Sub-Flight System, or SFS for short, is a technology introduced in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam.
Overview[]
A Sub-Flight System is a type of support aircraft or spacecraft designed to be ridden by mobile suits, improving their mobility.
History[]
One Year War[]
Goufs riding atop Dodai YS
The Sub-Flight System concept first emerged during the One Year War. At the time, mobile suits lacked the ability to fly, requiring such support craft to engage in aerial combat. The first SFS was the Dodai YS used by the Principality of Zeon. Though developed as a bomber, the Dodai YS' thermonuclear jet engines provided enough thrust for a mobile suit to ride atop it during flight.[1]
A MS-06J Zaku II Ground Type taking control of a damaged Dodai II
The Dodai YS, used in conjunction with the MS-07B Gouf, achieved significant battle results. Because of this, Zeon developed a successor to the Dodai YS - the Dodai II. Unlike its predecessor, the Dodai II was designed as a dedicated SFS and had its weapons removed in order to increase its thrust. However, since the Dodai II was deployed near the end of the war and only produced in small numbers, it failed to achieve the same results as its predecessor.[2] Notably, while the Dodai II was piloted, just like its predecessor, its controls could be transferred to the mobile suit riding atop it.[3] This would become a key feature in future unmanned SFS.
A Luggun carrying a Zaku II
Another successor of the Dodai YS was the Dodai GA, a specialized ground-attack variant designed for improved coordination with the mobile suit it carried.[4]
Though not classified as an SFS, the Luggun reconnaissance aircraft was shown to have enough thrust to carry a MS-06 Zaku II underneath.[5]
Although not as common as their Zeon counterparts, the Federation also employed SFS during the One Year War, such as the Lightliner and the Corvette Booster.
Gryps Conflict[]
Following the end of the One Year War, the Earth Federation Forces continued the development of the SFS concept, producing SFS such as the Dodai Kai (a direct successor of the Dodai series) and the hovercraft type Base Jabber. Space-use SFS also became more common, such as the Shackles and the Geta.[6]
Neo Zeon Wars[]
Notes & Trivia[]
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
- Episode 27, Leina's Blood, Part 1
- Episode 28, Leina's Blood, Part 2
- Episode 29, Runaway Roux
- Episode 30, Blue Corps, Part 1
- Episode 31, Blue Corps, Part 2
- Episode 32, Across the Salt Lake
- Episode 33, Afternoon in Dublin
- Episode 34, Kamille's Voice
- Episode 35, Falling Sky
- Episode 36, Ple-Two Under Gravity
- Movies
References[]
- ↑ (1994-02-25) エンタテーンメントバイブル [ENTERTAINMENT BIBLE] 機動戦士ガンダム大図鑑[1] 【ザンスカール戦争編】(上) Mobile Suit Gundam Encyclopedia [1] 【Zanscare War Edition】(Part 1) (in Japanese). メディアワークス [MediaWorks], p. 80. ISBN 4073007653.
- ↑ 皆川ゆか; Sunrise (2001-03-21). 機動戦士ガンダム公式百科事典 GUNDAM OFFICIALS [Mobile Suit Gundam Official Encyclopedia GUNDAM OFFICIALS] (in Japanese). 講談社 [Kodansha]. ISBN 9784063301106.
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles (Manga)
- ↑ Kenichi Kusakari (2013-02-21). 機動戦士ガンダムMSV-R ザク編 [Mobile Suit Gundam MSV-R: Zaku Edition] 2 (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation, pp. 44-45. ISBN 9784041205921.
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam Episode 15, Cucuruz Doan's Island
- ↑ (2020-10-13) THE OFFICIAL 週刊 ガンダム・モビルスーツ・バイブル 68 (in Japanese). DeAgostini, pp. 24-29. JAN 4910345441009.