But this IS my idea of relaxation!

[kaigou]

For a takeoff using pure thrust and no wings, the thrust-weight ratio for the vehicle has to be more than one (for launch from the Earth's surface, for launch from the Moon it only needs to be more than 0.1654). In general, the thrust-to-weight ratio is numerically equal to the g-force that the vehicle can pull, provided the g-force exceeds local gravity then takeoff can occur. [Definition via Wikipedia.]

designation / name	series or country	length (m)	wt, emp (ton)	wt, gross (ton)	thrust (kN)	T/W ratio
RX-78-2 Gundam	MSG	18.5	43.4	60.0		0.93
RX-78GP01 Zephyranthes	0083	18.5	39.7	65.0		1.66
RX-178 Mark II	Zeta	19.6	33.4	54.1		1.50
F91 Gundam	F91	15.2	7.2	19.9		4.44
XXXG-00W0 Wing Zero	W	16.7	8.0	?		?
GT-9600 Leopard	X	16.8	8.5	?		?
WD-M01 Turn-A	Turn-A	20.0	17.5	28.6		?
GAT-X105 Strike	SEED	17.7	?	64.8		?
GN-001 Exia	00	18.3	57.2	?		?
Typhoon F2	UK	15.9	11.0	15.6	60.0	1.18
F-35 Lightning	US	15.4	11.7	20.1		0.89
F-22 Raptor	US	18.9	14.3	25.1		1.26
F-20 Tigershark	US	14.2	5.0	6.8		1.13
Kfir C-2	Israel	15.6	7.3	10.4	52.9
MiG-23MLD Flogger-L	USSR	16.7	9.5	15.7		0.88
F-89D Scorpion	US	16.4	11.0	19.2	24.9	0.35
F-117 Night Hawk	US	20.0	13.4	23.8		0.40
B-2 Spirit	US	20.9	71.7	152.6		0.20

...In other words, I am such a frickin' geek.

Comments

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

The B-2 Spirit is a bomber, however, and it's not required to have the thrust or maneuverability capabilities of a fighter jet -- it's a big honking cruiser that carries a massive payload and would always be the loser in dodgeball. If we assume that F91 and Exia have similar propulsion levels, then naturally F91 would have the incredible 4.44 t/w ratio, because it's so light it'd be able to take full advantage of that powerful engine.

I suspect Exia and its peers are so incredibly heavy for two reasons: one, the immense number of armaments each carries (I mean, have you looked at the size of that sniping mechanism on the Dynames, or is it just me who wants to snark about the mecha designers overcompensating much?). Two, what may be a sort of battery-storage facility, that's charged as the gundam operates, since we do at least know now that the Gundams must return to Ptolomaeus (and I'm never going to spell that puppy right) on a regular basis, b/c their power sources form the backbone of the ship's power, and must recharge the ship (and not the other way around).

That tells me that the Gundams are getting energy in some manner or source that the mothership can't -- which cuts solar power right out. That ship is hovering in orbit, and theoretically should be able to get copious amounts of solar energy on a regular basis (which may, however, be powering some of its backup systems, I'd think). This leads into my theory about the Gundams' power source, but I'll technogeek on that in a later -- and hopefully more organized -- post, once it's simmered a bit more.