Dragon

Dragon Assault Craft
Size (metres, W×H×L)	100 × 16 × 91
Cargo capacity	15 TC
Cargo bay extension	Not Available
Maximum speed	0.37 LM (0.375 for XE)
Manoeuvrability	Roll: 2.2 Pitch: 1.2
Energy banks	4
Energy recharge rate	Excellent (6.0) (6.5 for XE)
Gun mounts	Fore, Aft
Missile slots	8 (12 for XE)
Shield boosters available	Yes
Military shields available	Yes
Hyperspace capable	Yes
OXP or standard	OXP
Available to player	Yes
Base price	350000 Cr (400000 for XE)

Overview

The Dragon was originally designed for the Galactic Navy to serve in a niche role, somewhere between heavy strike fighter and light bomber, and as close-cover escort for heavy bombers and logistics details.

However, due to more and more high performance attack craft and military grade kit being released on the civilian market and landing in the hands of aggressive outlaws, Pteradyne licenced Sirrane Starworks of Tionisla to begin limited production of a civilian version marketed to the bounty hunter community, to be sold only with proper background checks.

Nonetheless, a few Dragons have been reported stolen off the showroom floors. (Not to mention dealers that may be a little crooked and got paid extra to let the ships go sans security checks.)

Though lacking the armor, enhanced performance, and exclusive military technology of the Naval version, the civilian variant is a reliable, rugged, and formidable ship, and with a skilled crew, is able to survive duels in the most lawless of anarchy systems.

The XE variant, first seen in the ownership of bounty hunter Derik Roh'i, is a Dragon with aftermarket upgrades. (Lucky for you, the Dragon XE is a player-only ship.)

Noteable Features

The Dragon comes with a forward Military Laser and rear Twin Plasma Cannons as standard weapons. His designation for fight is also shown by the no less than eight missile slots of the craft. (Up to 12 missiles can be loaded on the XE.)

The Dragon is available with three different paint patterns, namely "Copper Shift", "UV Doppler Shift" and "Tesla Blue". (Custom paint for the XE variant.)

On the other hand it should be noted that the cargo space is not very big (15 TC) and can not be expanded.

Test Pilot's Review

Pteradyne does it again, this time with the Dragon, a stout, bred for battle, cobbie-3 sized ship with (I believe) well balanced handling.

Unlike most of the Pteradyne lineup which may be too responsive at the controls for most Academy plebes to deal with, I've found the Dragon to be remarkedly well mannered, yet losing little of the eagerness to go that Pteradyne designs have gotten known for. Quite surprising! When the majority of the newer models coming out these days handle with ill tempers, the Dragon is a refined Lady at her quirium burning heart, and a joy to fly. I've testflown a production ship in both the official deepspace proving grounds, and in the wild badlands of some pretty fierce anarchies. She rules with the grace and finesse of a Queen, oh yes, she does. I think I will fly nothing else.

Now that you have your tail end parked in the pilot's seat - whether or not you have a tail is unimportant, the seat is adjustable - let me relay some of my experiences with this fine craft.

The ordinance stores display shows slots for up to 8 missiles and mines. That may seem a bit overambitious at first, but considering how fast the L&F military grade laser heats up...errmm, yes. The heavy missile loadout is meant to suppliment an easily overheated mil laser, and it balances very well, indeed. Don't be a tightwad; if you can afford to purchase and kit up a Dragon, then you can afford to load her up with a launcher full of hardheads. *ahem* Just remember to point your Dragon at your target before letting a missile fly. The place the launcher is put makes more-or-less straight missile shots your best bet. The mine dispenser is the bog-standard failproof L&F P-25 model everyone is familiar with, and will work as expected.

The Dragon's fore gun mount, missile launcher, and scoop position is set in the front, right under your seat. Makes for great weapons accuracy and ease of scooping. :)

Speaking of accuracy, the Dragon is set to use milhud by default. (My hud of choice, it has a good layout. The laser pipper comes in handy as well.) Install the included milhud-old for oolite 1.65, milhud-new for 1.67 and later, or feel free to alter the hud key in shipdata.plist to use your hud of choice. The Dragon also works well with dr.hud and fighterhud.

There's four player Dragons in the shipdata, one for each color scheme. They're all specced exactly the same, don't worry - Except for the XE, which is slightly overspeced, and not warenteed by Pteradyne or Sirrane. Something to note when changing the hud, and/or tweaking the specs. Just be careful to know what you're doing and try not to snafu it too bad, you trumble smugglin' rogue, you. ;)

The rare pirate Dragon has a high bounty, and may appear as a Fugitive. He'll be a cocky bastard, so show him no mercy, and don't let him get on your tail. Pirate-flown Dragons will be in varying states of repair and kitup - it's a marked, stolen ship, what do you expect? - making some of them easier kills than others.

The rogues among you should remember that traders won't fly Dragons; the cargo hold - while just large enough for some decent high value salvage - is too small to make milk run trading with a Dragon worthwhile. A Dragon that's Clean in your STE is a bounty hunter, very well kitted, tends to be VERY aggressive, and more than likely will kick a few dents in your iron ass if messed with. After all, it's the School of Hard Knocks out there, with "No Tolerance For Fools". ;)

In closing, your new Dragon is a 'Goid eating tough ship that can take a fair beating, but she's no uber and can still be blown into spacedust if you get too cocky and let your evasion skills laspe. The Ooniverse has enough uberpirates already, and not enough truely skilled flyboys. If you absolutely must have uber, then buy a SuperCobra, Vampy, or a Tiger. Or Happy Eye forbid, an "Uber Mk Leet".

PS - Oh yes, if you feel the paintshop crew at Sirrane had one too many gargleblasters before picking up the sprayers, then (hint hint nudge nudge) look in the Textures folder.

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Derik Roh'i of Tionisla, callsign Wyvern, freelance test pilot & bounty hunter. Last seen bounty hunting around Galaxy 8 in a fully kitted Dragon XE with custom paint job, ship regestered under the name Lady Tiomat.

Download

• Download Dragon102.oxp. Updated 9th August 2008. Now also includes the Military Smart Missile (an advanced hardhead), and the latest version of MilHUD.

• Download Dragon1.72.oxp Brand spankin' new version created for Oolite 1.72+. Obsoletes older versions of Dragon.OXP, works correctly only on Oolite 1.72. Contains three ships: Dragon AN, the Classic; Dragon SE, with aft turret; and Dragon M, with aft, top and bottom turrets. Includes the latest, revamped version of MILhud.