Hawthorn Australis [Aerial Walker] Artwork

[RedDwarfIV]

Images display the Australis ducked down. This is standard standby position - ready for boarding by the pilot.

The Hawthorn Aerospace Technologies Australis-type is the corporation\'s first serious attempt at a VTOL aircraft with bipedal design landing gear, following the Hawthorn ZL-58.

The ZL-58 was a single-person interceptor which proved to have little more than the capability to shuffle on its legs, not to mention that it was rear heavy meaning it had to employ its engines at low thrust just to prevent itself from tipping over when the vehicle was standing.

The Australis model is fully balanced, is carried by industrial reverse-knee\'d leg landing gear, carries twin underside mounted cannons and a back mounted plasma blaster. Unlike the ZL-58, the thrust comes from twin turboprop rotors mounted on tilting nascelles. The cabin can hold three people with space for one to sleep. It also features multiple wings - though these only provide the majority of the lift whilst flying. Regrettably, the Australis cannot glide. Or rather, it has the same gliding ability as a fourteen tonne paper aeroplane.

[Phoxtane]

Might I ask why it uses turboprops instead of large jet engines?

[mincespy]

[jealous]

HNNNNNNGGHHNNGGNGNHGGNGGHGHGNNGNGG

Why you so awesome at drawing on computer

[/jealous]

[Ascensiam]

Actually this is pretty easy, i reckon this is the type of art where you frustratingly erase one line a gazillion times.

I\'d love to see it smoothed out and shaded.

[Nooblet68]

Can I ask; is this a design you came up with yourself?

[RedDwarfIV]

For everyone\'s information.

I designed this on Spore.

I drew it out on paper from looking at the Vehicle Creator.

I scanned it in.

I used Paint.NET\'s Ink Sketch tool to get the first image. This removes most of the interferance that would make it hard to colour.

I coloured it.

I added Copyright stamps and the RA logo.

I uploaded the images to Imgur.

And it uses turboprops because turboprops are cool like that. Besides, the V-22 Osprey is the only similar STOL aircraft I can think of, and that uses rotors.

[Nooblet68]

It\'s a nice design. Also, Turboprops are much more efficient than jets...

[RedDwarfIV]

It\'s a nice design. Also, Turboprops are much more efficient than jets...

The best thing about jets is their power, not their economy. So for a small craft such as this, where power isn\'t whats needed, economy is very useful.