Description
Hawkwing is a highly adaptable interceptor fighter-bomber designed
to see off any threat in Earth's atmosphere. It's a two piece-craft
with a pilot for each section. Capt. Kate Kestrel commands the lower
section nicknamed the "Egg Shell", Lt. Hawkeye takes up the gunner's
position in the upper wing section called the "Gun Bay". Powered by
a Camberling SGV 9 turbo thrust drive Hawkwing can reach speeds of
mach 7.5. To fulfil its fighter capability Hawkwing has Fireflash
particle accelerators, a high-energy laser cannon and Stingwing
missiles. An alarming secondary bombing function can be carried
out by first moving the gunner down into the "Egg Shell". Then the
"Gun Bay" is disengaged from the "Egg Shell" while flying towards
the target. The whole wing of the "Gun Bay" can then be sent off,
complete with fuel and ammunition, to fly into the target of choice.
I'm not quite sure how the "Egg Shell" is supposed to continue flying
without its wing though... The Thunderbird version of Hawkwing? I have
no idea!
Launching
Possibly the most dramatic Anderson launch sequence I've ever come
across. Once the pilots are in place the craft is thrown down an
underground tunnel by an overhead catapult. Reaching 750 feet per
second in just 10 seconds Hawkwing hurtles along the tunnel under
autopilot following the gradual upwards curve of the flight path.
Meanwhile in a lake not so far from the Terrahawks base a huge
turbine creates a vortex drawing water away from the launch tunnel.
Once the water is clear the launch doors open and Hawkwing emerges,
clearing the lake and flying off to where it's needed. The launch
doors then close and the turbine shuts down to restore the lake to
normal. Mad eh?
