History CoolPlane / Macross

* The [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-27.htm VF-27 Lucifer]] is the Galaxy fleet's main combat unit. A four-engined hulking monstrosity of a plane, the Lucifer is only matched by the YF-29 Durandal from the second movie in terms of sheer power. The Lucifer is a descendant of the same Evolution platform as the Messiah (geddit now?), but the weapons systems of the Lucifer far and away beat anything the Messiah has to offer. The main armament is a quantum beam gunpod that has two modes - a regular rapid firing one and the WaveMotionTuningFork mode. Yes, the Lucifer has a freaking '''[[ExaggeratedTrope MACROSS CANNON]]''' as its' main gun. Besides that it also has 4 micro-missile launchers that can ItanoCircus the hell out of everything, it goes far faster than the Messiah can, it has a panoramic cockpit that provides a far superior field of view when compared to the Messiah... the winner all around is obvious. However, there is one major flaw with the Lucifer: it needs a cyborg pilot to get the most out of it's impressive capabilities. (Un)fortunately, the red one that appears frequently has such a pilot, in the form of [[CharClone Brera Sterne]]. Oh, and it has a [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-27ysp.htm unique Super pack]] that can also become an AttackDrone.

* Hikaru Ichijo's last known fighter, the [[http://macross2.net/m3/flashback2012/vf-4.htm VF-4 Lightning III]], started a trend of increasingly cool and unusual fighter designs. The VF-4 takes liberal inspiration from the SR-71 Blackbird (a [[CoolPlane/RealLife real life cool plane]]), and it's characteristic shell-like Battroid mode stands out all the more. It's also the first Variable Fighter in the franchise to have beam cannons instead of traditional shell-fired cannons. Sadly, the plane is a OneSceneWonder, appearing only in the ''Flashback 2012'' OVA, specifically in one of the two planned movie endings.

** Late during the Vajra conflict, the VF-171 received a major refit in form of the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-171ex.htm VF-171EX]], which gets new engines derived from those on the VF-19, a completely new avionics suite derived from the VF-25, an EX-Gear compatible cockpit and the ability to equip anti-Vajra weapons: [[UnrealisticBlackHole MDEs]] in the TV series, implant bullets and missiles in the movies. It also gained the ability to [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-171ex-super.htm be equiped with additional manoeuvring nozzles]] for improved mobility. [[AllThereInTheManual Side material]] implies that the Block III, as the EX refit without MDE capability is known, is actually the variant of the VF-171 shown to be used by Chaos in Anime/MacrossDelta, although the series never really explicitely states anything about that.

* The [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/yf-29.htm YF-29 Durandal]] is probably the single most [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill overkill]] plane in the franchise alongside the Lucifer above. The YF-29 is a four engined development of the Tornado-pack equiped Messiah, and as such most of the armament systems are the same as on the Tornado Messiah. For that note, the Durandal easily holds the record for the biggest single-craft ItanoCircus not just in the history of the franchise, but likely in anime as a whole: 100+ micromissiles launched from a whopping 12 missile ports, which easily gets cranked up to over 200 once 4 additional launchers are equiped as part of its' super packs. While most of the avionics stay the same as on the VF-25, the 29 features a brand new 4-point central fold quartz architecture that allows integratrion of all the avionics into one singular whole, which persumably (as shown with the next aircraft to have that architecture, the VF-31 Siegfried from Anime/MacrossDelta) allows the plane to go into a SuperMode which engages the afterburners on the engines, in turn granting about 15-20% higher output to all systems when compared to the baseline stats.

* The VF-25 Messiah is the next step in the evolution of the variable fighter. Developed from the failed [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/yf-24.htm YF-24 Evolution]] prototype, the 25 is an incredibly flexible fighter with the prime emphasis on modularity. The [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f.htm F variant]] can equip, in order: [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f-fullarmor.htm the Armor Pack]] (which, in a first for variable fighters, can transform with the fighter; it also carries a whopping [[ExaggeratedTrope 210]] [[MacrossMissileMassacre missiles]] which allows for one helluva Itano Circus); the more traditional [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f-super.htm Super Pack]] and [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f-super-fold.htm fold booster]] options, and in the movies it can carry the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f-tornado.htm TW1 Tornado pack]] (essentially an armored pack with a pair of [[{{BFG}} quantum beam guns]]). The flight leaders of the SMS operate the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25s.htm S variant]], which has the traditional head cannon count upgrade and a prototype ta tical AI unit installed. Naturally, the S can equip [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25s-fullarmor.htm the Armor]] and [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25s-super.htm Super]] packs. Other specialized variants include the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/rvf-25.htm RVF-25]] (which has an adapted version of the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/rvf-25-super.htm Super pack]]), a AEW&C version that also serves as a slaving center for up to six QF-4000 Ghost drones and, for the first time in the franchise, a dedicated sniper variant, the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25g.htm VF-25G]] which also has the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25g-super.htm Super system compatibility]]. Besides the usual streamlining of existing systems, the 25 family introduces several novel concepts: the EX-Gear command system which allows for far greater surviveability in the case a pilot gets shot down, the [[InertialDampening Inertia Store Converter]], which allows for manoeuvres at far higher Gs without any risk for the pilot, and the rather small but sometimes lifesaving update to the armamenr systems in the form of a combat knife, which allows for an alternate melee option once the ammo runs out.

* The [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-171.htm VF-171 Nightmare Plus]] is the cannon fodder for both this series and Anime/MacrossDelta. Based off the VF-17 Nightmare, the Plus completely forgoes the passive stealth system of its' ancestor (as active systems became the norm by that point in time) and instead offers a simple, but very effective and cheap platform that quickly replaced the rather AwesomeButImpractical VF-19 in service of both the New UN Spacy and the many [[PrivateMilitaryContractors PMCs]] that were formed after the deregulation of military authority by the Earth Government. It also has a [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/rvf-171.htm AEW&C version]].

** The QF-4000 Ghost, as used by the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/ghost-sms.htm SMS]] and the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/ghost-nuns.htm NUNS]] mostly stems from the QF-3000 in terms of development, but it also has a unique slaving system that requires a RVF-171 or the RV-25 to operate, which was implemented to prevent another [[Anime/MacrossPlus Sharon Apple incident]]. Luca operates three of these, specifically ''Simon'', ''John'' and ''Peter'', as named after Biblical figures from the old testament. Once unslaved however, the QF-4000 is shown to far surpass even the Ghost X-9 in terms of sheer manoeuvrability and speed.

* The [[http://macross2.net/m3/macross7/vf-5000g.htm VF-5000G Star Mirage]] is a rather old fighter, being introduced as the athmosphere-specialised counterpart of the VF-4 all the way in ''2013'' (in the ''Macross'' universe, this means it was one of the first post-VF-1 valkyries developed, about a year after the chronological ending of [[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross the original anime]]). It still finds service with the Zolan Defence Force, which created many new equipment options and a [[http://macross2.net/m3/macross7/vf-5000tg.htm two-seater variant]] as part of the technological exchange with Earth. The new equipment are [[http://macross2.net/m3/macross7/vf-5000g-superbooster.htm FAST packs]] and [[http://macross2.net/m3/macross7/vf-5000g-speaker.htm speaker boosters]] (and it can [[http://macross2.net/m3/macross7/vf-5000g-superbooster-speaker.htm field them both]] at the same time)

** The QF-4000 Ghost, as used by the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/ghost-sms.htm SMS]] and the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/ghost-nuns.htm]] mostly stems from the QF-3000 in terms of development, but it also has a unique slaving system that requires a RVF-171 or the RV-25 to operate, which was implemented to prevent another [[Anime/MacrossPlus Sharon Apple incident]]. Luca operates three of these, specifically ''Simon'', ''John'' and ''Peter'', as named after Biblical figures from the old testament. Once unslaved however, the QF-4000 is shown to far surpass even the Ghost X-9 in terms of sheer manoeuvrability and speed.

* The [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/yf-29.htm YF-29 Durandal]] is probably the single most [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill overkill]] plane in the franchise alongside the Lucifer above. The YF-29 is a four engined development of the Tornado-pack equiped Messiah, and as such most of the armament systems are the same as on the Tornado Messiah. For that note, the Durandal easily holds the record for the biggest single-craft ItanoCircus not just in the history of the franchise, but likely in anime as a whole: 100+ micromissiles launched from a whopping 12 missile ports, which easily gets cranked up to over 200 once 4 additional launchers are equiped as part of its' super packs. While most of the avionics stay the same as on the VF-25, the 29 features a brand new 4-point central fold quartz architecture that allows integratrion of all the avionics into one singular whole, which persumably (as shown with the next aircraft to have it, the VF-31 Siegfried from Anime/MacrossDelta) allpws the plane to go into a SuperMode which engages the afterburners on the engines, which allows for about 15-20% higher output to all systems when compared to the baseline stats.

* How do you make the resident EnsembleDarkHorse mecha, the Destroid Monster, even cooler? Well by making it into a TransformingMecha, of course! Enter the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vb-6-konig-mf.htm VB-6 König Monster]] (or for you who do not know German, the King Monster). Although the mecha [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossga/vb-6-konig.htm isn't a newly created design]], that unique Destroid factor is still present, with the usual heavy [[ShoulderCannon shoulder-mounted railguns]] and arm-shield missiles of the previous Destroids being present. Compared to the original ''VF-X2'' version, the Frontier König Monster is implied to be a major refit, including amongst other things a new pinpoint barrier system and lighter armor made from the same material as the armor of the VF-25, which allows it to actually be rather fast compared to the usual MightyGlacier status of Destroids

* The [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-171.htm VF-171 Nightmare Plus]] is the cannon fodder for both this series and Anime/MacrossDelta. Based off the VF-17 Nightmare, the Plus completely forgoes the passive stealth system of its' ancestor (as active systems became the norm by that point in time) and instead offers a simple, but very effective and cheap platform that quickly replaced the rather AwesomeButImpractical VF-19 in service of both the New UN Spacy and the many PMCs that were formed after the deregulation of military authority by the Earth Government. It also has a [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/rvf-171.htm AEW&C version]].

* The [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-27.htm VF-27 Lucifer]] is the Galaxy fleet's main combat unit. A four-engined hulking monstrosity of a plane, the Lucifer is only matched by the YF-29 Durandal from the second movie in terms of sheer power. The Lucifer is a descendant of the same Evolution platform as the Messiah (geddit now?), but the weapons systems of the Lucifer far and away beat anything the Messiah has to offer. The main armament is a quantum beam gunpod that has two modes - a regular rapid firing one and the WaveMotionTuningFork mode. Yes, the Lucifer has a freaking '''[[ExaggeratedTrope MACROSS CANNON]]''' as its' main gun. Besides that it also has 4 micro-missile launchers that can ItanoCircus the hell out of everything, it goes far faster than the Messiah can, it has a panoramic cockpit that provides a far superior field of view when compared to the Messiah... the winner all around is obvious. However, there is one major flaw with the Lucifer: it needs a cyborg pilot to get the most out of the Lucifer's impressive capabilities. (Un)fortunately, the red one that appears has such a pilot, in the form of [[CharClone Brera Sterne]]. Oh, and it has a [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-27ysp.htm unique Super pack]] that can also become an AttackDrone.

* The VF-25 Messiah is the next step in the evolution of the variable fighter. Developed from the failed [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/yf-24.htm YF-24 Evolution]] prototype, the 25 is an incredibly flexible fighter with the prime emphasis on modularity. The [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f.htm F variant]] can equip, in order: [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f-fullarmor.htm the Armor Pack]] (which, in a first for variable fighters, can transform with the fighter; it also carries a whopping [[ExaggeratedTrope 210]] [[MacrossMissileMassacre missiles]] which allows for one helluva Itano Circus); the more traditional [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f-super.htm Super Pack]] and [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f-super-fold.htm fold booster]] options, and in the movies it can carry the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f-tornado.htm TW1 Tornado pack]] (essentially an armored pack with a pair of [[BFG quantum beam guns]]). The flight leaders of the SMS operate the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25s.htm S variant]], which has the traditional head cannon count upgrade and a prototype ta tical AI unit installed. Naturally, the S can equip [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25s-fullarmor.htm the Armor]] and [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25s-super.htm Super]] packs. Other specialized variants include the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/rvf-25.htm RVF-25]] (which has an adapted version of the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/rvf-25-super.htm Super pack]]), a AEW&C version that also serves as a slaving center for up to six QF-4000 Ghost drones and, for the first time in the franchise, a dedicated sniper variant, the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25g.htm VF-25G]] which also has the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25g-super.htm Super system compatibility]]. Besides the usual streamlining of existing systems, the 25 family introduces several novel concepts: the EX-Gear command system which allows for far greater surviveability in the case a pilot gets shot down, the [[InertialDampening Inertia Store Converter]], which allows for manoeuvres at far higher Gs without any risk for the pilot, and the rather small but sometimes lifesaving update to the combat systems in the form of a combat knife, which allows for an alternate melee option once the ammo runs out.

* The VF-25 Messiah is the next step in the evolution of the variable fighter. Developed from the failed [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/yf-24.htm YF-24 Evolution]] prototype, the 25 is an incredibly flexible fighter with the prime emphasis on modularity. The [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f.htm F variant]] can equip, in order: [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f-fullarmor.htm the Armor Pack]] (which, in a first for variable fighters, can transform with the fighter; it also carries a whopping [[ExaggeratedTrope 210]] [[MacrossMissileMassacre missiles]] which allows for one helluva Itano Circus); the more traditional [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f-super.htm Super Pack]] and [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f-super-fold.htm fold booster]] options, and in the movies it can carry the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25f-tornado.htm TW1 Tornado pack]] (essentially an armored pack with a pair of [[BFG quantum beam guns]]). The flight leaders of the SMS operate the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25s.htm S variant]], which has the traditional head cannon count upgrade and a prototype ta tical AI unit installed. Naturally, the S can equip [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25s-fullarmor.htm the Armor]] and [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25s-super.htm Super]] packs. Other specialized variants include the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/rvf-25.htm RVF-25]] (which has an adapted version of the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/rvf-25-super.htm Super pack]]), a AEW&C version that also serves as a slaving center for up to six QF-4000 Ghost drones and, for the first time in the franchise, a dedicated sniper variant, the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25g.htm VF-25G]] which also has the [[http://macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-25g-super.htm Super system compatibility]].

* The [[http://macross2.net/m3/macross7/vf-14-m7plus.htm VF-14 Vampire]] is a direct descendant of the VF-4, and much like it's ancestor it was a OneSceneWonder appearing in a ''Macross 7 PLUS'' omake that were tacked onto some of the main series' episodes for the home video release. And the nickname turned out to be a really nasty in-universe case of HarsherInHindsight, as the ''Vampire'' got reverse engineered by actual [[OurVampiresAreDifferent space vampires]] into the Varauta line of variable fighters.

** The Elgerzorene/[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Elgersohln]] family of variable fighters proved to be a massive source of NightmareFuel for the pilots of the Macross 7 Colonial Fleet. Unlike the rather lanky UN variable fighters, the Protodeviln fighters are bulky, [[MoreDakka armed to the brim with guns]] [[MacrossMissileMassacre and missiles]], and they can also ''steal your soul'' in no small part thanks to the Spiritia absorptiob technology. While they are not much more than your ordinary mook later on in the series, the first part made them scary for a reason. [[http://macross2.net/m3/macross7/fz-109a.htm The FZ-109A]] are used early in the series by Gigil's subordinates, while Gigil himseld uses a [[http://macross2.net/m3/macross7/fz-109f.htm FZ-109F]].