2 Rolls-Royce Merlin II (1,180 hp each) ; Max Speed: 250mph; Ceiling: 25,000 ft'; Range: 600 m; Arms: 2 Sperry-Browning "Zephyr" .30 cal machine guns; 2 Sperry-Browning "Gatekeeper" .40 cal machine guns and three McDonnell "bullfrog" .60 cal cannons

Curtiss-Wright P2 Warhawk http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/Apache_10/p_p2warhawk-1.gif

The Curtiss-Wright P2 Warhawk—the first combat aircraft produced within the Empire State—first saw service in 1932. The Warhawk was designed to carry significant weapons payloads and operate over long distances, to fulfill its role as a light bomber. Many pilots consider the Warhawk to be somewhat out-of-date, though the craft is still quite capable, particularly when precision strikes at long-distance targets are required.

The Warhawk’s unusual design reflects the craft’s mission: it carries three Wright R-1350 radial engines (one in the fuselage and one at each wingtip), each capable of delivering 736 horsepower. This unusual arrangement helps improve the craft’s stability during bombing runs, with the wingtip engines acting as counterweights that hold the Warhawk level. Unfortunately, this engine configuration tends to result in poor handling in a dogfight. To alleviate this handling problem, Curtiss-Wright replaced the traditional tail assembly with wingtip rudders, with limited success.

Despite the Warhawk’s unusual appearance, unconventional design and handling difficulties, it can carry an awesome array of weaponry. The cannons (mounted on the wing) are of several different calibers, making the craft a versatile gunship. Poor maneuverability can limit the usefulness of these weapons, though a good pilot can more than make up for this deficiency.

Type: 1-man heavy fighter; Engine:3 Wright R-1350 radial engines (736 hp each) ; Max Speed: 200 mph; Ceiling: 37,000 ft'; Range: 750 m; Arms: 4 Sperry-browning "Crusader" .60 cal cannons