Phoenix

Eldar Portal

This article is about the the Eldar aircraft. For other uses of Phoenix, see Phoenix (disambiguation).

Eldar Phoenix

The Phoenix is an Eldar ground attack fighter.^[1]

While it shares many features in common with its smaller cousin, the Nightwing, the Phoenix sacrifices a measure of speed and maneuverability in order to carry a large weapons payload for ground attack missions. The two work in tandem, Nightwings clearing the skies of enemy aircraft and escorting Phoenixes as they rain destruction upon ground forces. However despite the loss in performance from its heavier payload the Phoenix is still an outstanding aircraft, capable of tangling with most Imperial fighter aircraft and still coming out on top. It is common throughout all Craftworlds and Corsair warbands, and while orbital-capable the Phoenix is more commonly deployed through larger Wraithgates.^[1][2][3][4]

Technical Information

Eldar Phoenix

Armament

The Phoenix is a heavily-armed aircraft. A pair of twin-linked Shuriken Cannons mounted in the craft's nose are primarily for engaging other aircraft or infantry units, while below the fuselage is a single centerline-mounted Pulse Laser for pinpoint accuracy against hardened ground targets. The Phoenix's main ground attack weapons, twin Phoenix Missile Launchers, can also be mounted in the fuselage or in wing mounts. They typically carry Nightfire Plasma Missiles^[7] for saturation bombardment of a target, destroying it in a hail of plasma explosions, but may also mount Nightfire Krak Missiles.^[1][3][4][7] Alternatively, some Phoenix bombers will instead carry the same deadly Monofilament Weaponry as found on the ground-based Night Spinner in place of missile launchers.^[2] The Pulse Laser can be replaced by two Bright Lances or two Star Cannons.^[6]

Control Systems

Unlike the Nightwing the Phoenix has a crew of two, a pilot and co-pilot, each with their own cockpit. The co-pilot serves as a weapons officer, operating the Phoenix's armaments whilst the pilot flys the aircraft. Control of the Phoenix is assisted by the fact that, like all Eldar aircraft, it is constructed of advanced psycho-plastics and Wraithbone, psychically attuned to the crew and allowing for improved response times and pilot efficiency.^[4]

Defensive Measures

As with other Eldar vehicles, the Phoenix focuses on speed and agility rather than heavy armour for protection, and benefits from an advanced Holo-field to disrupt enemy targeting capabilities. Wraithbone reinforcements along the craft's fuselage further help to strengthen and give extra resilience.^[4]

Flight Performance

The Phoenix lacks the same straight-line speed and maneuverability as the Nightwing, in part because it does not use the same variable-sweep wings, and has been recorded achieving a max speed of only 3,100 kph by Imperial forces. However it still makes use of the same advanced anti-gravitic technology, and so is more than capable of outperforming most other aircraft in both speed and agility.^[1][3]

Specifications

Technical Information[1]
Length	12.6m[1]
Height	3.4m[1]
Wingspan	14.75m[1]
Estimated Weight	6 tonnes[1]
Armour	8-10mm material unknown[1]
Maximum Recorded Speed	3100kph[1] at 5,000 feet[5]
Crew	2. Pilot, navigator[1]
Armament	Twin-Linked Shuriken Cannons, Twin-linked Eldar missile launchers, 1 x Pulse Laser[1]
Main Ammunition	Unknown[1]
Payload	Unknown[1]

Images

• 

  The Shadow Reaver of Aleth Neth^[9b]

• 

  Epic Scale Phoenix

Sources

• 1: Imperial Armour Update, pg. 36
• 2: Epic Swordwind, pg. 23
• 3: Imperial Armour - Apocalypse, pg. 57
• 4: Imperial Armour Volume Eleven - The Doom of Mymeara, pg. 199
• 5: Aeronautica Imperialis Game Rulebook, pg. 124
• 6: Aeronautica Imperialis: Companion:
  • 6a: pg. 28
  • 6b: pg. 34
• 7: Aeronautica Imperialis: Wrath of Angels, pg. 34