The VF-19 Question! ------------------- by Graham Parkes Edited by Rik Newman --- The events in Digital Mission VF-X (the Playstation Macross game) are now part of the official Macross chronology, we are stuck with trying to rationalize the many differences between the VF-19A and the similar VF-19Kai/F/S/Zolan. With most variable fighters the only difference between versions is a change of head and number of head lasers, e.g. VF-1A/J/S of VF-17D/S. Or two seater versions, e.g. VF-1D, VF-11D, VF-17T, VT-1, VE-1, VT-1C. With the VF-11B/C, I’m not even sure what the differences are besides slight changes to the FAST packs and a different gun pod. Perhaps updated avionics? Anyway, when you compare the Digital Mission VF-X type VF-19A to the M7/MD7 type VF-19 (VF-19Kai/F/S/Zolan), you can see that besides the usual head redesign there are many other changes, such as: 1. Smaller shield on the VF-19Kai/F/S/Zolan compared to the VF-19A’s larger shield. 2. Addition of a 360 degree vernier slit thrust ring around the ankles of the VF-19Kai/F/S/Zolan. The VF-19A instead has 3 separate verniers on each leg. 3. There is no triple vernier behind the canards of the VF-19Kai & Zolan variant. The VF-19F/S has the triple vernier, but no canards and the VF-19A has both the canards & the triple vernier. 4. Redesigned wing shape on the VF-19F/S different to the VF-19A/Kai/Zolan. 5. Elongated and more streamlined shoulder nacelles on the VF-19Kai/F/S/Zolan. 6. Redesigned weapon bay hatches on the lower legs of the VF-19Kai/F/S/. The Zolan variant has no weapon hatches, instead having 2 micro-missile launchers per leg. 7. Additional verniers on the shoulders and back of the VF-19Kai/F/S/Zolan. 8. More outwardly placed stabilizers on the VF-19Kai/F/S/Zolan. 9. Deletion on the ventral leg fins on the VF-19Kai/F/S. 10. Addition of flaps on the rear of the shoulder nacelles to compensate for the space left by the smaller shield in fighter mode. 11. Straight leading edge root extensions (LERX) on the VF-19Kai/F/S/Zolan compared with the kinked LERX on the YF-19/VF-19A. 12. One piece canopy on the VF-19Kai/F/S/Zolan compared with two piece on YF-19. In the history of variable fighters, this is the only case where there are so many design changes for a specific model. It’s almost as if the VF-19Kai/F/S/Zolan are completely different mecha compared with the YF-19/VF-19A. From the timelines published in various Japanese Macross books we know that the VF-19 was officially adopted as the main UN variable fighter in the year 2041. However, just because it was officially adopted in 2041, doesn’t necessarily mean that it would enter service immediately. I don’t now how the economy in the Macross universe is supposed to work, but the VF-19 is probably a fairly expensive and time consuming variable fighter to produce due to its complexity. So including the time needed to re-train pilots, it would probably be several years before the VF-19 is in general service. I guess that the first VF-19’s in production would go to newly constructed colony fleets and planets of strategic importance. However, the fact that a backwater planet like Zola has a VF-19, means that the use of VF-19’s must be fairly widespread by 2046. Unless that is Zola got priority due to their problem with the whale poachers. So then why did the Macross 7 fleet initially have no military VF-19’s. My guess is that because they had been travelling in space for seven years without encountering any serious threat (prior to the war with the Varuta/Protodeviln). Max Jenius, in his role as fleet commander had become complacent and decided that there was no need to use valuable (and finite) resources to construct several hundred new VF-19 fighters to replace the VF-11C’s. Or perhaps replacement of the VF-11C’s on the Macross 7 fleet had not been approved by U.N. Spacy H.Q. In an early episode of Macross 7, Gamlin is shown searching on his computer for information on the VF-19. Before his access is terminated, a picture of a YF-19/VF-19A type battroid appears on the screen (you can only see this if you have a very good pause function, or if you have the Hong Kong M7 comic that uses stills. This implies that at that time in 2045 there was some knowledge of the YF-19/VF-19A available, but the VF-19Kai/F/S was still classified information. This lends some credence to my theory that the VF-19Kai/F/S/Zolan are the latest advance types. Probably the design changes are by Shinsei Industries and not the M-7 Fleet. In conclusion here is how I think the VF-19 chronology works: 1. 2035. Shinsei industries begins design work on YF-19. 2. 2040. Project Super Nova AFV competition between YF-19 & YF-21. 3. 2041. YF-19 chosen as next main variable fighter to replace VF-11. 4. 2041. Mass production of first VF-19 “A” variant begins. Priority is given to new colony fleets, special forces and planets/bases of strategic importance. 5. 2042-5?. Shinsei Industries designs a more advanced VF-19 with multiple improvements over the first VF-19A variant including a greater number of verniers for enhanced maneuverability. The plans for this advanced variant are transmitted to various UN Spacy planets and colony fleets (especially those which do not yet have the VF-19A in service). 6. 2044-45. A single highly customized version of the new advanced VF-19 is constructed aboard the Macross 7 fleet and is given to singer Nekki Basara as part of Captain Max Jenius’s plan for a culture warfare defense/offense. 7. 2045. Construction of the new advanced type military VF-19 “F & S” variants begins on the Macross 7 fleet to help combat the superior Varauta fighters and Protodeviln. VF-19F/S construction also begins on other fleets/planets at around the same time. 8. 2045. Construction of any new VF-19A is halted. From then on all new military VF-19 will be of the “F & S” type. However, the VF-19A which is still a very capable type will remain in service for the foreseeable future. 9. 2045-7?. Shinsei industries designs a slightly downgraded export variant of the advanced type VF-19 for sale to planets that are aligned to but not part of UN Spacy. This variant features the fully swept wings of the VF-19A and VF-19Kai types, but lacks the triple vernier thrusters behind the canards. Twin micro missile launchers in each lower leg instead of switchable internal weapons pallets, give the export version a lower rate of fire than the VF-19F/S (which is capable of launching 48 micro missiles simultaneously (should the need arise.)