Space Plane: Difference between revisions

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* The ''[[Macross]]'' franchise is the king of this trope, featuring space planes that are also [[Transforming Mecha]] -- but, perhaps surprisingly, they end up spending more time in plane form than mecha form. The earlier models of variable fighters generally required a lift from another craft to reach space but by the time of [[Macross Plus|Project Supernova]] they're capable of reaching orbit from planetary surfaces, even loaded down with an optional extra fold booster.

** [[Macross Frontier|Alto and Michel]] demonstrate the same again when escaping from Gallia IV

* In [[Mobile Suit Gundam]], the FF-3/FF-S3 Sword Fish is a multi-use interceptor that functions in high altitude and low orbit. It's successor, the [[Trasforming Mecha|Transformable]] [[Humongous Mecha]] MSZ-006C4 Zeta plus C4 is a [[Humongous Mecha]] version of it, and its [[Super Prototype]], the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam is basically the real [[Space Plane]] version for both full range aerial and space combat, instead of only specializing in around the atmosphere.

* In ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'', the FF-3/FF-S3 Sword Fish is a multi-use interceptor that functions in high altitude and low orbit. It's successor, the [[Trasforming Mecha|Transformable]] [[Humongous Mecha]] MSZ-006C4 Zeta plus C4 is a [[Humongous Mecha]] version of it, and its [[Super Prototype]], the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam is basically the real [[Space Plane]] version for both full range aerial and space combat, instead of only specializing in around the atmosphere.

== [[Film]] ==

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* The ''[[Duumvirate]]'''s fusion-powered jet can take them to Mars without a booster.

* The Black Stallions from the novel of [[Dale Brown]]. They can go to orbit, as the first usage of one in ''Strike Force'' shows, but sub-orbital is enough most of the time.

* [[X Wing Series|X-Wings and Y-Wings]] don't typically count; they have repulsorlift coils and use them. But ''Starfighters of Adumar'' has a pilot recount the case of another pilot whose craft had been shot up so the repulsorlifts had stopped working, and who had instead approached the cleared landing zone on the local moonbase, dropping his skids as he got close. Wes can tell the story.

* ''[[X Wing Series]]'' X-Wings and Y-Wings don't typically count; they have repulsorlift coils and use them. But ''Starfighters of Adumar'' has a pilot recount the case of another pilot whose craft had been shot up so the repulsorlifts had stopped working, and who had instead approached the cleared landing zone on the local moonbase, dropping his skids as he got close. Wes can tell the story.

{{quote| '''Wes Janson''': "The skids take the initial impact but he bounces, so he's like some sort of hop-and-grab insect all down the duracrete. But he's lucky enough that he stays top side up. Finally he's bled off a lot of momentum, but he loses control and his Y-Wing rolls. Comes to a stop on its belly and he's safe. ''Then'' his [[Ejection Seat|ejector seat]] malfunctions and shoots him off towards space. With grav that low, he achieves escape velocity. We had to send a rescue shuttle up after him or he'd still be sailing through the void, one cold cadaver."}}

* The book Gradisil by Adam Roberts features jet planes being retrofitted to journey into Low Earth Orbit. By riding on electromagnetic fields the planes, over the course of a day or so, can reach orbit. Big planes like a 747 are used to lift private space-habitats into orbit.

* The book ''Gradisil'' by Adam Roberts features jet planes being retrofitted to journey into Low Earth Orbit. By riding on electromagnetic fields the planes, over the course of a day or so, can reach orbit. Big planes like a 747 are used to lift private space-habitats into orbit.

* [[Space Fighter|Fluggers]] in ''Tomorrow War'' series by Alexander Zorich are like this. While obviously VTOL-capable, they rely on mobility to survive, so generally act plane-like and actually fly in atmosphere rather than just lift and descend. At the start of the first book one corporation tried to have [[Deflector Shields|shields]] and stable atmospheric flight at the same time - this took them some time.

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** Both might fail on technicalities. If a "spaceplane" has to "take off and land ''like an airplane''," well, how Vipers would land at a ground-based facility—or take off again, on those skids—is never established. And do Raiders even ''have'' landing gear? (This doesn't mean that appropriate facilities don't exist or couldn't be built; it's just that, if they were, we never saw 'em. Both types of craft always launched from and and returned to a starship, which is ''not'' "[[Exact Words|like an airplane]].")

** We do actually see Mk VII Vipers being towed around an airbase in the new [[Battlestar Galactica]], in a flashback set just after the death of Zack Adama. That sequence, plus some close-ups in ''Galactica'''s hangar deck seem to indicate that the skids have some retractable(?) wheels which could be used for a conventional runway take-off and landing. The Raptor, however, would probably count as a single-stage VTOL spaceplane.

* Stargate's Goa'uld gliders, human X-302s, and Wraith darts can fly in space and in atmosphere

* In ''[[Stargate Verse|Stargate]]'', Goa'uld gliders, human X-302s, and Wraith darts can fly in space and in atmosphere

* ''[[Red Dwarf]]'' had several Starbugs and Blue Midgets. Starbug is explicitly stated to be a ship-to-surface craft, implying that it ferried ore from the surface of the planet or asteroid it was mining to the ship itself. Neither of those fly like planes, however.

* The ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode "Victory of the Daleks" has Dalek technology co-opted by Britain during [[World War II]] to produce Space ''Spitfires''.

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* One turns up, in of all places, ''[[CSI: Miami]]''.

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== ~~[[Real Life]]~~ == ~~(None~~ of these have really [[Incredibly Lame Pun|got off the ground]] yet)

== [[Real Life]] ==

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Sort of - none of these have really [[Incredibly Lame Pun|got off the ground]] yet.

* The Silbervogel design from [[Stupid Jetpack Hitler|Nazi Germany]].

* The British HOTOL (Horizontal Take Off Or Landing) project, cancelled in 1988 after development problems.

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== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

* In [[BattleTech]], there are Aerospace fighters which can act as normal fighter aircraft or fighter aircraft [[In Space]] at the discretion of the mothership, at least some of which are capable of surface - to - space flight, winged shuttlecraft, and Aerodyne Dropships, which are able to land as a [[Space Plane]].

* In ''[[BattleTech]]'', there are Aerospace fighters which can act as normal fighter aircraft or fighter aircraft [[In Space]] at the discretion of the mothership, at least some of which are capable of surface - to - space flight, winged shuttlecraft, and Aerodyne Dropships, which are able to land as a [[Space Plane]].

* In ''[[Warhammer 40000|Warhammer 40,000]]'', the Imperial Navy's aircraft - by which I mean fighters and bombers designed primarily to operate in an atmosphere - are ''technically'' spaceplanes, as they can be launched off an Imperial Navy starship in orbit and can reach that starship from ground airbases once the fighting's over. In something of a subversion, the Imperial Navy's starfighters - like the Fury - are altogether much larger than standard aircraft and have a crew of around three, and while they can operate in an atmosphere it's not recommended because they're not designed for it.

* Many small craft and even Starships in [[Traveller]] are capable of this. Not all, particularly the biggest which is why the largest starports tend to have orbital facilities.

* Many small craft and even Starships in ''[[Traveller]]'' are capable of this. Not all, particularly the biggest which is why the largest starports tend to have orbital facilities.

== [[Video Games]] ==

* The Delta-glider Mk.4 (and many other cool spaceplanes) from ~~the [[Freeware]] space simulator~~ ''[[Orbiter]]''. It can do an Earth to Moon and Earth to Mars journey easily.

* The Delta-glider Mk.4 (and many other cool spaceplanes) from ''[[Orbiter]]''. It can do an Earth to Moon and Earth to Mars journey easily.

** http://www.dougsorbiterpage.com - The XR series (XR1 is a just a more sophisticated Delta-glider)

** [http://www.dougsorbiterpage.com/ The XR series] (XR1 is a just a more sophisticated Delta-glider)

*** The XR2 Ravenstar is probably one of the more awesome examples from orbiter, as its basically a Space capable reimagining of the [[Real Life/Cool Plane|SR-71 Blackbird]], and has the gloriously powerful engines to match.

* Freelancer's space ships seem fully capable of launching and landing, though gameplay always uses docking rings, presumably for traffic control.

* ''[[Freelancer]]'' space ships seem fully capable of launching and landing, though gameplay always uses docking rings, presumably for traffic control.

* [[Battlecruiser 3000 AD]]'s shuttles are capable of atmosphere to space and back.

* ''Battlecruiser 3000 AD'' shuttles are capable of atmosphere to space and back.

* Starting with ''[[Wing Commander (video game)|Wing Commander]] III'', some fighters are explicitly said to be capable of flying and fighting in an atmosphere, while others aren't.

* [[Civilization]]: Call to Power has several units that can launch themselves into space. (Including an actual [[Space Plane]] unit, and a unit called a [[Space Fighter]]). The Civilization 2: Test of Time Sci-fi game also has several units that can travel into space. (The Shuttle is probably the most obvious example.)

* ''[[Civilization]]: Call to Power'' has several units that can launch themselves into space. (Including an actual [[Space Plane]] unit, and a unit called a [[Space Fighter]]). The Civilization 2: Test of Time Sci-fi game also has several units that can travel into space. (The Shuttle is probably the most obvious example.)

* Several ships in the [[Mass Effect]] universe - the Normandy [[SR 1]] can fly in atmosphere, the Kodiak Drop Shuttle and the Viper gunship can both transit too, as can starfighters.

* Several ships in the ''[[Mass Effect]]'' universe - the Normandy [[SR 1]] can fly in atmosphere, the Kodiak Drop Shuttle and the Viper gunship can both transit too, as can starfighters.

* In [[Final Fantasy VIII]], you get one of those in place of a [[Global Airship]]. It's called Ragnarok.

* In ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'', you get one of those in place of a [[Global Airship]]. It's called Ragnarok.

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* All E-frame from ''[[Exo Squad]]'' seem to have direct-atmosphere-to-space-and-back capability, but most of them fall under [[Humongous Mecha]], so only Kaz Takagi's CR-001 Exofighter qualifies for the "plane" part.

* The Disney show ''Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers'' had an episode, imaginatively called "Space Plane" which revolved around Chip and Dale getting trapped in a space plane, forcing Gadget to cook up a scheme involving a homemade spaceship with fire extinguisher thrusters, dynamite-powered rockets, all powered by pulling cables with nuts and washers attached to them.