CIVILIAN JUMPCRAFT (TL 9) This hybrid vertol/lifting-body aircraft is designed for use as a light transport vehicle, primarily on sparsely settled worlds. The basic concept is simple: A lifting-body aircraft equipped with sufficiently powerful hoverfans to enable true VTOL flight unless it is too heavily loaded (and even then, it can hover close to the ground due to the ground effect, and thus use just about any reasonably flat stretch of ground (or water) as a runway to build up sufficient speed to fly by aerodynamic lift. The engines are placed in six external pods (three to a side) to save space and facilitate maintenance; the hindmost pair is vectored-thrust while the other four engines are dedicated hoverfans. When cruising, the hoverfans are switched off to save fuel; aerodynamic lift keeps the craft in the air, while the vectored fans provide motive thrust. The jumpcraft will float in water (the engine pods are placed high on the body, so as to be above the waterline presuming the vehicle isn't unreasonably heavily loaded) and has a reasonably flat and sturdy underside allowing it to sit on or skid along flattish ground, but it has no wheels. Subassemblies and Body Features: Lifting body and six engine pods (two identical "rear" pods, four identical "middle and front" pods). Good streamlining. Propulsion: Four ducted hoverfans, each 375 kW, in pods: 4*(168 lbs, 1.68 cf, $6720, 1,500 lbf). Two vectored hoverfans, each 375 kW, in rear pods: 2*(252 lbs, 2.52 cf, $10,080, 1,500 lbf). Weaponry: None. Weaponry Accessories: None. Instruments and Electronics: Small computer (1 lb, 0.02 cf, $500, Complexity 3). Two terminals (40 lbs, 2 cf, $1,000). 10-mile radar, no targeting, facing front (5 lbs, 0.1 cf, $2,500, 2.5 kW). Radio (0.5 lbs, $100, 0.01 cf). Miscellaneous: Compact Fire Suppression System (50 lbs, 1 cf, $500). Controls: Computerized ($1000). Occupancy: Short. Passengers: None. Crew: Pilot and copilot. Accommodation: Two normal seats for crew (60 lbs, 60 cf, $200). Safety Systems: Environmental Systems: Power Plant: Energy Banks: Access, Cargo, Empty Space: Volume: Body is 1,000 cf. Pods are Structure: Hit Points: Armour: Surface Features: Drag-reducing surface. Vision: Good. Statistics: Ground Performance: Water Performance: Air Performance: Space Performance: