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Pilot is a cascade skill
including Airship, Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing, Glider and Interface/Grav.
Certain of the cascades as indicated below have specific homeworld
requirements. See the "Equipment & Technology" chapter for more
details.
The Airship cascade allows
the operation of dirigible rigid and non-rigid lighter-than-air craft
as well as tethered and free ballooning. These craft may derive
their lift from hot air or locally buoyant gases. [Airship requires
Tech = Industrial+, Atmosphere = Standard+.]
The Fixed Wing cascade
allows use of all fixed-wing aircraft, including scissors wing and
variable geometry, regardless of their power source or performance.
Convertible fixed-wing/rotary (tilt-rotor and x-wing) aircraft use
whichever skill is appropriate to the current mode of travel.
Fixed-wing VTOL STOVL, and wing-in ground effect (WIG) craft are
covered by this cascade. [Fixed Wing requires Tech = Industrial+,
Atmosphere = Thin+.]
The Rotary Wing cascade
allows use of helicopters and autogyros. Convertible
fixed-wing/rotary ("tiltrotor") aircraft use whichever skill is
appropriate to the current mode of travel. Compound helicopters
which still derive lift from moving rotors use this cascade, while
helicopters which lock their blades in flight (x-wing aircraft) use
the Fixed Wing cascade. [Rotary Wing requires Tech = Industrial+,
Atmosphere = Thin+.]
The Glider cascade allows
the use of gliders, sailplanes, hang gliders, paragliders, and
ornithopters (see the "Equipment & Technology" chapter). This skill
also allows the pilot to know how to find sources of aerodynamic
lift, such as thermal updrafts, etc. [Glider requires Tech =
Industrial+, Atmosphere = Thin+.]
The Interface/Grav cascade
allows the use in an atmosphere, including atmospheric entry, of
vehicles that do not primarily rely on aerodynamic lift (although many
of these designs do generate some lift). The atmosphere may be that
of a habitable world or a gas giant. It does not refer to the proper
use of such a craft in vacuum or jump space, which are the province
of the Ship's Tactics and Astrogation skills. [Interface/Grav
requires Tech = Early Stellar+.]
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