Akajei Gyoshi PR Mk V

The Akajei Gyoshi is a twin seater, twin engined, contra-rotating photo reconnaissance aircraft designed by Kujira Industries and used by the Holidian Air Force. The aircraft was the final evolution of the Akajei series of aircraft. The aircraft had changed purpose and was about 50% larger than the Akajei IV. The Akajei Gyoshi would become one of the longest serving Holidian aircraft ever entering service in 2032 and finally retiring in 2120.

Design and Development
The Akajei Gyoshi was the final evolution of the Akajei lineage with development beginning in 2025. Designed to be a long range reconnaissance aircraft, the airframe underwent multiple changes to the point where the aircraft was barely recognizable as an Akajei. The wings were lengthened to increase the aircraft’s service ceiling and the engines were converted into a pusher layout. This was to allow the aircraft to fit tricycle landing gear rather than being a taildragger like every other Akajei before it. The aircraft was able to stay up in the air for about a week without refueling thanks to its highly efficient hydrogen-electric motors. As the hydrogen-electric motors didn’t need to take in air to function, the Akajei Gyoshi could serve in areas with extreme amounts of particles, like dust or ash, where other aircraft would flame out.

Service History
Entering service in 2032, the type saw a mostly uneventful service life. A few were used in the closing stages of the Atlantis-Holiday War, but most were used post-war as eyes in the sky to watch for potential resistance groups in the Atlantis State. In late 2044, Akajei  AC576-R  set an endurance record of one week without refueling. The type was eventually retired by the Holidian Air Force in 2050, but several were sold to NASA and other private organisations for high altitude research. By the 2070s, most were retired but kept in storage.

On June 12th, 2114 at approximately 4:30 AM reports were made by a handful of ships in the North Atlantic ocean regarding a devastating shockwave…

A meteor about 1.6km in diameter had collided with Earth 240km off the coast of the Netherlands. Within hours, nearby coastlines were decimated and hundreds of tons of debris were launched into the atmosphere. This catastrophic event was named 'Base Delta Zero'. 10 Akajei Gyoshi aircraft were put back into service shortly in late 2114. These aircraft were retrofitted and modified extensively to survey particles left in the atmosphere and work as flying labs. As Akajei Gyoshi aircraft could stay in the air for days and even weeks at a time, the aircraft was ideal for researching the long-term effect of the blast. The aircraft was finally retired for the third and last time in 2120.

Specifications
Crew: 2, Pilot & co-pilot. (+2 scientists in the on-board lab with the atmosphere research variant of the aircraft)

Top Speed: 450km/h.

Dimensions (m): 34.13 x 9.11 x 25.44