Firefly

Firefly several hundred miles above the Moon.

Project home: Firefly at Orbiter Forum/Resources Author: Jon Marcure (RagTag) Current version: Unknown Compatibility: Unknown

The Firefly Jumbo is an add-on for Orbiter inspired by the Firefly cargo ship Serenity as seen in the TV series Firefly and in the movie Serenity. The Firefly Jumbo is a very versatile cargo ship capable of interplanetary travel and atmospheric flight. The unique design of the ship features two main engines that can pivot a full 180 degrees from fore to aft. The main engines also allow a certain amount of maneuverability during atmospheric flight, while facing straight down they enable the ship to hover.

Firefly Drive in action

In addition to the main engines, the Firefly Jumbo features a unique Firefly Drive, which enables the ship to produce enormous amounts of thrust in a short amount of time. The Firefly Drive gives the ship it's unique shape and colour, when the Firefly Drive is activated (an action called a "full burn") it glows, a trait which gives the ship it's name.

There are some differences between the Firefly Jumbo ship addon and the Firefly ship of the TV show. The most notable is the scale. The shuttles have been reduced in size and the Firefly is a little over twice the size of the Firefly in the TV series. The size of the cargo bay has also been increased in order to allow the transportation of smaller ships or cargo containers.

Additional differences include the addition of hover and retro thrusters for inexperienced pilots who are not yet up to the challenge of vectored thrust with the main engines.

The Ships

In addition to the Firefly Jumbo and shuttles the add-on comes with 8 different cargo carriers that can be hauled around the 'verse. To help move the cargo around the Mule featured in the movie is also included. All in all there are twelve fully functional Orbiter ships to play around with.

Firefly "Jumbo" Features

• There are two fully functional shuttle bays that can be used to store, launched and retrieved compatible shuttles or other compatible equipment.
• Custom Attachment Control panel used to attach and detach the shuttles and cargo.
• Holographic approach guides that can only be seen from the proper approach angle to help guide you to the shuttle cradles.
• Rotating engine nacelles with preset positions for Main, Retro and Hover thrust, synchronized rotation and independent rotation.
• Airbrakes to slowdown those fast approaches and reentries.
• Landing gear.
• Operating cargo door.
• Powerful Firefly drive to quickly get you to where you want to go.
• Super Firefly drive to get you to where you want to go even more quickly.
• Reduced thrust mode for easier take-offs and landings in low gravity environments or when you have no cargo.
• Standard docking port under the cockpit.
• Custom flight model for atmospheric and space flight.
• Hover and Retro thrusters for inexperienced pilots who are not yet up to the challenge of vectored thrust.
• User configured drag via a parameter to add more drag for more realistic flight.
• Automatic detection of the cargo mass to make flights with cargo a challenge.

Shuttle Features

• Fully functional Orbiter add-on ship in and of itself.
• Wings that extend for improved flight performance in atmosphere or retract if you like flying a brick.
• Airbrakes to slowdown those fast approaches and reentries.
• Landing gear.
• Standard docking port under the cockpit.
• Custom flight model for atmospheric and space flight.

Mule Features

• Fully functional Orbiter add-on ship in and of itself.
• Custom Attachment Control Panel for attaching and detaching the cargo skids.
• Automatic detection of the cargo mass.
• Ability to attach to and be transported by the Firefly.
• Custom flight model that simulates a hovercraft type drive.

Cargo Skid Features

• Fully functional Orbiter add-on ships.
• Cargo 1, QJFFSC1 can carry user defined cargo via custom user configured attachment point.
• Cargo 2 - 6 predefined cargo skids with user configured cargo mass.
• Two Fuel skids with docking ports so that they can be used to refuel ships.
• Custom flight models that simulate a hovercraft type drive.

Special commands unique to Firefly

• 1,2 = Rotate Left Engine Fore/Aft
• 3,4 = Rotate Right Engine Fore/Aft
• 5,6 = Rotate Both Engines Fore/Aft
• 7 = Rotate Engines to Main
• 8 = Rotate Engines to Hover
• 9 = Rotate Engines to Retro
• 0 = Full thrust mode
• Ctrl-0 = Reduced thrust mode
• Ctrl-F12 = Firefly Drive On/Off
• Ctrl-F11 = Super Firefly Drive On/Off

• Ctrl-B = Extend/Retract Air Brake
• Ctrl-G = Open/Close Cargo Bay Door
• G = Extend/Retract Landing Gear
• F8 = Cockpit graphic On/Off

• J = Extend/Retract Left Shuttle
• Ctrl-J = Detach Left Shuttle
• K = Extend/Retract Right Shuttle
• Ctrl-K = Detach Right Shuttle
• Ctrl-[ = Detach Cargo Bay Arm
• Ctrl-] = Detach Mule

• K = Wing Extend/Retract (shuttles only)
• G = Grab Cargo (Mule only)
• J = Jetison Cargo (Mule and Cargo 1 only)

External Links

• Firefly at Orbiter Forum/Resources.
• Orbiter Board discussion about Firefly
• Firefly Fans website
• Can't Stop the Signal