ZEFRON RAYKA
Zefron Rayka (Bird of Paradise or Paradise Bird due to its constructer's initials, called Prey Bird by airmen) was main Leposian fighter (Preybird) during the majority of the Alliance War (1786-93).Developement
Performance
Camouflage and armament
In the year 1781, Leposian Air Force introduced a new fighter, Zefron Zephyr, as its main combatant. Thought it was biplane with fixed landing gear, armed with only four machine guns, it was far superior to any potential adversary. This changed year later, when Argosian all-metal carrier-born monoplane Scimitar Shooter entered service, followed by land-based RAAF Wolf. Although after the Last War, relationship between Lepos and Argos improved dramatically, it was decided to build new, modern fighter force, especially in the light of Intelligence news about new Argosian heavy bomber. It becomes even more important after Santean factory Tifone started production the same year. By doing this, Santean start to create their own aircrafts, which increased potential threat to Lepos.
During next few years, several prototypes were made in an attempt to meet requirements for a new, high performance, heavily armed fighter. However, only in 1785, type based on personal acrobatic aircraft of Zefron factory test pilot, Borhan "Rayka" Paether, was found acceptable to enter serial production.
The first version, Rayka A, was an elegant low-wing monoplane with an elliptical wing, mixed construction and fixed landing gear. This solution was adopted because reliable retracting gear was still under construction, and new fighter was needed desperately. Also Minister Scrakke, Chief of the State, was very reluctant to pay for very expensive all-metal plane. The same problem was with the main weapon, 23mm autocannon. Thus, A-type Raykas entered service in 1785 with two 8mm machine guns only. Even so, they represented significant increase of combat capability, except for the anti-bomber missions. Therefore, only 120 aircrafts were produced before the introduction of type B, and they didn't saw any combat. Most of the war, they were used for advanced training.
A year later, because of rapid increase of friction near Leposian north borders, version B was approved into the production. Although it was still of mixed construction, it finally included retracting gear, cannon and new three-bladed propeller. Also later modifications were able to carry six unguided rockets, up to 200kg of bombs, or a drop tank. When Lepos was invaded in early 1788 by the Northern Pact, 80% of fighter battalions flew Rayka B. Although the higher variants gained weight because of implementing such things like armor protection and self-sealing fuel tanks, they proved themselves equal to the most advanced Pact fighters (AW-31-1 and AW-31-2) and were able to stand their ground even against more modern Renthome Re-5 or AW-31-3. Freeton and Santean fighters of those times were totally outclassed by Raykas B.
Variant C, which entered service during the late spring 1789, was basically version B (in its final modification B-9), but finally with all-metal construction, variable-pitch propeller, new 25mm cannon and supercharger. Although the engine was basically same as on the B variant, those upgrades increased its combat capability enough so they could countervail new Pact fighters. However, in early 1790 it become clear that radical upgrade is needed, because of AW-32. This new Dalianetar fighter outclassed any Alliance aircraft, even the most modern Argosian Sabre Mk VI or Leposian T-60 Dragons. So, after Rayka D was available, variant C (all serving aircrafts were modified to the version C-3 without supercharger) was shifted to low altitude assault missions.
Desperate times, when AW-32 ruled skies over the middle Eastland, started to went off only after the new generation of Aliance fighters entered service. Royal Argosian Air Force introduced RAAF Marauder and advanced versions of Phoenix Chariot; Lepos faced the threat with T-65 Archdragon and mainly, new Rayka D. In her D variant, Rayka changed dramatically. More powerful engine, improved aerodynamics, including bubble canopy and new wing, new rapid firing cannon and larger, 15mm machine-guns, meant that practically entirely new craft was born. Every single characteristic was superior to any of C variants, although this was achieved due to uncompromising optimalization for the short-ranged fighter role, without any external cargo. New wing was not able to carry bombs or rockets, and moreover, there was no place for any drop tank, which reduced effective range. Even with all those sacrifices, Rayka D was only equal to the AW-32 - while Rayka was more nimble, AW-32 had greater firepower and better protection, and it could carry out assault missions. It looked like the Rayka's construction itself met its limits.
Some authors are including Zefron Swallow into the Rayka family. Truth is, that this long-range fighter was based on Rayka D, but modifications were so large, that it was considered entirely new type.
The last attempt to boost the plane up was the E variant, introduced in summer of 1791. With a new engine, boosted to nearly 1700 HP and able to work with full throttle without overheating for a very long time, and with a 30mm cannon, this final Rayka was a surprisingly good adversary for a new AW-32-3. Main trouble represented new cannon – it had recoil too strong for such light aircraft, so later series of the E version returned to the 25mm cannon of D variant. Both Rayka E and AW-32-3 were considered equal, which was very unpleasant surprise for Dalianetar fighters. But, four months after Rayka E was deployed into the frontline service, the very first units equipped with jet fighters (Phoenix Fighter Mk I) saw combat. In light of its performance, any short ranged, piston engine fighter unable to perform any other then fighter mission, was hopelessly obsolete.
Totally around 25,000 piston engine Raykas of all variants were built. After 1791, it was decided that no new variant would be produced because of introduction of jet aircrafts. However, because of delay in production of Leposian jet fighter Loranden Deflector, several Rayka airframes were adopted to the jet engine and served as Raven fighter. The original idea was stolen from Dalianetar, but it looked doable. But although Raven's performance looked promising, the conversion was not entirely successful. Leposian jet engine Randal FJ03 was unreliable, with high fuel consumption and prone to catch fire. Also the new armament of two 25mm cannons with only 72 shells per weapon was less then satisfying. Despite these disadvantages, in good hands, Ravens were dangerous opponents for any Pact piston engine craft, and were superior to the both Re-6 and Re-100, first Dalianetar jet fighters (constructed on the same idea of retrofitting piston-engine fighters with jet engines). Only 520 Ravens were built before they were replaced by Deflectors, and most of them were lost due to engine trouble.
Rayka was the backbone of Leposian fighter units for most of the war. Especially in 1788, before Argos entered the war and situation of Lepos was dire, they were considered as a symbol for the outnumbered, outgunned Leposians fighting for the very existence of their state. No matter what variant, all Raykas were able to withstand considerable damage while remained flyable, which saved life of many pilots. And because until 1789, main Pact fighter weapon of choice was low-caliber machine-gun, in those days, very few Raykas were actually shot down directly in combat. Most loses of the time were due to anti-aircraft defense during ground troops support missions. Due to very weak performance of Dalianetar Re-6 and Re-100, Raven version of Rayka remain the only successful aircraft upgraded from piston to jet engine, which is respectable on its own. And although other Leposian fighters of the Alliance war are more famous due to ace flying them or because of few glorified actions, without Rayka, they wouldn't be able to stop the Pact overwhelming forces.
Rayka A of the Desert Flight School - Wild Pink 1 (Wild Pink planes were reserved for novice pilots), 1788
|
 |
Rayka B-9 of the 574th Territorial Fighter Battalion, early 1788, during battle of Shewell (Leposian Territories)
|
 |
Rayka C-2 of the 616th Home Fighter Battalion, II. 1789, during operation Stormbolt
|
 |
Rayka D-2 of the 312th Battalion, Condor Fighter Regiment, flown by Harry "Scoutboy" Terrel, mid 1790, assault against Freeton
|
 |
Rayka E-1 of the 1st HomeGuard Fighter Battalion, flown by Heytman Roald Thaitren, X. 1791 during Operation Spasm
|
 |
Raven of the 3rd batalion, Condor Fighter Regiment, flown by Lt.Col. Kasrim Ramoss, VI. 1792 during the liberation of southern Wonland
|
 |
I based Rayka A on Czechoslovakian Avia B-35 prototype fighter (both performance and look) and B and C variant on its successor, Avia B-135. Later variants evolved in way similar to WW2 Yaks, up to Yak-15 (Raven). Camouflage and marking are my own, especially "Prey bird wings".