UFAF-CT-38 "Albatross"A four-engined transport and cargo aircraft with a 32-metre wingspan, its flight characteristics are optimised for fuel endurance and payload weight. It has a pressurised interior cabin with a reinforced flooring capable of holding a minimum of 8 tons of cargo, a platoon of paratroopers, or a (very) light tank, accessed mainly through a rear cargo ramp that can be lowered in flight. Four 14-cylinder radial engines turning four-bladed propellers produce the thrust necessary to get it airborne, fed by self-sealing fuel tanks that provide a measure of hardiness. It is designed to land only on Long runways with retractable landing gear. There are side ports in the fuselage for two M3 Sorraia GPMGs on each side for the paratrooper transport variant, although simpler pintle mounts are used instead of ball turrets to save weight and the GPMGs are stripped out on the cargo variant.
Slightly revised, now with two GPMGs on each side. The cargo variant won't have the MGs and their ammo for weight saving, but the mounts will be there for easy conversion to paratransport role.
I will point out that having even a few weapons is better than having none at all for a plane that will double as paratrooper transport. Even 2 (infantry) machineguns a side is a lot when 20-30 planes are flying in formation, forcing enemy fighters to attack from fewer directions and easing the task of escorting fighters. Our paratroopers are all going to die horribly, so please let it be on the ground where we can scrap up some remains to send home instead of in the air. Furthermore, the Albatross is our venture into the field of
self-sealing fuel tanks, which are quite essential to the survivability of all aircraft and will help it in particular against flak fire.
'Reckless Effect' Transport Aircraft (2): Taricus, Khan Boyzitbig
UFAF-CT-38 "Albatross" Cargo Transport (1): Azzuro
