ADF-01 Falken ZOE

From AceWiki

The ADF-01 Falken is a multirole superplane manufactured by Grunder Industries (now General Resource Ltd.) with advanced avionics and airframe design.

[edit] Description

The Falken's first appearance occurred during the Usean Rebellion of 1998 - more specifically, in Ace Combat 2. It utilizes forward-swept V-shaped wings, thrust vectoring, and reverse-firing sidewinder missiles, not to mention the stabilizer fin located underneath the cabin. However, its most prominent feature is what seems to be an armored, glassless cockpit. This is actually a 360° celestial-spherical screen cockpit layout, giving the pilot an immense advantage in combat. Instead of a traditional glass canopy, the plane utilizes a prototype of the revolutionary COnnection For Flight INterface (COFFIN) system, which is similar in effect to a one-way mirror or an extremely tinted window. The pilot can still see out like a standard cockpit, but no one can see in. This is achieved via a series of real-time hexagonal monitors and external cameras that transmit the visual data to the pilot. This also allows for the HUD and targets to also be displayed at all angles, where as a normal aircraft can only show targets and data on it's front HUD display. If a target were to leave that HUD on a normal plane, the pilot would not be able to see it's green targeting square. On the Falken however, the monitors and a powerful computer eliminate that problem.

The avionics and technology on the Falken are truly cutting edge; this includes forward-swept wings, canards, inward-inclined vertical stabilizers, a ventral rudder, and extended engine nacelles with over 45 degrees of 2-D thrust vectoring. These features allow for unprecedented manoeuvrability, giving the pilot a true edge in combat.

The first pilot of the FALKEN in the Ace Combat series is in AC2, where the ZOE Commander pilots the ADF-01 in the Mission #21, "Fighter's Honor". The ZOE has a prominent evasion feature only used by ZOE Commander: the plane would raise it's nose until fully vertical to stall in midair, which could be used to easily evade gunfire from behind. Also, like the Su-37 in later installments, it has the ability of firing its machine guns & even missiles backwards.

However, unlike the ADF-01 Falken in it's following games, the ADF-01 Falken ZOE lacks it's TLS special weapon.

The FALKEN ZOE also has different proportions than that of the ADF-01A and -F, with a COFFIN system farther to the front and a slightly different hue of red as paint.

[edit] Armament

Gun: 1x 25-mm multi-barreled cannon
Missiles: AIM-9X Sidewinders that have aft targeting capabilities