A-wing

Last updated
Kuat RZ-1 A-wing Interceptor
A-wing production model.jpg
An RZ-1 A-wing filming model used for Return of the Jedi
First appearance Return of the Jedi (1983)
Created by Ralph McQuarrie
Information
Affiliation
Made byKuat Systems Engineering
Auxiliary vehiclesEjector seat
General characteristics
Class Interception starfighter
Armaments
  • RZ-1: Borstel RG-9 laser cannons (2); Dymek HM-6 concussion missile launchers (2; 12 missiles)
  • RZ-1T: Laser cannons (2)
  • RZ-2: Zija GO-4 laser cannons (2); Dymek HM-22 concussion missile launchers (2; 12 missiles)
Defenses
  • RZ-1: Sirplex Z-9 deflector shield generator; Durasteel armor; sensor jammer
  • RZ-2 Rseik Hullspace 2e deflector shield generator; Cloakeye sensor jammer
Maximum speed
  • RZ-1: 5,100 G (maximum acceleration); 1,300 km/h (808 mph; maximum atmospheric speed); 120 MGLT (megalight per hour; subluminal speed)  ; 1.0 HCR (hyperdrive class rating; superluminal speed)
  • RZ-2: 5,200 G (maximum acceleration); 1,350 km/h (839 mph; maximum atmospheric speed); 125 MGLT (megalight per hour; subluminal speed)  ; 1.0 HCR (hyperdrive class rating; superluminal speed)
Propulsion
  • RZ-1: Novaldex J-77 "Event Horizon" sublight engines (2); Incom GBk-785 hyperdrive motivators (2)
  • RZ-2: Novaldex K-88 "Event Horizon" sublight engines (2); Incom GBk-885 hyperdrive motivators (2)
Power
  • RZ-1: MPS Bpr-99 fusion reactors (2)
  • RZ-2: Klyd-Marro 67e fusion cores (2)
Length
  • RZ-1: 6.9 meters
  • RZ-2: 7.682 meters
Width
  • RZ-1: 4.47 meters
  • RZ-2: 4.623 meters
Height
  • RZ-1: 2.47 meters
  • RZ-2: 2.016 meters
Population volume
  • 1 pilot

Kuat RZ-1 A-wing Interceptor are starfighters in the Star Wars franchise. Designed and manufactured by the Kuat Systems Engineering, they are depicted as fast but fragile interceptors of the Rebel Alliance, conceived for high-speed surgical strikes, deep reconnaissance and escort fighter duty. [1]

Contents

A-wings first appear in Return of the Jedi (1983) and later in numerous Star Wars materials and productions. It gained popularity through its depiction in several video games, and since 1985 the A-wing has been merchandised by several companies. They are the fastest vessels in the Star Wars canon, with the advantage of being the smallest hyperspace drive-equipped craft without relying on a carrier, allowing the vessel to extricate itself from a losing battle or escape hostile territory after performing an attack.

Appearances

RZ-1 A-wings from Green Squadron participate in the climactic Battle of Endor depicted in Return of the Jedi (1983). At Endor, an A-wing piloted by Arvel Crynyd (Hilton McRae) [2] crashes into the bridge of the Super Star Destroyer Executor, resulting in the Executor crashing out of control into the second Death Star. In addition to McRae, two women recorded A-wing cockpit footage; one of the actors was cut, and the other was dubbed over by a male actor. [3]

A-wings later appear in various Star Wars Expanded Universe television shows, books, and games. Some Expanded Universe material says Jan Dodonna created the A-wing based on his analysis of the role of speed in the Battle of Yavin, the climactic battle in Star Wars (1977). [4] Later material, such as the Star Wars Rebels television series, depicts the starfighters in use before the events of Star Wars. [5]

The A-wings of Phoenix Squadron play an important role in Rebels' second season (2015–2016). Rebels producers used the A-wing in part because the ship was not used much in Return of the Jedi [6] The fighter's presence in the cartoon was meant to show that different groups used different craft to fight the Empire. [6] The series's episodes "The Holocrons of Fate" and "Twin Suns" also feature the two-seater RZ-1T trainer, a training spacecraft used by the rebels to train recruits. The RZ-1T also appears in the novel Battlefront II: Inferno Squad.

The RZ-1 A-Wing is based on the R-22 A-Wing, also made by Kuat Systems Engineering. [7]

A later variant, the RZ-2 A-wing, features in Star Wars Battlefront II and in Star Wars: The Last Jedi . It is a bigger spacecraft used by the Resistance against the First Order.

Concept and design

Ralph McQuarrie's production art for the A-wing. The A-wings in Star Wars Rebels use McQuarrie's alternative blue-and-white color scheme. ROTJ - A-wings.jpeg
Ralph McQuarrie's production art for the A-wing. The A-wings in Star Wars Rebels use McQuarrie's alternative blue-and-white color scheme.

The A-wing was one of two new Rebel Alliance starfighters created for Return of the Jedi. [9] It was dubbed the A fighter because it was the first of the two designs created. [9] Ralph McQuarrie's production paintings of A-wing starfighters were completed after filming and displayed alternative blue markings.

Joe Johnston designed the ship, Wesley Seeds and Lorne Peterson of Industrial Light & Magic built the model, and its pilot figure is based on a World War I German airman. [9] A battle-damaged engine "wing" was snapped into place to represent Arvel Crynyd's damaged fighter as it crashed into the Executor. [9]

McQuarrie's alternative blue-and-white coloring was used for the craft's appearance in Rebels. [8] Photographs from the filming of Star Wars: The Last Jedi show an A-wing on the film set. [10] [11] Screen Rant suggests the A-wing seen in the photographs evokes some of McQuarrie's interpretation of the design, such as the blaster cannon shape and the presence of additional ports in the cockpit. [12]

Depiction

According to Star Wars canon, the A-wing was first produced by Kuat Systems Engineering, which had built the Delta-7 starfighter for the Jedi Order. With the Jedi eradicated (as depicted in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith ) and the Delta-7 nearly impossible for non-Jedi to pilot, Kuat designed a new starfighter, the R-22 A-wing, in hopes the Galactic Empire would purchase it. While impressed with prototypes of the R-22, the Empire instead went with the TIE fighter, and forbade Kuat from mass-producing the A-wing. The prototypes were sold to the kingdom of Tammuz-an, which over a decade later were eventually sold to the Rebel Alliance. [13]

Rebel engineers made many alterations to the original R-22 design to produce the RZ-1 model as seen in Return of the Jedi. The original engines were swapped out for more powerful ones, while other major components were replaced with lightweight versions so a supraluminal hyperdrive could be added. The resulting fighter is faster than even the Empire's TIE interceptor and perfect for hit-and-run attacks, long-range patrols, and reconnaissance missions. Its two laser cannons, mounted on special swivel mounts, can elevate or depress 60° vertically; some were modified for full 360° rotation but these had a greater chance to jam. However, engineers could not fit the A-wing with an astromech droid, which limited how many hyperspace coordinates it could carry. The lack of droid assistance also makes it challenging even for a being with Jedi-like reflexes to control a fighter so fast and maneuverable. Consequently, only the best Rebel pilots are allowed to fly the A-wing. [13]

After the Empire was defeated, background material explains how Kuat Systems Engineering made a number of improvements to the design to create the RZ-2 A-wing for the New Republic Defense Fleet. Even faster than the original, the RZ-2 requires less maintenance than the RZ-1, and the swivel mounts that allow its laser cannons to rotate 360° were no longer at risk of jamming. Thanks to the New Republic's disarmament campaign, RZ-2s found their way into the Resistance, which like the Rebellion before allows only the best pilots to fly the A-wing. [13]

Impact

CinemaBlend said the A-wing received little attention after Return of the Jedi because no prominent characters pilot the craft. [14] Kenner in 1985 released an A-wing pilot figure as part of its Power of the Force line, and it released a "magnificent" A-wing toy as part of the Star Wars: Droids line. [15] [16] Since then, the A-wing has been recreated as various other toys, models, and collectibles by companies that include Galoob, Hasbro, Model Products Corporation, Estes Industries, Lego, and Fantasy Flight Games. [15] [17]

Screen Rant said the A-wing gained popularity as a playable craft in the Star Wars: X-Wing space combat simulator (1993), [12] which The Escapist said depicted the ship as "an excellent dogfighter". [18] Subsequent video games that allowed players to pilot the A-wing also contributed to the ship's popularity. [12] Blastr ranked the A-wing 16th on its list of the best Star Wars vehicles. [19]

Prince Harry was photographed sitting in an A-wing cockpit during his and the Duke of Cambridge's April 2016 visit to the Star Wars: Episode VIII set. [10] Responding to the photographs, various publications called the A-wing "iconic", [11] [20] an "unsung hero", [21] "woefully underappreciated", [21] and "a classic". [14]

In 2018 a number of Star Wars starfighters - including the A-wing - had their aerodynamic abilities tested using the Autodesk Flow Design virtual wind tunnel program. Of those starfighters tested the A-wing was among the most aerodynamic designs of all with a drag coefficient of .17, though it was still worse than the real-life example of the F-4E Phantom with a .02 rating. These poor results were rationalized with the in-universe explanations that drag coefficient plays no role in space travel, and that Star Wars fighters can use repulsorlifts and deflector shields to give themselves better flight profiles. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jedi</span> Faction in Star Wars

Jedi, Jedi Knights, or collectively the Jedi Order are fictional characters, and often protagonists, featured in many works within the Star Wars franchise. Working symbiotically alongside the Old Galactic Republic, the Jedi Order is depicted as a religious, academic, meritocratic, and military-auxiliary (peacekeeping) organization whose origin dates back thousands of years before the events of the first film released in the franchise. The fictional organization has inspired a real-world new religious movement and parody religion: Jediism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedge Antilles</span> Character in Star Wars

Wedge Antilles is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He is a supporting character portrayed by Denis Lawson in the original Star Wars trilogy, and voiced by David Ankrum in Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) and Rogue One (2016). He is also featured in the Star Wars expanded universe, most notably as the lead character in most of the X-Wing novels. Antilles has also appeared in the sequel trilogy film The Rise of Skywalker (2019), with Lawson reprising his role; in the 2014 animated series Star Wars Rebels, voiced by Nathan Kress; and in the 2023 second volume of Star Wars: Visions, voiced again by Lawson.

Star Destroyers are capital ships in the fictional Star Wars universe. Star Destroyers were produced by Kuat Drive Yards, later Kuat-Entralla Engineering, and serve as "the signature vessel of the fleet" for the Galactic Empire, the First Order, and the Sith Eternal in numerous published works including film, television, novels, comics, and video games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TIE fighter</span> Fictional Star Wars combat spacecraft

The TIE fighter or Twin Ion Engine fighter is a series of fictional starfighters featured in the Star Wars universe. TIE fighters are depicted as fast, agile, yet fragile starfighters produced by Sienar Fleet Systems for the Galactic Empire and by Sienar-Jaemus Fleet Systems for the First Order and the Sith Eternal. TIE fighters and other TIE craft appear in Star Wars films, television shows, and throughout the Star Wars expanded universe. Several TIE fighter replicas and toys, as well as a TIE flight simulator, have been produced and sold by many companies.

The Koensayr BTL Y-wing assault starfighter/bomber are a series of fictional spacecraft from the Star Wars franchise. They are depicted as the star fighters of the Galactic Republic, Rebel Alliance, New Republic, and the BTA-NR2 Y-wing which served the Resistance. Y-wings are known for being ideally suited for anti-shipping, close air support, air interdiction, force protection and ground attack missions. Y-wing made their theatrical appearance in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and have featured in movies, television shows, and the Star Wars expanded universe's books, comics, and games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X-wing fighter</span> Fictional fighter craft

The X-wing starfighter is a name applied to a family of fictional spacecraft manufactured by the Incom Corporation and later the Incom-FreiTek Corporation from the Star Wars franchise. Named for the distinctive shape made when its s-foils (wings) are in attack position, the X-wing was a class of starfighter used by the Rebel Alliance in their conflict with the Galactic Empire. It made its theatrical debut, as the T-65B model, in Star Wars (1977) as the spacecraft piloted by Luke Skywalker and the Red Squadron when Luke destroyed the Death Star. The starfighter featured extensively in the Star Wars original trilogy and in the Expanded Universe that followed, and has been merchandised as a variety of toys and models.

Droid (<i>Star Wars</i>) Robots in the "Star Wars" franchise

In the Star Wars space opera franchise, a droid is a fictional robot possessing some degree of artificial intelligence. The term is a clipped form of "android", a word originally reserved for robots designed to look and act like a human. The word "android" itself stems from the New Latin word "androīdēs", meaning "manlike", itself from the Ancient Greek ἀνδρος (andrós) + -ειδής (-eidḗs), itself from εἶδος.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebel Alliance</span> Fictional military alliance in Star Wars

The Rebel Alliance is an organization that features in the fictional world of the Star Wars franchise. The Alliance is portrayed as a stateless coalition of rebel dissidents and defectors who oppose the Galactic Empire and its authoritarian rule. Its stated goal is to restore the liberal governance of the previous Galactic Republic, which had been dissolved after its leader Palpatine seized absolute power and declared himself emperor. It is the main protagonistic faction of the original Star Wars trilogy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coruscant</span> Fictional planet in Star Wars

Coruscant is an ecumenopolis planet in the fictional universe of Star Wars. It was first described in Timothy Zahn's 1991 novel Heir to the Empire. The planet made its first on-screen appearance in a scene added to Return of the Jedi for its 1997 re-release. It has gone on to become an important location in the Star Wars universe and appears frequently in Star Wars media. In-universe, Coruscant is a politically and strategically important planet, serving as the capital and seat of government for the Republic and the Galactic Empire, as well as the headquarters of the Jedi Order. It is typically depicted as a bustling, yet highly stratified planet-spanning metropolis. Throughout the city's centuries-long development, new city blocks were built on top of old ones, forming levels. Coruscant has 5127 levels, with the 5127th being the wealthiest and the 1st being the poorest.

The Battle of Yavin takes place in the fictional universe of Star Wars. It pits the Galactic Empire against the Rebel Alliance around the gas giant planet Yavin and its fourth moon.

Speeder bikes and swoop bikes are small, fast transports that use repulsorlift engines in the fictional Star Wars universe. Return of the Jedi includes a prominent speeder bike chase; speeders and swoops also appear in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, the animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, and the Star Wars expanded universe's books, comics, and games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yavin</span> Fictional planet in Star Wars

Yavin is a fictional planet in the Star Wars galaxy. It first appeared in the 1977 film Star Wars and is depicted as a large red gas giant with an extensive satellite system of moons. The hidden military base of the Rebel Alliance is located on its fourth moon, Yavin 4.

<i>Tantive IV</i> Fictional Star Wars spaceship

The Tantive IV Alderaan Diplomatic Envoy is a fictional spaceship in the Star Wars film series. Designed by the Corellian Engineering Corporation (CEC), the highly modified CR90 corvette is designed to be utilitarian, durable, modular, similar to its predecessors like the CR70 with its simplistic interiors featuring subtle luxury for Alderaan officials. It was used by Leia Organa in the original Star Wars film and was the first vessel audiences saw when Star Wars premiered in 1977. Other CR90 Corellian corvettes, which share the Tantive IV's design, appear in Return of the Jedi and in the Star Wars Expanded Universe's books, comics, TV series, and games. The Tantive IV also appears in the sequel trilogy film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).

<i>Star Wars</i> video games Video games based on the Star Wars franchise

Over one hundred video games based on the Star Wars franchise have been released, dating back to some of the earliest home consoles. Some are based directly on films while others rely heavily on the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alderaan</span> Fictional planet in Star Wars

Alderaan is an Earth-like fictional planet featured in the Star Wars franchise. It is blue-green in appearance, depicted as a terrestrial planet with humanoid inhabitants, and characterized by a peaceful culture. It is the home planet of Princess Leia Organa, one of the lead characters in the film series, as well as former Rebel shock trooper Cara Dune. In the original 1977 film, Alderaan was destroyed by the Death Star's superlaser.

All Terrain Walkers are armored fighting vehicles from the Star Wars universe that traverse the landscape on mechanical legs. They are used by the Old Republic, the Galactic Empire, and the First Order for ground assault, reconnaissance or transport. Throughout the saga walkers have played a pivotal role in the fate of characters and the outcome of battles. Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) is responsible for their animation and design, often using models, stop-motion animation, and relevant matte paintings to depict their presence in the films.

References

  1. ↑ "A-wing Fighter History Gallery". StarWars.com. Lucasfilm. Click on image 3 of 6. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  2. ↑ "A-wing Fighter History Gallery". StarWars.com. Lucasfilm. Click on image 2 of 6 with thumbnail of a pilot. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Star Wars' lost female fighter pilots". Stuff.co.nz . December 16, 2015. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Expanded Universe - Dodonna, General Jan". Star Wars Databank. Lucasfilm. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  5. ↑ "A-wing Fighter". Star Wars Databank. Lucasfilm. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Rebels Recon: Inside "Wings of the Master"". StarWars.com. Lucasfilm. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  7. ↑ "A-wing Fighter". Archived from the original on 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
  8. 1 2 Beentjes, Kevin (May 6, 2015). "Back from the Drawing Board, Part 2: Repurposed Star Wars Technology". StarWars.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Peterson, Lorne (2006). Sculpting A Galaxy - Inside the Star Wars Model Shop. San Rafael, California: Insight Editions. pp. 52–55. ISBN   1-933784-03-2.
  10. 1 2 Lawler, Kelly (April 19, 2016). "Princes William and Harry visit 'Star Wars' set, raise the bar for adorable". USA Today . Gannett Company. Image 2 of 6 in the article's picture gallery. Archived from the original on May 28, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  11. 1 2 Gallagher, Brian (April 19, 2016). "Star Wars: Episode VIII Brings Back the A-Wing Fighter". MovieWeb . Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  12. 1 2 3 Keyes, Rob (April 19, 2016). "Star Wars 8 Brings Back The Rebellion's Fastest Starfighter". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 Star Wars: Rebel Starfighters: Owners' Workshop Manual. Insight Editions. 2019. ISBN   978-1683839361.
  14. 1 2 Libbey, Dirk (19 April 2016). "Star Wars: Episode VIII Is Bringing Back A Classic Ship". Cinema Blend. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  15. 1 2 Wells III, Stuart W. (2002). A Universe of Star Wars Collectibles: Identification and Price Guide (2nd. ed.). Krause Publications. pp.  17, 212, 220, 222, 224, 266–267. ISBN   0873494156.
  16. ↑ Bellomo, Mark (2014). The Ultimate Guide to Vintage Star Wars Action Figures, 1977-1985. Krause Publications. pp. 45, 128. ISBN   9781440240591.[ permanent dead link ]
  17. ↑ "Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game – A-Wing Expansion Pack (2013)". BoardGameGeek . Scott Alden. Archived from the original on June 9, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  18. ↑ "The 15 Best Space Combat Sims of All-Time". The Escapist . Defy Media. July 29, 2014. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  19. ↑ Dorville, Matt (September 11, 2015). "From the V-Wing to the Millennium Falcon: 50 of the best Star Wars vehicles, ranked". Blastr. Syfy. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  20. ↑ Creamer, Matt Timmy (April 20, 2016). "This Iconic 'Star Wars' Fighter Will Return in Episode 8!". Moviepilot . Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  21. 1 2 Arbeiter, Michael (April 20, 2016). "Star Wars: Episode VIII Will Bring Back the A-wing". Nerdist . Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  22. ↑ Pockross, Adam. "Testing the Aerodynamics of Star Wars Ships in a Virtual Wind Tunnel". SyFy Wire. Retrieved 9 September 2020.[ permanent dead link ]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.