The Conquest II is the next generation in air superiority fighters. Based off of the X-30 the Conquest II departed from the unstable forward swept wings but retained the originals unusual tail configuration. This combination lets the fighter take advantage of the large tail surfaces downward angle for maneuverability, and a conventional wing for stability. The large intake on the bottom feeds air to the two afterburning engines which total over 44000 pounds of thrust. The cockpit was completely redesigned, with a digital instrument panel using three screens combined with an advanced Heads-Up Display (HUD) to present a wealth of date in an organized fashion right at the pilot’s fingertips.

The aircraft’s primary function is aerial combat, and it is generally fitted with a variety of air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-10 Sidewinder 2, AIM-54 Phoenix. however it can be fitted with certain air-to-ground munitions such as the AGM-88 HARM, and MK-82 bomb for support missions. Fixed weapons include two nose mounted 20mm 6 barreled Vulcan cannons with 900 rounds each

The design is not without its flaws however. The narrow wheel base and angle of the horizontal tail surfaces make landings more difficult than in “normal” fighters.  The deck behind the pilot is also quite high, and impedes visibility.

            The Conquest II is truly a remarkable aircraft. Its power and maneuverability combined with a skilled pilot make this the most formidable fighter in the skies today.

cockpit detail:

working hatches:

Landing gear detail:

Landing gear retract cycle:

20MM vulcans: