VF-1D
Created by: The EVE Scienctists for the Robotech Project
Used by: Enlists training to be Veritech Pilots.
The most unique feature of the VF-1D is the fact it is a two seater Veritech aircraft used for training young men and women to be Veritech pilots. It is rarely used in combat, but is usual armed with real weaponary in case of any surprise attack or emergency one could encounter while practicing. It has two lasers, as well as a larger battloid head to encompass the two seats it has, it also has a longer nose to accomidate that as well.
Oddly enough from what we see, it would seem as if the instructor has no control of the aircraft in case of emergecny. There is only one set controls and they are in front of the trainee, although it is possible that there are some variations of the VF-1D that do allow for instructor control. We only ever see one, and that is on Macross Island during the opening cermony for the SDF-1. Roy Fokker and Rick Hunter plan to fly one, however the alien attack interrupts this. Because of the numbers of alien attackers, the VF-1D Rick dozes in is armed and he is ordered to fly.
The second seat in the plane proves useful when Rick has to take Lynn Minmei as a passagner during the attack.
We never see the VF-1D after this and we can only assume most of them were distroyed on Macross Island when the SDF-1 folded, or prehaps used for spare parts. Although a few were probably kept to train recruits.
The extras on teh VF-1D seem to make it a little slower and less responisve the an ordainary Veritech, it takes almost a minute for it to convert to Battloid mode as Rick Hunter discovers. However it can change into all three modes and has a gatling gun, which probably isn't as powerful as a regular one.
It also doesn't appear to have any missles, or at least none that Rick uses, though it probably has the capacity to carry them. The plane is also brightly coloured, no doubt a safety measure to warn other pilots that may be flying when a new recruit is.
All in all the VF-1D has a brief but memorial appearance in Robotech introducing us to the sophistication of the Veritech.