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EVA Special Long-Distance Transport Aircraft (EVA專用長距離輸送機?)[1] is a support aircraft that appears in Neon Genesis Evangelion and The End of Evangelion.
Profile[]
Transport aircraft leaving NERV's First Branch.
To solve the problem of concentrating the forces against the Angels solely in Tokyo-3, the establishment of a long-distance transport system for EVAs was proposed. It would be difficult to move the heavy weapons installed in Tokyo-3, but the humanoid EVAs would be able to move around the battlefield as needed. Once the Angels' movement course was determined, EVAs could be deployed along that line, making it possible to intercept them at the water. With this in mind, the construction of a transport system was planned in parallel with the construction of the EVAs. However, EVAs are not completely independent weapons because they run on electricity, and various backups were required, including securing a power supply line. For this reason, the establishment of a transport system was difficult, but its effectiveness has been proven in several actual battles.[2]
The EVA Special Long-Distance Transport Aircraft or ESLDTA's for short are enormous flying wing aircraft responsible for the rapid transport and deployment of Evangelions.
Features[]
UN02.
The design of the ESLDTA is quite similar to that of a stealth bomber: its wide wingspan and compact, flat profile combined with a lack of distinct vertical stabilizers are common design features in strategic bombers like the B-2 or conceptual YB-49. This design reduces radar cross-section, a key characteristic in stealth bombers. ESLDTA's also appear to have very large communication arrays, alongside numerous embedded rotodomesWP toward the front of the aircraft. This may imply the aircraft were, at one-point, dual purpose AEW&C's and stealth strategic bombers, now repurposed for the transport of Evangelions. In Episode:07, Hyūga pilots one of these aircraft alone, implying that most, if not all of the aircrafts systems are automated.
ESLDTA's have very large wingtip devices, and extremely heavy landing gear to compensate for their massive size. During both flight and takeoff these aircraft appear to use 4 elongated turbojet engines mounted on the underside of the aircraft. In Episode:07, an ESLDTA is seen utilizing Rocket-Assisted-Take-Off, ESLDTA's have a total of 8 large RATO engines located under the wings on either side of the aircraft.
There are various distinctive markings on the aircraft. On the topside, on the left wing, an aircraft designation written in white is visible, which reads "UN01" suggesting these aircraft are operated and maintained by the United Nations. Written in black letters on the right wing is "NERV", above this, also written in black is "UN01". There are defined black lines on the surface of the aircraft that resemble panels, along with visible flaps. It's feasible these aircraft are powered by an onboard nuclear reactor or a form of N² technology, providing the massive amounts of power these aircraft would need, allowing them to fly almost indefinitely without refueling.
History[]
Neon Genesis Evangelion[]
- First appearance
- Episode:07, Timestamp: 16:05, "UN01"
- Second appearance
- Episode:09, Timestamp: 4:20, 2 of the aircraft deploy Unit-01 and Unit-02
- Third appearance
- Episode:10, Timestamp: 11:13, "UN02"
- Fourth appearance
- Episode:17, Timestamp: 21:24
- Fifth appearance
- Episode:18, Timestamp: 01:32
The End of Evangelion[]
Craft variant seen in The End of Evangelion.
Nine ESLDTA can be seen carrying and deploying the Mass Production Evangelions during the raid of NERV HQ. Oddly, these have different markings from the other ESLDTA previously seen, being numbered 1-9, they are also missing radar domes. The Mass Production Series is deployed with a unique cargo system, unlike those seen earlier in the TV series.
EVANGELION: 3.0 (-46h)[]
Mari Makinami Illustrious is piloting a blue painted EVA Special Long-Distance Transport Aircraft and she alongside Asuka Shikinami Langley piloting the Evangelion Production Model-02α-EIV rescued Midori Kitakami from the advancing Failures of Infinity.
See Also[]
References[]
- ↑ Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Books Volume 08 p.63
- ↑ Evangelion Chronicle 04 p.21