@Elphaba wrote:
@Gornosaurus
as for an aerodynamic side slip,
a) you’re in space
b) there’s no up so no gravity pulling down
c) there’s no wings to change aerodynamic flow
d) such a manoeuvre is utter redundant and pointless in space, especially this kind of fakery Star Wars ‘flying’
e) you sideslip to stay in a direction whilst losing lift to descend faster => utterly redundant here & in space.
so you have no ventral or dorsal thrusters, so no up/down sliding, and no lateral thrusters so no strafing per se, but the EFFECT of strafing sideways is achievable as I outlined above.
if what you’re wanting is a sideslip like you’d do in a light aircraft on high finals, then it’s utterly nonsensical in space, even with the George Lucas Star Wars flying.
Sorry, couldn't let some of that slide 🤓.
According to technical readouts in my Son's Official Star Wars vehicle cross-section book there are built in 'repulsor lifts' in the nose section of the T-65 / T-70 X-Wing and neck section of the BLT-A4 Y-Wing. It appears to be on a gimbal and can vector. The pseudo-sci-tech is common in many Star Wars universe ships throughout the guide.
Repulsorlifts are low-maintenance antigravity devices. Which explains how the Starfighters can do the low speed docking and landing maneuvers without the hilarity of the Austin Powers golf cart machinations.
With regards to d) above, lateral movement in space combat is far from pointless. Watch any of the combat scenes from the Expanse, BSG, or Babylon 5. Each amazing interpretations.