[Scotty]

I'm specifically referring to a term that includes both fighters and bombers.

You know, the small little ones that go pew pew at each other and blow up turrets of big ships, travel in wings, and are between 12 and 40 meters long.

My reply was directed at TopAce's recommendation of one-seater.

[TopAce]

Lt. Ash's Apollo had a co-pilot...

It's just one cutscene. There's a long thread about it in Gen FS, I guess.

Anyway, I'm aware that it's not a very precise term, but neither is strikecraft for that matter. What applies to combat spacecraft applies to strikecraft as well.

I've been thinking of a shortened/blended variant of "piloted spacefaring vehicle," though this definition would probably be valid for transports and support ships. Just brainstorming.

[Hades]

Lt. Ash's Apollo had a co-pilot...

Actually it's interesting to note that with fighters having one pilot in-game, those pilots are usually hugely out of scale, for instance, the Hercules' pilot is 3 meters tall, which leads me to believe that fighters were meant to have two pilots, like in real life.

[ssmit132]

I didn't realise the Hercules' pilot was STILL 3 metres tall...

Maybe they're flown by Vasudans in disguise?

[Hades]

no, they got this guy to fly it

[T-Man]

I've always used strike craft too. A lot of games and series i've known (such as Homeworld 2) use the term, and as fighters/bombers are usually launched to strike at targets or strike at other fighters/bombers, it fits the majority of cases. "Combat spacecraft" does work too though; in the situation you can assume listeners will know he means fighters/bombers (unless they're carrying self-assembly cruisers or something ).

[Marcov]

I've had an idea.
 
Spaceplanes. 
 
It's like aircraft carriers and navy planes of today. The capital ships from FreeSpace are called "spaceships", obviously 'cause they're "ships in space", and spaceplanes, 'cause they're "airplanes in space".
 
Although I do think the term sounds quite ridicolous.

[General Battuta]

No, spaceplane means something else and something very specific. It'd be a misuse here.

[Dragon]

I think that strikecraft would be good, most people would understand what you're talking about when you'll use that word.
"Small craft" or "Combat spacecraft" would also work (and "combat spacecraft" seems to be canon).
Additionaly, FS fighters and bombers were stated to be atmospehric capable, so "spaceplane" wouldn't be a complete misuse (and the term could have evolved since today).

[Qent]

FS fighters and bombers were stated to be atmospehric capable

Remind me where again?

[Dragon]

Most likely in FS reference bible (correct me if I'm wrong).

[Scotty]

And the cutscene where Vasuda Prime gets glassed, IIRC.

[MatthTheGeek]

The ANI, not the cutscene.