Dude, drop it. This game won't have jets for over a year and most likely two. When they are finally implemented they'll be ridiculously bugged, perform as poorly and dropships, have convoluted controls, and will get one shotted by dozens of AAA guns.

i'll take a guess

VTOL
2 high slots, 1 low, 900/400hp for caldari
1 high slot, 2 low, 400/900hp for gallent
1 small turret

Dude, drop it. This game won't have jets for over a year and most likely two. When they are finally implemented they'll be ridiculously bugged, perform as poorly and drop ships, have convoluted controls, and will get one shotted by dozens of AAA guns.

See you say that but think about the announcement of the new AA-HAV. That caught us all by surprise. Why do we need that? It was described as having fast tracking. Well blaster and missles tanks can track a drop ship NP. So can a rail unless it's really really close. So current tanks have no need for faster tracking to track current aircraft. Well one reason is that when implementing new mechanics sometimes it's a very good idea to have the counter in place before e the item being countered. This reverse implementation helps when adding a more dynamic element.

We have HAVs. They need a tweak but they work. They have counters, people can use them etc. Jets would drastically change the battlefield. It is wise to make sure that when they arrive there is already something to deal with them that is tested and works.

Now I don't think we'll get Jets anytime soon. But remember to consider the bigger picture. We don't need dropships. But we have them. Why? Because they will be needed for bigger maps, new game modes. If the developers introduced drop ships at the exact same time as huge maps... noone would be skilled into them but we would have to have them. So you get them in early, tested, skilled into (fixed soon I hope). See the Pattern?

But dropships need a little fix first, like increasing it's shields and armor, speed, and maneuverability. The controls need a tweak too, something like, L2/R2 to reduce or increase the power on the turbines, making the dropships move, the turbines should be controlled by the joysticks, as well the dropship's body.

Absolutely not!

I don't understand why people keep wanting to make dropships into air tanks,when they are essentially nothing more than gunned transport.

They are the equivalent of a Huey helicopter.
http://militaryfactory.com/aircraft/imgs/bell-uh1-iroquois-huey.jpg
There's absolutely no reason that they should be more maneuverable than they already are. The problem with them is that people continue to want to use them in a way that was never intended.

I don't mean what will their role be but how will they fly, as in how do you make them go up and down, will they have large torrents, medium, or small. What if we can choose two main small or medium as our main guns.

We should talk about this so CCP doesn't tweak with the consoles like they did with the dropship.

So how do you think the jet should function?

Fixed wing with vertical take off would be my vote. Toggle engines in either forward or downward thrust.

One turret, since it will be a light vehicles, that can fit either a blaster(for strafing) or missile.

I could see various fittings/models that allow for air combat or ground support.

Logi target painters would be an awesome addition to a ground support version.

The Fighter in the 2009 stage demo and the 2006 concept art show it mounting a pair of small turrets in fixed positions on the front.

When Fighters come out, I'm dumping all my SP into them and using nothing else until I can fly them as well as I do every aircraft in the Ace Combat series.

Absolutely not!

I don't understand why people keep wanting to make dropships into air tanks,when they are essentially nothing more than gunned transport.

They are the equivalent of a Huey helicopter.
http://militaryfactory.com/aircraft/imgs/bell-uh1-iroquois-huey.jpg
There's absolutely no reason that they should be more maneuverable than they already are. The problem with them is that people continue to want to use them in a way that was never intended.

The reason people are doing that is because there are no jets when there should be. People hate waiting so they use what they got to compensate.

Absolutely not!

I don't understand why people keep wanting to make dropships into air tanks,when they are essentially nothing more than gunned transport.

They are the equivalent of a Huey helicopter.
http://militaryfactory.com/aircraft/imgs/bell-uh1-iroquois-huey.jpg
There's absolutely no reason that they should be more maneuverable than they already are. The problem with them is that people continue to want to use them in a way that was never intended.

My Crystal ball only looks 2 years into the future, so I have no idea, sry

In addition, I think we're at a point in our balance discussions where we need to start talking about vehicle ammo limitations again.

If your comp can handle it, give PS2 a shot. Throw in a solid flightstick/throttle combo, and you'll see how it's meant to be. Even the lowly fighter, with added rocket pods u are death from above to tanks. That game also has a bit of a steep learning curve to master, with minimal tutorial ( altho at least PS2 added one ) ... but once you get the hang of it, it's too damn fun.

Recently fired up PS2 again after their latest updates. I'm getting hooked. Dust is gathering... well, dust.