Let me start this thread off with that most iconic of Macross Mecha - the venerable VF-1.
From the
Macross Mecha Manual:
Quote:
Northrom VF-1A Valkyrie
Equipment Type: all-environment variable fighter and tactical combat battroid
Government: U.N. Spacy, U.N. Navy, U.N. Space Air Force
Manufacturer: Northrom
Introduction: November 2007
Operational Deployment: February 7, 2009
Accommodation: pilot only in Marty & Beck Mk-7 zero/zero ejection seat
Dimensions:- Battroid Mode: height 12.68 meters; width 7.3 meters; length 4.0 meters
- Fighter Mode: wingspan 14.78 (fully extended); height 3.84 meters; length 14.23 meters
- GERWALK Mode: wingspan 14.78 (fully extended); height 8.7 meters; length 11.3 meters
Mass: empty 13.25 metric tons; standard T-O mass 18.5 metric tons; max T-O mass 37.0 metric tons
Structure: space metal frame, SWAG energy converting armor
Power Plant: two Shinnakasu Heavy Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2001 thermonuclear reaction turbine engines, output 650 MW each.
Propulsion: 11,500 kg [x g] x 2; or 23,000 kg [x g] x 2 in overboost; 4 x Shinnakasu Heavy Industry NBS-1 high-thrust vernier thrusters; 18 x P&W LHP04 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles.
Performance:- Battroid Mode: maximum walking speed 160 km/h
- Fighter Mode: at 10,000 m Mach 2.71; at 30,000+ m Mach 3.87
- GERWALK Mode: maximum walking speed 100 km/h; flying 500 km/h
- g limit: in space +7
Design Features: 3-mode variable transformation; variable geometry wing; vertical take-off and landing; control-configurable vehicle; single-axis thrust vectoring; three "magic hand" manipulators for maintenance use; retractable canopy shield for Battroid mode and atmospheric reentry; option of GBP-1S system, atmospheric-escape booster, or FAST Pack system.
Transformation:- Min time from Fighter to GERWALK (automated): approx. 1.5 sec.
- Min time from GERWALK to Battroid (automated): under 2 sec.
- Standard time from Fighter to Battroid (automated): under 5 sec.
- Min time from Fighter to Battroid (manual): 0.9 sec.
- Armament -
Guns:- 1 x Fixed Mauler RÖV-20 anti-aircraft laser cannon, firing 6,000 pulses per minute
- 1 x Howard GU-11 55 mm three-barrel Gatling gun pod with 200 rds fired at 1,200 rds/min
Bombs & Missiles:- 4 x underwing hard points for 12 x AMM-1 hybrid guided multipurpose missiles (3/point)
- or 12 x MK-82 LDGB conventional bombs (3/point)
- or 6 x RMS-1 large anti-ship reaction missiles (2/outboard point, 1/inboard point)
- or 4 x UUM-7 micro-missile pods (1/point) each carrying 15 x Bifors HMM-01 micro-missiles
- or a combination of above load-outs
Optional Armament:- Shinnakasu Heavy Industry GBP-1S ground-combat protector weapon system
- or Shinnakasu Heavy Industry FAST Pack augmentative space weapon system
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The VF-1 Valkyrie takes advantage of technologies recovered from the ASS-1 to greatly improve its performance, compared to contemporary conventional aircraft. A few key points to note are its incredible power generation capability (1300MW!), dual space/atmospheric operating environments, Overtechnology armor system, and ability to carry reaction (nuclear-equivalent) missiles. Also, Valkyries can achieve high altitude (probably 40,000+ m) flight and orbital re-entry is a standard feature. A modern air force general would drool if he could get their hands on something with the VF-1's attributes.
In SDF Macross, the entire air/space wing of the SDF-1 pilot the different variants of the VF-1. These variants (aside from the Armored and FAST pack-enabled ones) are just about identical to the basic model with the exception of the number of head lasers, so the quality of equipment barely matters in the greater scheme of things. It proved so successful and iconic that the name went on to become the common nickname for all subsequent variable fighters. In fact, they are much more likely to be called "Valkyries" than their official designations are used.
From an outside-the-universe perspective, it's fairly obvious that the design of the Valkyrie is based on the F-14 Tomcat. Likewise, much of the specifications and other details are drawn up in a manner similar to real combat aircraft. Furthermore, the "VF" designation is also used for US Navy air group squadrons. In particular, at the time that SDF Macross aired, the VF-84 squadron, the "Jolly Rogers", flew F-14s and used the same skull and crossbones insignia that adorned Skull Squadron.
Fact that only I'm likely to care about
: the design of the VF-1 was used by Fasa's Battletech game as the basis of no fewer than four Battlemechs: the Wasp, the Stinger, the Phoenix Hawk (Phoenix being the name of the F-14's signature missile), and the
Valkyrie!
... and, as dahak pointed out, the Crusader makes it five.