GU-1 Gull
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GU-1 Gull
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| Fighter | |||||
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| A restored GU-1 in Confederate colors, 2167. | |||||
| Role | Fighter | ||||
| National Origin | Zokesia | ||||
| Production History | |||||
| Designer | Zokesia Skunkworks | ||||
| First Flight | February 28th, 2057 | ||||
| Unit Cost | 19,420(√) | ||||
| Number Built | 10 | ||||
| Service History | |||||
| In Service | |||||
| 2057 - 2058 | |||||
| Used By | Zokesia Sahr |
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The Zokesia Skunkworks GU-1 Gull is a single-seat, single enginefighter built from the Gull Seaplane.
Development
| “ | A small and light seaplane, the Gull makes an excellent basic trainer for kerbals who aren't exactly sure when or where they will be landing (or "landing"). It can take off and land at shockingly low speeds (slower than some hotrodded rovers seen being driven around KSC by certain unnamed test pilots) thanks to its inner-wing flaps. | ” |
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The Gull started life as a seaplane developed for civilian pilots to transit Wakir's vast oceans. It was used to train new kerbals when landing on water. Modifications feasible for the average training pilot include mounting multiple engines underneath the wings, or on the tail, to complete long-range flights, and adding fuel where possible. An unmodified Gull can take off at around 30 meters per second.
Following the breakout of war between the newly formed Zokesia and Sanctum in 2057, the Skunkworks began drawing up plans to rapidly convert aircraft to mount a defense of the fledgling nation against the Hammerhead fighters of the Sanctum Sovereignty. These design changes included lengthened wingtips for increased stability and a more powerful, afterburning turbofan underneath the cockpit, and a radar in the nose. The ability to land on water was no longer required, and the pontoons were removed to decrease weight and drag.
A total of ten Gulls were successfully converted to GU-1 fighters before the conflict cut off supplies to build new aircraft.
Operational History
GU-1 Gulls saw action first over the skies of Ward, where Sanctum fighters unsuccessfully tried to gain air superiority. Zokesian jets took tactical superiority and destroyed 7 Sanctum fighters on the first day. In total, three of the ten GU-1s were lost to enemy aircraft, despite the Sanctum Air Force numbering 42 fighters, were able to inflict heavy losses on the enemy and prevent air dominance over the battlefield.
Soon after Mechani orbital bombardment struck the power plants in Sanctum, destroying the Nuclear facilities and wiping out all but one power plant in the nation. The Sanctum military began mobilizing a counter strike on Zok. Fighting broke out south and east of the town, with Zokesian forces initially reeling from the attack found their footing and destroyed the attacking force. From there the Zokesians pushed south to the edge of the province before coming up against more Sanctum troops from the south. Without the Gulls defending the skies, the Zokesian Army, with its hastily constructed tanks and armored cars, would've suffered high casualties to aircraft and most certainly would have lost the Battle of Zok.
Exports
Four GU-1s were sold to Sahr in the 2100s.