Designed and built by the U.S.S. Voyagers crew, the Delta Flyer is intended to be a multi-purpose vessel along the lines of a heavy duty shuttle or Runabout. The craft incorporates many systems unique to a Starfleet design - a result of the Borg and other technology Voyager has experienced on its journey home.
The hull of the Delta Flyer is highly aerodynamic, and is composed of tetraburnium alloys with parametallic plating. The warp nacelles are variable geometry, reflecting Voyagers own warp drive system. The layout is fairly conventional - a large cabin occupies the front portion, with the engineering section aft feeding nacelles to port and starboard. The EPS conduits in the plasma manifold are isomagnetic, minimizing power losses and increasing engine efficiency. There is a small cargo bay and transporter system installed in the flyer, along with the various systems usually associated with a vessel of this type. The area where the Delta Flyer differs most from Starfleet designs is in the defense systems. The unimatrix shielding was developed by Lieutenant Commander Tuvok, while the weapons array developed by Seven of Nine is based on Borg technology and includes photonic missiles.
While most of the Delta Flyers control systems are conventional, the helm controls are based on those of early to mid 20th century aircraft - a choice made by Lieutenant Paris for aesthetic reasons. Paris also wanted to add dynametric tail fins to the nacelles, claiming that an intimidating look would deter attackers, but he was overruled.
A vessel like the Delta Flyer is a good example of Starfleet's recent policy of allowing StarShips the freedom to develop their own shuttle designs - although in this case Starfleet naturally had no say in the matter. The Intrepid's were one of the first ships designed to produce field-replicated and field-designed shuttles, and Voyagers success in producing a vessel of this size and capability is further proof that Starfleet's policy is the correct one. On the Flyers first mission it successfully rescued an advanced probe from deep within a gas giants atmosphere, and was subsequently a valuable asset for Voyager. However, the Flyer underwent its share of mishaps; in 2375 the vessel crash-landed on a hostile planet after encountering a severe ion storm, and in 2376 the Flyer was briefly inside a subspace ellipse. The ship was badly damaged again in this year when a dark matter life form attacked it, but was able to escape without any fatalities.
Unfortunately, 2376 proved to be the Flyer's final year in service. Towards the end of the year Captain Janeway led a mission to infiltrate a Borg cube using the flyer, and it was detected and destroyed by the alien ship. A replacement was subsequently constructed.
2374:
September: Tom Paris, in his free time, begins to design a new craft for U.S.S. Voyager. This craft will be a runabout. It's design is inspired because of the overwhelming high loss rate of the ship's Shuttlecraft.
2375:
March: Lt. Cmdr. Tuvok designs a new shielding for the class. Unimatrix shielding will protect the craft better then any runabout has ever had. At the same time, Seven of Nine, using Borg technology, designs the weapons for the class. Paris and an engineering team begin construction of the Flyer.
April: The ship launches for the first time on a mission to rescue an advanced probe from deep within a gas giants atmosphere.
Commissioned 2375 - Present
Classification: Advanced Runabout
Structure:
Tetraburnium alloys with parametallic plating
Length: 30 meters
Height: 9 meters
Width: 6 meters
Decks: 1
Mass: 75 tons
Warp Systems:
Normal Cruise: Warp Factor 6
Maximum Cruise: Warp Factor 6.8
Maximum Rated: Warp Factor 7.2 for twelve hours
Impulse Systems:
Power: Fusion
Engines: 1
Tactical Systems:
Shields: Unimatrix shield system, total capacity 108,000 TeraJoules
Light Parametallic single hull
Low level Structural Integrity Field
Weapons: Type-VIII Phaser arrays, photonic missiles
Crew and Auxiliary Systems:
Crew: 1 (maximum 4)
Transporters: 1x2 personnel/cargo
Diplomatic Capability: Grade 1
Expected Hull Life: 75 years
Refit Cycle:
Minor: 2 months
Standard: 9 months
Major: 5 years