Vulture

Single-seat salvage starter ship manufactured by Drake Interplanetary
Quick facts:
Vulture
Vulture flying through debris field.jpg
Flight ready
Vulture
Role
Light Salvage
Size
Small (S2/XS)
Series
Capacity
Crew
1
Cargo
12 SCU12,000 KµSCU <br />12,000,000 µSCU <br />
Stowage
650 KµSCU0.65 SCU <br />650,000 µSCU <br />
Cost
Standalone
$ 175.00€ 176.75 <br />£ 148.75 <br /> ($ 140.00€ 141.40 <br />£ 119.00 <br />)
Warbond
$ 160.00€ 161.60 <br />£ 136.00 <br /> ($ 120.00€ 121.20 <br />£ 102.00 <br />)
Availability
Always available
Claim
9m
Expedite
3m
Expedite fee
3,040 aUEC
Specifications
Length
34 m0.034 km <br />3,400 cm <br />
Width
16 m0.016 km <br />1,600 cm <br />
Height
9 m0.009 km <br />900 cm <br />
Mass
186,103 kg186.103 t <br />
Scm speed
165 m/s594 km/h <br />
0 to scm
4.775 s
Scm to 0
7.98 s
Max speed
1,114 m/s4,010.4 km/h <br />
0 to max
32.244 s
Max to 0
53.882 s
Roll rate
100 °/s
Pitch rate
30 °/s
Yaw rate
30 °/s
Hydrogen capacity
360,000 L360 SCU <br />
Hydrogen intake
20 L/s0.02 SCU/s <br />
Quantum capacity
583.33 L0.583 SCU <br />
Cross section
None
Electromagnetic
None
Infrared
None
Physical
- 58 %
Energy
None
Distortion
None
Thermal
None
Biochemical
None
Stun
- 100 %
Health
32,700 ❤️
Lore
Released
2938
Development
Announced
1 December 2017
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The Drake Vulture is a one-man salvage starter ship with plenty of on-board storage to help with salvage operations. It is designed for single-pilot salvage operations. It is even small and nimble enough to sneak into hostile areas unnoticed to recover fresh salvage.[1]

Features

Scraper Beams
Dual integrated scraper beams use Drake’s patented Tomium system, developed with professional salvagers for the ultimate in speed and efficiency.
Integrated Tractor Rig
The Ripper’s claw is outfitted with an integrated Lariat tractor rig, designed specifically for the Vulture. This industrial grade tractor’s innovative proprietary beam configuration makes it more powerful than setups three times its size.
Cargo
The Vulture’s deceptively spacious interior bay can be anything you need it to be, from extra cargo space to your personal sanctuary of solitude, and all points in between.
Long Haul Capable
The Vulture eases the pain of lengthy travel, and the frequent dangers associated therewith, by providing a versatile combination of comfort and convenience. A full-size bunk employs a new composite mattress developed and tested by professional salvager's and haulers right here at Drake. When the going gets rough, you’re never more than a skip and a stumble away from the cockpit and command station.
Central Intuitive Control
With maximum visibility and vital ship systems at your fingertips, the Vulture puts you in command of any situation and ensures you’re ready for anything. You’re in complete control of navigation, defense, weapons, and the Vulture’s unique all-in-one utility arrangement

Specifications

Sc-icon-radar.svg Radar
1x
S1
Industrial (C)
Sc-icon-scanner.svg Scanner
1x
S1
Scanner
Sc-icon-cooler.svg Cooler
2x
S1
Industrial (C)
Sc-icon-gravitygenerator.svg Gravity generator
1x
S1
Gravity generator
Sc-icon-lifesupport.svg Life support
1x
S1
Life support
Sc-icon-powerplant.svg Power plant
2x
S1
Industrial (C)
Sc-icon-selfdestruct.svg Self destruct
1x
S1
5,000 🗡️ · 50 m0.05 km <br />5,000 cm <br />
Sc-icon-shieldgenerator.svg Shield generator
2x
S1
Industrial (C)
Sc-icon-fuelintake.svg Fuel intake
2x
S1
10 L/s0.01 SCU/s <br />
Fuel port
Sc-icon-fueltank.svg Fuel tank
2x
S1
180,000 L180 SCU <br />
Sc-icon-quantumdrive.svg Quantum drive
1x
S1
Industrial (C)
Sc-icon-quantumfueltank.svg Quantum fuel tank
1x
S1
583.33 L0.583 SCU <br />
Sc-icon-mainthruster.svg Main thruster
2x
S4
3.215 MN3,214.764 kN <br />722,707.88 lbf <br />
Sc-icon-maneuveringthruster.svg Maneuvering thruster
4x
S1
0.0457 MN45.675 kN <br />10,268.151 lbf <br />
2x
S4
1.924 MN1,923.814 kN <br />432,490.702 lbf <br />
12x
S1
1.297 MN1,297.353 kN <br />291,656.631 lbf <br />

Model

Ship profile

Isometric Above Port-side Front Rear Below
Vulture in space - Isometric.jpg
Vulture in space - Above.jpg
Vulture in space - Port.jpg
Vulture in space - Front.jpg
Vulture in space - Rear.jpg
Vulture in space - Below.jpg
Isometric Above Port-side Front Rear
Vulture landed in hangar - Isometric - Cut.png
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Isometric Above Port-side Front Rear Rear Isometric
Vulture - Schematic - Isometric.png
Vulture - Schematic - Above.png
Vulture - Schematic - Port.png
Vulture - Schematic - Front.png
Vulture - Schematic - Rear.png
Vulture - Schematic - Rear Isometric.png

Series variants

  • Other possible variants: According to lore, the UEE military use a military version of Vulture to clear destroyed spacecrafts after battle with the Vanduul.[2]

Paints

"Assembly" "Best in Show 2953" "Carbonide" "Carnival" "Deck The Hull" "Foundation Festival" "Ghoulish Green" "IceBreak" "Longhorn" "Pyrite"
Vulture Assembly in space - Isometric.jpg
Vulture BIS2953 in space - Isometric.jpg
Vulture Carbonide in space - Isometric.jpg
Vulture Carnival in space - Isometric.jpg
Vulture Deck The Hull in space - Isometric.jpg
Vulture FF in space - Isometric.jpg
Vulture Ghoulish Green in space - Isometric.jpg
Vulture IceBreak in space - Isometric.jpg
Vulture Longhorn in space - Isometric.jpg
Vulture Pyrite in space - Isometric.jpg

Acquisition

Lore

On August 9, 2895, the Terra-flagged freighter Empire Slipper experienced a series of system failures, leading to incorrect navigation overlays on the bridge terminals. Due to this error, the navigation officer charted a course into a dense asteroid belt near a red giant's corona, resulting in a debris strike that disabled the ship's shield generators and exposed the crew to fatal radiation. The precise location of the drifting Empire Slipper became unknown.

The freighter carried a significant amount of precious metals and rare artwork, generating intense media interest and prompting a large search and recovery operation. After eight months of searching, the wreckage of the Slipper was found by a United Empire of Earth Navy picket ship within an irradiated debris belt, dispelling conspiracy theories of hijacking. Unfortunately, the region was nearly inaccessible to conventional salvage ships capable of withstanding the hazardous conditions.

To address this challenge, Drake Interplanetary, a burgeoning spacecraft manufacturer, offered their assistance. Motivated by both the salvage rights and a ten million credit bounty offered by MISC, the ship's builder, an elite team gathered on Borea to devise a unique solution. They repurposed an AS-1 Cutlass prototype, the Vertical Landing Test 3 (VLT-3), by removing its testing equipment and transforming it into a specialized vessel suitable for navigating the debris field and recovering the Slipper's cargo.

The modified VLT-3 featured heavy shield generators that replaced much of the prototype's cargo capacity, along with versatile remote manipulator arms attached to its front. This amalgamation was unlike any other existing spacecraft, providing extensive shielding and maneuverability to ensure the safety of its two-person crew. The external arms allowed the VLT-3 to engage in salvage operations without requiring extravehicular activity due to the hazardous radiation levels.

Fourteen months after the Empire Slipper's disappearance, Drake's test crew initiated salvage operations from a hastily established modular space station positioned outside the danger zone. Over the course of thirty-six perilous expeditions, the VLT-3 repeatedly entered the debris field, recovering the Slipper's flight recorders and valuable cargo containers. Drake obtained salvage rights for the valuable cargo and delivered the recovered flight recorders to MISC.

However, Drake's executives faced legal action over the bounty when it was discovered that they had copied the flight data before delivering it to MISC. Despite the controversy, the mission brought positive attention to Drake, which was battling piracy accusations.[2]

Following the success of the salvage mission, Drake sent the VLT-3 on a PR tour to aerospace shows and museum exhibits. However, Drake faced further controversy when accused of supporting piracy after a coordinated destruction involving unmarked Cutlasses and a MISC Hull-D. The company shifted its focus to the Caterpillar command ship concept, and the VLT-3 was put into storage.

In 2932, an Aegis Dynamics Reclaimer named General Dogsbody had a highly profitable salvage mission, generating significant interest in space salvage. Recognizing the growing demand, Drake's team began developing the VLT-3 concept into a standalone salvage spacecraft called the Vulture. The new design featured Rippers, stand-alone salvage booms supported by a Lariot tractor beam and Tomium scraper rig. The Vulture retained similarities to the VLT-3, with shipboard controls, reduced crew capacity, and a rear living section for long voyages.

Drake introduced the Vulture in 2938, capitalizing on public interest in salvage and personal fortune-seeking. Orders quickly exceeded production capacity, leading to the opening of remote factories. The Vultures found success in salvaging high-profile hulls, boosting Drake's reputation and driving continued interest in the spacecraft.[2]

In 2941, Drake launched an updated model of the Vulture with added weapons mounts, appealing to pilots exploring unsafe areas. In 2943, the United Empire of Earth Navy requisitioned 300 Vultures for battlefield support operations, although they were not intended for combat. These military versions saw service in clearing destroyed spacecraft after battles with the Vanduul. Drake continues to develop the government version of the Vulture, anticipating increased naval battles. In 2949, the civilian model received an update with an extended cab, increasing internal cargo capacity. Drake also offers upgrades for earlier versions to match the capacity and added weapons mounts.[2]

Gallery

Development

2017-12-01 Introduced as an option for the next Drake ship to be developed in the vote "YOU Pick the Next Drake Ship" in 2017 Anniversary Special.[1]
2017-12-11 Voted to be the next Drake ship by backers with 44% of 37,696 voters.[1]
2018-06-14 Concept sale.[3]
2020-05-30 During the 2950 Drake Defensecon, the ship was on display at the Riker Memorial Spaceport in Area18. It was represented by a downscaled holographic display of the model.[4]
2021-05-05 Revealed that the Vulture was in production and to be implemented in game with an allocated work schedule of 18 weeks.[5]
2023-03-10 Flight ready in Alpha 3.18.0, along with the first implementation of the salvage gameplay.[6]

Aims & Aesthetic
Aims
  • Starter Salvage Ship – The one-man entry into the salvage career.
    • Designed for small scale personal salvage via EVA and external processing rather than using the ship to salvage.
    • Single utility mount on the front of the ship that houses the “scraper” laser which strips the surface of ships into a resource.
    • Uses MultiTool and Salvage charges to break up wrecks and take individual components and loot rather than processing chunks of ship.
  • Player can live long term on board with the basic accommodation, when finding wreckage they take their hand held Salvage tools from their internal storage to go recover valuable assets, these can be stored in the rear cargo hold, like a space pickup truck.
Aesthetic
  • Similar shape/styling to the other Drake ships, rough and ready Soviet-era style.
Specifications
Length 33 m
Width 16 m
Height 9 m
Mass 114,591 kg
Speed 165 m/s
Crew 1
Powerplants 1x Small
Shield 2x Small
Armor Large
Weapons 2x
Thrusters 2x Small, 2x VTOL
Utility items Scraper Beam, Tractor Beam
Cargo capacity 12 SCU

Trivia

  • The Vulture has some resemblance to the Venture ship in EVE Online. On 2018-06-14, shortly after the design of the Vulture was revealed, players and fans of EVE Online pointed out the similarity between the two ships and accused CI of copying the design on EVE's subreddit,[9] while CI developers said that the ship was inspired by the Dragonfly.[10] The rivalry escalated with redditors brigading both the EVE Online and Star Citizen subreddits, to the point that even EVE developer CCP tweeted about it.[11][12]

External links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 YOU Pick the Next Drake Ship. Citizens - Comm-Link
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Whitley's Guide: The Drake Interplanetary Vulture". Jump Point. Vol. 7 no. 8. pp.29–32. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
  3. Your Ship Your Sky. Comm-Link. Retrieved 2020-04-03
  4. Alpha 3.9.1 in-game survey during Drake Defensecon
  5. Roadmap Roundup - May 5th, 2021. Spectrum Dispatch - Comm-Link. Retrieved 2023-06-16
  6. Star Citizen Alpha 3.18.0 - Patch notes. Comm-Link. Retrieved 2023-06-16
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Work in Progress: Drake Vulture". Jump Point. Vol. 6 no. 7. pp.15–34. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Ship Shape: Drake Vulture on YouTube
  9. Behold, the totally not a copy, Drake Vulture on EVE subreddit
  10. Star Citizen: Around the Verse - Vulture Views and Weapons 2 on Youtube
  11. EVE Online tweet on Vulture
  12. Eve Online and Star Citzen fans at war over £112 "copycat" spaceship


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