NoWaiter and Aeroco Kestrel: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox company
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
| name             = NoWaiter
| name = Kestrel
| logo            = NoWaiter-logo.svg
| image = Aeroco_Kestrel_Plane.jpg
| logo_caption    =  
| caption = An Aeroco Kestrel of the [[Arcer Air Force]] taxing to a maintenance bay in [[Kinnaird]], [[Arcerion]].
| image            =
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
| image_caption    =
  |type = {{wp|Multirole combat aircraft}}
| former_name      = {{ubl|Roll Through No Wait (1950-1970)|No Wait No Waiter (1970-1981)}}
  |manufacturer = [[Aeroco]]
| type             = Privately owned
  |designer =
| industry        = {{wp|Fast food}} restaurant
  |first flight = 1992
| genre            = <!-- Only used with media and publishing companies -->
  |introduction = 1998
| foundation      = 1950
  |retired =
| founder          = Dan Ernaro
  |status = In service
| defunct          = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
  |primary user = {{air force|Arcerion}}
| location_city    = [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]]
  |more users = {{navy|Arcerion}}
| location_country = [[Urcea]]
*{{air force|Burgundie}}
| locations        = 40,101 restaurants
*{{navy|Burgundie}}
| area_served      = Worldwide
  |produced = <!--years in production, e.g. 1970-1999, if still in active use but no longer built-->
| key_people      =  
  |number built = 300+
| products        =  
  |unit cost = ₤68,000,000
| brands          =  
  |variants with their own articles =
| production      =
| developed from =  
| services        =  
| revenue          =
| operating_income =
| net_income      =
| assets          =
| equity          =
| owner            =
| num_employees    = Approximately 3 million, including franchised employees
| parent          =
| divisions        =
| subsid          =
| homepage        = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| footnotes        =  
| intl            =  
| bodystyle        =  
}}
}}
'''NoWaiter''' is a [[Urcea|Urcean]] multinational fast-food corporation. Founded in 1950 as '''Roll Through No Wait,''' as a hamburger stand in [[Stanlow]], the company was later turned into a franchise, becoming regionally successful in [[Westglen]] by 1960 and pioneering modern drive-through fast food techniques. Throughout the 1960s, the chain grew nationally and supplanted other emergent fast-food chains which did not have drive-through capability, and by 1970 the company - now renamed "No Wait No Waiter" - was the largest fast-food chain in Urcea. The company adopted its current name in 1981. Centered in Stanlow during the first three decades of existence, the company relocated its headquarters to [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]] in 1983.
|}The '''Aeroco Kestrel''' is an [[Arcerion|Arcer]] twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter. The Kestrel was designed to replace the aging Goshawk-series of aircraft in Arcerion's inventory, and was designed to be a multirole fighter that could accommodate all of the legacy roles (air superiority, interceptor, fight bomber) of its predecessor into a singular air frame. The project was initiated by the [[Arcer General Staff]] and Ministry of Defense in the late 1980s, with development beginning in the early 1990s, the first flight occurring on April 9th, 1992. The name was adopted along with standard Arcer practice of using birds of prey as classification for military aircraft procurement programs, and the name was retained once the development models were ready for serial production. The [[Government of Arcerion|Arcer government]] signed contracts for the procurement of several hundred fighters, as well as the required maintenance contracts and facilities construction and conversion for both the [[Arcer Air Force]] and the [[Royal Arcerion Naval Service]].  
The aircraft entered service with the Arcer Air Force's [[Structure of the Arcer Air Force|No. 45 Squadron (Test and Evaluation)]] in 1998, with serial production equipping most squadrons in both the Air Force and Naval Air Arm by 2004. It continues to be manufactured with Block III-series aircraft bridging the gap between fourth and fifth-generation jet fighters, and the Kestrel Block III is considered to be a "fourth-and-a-half" generation fighter aircraft due to service and lifespan upgrades to avionics and communications modules, as well as computer upgrades to allow for the usage of a more wide array of weapons.  


NoWaiter is one of the world's largest restaurant chains by revenue, serving 100 million customers per day worldwide, and is one of Urcea's largest companies by revenue. Its primary rival in the fast-food sector is [[Coria Clux]]. The menu, which originally included variations of hamburgers, includes a wide array of foods, including and especially hot dogs and corned beef melts for which the company has become well known. NoWaiter is also well known for its variety of {{wp|root beer}}, which was introduced in 1990.  
The Aeroco Kestrel is one of the most agile aicraft of its generation, and proved to be an effective combat aircraft during the [[Telekonese Conflict|2007 Telekonese Conflict]], as well as the [[Final War of the Deluge]]. Block II and Block III-series fighters were commonly used in the fighter-bomber configuration against Varshani targets, including one of the first uses of air-launched cruise missiles by a non-[[Levantia|Levantine]] air force in Ixnay. Upgrades to sensor pods and other systems have also allowed it to assist with aerial reconnaissance missions to augment Arcerion's Maritime Patrol capability.
== Design and Development ==
Arcerion as early as 1980 had identified that the aging fleet of Goshawk aircraft were having an increase in maintenance hours and service issues associated with mid-life aircraft. There was an effort to look to replace the Goshawk series by 1990, however procurement delays and the 1986 Telekonese Conflict caused significant delays as the government was focused on defending Arcerion’s sovereign territory. However with the end of the 1986 clash between Arcerion and Kelekona had identified that the Air Force required new jet aircraft to maintain a technological overmatch against its opponents.
[[File:Kestrel Prototype.jpg|thumb|An early FAMCA prototype taxiing to takeoff as part of engine testing in late 1991. ]]
The Arcer General Staff in 1988 tendered a request for designs on a multirole fighter aircraft that could serve in a variety of roles, including interceptor, air superiority, and fighter bomber mission sets. Proposals by a variety of Occidental corporations were considered, however in an effort to help the fledgling Aeroco, which was the last to submit a proposal, the contract was awarded to Arcerion’s newest aerospace company.
Aeroco had only been established in 1989, and quickly worked on designing a prototype aircraft, under the name “Future Arcerion Multirole Combat Aircraft”, or more commonly referred to as FAMCA. A prototype was available three years later and took its maiden flight in 1992. It was the first modern combat jet aircraft produced in Crona, and the initial requirement of several hundred aircraft led to the creation of large aircraft manufacturing centres in Arcerion, notably in Easthampton and Craigfearn. Arcerion’s electronics industry had long been a leader in Crona and contributed heavily to the project, using modern avionics, as well as input from combat experienced pilots that flew missions in the 1986 and 1991 Telekonese Conflicts to assist with flight handling, munitions and weapons delivery, aerial systems integration, and sensor management.
=== Upgrades ===
The system underwent its first major series of upgrades in 1999 with Block I modifications procured to include provisions for the integration of systems with existing Arcer Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS) systems, as well as enhanced tracking and Identification of Friend and Foe (IFF) modules. After the 2007 Telekonese Conflict, the Arcer Ministry of Defense requested additional Block II upgrades that included better integrated heads-up display support for flight helmets, upgraded radar and communications systems, and additional provisions for the mounting of modern weapons systems such as cruise missiles and standoff munitions. In the late 2010s, in an effort to maintain the aircraft’s serviceability into the late 2030s, Block III upgrades further enhanced the Kestrel, with new electronic sensor suites, additional fuel efficiency measures, new computer systems, and engine life cycle upgrades to enhance performance.
== Operational History ==
=== [[Armed Forces of Arcerion]] ===
[[File:Weapon loaded kestrel.jpg|thumb|An Aeroco Kestrel of No.37 Squadron AAF, banks away from the camera as part of a combat air patrol to a strike box in Varshan during the Final War of the Deluge, 2021.]]
The Arcer Air Force accepted the first four Kestrels in 1998, assigning them to [[Structure of the Arcer Air Force|No. 45 Squadron (Test and Evaluation)]] to conduct flight trials and testing as part of the integration of new aircraft into the branch. This began the replacement process for the AAI Goshawk, which began to be phased out in 2000 with the arrival of several dozen airframes per year as serial production increased. The first operational squadron, No. 40 Squadron based out of Kilpatrick Airfield, [[Chester-on-Moore]], in the Southern Arcer Governorate of [[Moorden Governorate|Moorden]], received its sixteen Kestrels in August of 1998, with the first non-test operational flight occurring on August 31, 1998.
In 2007, Aeroco Kestrels from both the Royal Arcerion Naval Service and the the Arcer Air Force participated in the 2007 Telekonese Conflict. They conducted strikes against [[Kelekona|Kelekonan]] air-defence systems, border radar sites, as well as garrisons of Kelekonan troops and command posts. Two Kestrels from No. 61 Squadron (Strike) AAF were damaged by Kelekonan surface-to-air missiles near Bambara, however they managed to both conduct landings nearby at Dunbar Airfield in [[Dunborough]], Arcerion. Both were repaired and returned to service by 2008. The combat performance of the aircraft was lauded by pilots, senior political staff, and the Arcer press as the modern systems and weapons delivery methods assisted with the devestating first strike on Kelekonan targets, preventing another incursion into the [[Innis River Basin]].


NoWaiter is often symbolized by its golden arrows, developed to be an abstraction of road markings and speed in order to emphasize its credentials as a drive-through establishment. Like most other Urcean establishments, it is closed on Sunday in [[Levantia]] and [[Sarpedon]] but has varying rules abroad.
Kestrels participated heavily in the Final War of the Deluge, assisting [[League of Nations]] forces during multiple points in the campaign, and coordinating heavily with teams from the [[Arcerion Special Operations Command]] operating inside Varshan. Multiple squadrons of fighter-bomber configured Block III Kestrels also assisted Arcer I Corps during [[Operation Pullman]] and the advance on the Varshani capital of [[Anzo]].  
==History==
NoWaiter was established in July of 1950 as the "Roll Through No Wait" restaurant by Dan Ernaro, a fast-food hamburger stand intended to be primary ordered as {{wp|Drive-through|drive-through}}, a type of take-out service that was primarily only in use in [[Urcea]] for bank tellers. Many contemporary hamburger stands existed, including both {{wp|carhop}} traditional roadside stands which were becoming less fashionable as well as up-and-coming fast-food restaurants, including many that were now franchising nationwide. Of the latter group, many were still employing a method in which customers had to park and go up to the front of the restaurant, which Ernaro perceived as an inconvenience. Instead, his stand catered only to individuals in their cars. The concept was a major success, and by 1960 many regional competitors were either bought up by the Roll Through No Wait firm or went out of business. In 1962, the company introduced the Corned'N'Cheddar, which would become its most popular menu item and signaled a move away from a hamburger-exclusive menu. Hot dogs were introduced to the menu in 1967. As the company grew, Ernaro decided to establish franchise agreements while establishing a separate division owning real estate on which franchisees established their restaurant for rent. This model made the company extremely liquid by the late 1960s, allowing it to buy out several competitors and convert restaurants to drive-through service. In 1968, many of the first Roll Throughs were converted to also have an inside dining room. The success of the brand and change from stands to full-fledged restaurants lead the company to change its brand to "No Wait No Waiter" by 1970, at which time it became the largest restaurant chain in Urcea. In the 1970s, No Wait No Waiter obtained the rights to begin selling franchises across the [[Levantine Union]], and the first No Wait abroad was opened in [[Palestina Parish, Porta Bianca]] in 1975. In 1981, the company changed its name to the simplified "NoWaiter" and adopted the golden arrows with which it is well associated today. In 1983, the company moved from a small office adjacent to the original Roll Through No Wait stand to its corporate headquarters in [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]], where it remains today and has the "NoWait Academy" designed to train managers and employees while developing experimental menu items. NoWaiter introduced breakfast in 1985. Dan Ernaro died in 1992 after 42 years, and his children sold the company to a consortium of private investors in 1997.
==Products==
NoWaiter's menu revolves primarily around what it calls the "three beefs" - hamburgers, corned beef, and hot dog products, though the hot dogs used by the company are actually mostly pork. Breakfast was introduced to most restaurants around 1985 and varies significantly from the three beef formula while retaining some thematic concepts from its lunch menu.
===Breakfast menu===
Introduced in 1985, the breakfast menu includes a variety of options that are derivative of the all-day lunch and dinner fare. The two most popular items on the breakfast menu are the "MornDog", a breakfast sausage presented in the same manner as a hot dog wherein the bun is a griddled pancake with maple flavor, and "Daddy Hashy", which are corned beef hash shaped length-wise and held together as a solid, surrounded on its lower half by a biscuit casing. Several breakfast-specific beverages are also offered, primarily coffee and three kinds of tea. Like the lunch menu, the breakfast menu has several combo options which include the various breakfast items paired with a coffee or tea and a sliced fruit side, which is the only side available on the breakfast menu.
===Lunch and dinner menu===
The most popular item on NoWaiter's menu, and among its oldest, is the Corned'N'Cheddar (occasionally marketed as a "CNC"), which is a sandwich comprised of sliced, baked corned beef with cheddar cheese and {{wp|Russian dressing|a mix of ketchup and mayonaise}} on a pressed, panini-like bun and grilled. Historically, the CNC was served in a round styrofoam container with a hinge in the middle. As styrofoam containers were phased out in Urcea, the iconic CNC container was replaced with a wax paper wrap. The second most popular item is the {{wp|corn dog|CornDog}}, a hot dog on a stick covered in cornmeal batter and deep-fried. Several other types of food are on offer as well, especially hamburgers and many variations of hot dogs and corned beef. The third most popular item is the Big'N'Beefy (marketed as a "BNB"), which is a third-pound {{wp|angus}} burger usually served with cheese, mustard, and lettuce. The remainder of the menu includes items like "DoubleDog" (two hot dogs in a specially designed bun), "BabyBeef" (a 2 oz burger when cooked served with cheese), and CornDogNuggets.


NoWaiters have some regional variation within [[Urcea]] on menu items, as certain franchises are offered experimental menu items. NoWaiters have significant menu diversity in locations outside [[Levantia]]. The well-known {{wp|McRib|Beef Ribber}} (also pork) sandwich, which imitates barbeque pork ribs, is occasionally offered nationwide but is offered on a regional and seasonal basis. During the season of {{wp|Lent}}, fish and plant-based options are introduced to the menu, including the popular "green hash", a plant-based substitute for corned beef hash served at breakfast.
Kestrels regularly participate in international exercises and training missions, and are currently committed to [[Cronan Security and Trade Union#Anti-piracy in the Malentine Sea|Operation Wavetop]], combatting piracy in the [[Malentine Sea]]. The Arcer press also confirmed that Kestrels have participated in strikes on [[Malentina|Malentinan]] targets consisting of pirate vessels, terrorist camps, and logistical support facilities for the two groups.  
=== [[Burgoignesc Security Forces]] ===
[[Royal Air Service of Burgundie]] adopted the Kestrel in [[2000]] as the G-Millenaire "Falconne". It total it maintains 126 of the airframes mostly stationed in [[Equatorial Ostiecia]] but there are three operated by the Ace's Academy, the Air Services top fighter training program in the [[Burgoignesc Metropole]].


Most NoWaiter locations offer three kinds of sides, which they refer to as the "three beefettes". The most commonly offered and most popular type of side is {{wp|fried pickle}} chips in small, medium, and large sizes, which usually come in varying sizes of paper cups. The second most common type of side offered at NoWaiter is small cups of {{wp|macaroni and cheese}}. The third most common type of side is "Equatorial Beefettes", which are essentially small hash nuggets replacing some of the ingredients with {{wp|quinoa}}. Equatorial Beefettes were poorly received at their initial offering and remain unpopular. All sides are served with a small sauce cup containing chipotle mayonnaise-based sauce.
The [[Navy of Burgundie]] adopted the Kestrel in [[2003]] and maintains 75 of them in active service as the G-56 "Pugilist Aeronautique".


Almost all NoWaiter locations employ a combo menu for lunch and dinner, which includes a primary item combined with a side (always fried pickles in [[Urcea]]) and a soft drink. Some combo menu deals include multiple versions of one item, such as two CornDogs, or the most expensive item on the menu, two Corned'N'Cheddars (billed as "Two for the Price of Two" and nearly always combo menu number "2" on combo menus).
== Sales and Marketing ==
The Aeroco Kestrel remains one of the most attractive mid-range options for a multirole fighter in modern Ixnay. While experts believe that fifth generation fighters and similar models out of Levantia provide more options for weapons mounting and other systems, it is agreed that the Kestrel remains a cost-efficient aircraft with a proven track record on operations.  


NoWaiter items, particularly on the lunch menu, have occasionally received criticism from public health experts and the general public. Much criticism has been leveled at limited time only options, which experts have criticized as "over the top" and "excessive and dangerous to public health". The most controversial item was released for a limited time run in August 2017, which was a five-pound bucket of fried pickles known as the "BickleBucket". While marketing campaigns emphasized that the BickleBucket was intended for consumption by a whole family, many locations began to sell out of fried pickles due to the popularity of the product while also causing significant labor and workflow issues at participating NoWaiter locations.
According to the ''[[Kinnaird Financial Times]]'', there has been significant interest in [[Australis]], [[Levantia]], [[Sarpedon]], and other nations in Crona. Arcerion has informed other members of the Cronan Security and Trade Union that it would provide favourable purchase terms to other nations as it seeks to increase the export marketability of the air frame.  
==Restaurants==
Most NoWaiter restaurants from before 1968 were single or two-room fast-food stands with a kitchen optimized using the principles of {{wp|mass production}}; most restaurants had an attached bathroom or outhouse for the employees, and many also had an adjoining office for the manager or franchise owner. Beginning in the late 1960s, many of these simple stands had small dining rooms added on, creating a design that became popularly known as "drive-through hodgepodge". No standardized design existed for restaurants until 1974, and accordingly, some drive-through hodge podges were deliberately built that way, while some generic restaurant designs were also employed. From 1974 until 1984, a standard restaurant design employing a semi-circle was used, with the flat side holding the kitchen and drive-through window and the rounded portion holding the dining room. In 1984, the restaurant design was rapidly changed to resemble the two arrows from above, with the pointed end being used as the drive-through side. The "two arrows from above" style proved popular and relatively easy to emulate, with thousands being constructed over the next two decades until a more generic design was adopted in 2002. The two arrows restaurants were supplemented with inside playgrounds, known as "Arrow Castles", beginning in 1990. The post-2002 designs no longer included Arrow Castles but increasingly began to incorporate self-serve coffee stations and other innovations intended to improve the experience of breakfast customers.
==Marketing==
NoWaiter's "Three Beef Guarantee" commercial campaign from the 1980s was extremely successful and the "Three Beefs" became central to the stated ethos of the company and its menu offerings. The initial commercial featured a family quarreling over what kind of beef they wanted for dinner, but once they pulled up to NoWaiter in their vehicle, each ordered a different item - a hot dog, a hamburger, and a corned beef sandwich - and ended the commercial happy. Three beef features heavily in the company's marketing materials through the 21st century. The campaign has been heavily criticized by nutritionists, citing that many of NoWaiter's products - especially in the hot dog line - feature almost no beef. In face of mounting criticisms, the company sent a reply tweet to [[Lucás Atri]] on 18 September 2026, "beef is a state of mind", a statement that was heavily debated in society generally and online specifically.


Beginning in the 1980s, NoWaiter began to refit many of its restaurants with the golden arrows, which the company states "signifies the productive, on-the-go consumer that we cater to". Across the country, large golden arrow signs atop signposts can be seen along many major roadways, and "the golden arrows" is sometimes used as a euphemism for NoWaiter.
Arcerion has also partner status via Aeroco to increase bids on the aircraft, promising to allow for some smaller systems manufacturing to be done domestically by potential new buyers to help foster the secondary support industries as part of the Kestrel manufacturing supply chain.
[[Category: Culture of Urcea]]
 
[[Category: Urcea]]
Other countries have expressed interest in the fighter jet, [[Stenza]] and [[Ceylonia]] being amongst them. The [[New Archduchy]] has also expressed interest due to its close geographical and economic relationship with Arcerion.
[[Category: Companies]]
== Variants ==
[[Category: IXWB]]
The Aeroco Kestrel is manufactured in multiple variants, notably a single seat air superiority fighter as well as a twin-seat variant for its fighter bomber role. The Kestrel's initial production was later referenced as a "Block 0" or a the "
[[Category:Cuisine]]
== Accidents ==
== Specifications ==
''Data from Aeroco Sales Records and Documents''
[[File:Kestrel schematic.jpg|thumb|Schematic of the Aeroco Kestrel.]]
'''General characteristics'''
* '''Crew:''' 1 or 2
* '''Length:''' 15.96 m (52 ft 4 in)
* '''Wingspan:''' 10.95 m (35 ft 11 in)
* '''Height:''' 5.28 m (17 ft 4 in)
* '''Wing area:''' 51.2 m<sup>2</sup> (551 sq ft)
* '''Empty weight:''' 11,000 kg (24,251 lb)
* '''Gross weight:''' 16,000 kg (35,274 lb)
* '''Max takeoff weight:''' 23,500 kg (51,809 lb)
* '''Fuel capacity:''' 4,996 kg (11,010 lb) / 6,215 L (1,642 US gal; 1,367 imp gal) internal
* '''Powerplant:''' 2 × Arcojet AJ200 afterburning turbofan engines, 60 kN (13,000 lbf) thrust each  dry, 90 kN (20,000 lbf) with afterburner
'''Performance'''
* '''Maximum speed:''' 2,125 km/h (1,320 mph, 1,147 kn) / Mach 2.0 (2,125 km/h or 1,320 mph at 11,000 m altitude)
** 1,530 km/h (950 mph; 830 kn) / Mach 1.25 at sea level (1,530 km/h or 950 mph)
** Supercruise: Mach 1.5
 
* '''Range:''' 2,900 km (1,800 mi, 1,600 nmi)
* '''Combat range:''' 1,389 km (863 mi, 750 nmi) Air defence with 10-min. loiter / Ground attack, hi-lo-hi (with 3 × external 1,000 l tanks)
** 185 km (100 nmi) Air defence with 3-hr combat air patrol (with 3 × external 1,000 l tanks)
** 601 km (325 nmi) Ground attack, lo-lo-lo (with 3 × external 1,000 l tanks)
 
* '''Ferry range:''' 3,790 km (2,350 mi, 2,050 nmi) with 3 × drop tanks
* '''Service ceiling:''' 19,812 m (65,000 ft)
* '''g limits:''' <big>+</big>9 / <big>-</big>3
* '''Rate of climb:''' 315 m/s (62,000 ft/min)
* '''Wing loading:''' 312 kg/m<sup>2</sup> (64 lb/sq ft)
* '''Thrust/weight:''' 1.15 (interceptor configuration)
* '''Brakes-off to Take-off acceleration:''' <8 s
* '''Brakes-off to supersonic acceleration:''' <30 s
* '''Brakes-off to Mach 1.6 at 11,000 m (36,000 ft):''' <150 s
'''Armament'''
* '''Guns:''' 1 × 27 mm ArcMu BK-27 revolver cannon with 150 rounds
* '''Hardpoints:''' Total of 13: 8 × under-wing; and 5 × under-fuselage pylon stations; holding in excess of 9,000 kg (19,800 lb) of payload
* '''Missiles:'''
** Air-to-air missiles
** Air-to-surface missiles
** Anti-ship missiles
* '''Bombs'''
* '''Others:'''
** Up to 3 × drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time
** Conformal fuel tanks
==See also==
[[Category: Military technology]]
[[Category: Arcerion]]
[[Category: Aircraft]]
[[Category: Military aircraft]]
[[Category:Burgoignesc Security Forces]]

Revision as of 19:10, 19 May 2023

Kestrel
An Aeroco Kestrel of the Arcer Air Force taxing to a maintenance bay in Kinnaird, Arcerion.
Role Multirole combat aircraft
Manufacturer Aeroco
First flight 1992
Introduction 1998
Status In service
Primary users  Arcer Air Force
 Royal Arcerion Naval Service
Number built 300+

The Aeroco Kestrel is an Arcer twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter. The Kestrel was designed to replace the aging Goshawk-series of aircraft in Arcerion's inventory, and was designed to be a multirole fighter that could accommodate all of the legacy roles (air superiority, interceptor, fight bomber) of its predecessor into a singular air frame. The project was initiated by the Arcer General Staff and Ministry of Defense in the late 1980s, with development beginning in the early 1990s, the first flight occurring on April 9th, 1992. The name was adopted along with standard Arcer practice of using birds of prey as classification for military aircraft procurement programs, and the name was retained once the development models were ready for serial production. The Arcer government signed contracts for the procurement of several hundred fighters, as well as the required maintenance contracts and facilities construction and conversion for both the Arcer Air Force and the Royal Arcerion Naval Service.

The aircraft entered service with the Arcer Air Force's No. 45 Squadron (Test and Evaluation) in 1998, with serial production equipping most squadrons in both the Air Force and Naval Air Arm by 2004. It continues to be manufactured with Block III-series aircraft bridging the gap between fourth and fifth-generation jet fighters, and the Kestrel Block III is considered to be a "fourth-and-a-half" generation fighter aircraft due to service and lifespan upgrades to avionics and communications modules, as well as computer upgrades to allow for the usage of a more wide array of weapons.

The Aeroco Kestrel is one of the most agile aicraft of its generation, and proved to be an effective combat aircraft during the 2007 Telekonese Conflict, as well as the Final War of the Deluge. Block II and Block III-series fighters were commonly used in the fighter-bomber configuration against Varshani targets, including one of the first uses of air-launched cruise missiles by a non-Levantine air force in Ixnay. Upgrades to sensor pods and other systems have also allowed it to assist with aerial reconnaissance missions to augment Arcerion's Maritime Patrol capability.

Design and Development

Arcerion as early as 1980 had identified that the aging fleet of Goshawk aircraft were having an increase in maintenance hours and service issues associated with mid-life aircraft. There was an effort to look to replace the Goshawk series by 1990, however procurement delays and the 1986 Telekonese Conflict caused significant delays as the government was focused on defending Arcerion’s sovereign territory. However with the end of the 1986 clash between Arcerion and Kelekona had identified that the Air Force required new jet aircraft to maintain a technological overmatch against its opponents.

An early FAMCA prototype taxiing to takeoff as part of engine testing in late 1991.

The Arcer General Staff in 1988 tendered a request for designs on a multirole fighter aircraft that could serve in a variety of roles, including interceptor, air superiority, and fighter bomber mission sets. Proposals by a variety of Occidental corporations were considered, however in an effort to help the fledgling Aeroco, which was the last to submit a proposal, the contract was awarded to Arcerion’s newest aerospace company. Aeroco had only been established in 1989, and quickly worked on designing a prototype aircraft, under the name “Future Arcerion Multirole Combat Aircraft”, or more commonly referred to as FAMCA. A prototype was available three years later and took its maiden flight in 1992. It was the first modern combat jet aircraft produced in Crona, and the initial requirement of several hundred aircraft led to the creation of large aircraft manufacturing centres in Arcerion, notably in Easthampton and Craigfearn. Arcerion’s electronics industry had long been a leader in Crona and contributed heavily to the project, using modern avionics, as well as input from combat experienced pilots that flew missions in the 1986 and 1991 Telekonese Conflicts to assist with flight handling, munitions and weapons delivery, aerial systems integration, and sensor management.

Upgrades

The system underwent its first major series of upgrades in 1999 with Block I modifications procured to include provisions for the integration of systems with existing Arcer Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS) systems, as well as enhanced tracking and Identification of Friend and Foe (IFF) modules. After the 2007 Telekonese Conflict, the Arcer Ministry of Defense requested additional Block II upgrades that included better integrated heads-up display support for flight helmets, upgraded radar and communications systems, and additional provisions for the mounting of modern weapons systems such as cruise missiles and standoff munitions. In the late 2010s, in an effort to maintain the aircraft’s serviceability into the late 2030s, Block III upgrades further enhanced the Kestrel, with new electronic sensor suites, additional fuel efficiency measures, new computer systems, and engine life cycle upgrades to enhance performance.

Operational History

Armed Forces of Arcerion

An Aeroco Kestrel of No.37 Squadron AAF, banks away from the camera as part of a combat air patrol to a strike box in Varshan during the Final War of the Deluge, 2021.

The Arcer Air Force accepted the first four Kestrels in 1998, assigning them to No. 45 Squadron (Test and Evaluation) to conduct flight trials and testing as part of the integration of new aircraft into the branch. This began the replacement process for the AAI Goshawk, which began to be phased out in 2000 with the arrival of several dozen airframes per year as serial production increased. The first operational squadron, No. 40 Squadron based out of Kilpatrick Airfield, Chester-on-Moore, in the Southern Arcer Governorate of Moorden, received its sixteen Kestrels in August of 1998, with the first non-test operational flight occurring on August 31, 1998. In 2007, Aeroco Kestrels from both the Royal Arcerion Naval Service and the the Arcer Air Force participated in the 2007 Telekonese Conflict. They conducted strikes against Kelekonan air-defence systems, border radar sites, as well as garrisons of Kelekonan troops and command posts. Two Kestrels from No. 61 Squadron (Strike) AAF were damaged by Kelekonan surface-to-air missiles near Bambara, however they managed to both conduct landings nearby at Dunbar Airfield in Dunborough, Arcerion. Both were repaired and returned to service by 2008. The combat performance of the aircraft was lauded by pilots, senior political staff, and the Arcer press as the modern systems and weapons delivery methods assisted with the devestating first strike on Kelekonan targets, preventing another incursion into the Innis River Basin.

Kestrels participated heavily in the Final War of the Deluge, assisting League of Nations forces during multiple points in the campaign, and coordinating heavily with teams from the Arcerion Special Operations Command operating inside Varshan. Multiple squadrons of fighter-bomber configured Block III Kestrels also assisted Arcer I Corps during Operation Pullman and the advance on the Varshani capital of Anzo.

Kestrels regularly participate in international exercises and training missions, and are currently committed to Operation Wavetop, combatting piracy in the Malentine Sea. The Arcer press also confirmed that Kestrels have participated in strikes on Malentinan targets consisting of pirate vessels, terrorist camps, and logistical support facilities for the two groups.

Burgoignesc Security Forces

Royal Air Service of Burgundie adopted the Kestrel in 2000 as the G-Millenaire "Falconne". It total it maintains 126 of the airframes mostly stationed in Equatorial Ostiecia but there are three operated by the Ace's Academy, the Air Services top fighter training program in the Burgoignesc Metropole.

The Navy of Burgundie adopted the Kestrel in 2003 and maintains 75 of them in active service as the G-56 "Pugilist Aeronautique".

Sales and Marketing

The Aeroco Kestrel remains one of the most attractive mid-range options for a multirole fighter in modern Ixnay. While experts believe that fifth generation fighters and similar models out of Levantia provide more options for weapons mounting and other systems, it is agreed that the Kestrel remains a cost-efficient aircraft with a proven track record on operations.

According to the Kinnaird Financial Times, there has been significant interest in Australis, Levantia, Sarpedon, and other nations in Crona. Arcerion has informed other members of the Cronan Security and Trade Union that it would provide favourable purchase terms to other nations as it seeks to increase the export marketability of the air frame.

Arcerion has also partner status via Aeroco to increase bids on the aircraft, promising to allow for some smaller systems manufacturing to be done domestically by potential new buyers to help foster the secondary support industries as part of the Kestrel manufacturing supply chain.

Other countries have expressed interest in the fighter jet, Stenza and Ceylonia being amongst them. The New Archduchy has also expressed interest due to its close geographical and economic relationship with Arcerion.

Variants

The Aeroco Kestrel is manufactured in multiple variants, notably a single seat air superiority fighter as well as a twin-seat variant for its fighter bomber role. The Kestrel's initial production was later referenced as a "Block 0" or a the "

Accidents

Specifications

Data from Aeroco Sales Records and Documents

Schematic of the Aeroco Kestrel.

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 or 2
  • Length: 15.96 m (52 ft 4 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.95 m (35 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 5.28 m (17 ft 4 in)
  • Wing area: 51.2 m2 (551 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 11,000 kg (24,251 lb)
  • Gross weight: 16,000 kg (35,274 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 23,500 kg (51,809 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 4,996 kg (11,010 lb) / 6,215 L (1,642 US gal; 1,367 imp gal) internal
  • Powerplant: 2 × Arcojet AJ200 afterburning turbofan engines, 60 kN (13,000 lbf) thrust each  dry, 90 kN (20,000 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 2,125 km/h (1,320 mph, 1,147 kn) / Mach 2.0 (2,125 km/h or 1,320 mph at 11,000 m altitude)
    • 1,530 km/h (950 mph; 830 kn) / Mach 1.25 at sea level (1,530 km/h or 950 mph)
    • Supercruise: Mach 1.5
  • Range: 2,900 km (1,800 mi, 1,600 nmi)
  • Combat range: 1,389 km (863 mi, 750 nmi) Air defence with 10-min. loiter / Ground attack, hi-lo-hi (with 3 × external 1,000 l tanks)
    • 185 km (100 nmi) Air defence with 3-hr combat air patrol (with 3 × external 1,000 l tanks)
    • 601 km (325 nmi) Ground attack, lo-lo-lo (with 3 × external 1,000 l tanks)
  • Ferry range: 3,790 km (2,350 mi, 2,050 nmi) with 3 × drop tanks
  • Service ceiling: 19,812 m (65,000 ft)
  • g limits: +9 / -3
  • Rate of climb: 315 m/s (62,000 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 312 kg/m2 (64 lb/sq ft)
  • Thrust/weight: 1.15 (interceptor configuration)
  • Brakes-off to Take-off acceleration: <8 s
  • Brakes-off to supersonic acceleration: <30 s
  • Brakes-off to Mach 1.6 at 11,000 m (36,000 ft): <150 s

Armament

  • Guns: 1 × 27 mm ArcMu BK-27 revolver cannon with 150 rounds
  • Hardpoints: Total of 13: 8 × under-wing; and 5 × under-fuselage pylon stations; holding in excess of 9,000 kg (19,800 lb) of payload
  • Missiles:
    • Air-to-air missiles
    • Air-to-surface missiles
    • Anti-ship missiles
  • Bombs
  • Others:
    • Up to 3 × drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time
    • Conformal fuel tanks

See also

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