Bluenose

Bluenose - Medium Freighter File:Shipclass med cargo.png
{{{sketchfab}}}
Manufacturer	OKB Kaluri
Ship statistics
Price	308000 Cr
Hull Mass	100 t
Capacity	600 t
Cargo capacity	{{{cargo_capacity}}} t
Crew	min. 2	max. 3
Equipment
Hyperdrive mount	no	Default class: 3
Scoop mounts	{{{max_scoop_mounts}}}
Max cabins	{{{max_cabins}}}
Weapon mounts	{{{max_weapons}}}
Max missiles	{{{max_missiles}}}
DeltaV
Fuel tank capacity	400 t
Exhaust Velocity	empty: 5358km/s full: 3079km/s km/s
deltaV	empty: {{{deltav_empty}}} km/s	full: {{{deltav_full}}} km/s
Acceleration
Forward acceleration	empty: {{{forward_accel_empty}}} G	full: {{{forward_accel_full}}} G
Reverse acceleration	empty: {{{reverse_accel_empty}}} G	full: {{{reverse_accel_full}}} G
Up acceleration	empty: {{{up_accel_empty}}} G	full: {{{up_accel_full}}} G
Down acceleration	empty: {{{down_accel_empty}}} G	full: {{{down_accel_full}}} G
Lateral acceleration	empty: {{{lateral_accel_empty}}} G	full: {{{lateral_accel_full}}} G
Angular acceleration	empty: {{{angular_accel_empty}}}	full: {{{angular_accel_full}}}
Atmospheric characteristics
Atmo. shield mount	{{{atmo_shield}}}
Atmo. pressure limit	{{{atmo_pressure_limit}}} atm
Lift coefficient	{{{lift_coef}}}
Aerodynamic stability	{{{aero_stability}}}
Frontal drag	{{{front_drag}}}
Sideways drag	{{{side_drag}}}
Top drag	{{{top_drag}}}

Description

A rugged medium Harber Corp/OKB freighter with a chequered history. A lack of maneuverability is made up for by respectable acceleration and good cargo capacity. Intended as a space-only or low gravity world ship, thrust assisted decent is possible. Found throughout the galaxy in low numbers but is more commonly seen in back water systems.

History

The Bluenose will be quietly remembered as the offspring of one of the most bizarre events in space-aviation history. In the year XXX OKB Kaluri entered into, what was referred to at the time as “an unholy alliance” with Harber Corp. to produce a mass market medium freighter combining the best that both companies could offer. OKB hoped the endeavor would open up new markets within Solar Federation territories while Harber looked to take advantage of the significant gains in technology made by the OKB research division. The Bluenose was to be a rugged and durable space-frame equipped with a suite of advanced avionics; on paper, this should have been a recipe for an excellent spacecraft.

Released to much fanfare, the first shipments rolled off the production lines to a somewhat mixed reception. While the intent behind the Bluenose's functional design was generally lauded, pundits were somewhat more critical of the craft's unusual aesthetics. The then editor of DraQ-aerospace-monthly commented that the Bluenose was “ugly *and* boxy”, although subsequently stated he had been misquoted. Despite these design criticisms initial sales were good, raising hopes the collaboration would succeed and boost inter-system standing of both companies.

The following months after release saw the first reports of technical abnormalities begin to appear. Official statements from both companies down played these issues as teething problems, insisting affected components would be recalled and their design revised for future models. However the reports still rolled in - initially a trickle, eventually growing to a near torrent with a multitude of defects affecting virtually all variants.

Latching on to the growing number of dissatisfied customers, media outlets quickly raised a flurry of articles painting the Bluenose as a potential death-trap. A few of the more persistent investigative journalists were successful in soliciting statements from sources close to OKB and Harber engineering devisions. The picture wasn’t good. It was apparent the Bluenose design process had been plagued by conflict, driven in no small part by the difference in ethos between the design teams of both companies. Simply put, the OKB avionics and systems did not play nicely with the Haber space-frame.

Finally in XXX a privately registered Bluenose tore itself apart above YYYY after suffering complete attitude control failure. Tragically the owner’s husband and children were aboard during the accident. The resulting media-storm drew widespread condemnation of the Bluenose’s safety record with many fingering the manufacturers as responsible for the family's deaths. OKB and Harber were quick to attribute blame for the Bluenose’s deficiencies on the other. As media reporting of the YYYY incident escalated, OKB and Harber made the decision to halt further production bringing an acrimonious end to their joint venture. As neither company accepted responsibility, existing Bluenose shipments were never recalled. Customers were left bearing the brunt of costly repairs and upgrades, unable to sell on their purchases due to poor reputation. Large numbers of ships remained in the hands of their original owners, many of whom were effectively forced to repair or rectify the numerous design issues themselves.

Some time after the events surrounding the OKB-Harber collapse, modifications effected by their owners had largely permeated thought the remaining Bluenose fleet. To those in ship resale circles it was noticed that Bluenose owners were becoming increasingly reluctant to part with their ships. Despite the initial expense and effort of modification, many pilots came to respect the Bluenose for its relatively high delta-V and ease of handling. With early design issues rectified, the Bluenose was oft heard discussed favourably in station cafes and stopovers across the known systems. These time-tested ships being highly sought after in certain quarters for the ruggedness and reliability they had always promised.

As an effort to recoup the losses suffered during development, OKB and Harber eventually allowed numerous smaller shipyards to manufacture the Bluenose under licence. As reputation for reliability gradually improved, these shipyards were able to turn a modest profit from subsequent sales. Although later models were considered inferior, the Bluenose had returned to life with demand strongest in backwater systems and is still produced in low numbers today.

Improvements and changes

The Bluenose underwent a number of revisions during production with many more alterations made by owners post-production. No two Bluenoses are quite the same. 

Other uses

Often found used as intra-system runabouts ferrying people and goods between stations.