This is actually a human craft, based off of alien technology. That means we get to put in a pragmatic aspect onto it.
(It also means comparisons to existing human ships/helicopters are valid.
)
If one or both of the engines go out, then the craft will have to make a conventional landing. It could probably make it home on only one thruster (the things at the back), but it can't land vertically with it.
One of the main goals I had when designing the craft was that it could land vertically. The engines were originally placed right on the center of gravity, but Winter's suggestion of thrusters at the back let me move the engines further behind. This also let me have more room for the main 'fuselage'. (Well, as much of a fuselage as you get with a flying wing.)
The main engines were always able to rotate downward 125 degrees, past vertical, so they can point downwards to hover. Because the engines are behind the center of mass, the two thrusters at the back point upward to balance out the craft.
So, really, we get the best of both worlds.
(Incidentally, because the engines can also point
up 90 degrees, the craft can hover
upside-down! I don't think that landing upside down will be standard procedure, however.
)
I like what you've done with the engines, there, though I too have doubts about the cockpit colour (definitely needs darkening).
If you're doing any further greebling on the body, could you try and get it reminiscent of our Scout/Fighter/Harvester UFOs? That's the feel we're hoping to capture, that this thing is derived from things that are alien, but made to fit the human imagination.
Right-o. I'll make the cockpit darker.
I noticed a lot of the existing alien texture greebles are rather square. I went more with that the alien materials needed to be curved when they form. (Or was that only the kerrblades?)