[​2022 Edit] This is one of my oldest builds, but I'm also still very happy with how it turned out. The description was kind of bothering me though, so I modified it to fit my current standards. Like I said, I probably wouldn't change much about the design if I'd built it now. Maybe just a refueling boom for the multipurpose variant and toned down weapons for the attack variant. So yeah, to the single-digit number of people who are seeing this now, rest assured that the original description was a lot different. (V-12 engines for the rotors, jeez 2013 me with no background in aerospace or engineering, what were you thinking?)



Hello PlanetMinecraft! Here's my second upload, the Skylord's V-35 Grayhound. I was working on my Dauntless-class aircraft carrier when I decided to build a VTOL dropship to add to the fighters and helicopters on the flight deck, and decided to make it more than just a piece of scenery. Here are the specs:

Class: Grayhound Dropship/Cargo Transport
Number of aircraft in service: 245
Operators (in order of most-used):

• UTS Army
• Skylord Air Navy
• UTS Air Force
• UTS Navy
• UTS Marine Corps

Length: 27m
Width: 25m
Height: 6m
Armament:

• None (Troop, Cargo, Heavy Cargo Variants)
• 3 Trojan Technologies TRJ-120 20mm Rotary Cannons. (Attack Variant)
• 4 General Dynamics GAU-15/A .50 Caliber Machine Guns. (Attack Variant)

Crew: 2 (Pilot and Co-Pilot), add a crane operator for Heavy Cargo Variant and 2 gun crew for Attack
First Flown: 12-14-2004
Powerplant: 2 Zephyr Industries GT960 Turboshaft Engines mechanically coupled to fixed lift rotors, 2 Zephyr Industries GT240 low-bypass Turbofan Engines/Auxiliary Power Units, 2 Pratt and Whitney VS100 VASIMR engines (Space in place of jets) and 2 Zephyr Industries VN50 Plasma Engines (In place of rotors). Heavy lift variant has 2 Zephyr Industries GT1200 Turboshafts and heavy transmissions in place of the GT960s.
Lift: 2 8m-diameter rotors giving 10,000 lbs of thrust each
Top Speed:

• 570 mph (Aero)
• 0.2c (Space)
  

Displacement: 26 tons
Maximum Ceiling: 25,000 ft.
Maximum Complement: 20 soldiers or 5 tons of equipment (70 tons for Heavy Cargo)

Another of Skylord Brony's first original creations, the Grayhound is the Skylord military's main workhorse aircraft, with four current variations: the troop transport, light cargo, heavy cargo, and combat versions. The first Grayhound flown, the XV-35, performed admirably for those watching it, and the Skylords actually approved its entrance into the military before accepting the Indomitable-class. Small enough to fly almost anywhere yet capable of carrying relatively large amounts of gear and troops, it's easy to see why the aircraft was so attractive. The Grayhound is carried by Dauntless-class flying aircraft carriers and Defiant-class battleships, and is ever-present at any Skylord military installation. A stealth model for special operations is also in development. The heavy cargo, known as the "Sky Crane," is able to carry up practically anything ground forces need, from guns to supplies to M3 Jackson Main Battle Tanks with its larger engines and crane. The attack variant was designed as a fire-support vehicle, flying above a battlefield and shooting rotary cannons mounted on one side in the same manner as an AC-130. It is also equipped with 4 nose-mounted machine guns for more accurate precision strikes. They are often at the front lines of battle, and have grown so famous that a civilian model has been released for wealthy Skylords. The aircraft is unique among VTOLs by having fixed-orientation lift rotors, powered by reliable and powerful Zephyr Industries turboshafts. While some pitch control is available with the rotors alone for developing thrust, primary thrust at high speeds is obtained by two additional jet engines mounted to the sides of the fuselage. This allows for a less-complex powertrain and control system, improved redundancy, and the ability to downsize the lift engines to only develop enough power to keep the Grayhound off the ground. When not required for thrust, the GT240 turbofan can disconnect its fan from the main power shaft, redirecting some of its exhaust away from the high-pressure power turbine and only driving a dynamo generator, minimizing fuel consumption. The Grayhound is still a gas guzzler compared to smaller true helicopters, but affords significantly higher speeds, carrying capacity, and VTOL. Zephyr designed the GT240 to be largely compatible with GT960 parts, mitigating some of the increased maintenance requirements of 4 engines over 2. In combat operations, pilots grew to appreciate the large acceleration provided by the thrust engines with only seconds delay, improving survivability against enemy air defense.

The V-35 struggled to find buyers outside of continental Minecraftia, only making its way into the inventories of the New Lunar Republic and Coracian Air Forces. The New Broadshirian Navy purchased several examples to experiment with heavy at-sea replenishment of their large nuclear submarines, but determined that existing aircraft, especially operating alongside Coracian surface groups, were adequate. This is due largely to the heavy reliance on UTS manufacturers, which Brony Aerospace considered essential as they tried to establish a name for themselves before unleashing the first heavier-than-air airship. Most other nations which could have afforded to import the necessary spare components already had aircraft that worked fine, and utilized their own domestic supply chains. The V-35, as a large and relatively heavy VTOL aircraft, fit perfectly with the UTS's airship-centric doctrine, but its size made it struggle to find a place between tactical airlifters and heavy helicopters in air forces outside Minecraftia. This is not to say it was a bad platform, as the UTS bought and successfully fielded the Grayhound by the hundreds, but it did affect the aircraft's future as the UTS began to pivot towards space, slowly downsizing its terrestrial and aerial naval forces in exchange for a large and advanced space fleet.

Recently, a need for a space-capable dropship/shuttle has driven Skylord Brony to modify a V-35 for outer space operations. After a short time, the SV-35 Starhound entered service as a sublight auxiliary craft for starships and bases, as well as invasion and boarding forces. Unarmed for now, a space-capable version of the AV-35, currently designated the SAV-35 Wraith, will join fleets soon as a small and maneuverable gunship. The ship costs about twice as much as an ordinary Greyhound, and is also available for civilians.

This is my first upload to include a world, so here's hoping!

Additional Notes

No need for Flan's mod for this, but I'd recommend Creative Mode if you want to see the Heavy Cargo in the world.

Inspired by the V-22 Osprey and just about every sci-fi dropship ever designed.