The fact that this thing is VTOL might have to do with Pandora's lower gravity yet almost earth level atmospheric presure. That certainly makes it easier to get away with stuff like that.

Since it can't take much cargo back up into orbit, that means that _most of the military equipment on the surface_ will have to be left behind for the T̶a̶l̶i̶b̶a̶n̶ Na'vi during evacuation.

The big reason for the engines rotating rather than just the nozzle is probably due to the heat of the engine. VTOL planes normally have a 90 second window to land before the nozzles become compromised. Forcing thrust gasses to take a 90 degree turn creates huge amounts of heat.

Whoever designed Halo's Pelican Dropship should be very proud of themselves, because now everyone goes "yes, that is what a future Space Shuttle looks like."

My hat goes off to you sir, no one makes avatar videos and im greatfull that i found a channel that does and makes great quality content, i hope you go big bro

You said the Valkyrie wasn't as well designed as the ISV, but as someone who only saw Avatar in theaters once, I'm surprised they put as much thought as they did into any of this. But honestly, once you have fusion reactors small and light enough to power an aircraft, you can pretty much build whatever you want and it will fly. Propulsion tech is always the limiting factor in air/spacecraft capabilities.

i could be very wrong but 3:33 about the wing position, i imagine the twin massive self powered fusion engines are extremely heavy unlike those on spaceshuttle, which are basically nozzles. Judging by the position and difference in size of the rotatable jets, those fusion engines probably weights more than the rest of the craft, so the wing naturally should allign where all the mass is, and being top mounted also means stability, especially for a craft that have it's center of mass that far back. Awesome content tho subscribed!

To be fair the Shuttle wasn't exactly known for flying well. I'm certain you'd want quite a distinct design for an SSTO spaceplane that uses aerodynamic flight on the ascent as compared to a Shuttle that only needs to worry about re-entry and descent

If I'm not mistaken regarding unobtainium, it isn't directly related to antimatter fuel or reaction mass in any way, it's refined product is used to manufacture high-temperature superconductive electromagnets used in fusion reactors and all the magnetic confinement apparatus of fusion drives, this is why not every vehicle in the human arsenal is equipped with it's own tiny fusion reactor, they're only cost effective when you get up to vehicles the size of the Valkyrie or larger. This also probably means that the Valk's jet engines are not actually turbojets, but some form of "electrojet" where power from the reactors is used to drive the engine's compressors via a high torque, high RPM electric motor, rather than the combustion of JP1. This would make a lot more sense than having completely separate, JP1 fueled engines, because without batteries inbetween you can convert your reactor electricity to kinetic energy with an efficiency of nearly 100% even with existing brushless electric motors, you can also use the jets to deal with waste heat from your reactor by placing the hot coolant loop in contact with excess intake air not needed to produce thrust.

Since its use was so specialised, it would have made sense for it to have landing skids instead of huge rubber tyres and landing gear which would take up more weight. No runways on pandora and skids spread the weight better if they had to VTOL on soft ground. Even if it was originally designed for Earth use where they need a runway for lifting a larger payload to orbit, the background story in the movie stated clearly how crazy expensive it was to move even 1 kilogram from Earth to Pandora on the ISV so it made no sense to carry that heavy landing gear and tyres to Pandora.

I just liked that it (and most of the other hardware) at least looked plausible and that it could actually exist. I'm all for strange designs (like ships from Star Trek/Star Wars), but this just makes it easier to accept that it's actually there.

Great video on the Valkyrie, didn't expect any less from you!

My guess is that the large air intakes are for cooling the fusion plants.

Would love to know more about the gas harvesting process and what that would look like.

The multiple sliding HUDs are my favorite detail

Would those intakes at the front not be for the fuel scooping? And the ramjets built into the turbofans similar to SABRE engines on Skylon? Great video all the same!

ngl this scene felt magical as hell as a child

Its Basically the space faring version of the AN-225.

I LOVE THAT YOU COVER THE STUFF NOBODY ELSE DOES. AND IN GREAT DETAIL!

I'm really late here but I love the detail, especially how the clip synced with him saying "flux vortex" at 1:25

The kind of movie analysis I've always wanted, but never really got or find them. Until I found this video and your channel, instant subscription

One of the reasons why the Valkyrie had a top mounted wing was to give the wings more clearance from the ground. Those fusion engines would likely need more ground clearance when they're pivoted down like that. And like many large modern cargo planes (for example the C-5 Galaxy and the An-144), the Valkyrie also used top mounted wings so could open its cargo doors closer to the ground.

Bloody brilliant !

One thing about the Avatar movies is that every bit of machinery in them makes sense and is practical for its designed function. Weapons have systems to aim them with. (Something that has never ever been thought of in Star Trek, any series....)

the vertical slots were likely for gas harvesting, after their refit, and were in the orijinal design to save time. the refit probs constituted of the removal of cargo storage and adding gas tanks.

I like to think the VTOL purpose of the ship is bc earth is so populated that it got to the point where runways at airports took too much space. So they adapted most if not all aerial vehicles to be all VTOLs so that they could land and takeoff vertically instead of having a long buildup do both. In all the deleted scenes of earth it is rubbing shoulders packed and buildings are so tall they probably have under cities.

AVATAR VIDEOS IN 2021?! Buddy, take my like. Really cool, see you lat- wait... sci-fi vessels analysis channel??? Ok sir, now you've earned my sub. Thank you

I loved all the VTOL nature of all the aircraft and spacecraft in Avatar

I will never get how Avatar was honestly mid as hell but also has some of the best worldbuilding I've seen for a sci fi film

I have found the holy grail of spaceships/space travel at last. I can end my search now! I would really appreciate if you add all the scenes from the movie along with extra scenes, not miss a single.

I always found the valkyrie to be an incredibly sexy air/spacecraft

Damn I can't wait for KSP 2 Going to build my own version of this and fly to other worlds

Awesome analysis as Always!

Your videos are such good quality, I was surprised you don't have more subscribers! Keep it up and I'm sure your sub count will increase exponentially.

My guess was that those large intakes are for skimming hydrogen from the atmosphere. They're pretty large as to increase the volume of atmospheric intake. Whatever filters/containment they have is probably also huge considering hydrogen is notoriously hard to keep contained. This could just be my interpretation though, its possible the artists just put them on there because they looked cool, but after seeing how well other vehicles are designed in the movie, I don't think this is the case.

Earth shuttles use ceramic plates to dissipate heat during re-entry. As well as use a certain degree of pitch to keep the bottom of the shuttle as the sacrificial heat shield. Maybe the atmosphere of Pandora doesn't create the heat on re-entry like it does on Earth? Which would allow for a lower angle of attack on re-entry.

No one probably no one James Cameron is outsmarted the scientist, engineer's, of this beast AIRCRAFTS

Such neat videos. I'd totally listen to as many as you'll make. This kind of stuff gets me through work.

This is probably the most realistic sci-fi spaceship. I imagine the world building things like these in the coming decades.

any space planes that can go from the planet into space is awesome

High mounted wings do make sense in the environment the shuttles are operating in. Low mounted wings are very easily damaged when operating from rough and remote landing sites - especially on a VTOL aircraft that will throw up huge clouds of debris when landing and taking off - both the Harrier and the Osprey use similar configurations to the Valkyrie. Also, for a cargo aircraft it works well, as it gets the wingbox out of the way of the floor, ensuring a nice flat cargo bay, and also makes operations around the aircraft easier - if it's high enough, cargo handlers don't have to dodge around the entire wing, and can move underneath it. It makes loading and unloading simpler, again, especially in rough conditions such as a jungle clearing or around mining sites with lots of kit, pits and spoil heaps all over the place. As for the whole engine rotating, this I think is pure vfx play. Even to allow greater than 90 degree deflection, nozzles can do this without the engine needing to move - the Harrier can do precisely this to allow it to land on a moving carrier. It isn't mechanically simpler (in fact, it's much more difficult), so I don't think it makes sense in scientific terms - but it does look neat and gives an instant visual explanation of what's happening to the audience.

Beautiful video !

Did they ever explain in the first movie why the shuttle needed to fly directly through the floating mountains in order to drop its payload rather than flying well above them and out of range of any possible threats?

Best shuttle ever.

I think the top mounted wings are not only for making clearance for the VTOL engines, but also having enough ground clearance in uneven landing zone, since it can serve as a dropship in combat. And because it's a cargo plane initially, top mounted wings can also lower the center of gravity below the center of lift, gives it much better stability when entering atmosphere. I love how they put those carbon-carbon plates on the bottom of the plane, make it at least much more acceptable, instead of throwing bunch of pure fiction designs at audience.

Impressive as always

Please make a video on C-21 Dragon assault ship

I don't see a reason that the intakes on the front can't be the hypersonic inlets, the size of the cargo bay vs the overall width of the craft supports the idea there is a large amount of space being used there and the lower bulges are likely the fuel tanks. This would mean the intake air passes by the fuel to act as an pre-stage cooler as the air is compressed and directed to the primary engines. The internal shape of the inlet likely has variable structure and dramatic volume ramping. It seems like the front of the inlet itself can close or reduce in size to further control the flow of hypersonic air to the engine.

My Man i always wanted someone to analysis this shuttle but not much did until now great video bro and also nice intro song what's the name it?

I've recently done a sci-fi illustration that features a wedge looking ship somewhat like this. I also used a brand new painting tool. You can see it if you click the icon on the left.

A VTOL SSTO is something we all really need, not reusable rockets. If Aeronautic companies want to really do something about cheap Earth to Low Earth Orbit transportation they be developing SkyHooks and smaller shuttles like that Virgin Spaceship instead of reusable rockets.

Damn these lores are interesting

1:27-1:29. The ASMR is real!

This video really helped me remake this in kerbal space program, I can’t thank you enough

finally youtube recommendations works perfectly

Keep evolving, keep moving forward.

I think the wings were mounted at the top to give it more stability in vtol mode, because the center of lift during the takeoff and landing in vtol mode would be most likely above the center of mass. If the wings were mounted at the bottom, the center of trhrust would be below the center of mass which would result in worse stability. To get around that, the engines would have to be spread far away from each other, but because of the shape of the valkyries wings they could only be spread far from each other in the left/right axis, giving it good roll stability, but not far in the front/back axis meaning the pitch stability would be bad. the easiest way to get around this would be to attach the front engines seperatly, which would propably be harder than just putting the wings at the top.

If my math is correct. The delivery of refined ore back to earth is worth 4.2 trillion dollars.

Can you explain in detail how the orbital engines work ? Are they like rocket engines or just some very new alien type technology? And how does the jet engines derive power from fusion?

Hey, not sure if it's exactly space-related but would love it if you do a video about the Gunship from avatar!

We need to get you more Subs this is an Awesome analysis.

Do you think it's possible that the vertical slots on the front of the craft are the gas harvesters for atmospheric skimming on Polyphemus?

haven't read too much of the comment section, but some ofc. and I agree with most that speak to a heating issue having been one problem the rotating VTOL engines face. but there's one more thing they do when they rotate like that. they generate drag, or basically they become Air-breaks that can slow down the aircraft faster so it can get into a more stable hover faster. another thing is, it is easier to rotate the whole engine to keep it as simple as possible than to add a nozzle like the harrier has or the turning/bending nozzle of the F-35B. atleast that's what I'm thinking atleast. I could be talking out of my ass ofc :P but besides all the things in chat. the plane looks cool as balls because of the design. oh and the scram-jet components are likely just a part of the engines themselves using the normal inlets that just constrict on the inside to speed-up the airflow. if my understanding of a scramjet is worth anything. IF

The key to SSTOL is not stage break classic ascending. But *phase* effects. Convertion from VToL low atmosphere bulk purpultion engines, to narrow ram & scram jet. Eventually 'Turbo-jet,' of rocket fuel used as atmosphere *within* turbines. Finally in exo orbit, 🚀.

Goddamm I stumbled on this channel for barely 10mins and its already convinced me great job!

When is an analysis on Thanos’s ship coming????

I know this is a science fiction space craft, but this should be built by some aerospace company like SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Boeing etc should try to build this space plane it could definitely revolutionize space travel. Not to mention it would be epic to watch take off and land.

I imagine the intake is for automated harvesting and the vtol engines are for first landing since there isn’t a runway for them to land on when they first land on Pandora. Maybe they perfected fuel economy so that efficiency isn’t the main propose, but rather how much it can do.

Can you do the Milano and Benatar from GotG?

It reminds me the US Aurora strike craft from C&C Generals somehow. Both look awesome.

I love the valkyrie shuttle. Also it's partly inspired by the valkyrie from 40k which is awesome

Outside looks like some kind of cool space shuttle inside looks like a c15 galaxy

The shuttles spend the rest of its life as gas harvesters for next ones to arrive? So, correct me if I'm wrong, they're basically disposable...? The viability of those shuttles and the resource it ferries, which in turn used to pay for said shuttles (build them, fuel, maintenance, *the works* ) is pretty vague

Maybe the intakes at the front are used for gas coolection. They could lead directly into the interior and obviously be sealable.

Maybe the intake vents were for its purpose as a gas refinery

I believe that the vertical inlets are for air cooling the reactor when it was heated by the atmosphere and environment of pandora. Also they just look cool.

this is a D77-TC class pelican but for avatar. And a lot bigger.

The only way to make it cooler would be the "flying wing" profile

easy sub from me, second video I've seen from you today

Valkyrie is heavily limited by the plot. Conservative estimates for fusion based rockets suggest capability to lift hundreds, if not thousands of tons in LEO. Fusion rockets are pretty much the endgame for a long time. Once you've mastered magnetic containment for the fusion reaction, directing thrust is small potatoes. Fuel is probably liquid hydrogen or even water, making fusion torches environmentally clean. A fusion rocket using hybrid engines to inject miniscule amounts of antimatter for extra thrust will have disgustingly high delta-Vs, which is what Venture Star probably is in the movie (it heavily differs from Pellegrino's concept in the novels "Flying to Valhalla" and "The Killing Star"). Look up GCNR Liberty Ship as well, it's a well detailed concept of a Gas Core Nuclear Rocket that uses a fusion reactor. Valkyrie should also without a doubt be a rocket, taking off and landing vertically. But that doesn't look as pretty as a silver wing cutting through the clouds like a bird.

Love it. Great work.

I thoroughly enjoyed this video, so I left a Like. Thanks.

great video very interesting, please make a video of the dragon ship .. I think it is one of the most interesting ships in its design.

Very nicely done

No one talks about how the VTOL thrusters is at behind the valkyrie?? shuttle that massive, how is it can stable during hover while all the thruster VTOL is at the back?? wouldn't it gonna be like a long metal and you put thruster either right or left its gonna make it rotate like crazy the metal (valkyrie)?? it should've have front thruster too to prevent(stable) the shuttle during hover/VTOL

awesome vid!

They still haven't found a stable element 115.

I think the vertical slots is for the scramjet fusion engine, and the four vtol engine have it’s own nozzle aswell, so i think the fusion plants, being micro in size, maybe place on the middle of the shuttle, and another air inlet redirect it to the scramjets, i think Valkyrie is well carefully design though

1:07 That is my favorite shot out of the entire movie.

Couldn't the intakes be the scoops needed for the aforementioned gathering of gas for fuel?

You forgot to mention a structural issue with Pandora movie plot, the glass shields being pierced by a native manual bow & arrow, Heh. About those VTOL/SSTO craft, many engineers never understood the kamen line atmosphere advamtages, of wings, propellers and afterburns below it, convertion ramjet to pure rocket above it. So an idiocracy of rocketism was applied, exirting pure canisters of burning money. Just for quick speed, like zombie apocalypse mobs were after them at takeoff stations. You probably was wondering where they could install the 'ramjet' function. The front air intake would volume level compress squeeze the thin air into a turbine jet to rocket advantage, the full engine pivit was a simplistic mechanism using the motor of the engine axels, which is more simplistic then a F-35 vertical convertion. And more rugged.

on the note of where the scramjets are located, on the underside of the fusion rockets you can see two 'fins'. I think they are exhaust flow fins and the inlets are located where the top of the fuselage meets the f-engines. By running the local atmosphere along side the fusion reactors(which have a temperature of several million degrees) it would act as a pseudo scramjet as they work in the same principle. Then again I could be wrong and my theory could be very wrong xD Just my guess and use of them. Edit. Just realised the vertical slits at the nose could also be the hypersonic inlets

Please do a video on battleships movie alien ships and there mother ship

if you look at the centre of gravity location for delta wing designs the location of the VTOL engines does not make much sense, they should more to the front.

Beautiful aircraft

this would make for a great SSTO in KSP

TFW you will never be a Valkyrie pilot delivering supplies and personnel and extracting unobtanium to the Venture Stars in orbit and getting to experience comfy routine SSTO travel between moon and spacecraft on the regular...

the new VTOL in GTA Online looks great, will be waiting for the trade price

Maybe it's just be being picky, but given the location of the forward pair of engines, does that mean that all the cargo needs to be held back at the doors to stop it becoming nose heavy? Anything forward of those engines acts as a pivot in VTOL, GCSE physics.

Its a fusion powered spaceplane so it probably gets rid of most of the reentry heating problems by killing much of its orbital velocity using its propellant tanks. Fusion engines get your propellant to take you further, just not as far as antimatter would.