ADF-01 Falken

The ADF-01 Falken is a fictional fighter aircraft in the games Ace Combat 2, Ace Combat 5, Ace Combat Zero, and Ace Combat X.

Due to its popularity, plastic models of the plane from Ace Combat 5 are on sale in Japan.

The ADF-01 first appeared as a non-playable enemy aircraft, piloted by the Z.O.E. Commander Ace Pilot, in the game Ace Combat 2. It appeared in the 22nd level "Fighter's Honor" and in the bonus model viewer. In Ace Combat 5, the Falken sports the original Z.O.E. red-orange paint that was used with the ADF-01 in Ace Combat 2.

Largely ignored in the ensuing two games, the Falken made a comeback in Ace Combat 5 as an unlockable playable aircraft slightly modified from its first incarnation. Since then, the Falken is poised to become a flagship SUPER aircraft for the Ace Combat series.

History

The ADF-01 is made by Gründer Industries, and is based on the ADFX-01 Morgan developed during the Belkan War. In the 15 years that followed, Gründer made at least five variants of the aircraft, including the ADF-01F, several of which were captured by the Osean Federation in the Circum-Pacific War. Aurelia operated ADF-01s in 2020, during the conflict with Leaseath.

Aircraft Configuration

The Falken is different from any other vehicle in Ace Combat games. The Falken has forward-swept wings, canards, inward-inclined tailrudders, a ventral rudder, and extended engine nacelles with 2-D thrust vectoring.

While these aspects of the plane affect its maneuverability, a completely enclosed cockpit that utilizes cameras gives the pilot full 360-degree field of view via the cockpit's numerous monitors.

Another unique aspect of the Falken's design is its payload storage. While missiles are carried in conventional "stealth-like" wells along the sides of the engine nacelles, its Tactical Laser System is contained behind and below the cockpit. When the weapon is armed, the entire front of the plane splits along the horizontal axis and moves out of the way for the laser's beam. Ace Combat Zero retains this special payload storage for the TLS but uses pylons if other special weapons are used. In Ace Combat Zero, the TLS's recharge time extends past its firing time, but, in Ace Combat 5, the recharge time is much shorter, allowing it to be refired prior to the completion of the previous shot.

The ADF-01 has in-flight refueling capabilities using the boom and receptacle method. The aircraft's receptacle is located in front of the cockpit on the nose.

The Falken somewhat resembles the Delphinus series of aircraft from Ace Combat 3, which with similar features such as a peculiar tailplane and no cockpit windows. The Delphinus-3 appears to be most similar, almost resembling the front half of the Falken with its laser deployed and by virtue of their canard configuration. It may be that the Falken's design was adapted into these new futuristic aircraft somewhere between Ace Combat 5 and 3.

Unlike its later brethren, the ADF-01 in Ace Combat 2 carries backwards-firing missiles as a defensive countermeasure and will regularly execute a Cobra maneuver, stopping in midair to make the player overshoot.

Paint schemes

  • Ace Combat 2
    • Solid-colored red
  • Ace Combat 5
    • Solid-colored red (Osean)
    • Solid-colored black (Razgriz)
    • Blue camouflage pattern (Special)
  • Ace Combat Zero
    • Solid-colored red (Ustian)
    • Blue camouflage pattern (Mercenary)
    • Reflective black (Soldier)
    • Green/brown camouflage (Knight)
    • Solid-colored black (Special)
  • Ace Combat X
    • Solid-colored red (Aurelian)
    • Blue camouflage pattern (Leasath)
    • Solid-colored black (Special 1)
    • Green/brown camouflage (Special 2)

See also

  • Ace Combat 2
  • Ace Combat 5
  • Ace Combat Zero
  • Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception

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