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AquilaLander1

An Aquila Lander coming to rest in the deserts of Taros.

The Aquila Lander is a small, atmosphere-capable transport shuttle used by the Navis Imperialis to transport important personnel to and from Imperial voidships in orbit and to the surface of planets. The Aquila Lander can be seen on almost every single Imperial Navy starship alongside its complement of fighters and bombers in the launch bays. The Aquila Lander is not a combat craft and it is only armed with a single nose-mounted Heavy Bolter for defensive purposes. However, it possesses excellent armour and can withstand enough punishment to ensure its passengers reach their destination safely.

The Aquila Lander is used as a transport shuttle for important Imperial personnel including dignitaries, officials, Inquisitors, Custodians, military commanders, nobles and planetary governors. The Aquila has one crewman, a pilot, in an armoured cockpit at the front of the spacecraft. Twin, independently maneuverable jet engines are set beside the cockpit and built within the fuselage, which allows the vehicle to also hover over its landing point. The shuttle has a command throne for the official to sit in, possesses advanced communications equipment including a hololithic transceiver, and also an observation dome in the dorsal section just above and behind the cockpit.

AquilaLander2

An Aquila Lander in the void of space.

Sometimes Aquila Landers are decorated with Purity Seals. The shuttle is fully capable of both atmospheric flight and travel through the void of space. The craft is used mostly to take Imperial VIPs and their retinues to other Imperial starships or to and from a planet's surface. The Aquila Lander does not possess Warp capability and thus is not suited for interstellar travel.

The Aquila Lander is highly maneuverable in both space and in atmosphere, and this is its best defence against any attackers. In case of assault by an enemy, the shuttle is heavily armoured and can withstand several direct hits from the weapons of most strike aircraft. During landing the entire crew compartment lowers to the ground for easier access.

Appearance[]

Lightining Fighters

Aquila Landers dropping from an orbiting starship into a planet's atmosphere.

The Aquila Lander is named after the iconic crest of the Imperium of Man, the Aquila, due to the unique shape of its wings. The multiple independent engine vents that run up along the wings come together to form a distinctive "feathered" appearance, which is similar to the wings of the Imperial Aquila symbol. The shuttle is capable of carrying up to seven passengers, usually a high-ranking Imperial commander or noble and his or her aides and elite guards.

Notable Users of The Aquila Lander[]

  • Navis Imperialis - The Imperial Navy possesses millions of Aquila Landers spread throughout the Imperium of Man on many if not all of their warships as a way to allow their admirals and senior commanders to move from ship to ship and to make landings on-planet.
  • Inquisition - The Inquisition uses their own Aquila Landers or other shuttles as personal landing craft.
  • Planetary Governors - Many Imperial Governors use Aquila Landers as personal transports or to go into orbit above their worlds to meet with other Imperial officials aboard their starships.

Armament[]

The Aquila Lander is armed with a single, nose-mounted Heavy Bolter, but this weapon can be switched with either a Multi-Laser or an Autocannon. The ship can also be outfitted with an ejector seat, extra cockpit armour plating, and illumination flares.

Adeptus Mechanicus Technical Specifications[]

Aquila Lander
Type Lander Operational Ceiling N/A (Void Capable)
Vehicle Name Aquila Lander Max Speed 1900 kilometres per hour
Forge World of Origin Cypra Mundi Range 24,000 kilometres in atmosphere
Known Patterns I - VI Main Armament Nose-Mounted Heavy Bolter
Crew 1 Pilot Secondary Armament N/A
Powerplant 2 x RX-40-08 Rocket Engines Main Ammunition 400 Rounds
Weight 42 Tonnes Secondary Ammunition N/A
Length 11.8 Meters Armour
Wingspan 21.45 Meters Superstructure 65 millimetres
Height 8.1 Meters Hull 65 millimetres
Transport Capacity 1 VIP, 6 Passengers Access Ports 1 Rear, All Passengers

See Also[]

Sources[]

  • Imperial Armour Update 2006, pg. 4
  • Imperial Armour: Apocalypse, pg. 36
  • Imperial Armour Aeronautica, pg. 13
  • Aeronautica Imperialis (Rulebook), pg. 24
  • Imperial Armour Volume Three - The Taros Campaign, pp. 243-246

Gallery[]

Adeptus Custodes Forces
Command Captain-General ā€¢ Custodian Tribunate ā€¢ Captain-Commander (Guardian Captain-Commander ā€¢ Allarus Captain-Commander ā€¢ Vertus Captain-Commander) ā€¢ Shield-Captain
Elites Blade Champion ā€¢ Hetaeron Guard ā€¢ Aquilon Terminator ā€¢ Ephoroi ā€¢ Allarus Custodian ā€¢ Custodian Warden ā€¢ Vexilus Praetor ā€¢ Custodian Apothecary
Fast Attack Agamatus Jetbike Squad ā€¢ Vertus Praetor ā€¢ Venatari Custodian
Troops Custodian Guard ā€¢ Sentinel Guard ā€¢ Sagittarum Guard Squad
Dreadnoughts Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought ā€¢ Contemptor-Galatus Dreadnought ā€¢ Contemptor-Achillus Dreadnought ā€¢ Telemon Heavy Dreadnought
Vehicles Coronus Grav-Carrier ā€¢ Caladius Grav-Tank ā€¢ Pallas Grav-Attack ā€¢ Venerable Land Raider ā€¢ Rhino ā€¢ Grav-Rhino ā€¢ Grav-Raider ā€¢ Grav-Spartan
Aircraft Stormbird ā€¢ Storm Eagle ā€¢ Orion Assault Dropship ā€¢ Ares Gunship ā€¢ Aquila Lander ā€¢ Talion ā€¢ Equinox Interceptor ā€¢ Zenith Gunship
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