A-wing
Kuat RZ-1 A-wing Interceptor | |
---|---|
![]() 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 by | Kuat Systems Engineering |
Auxiliary vehicles | Ejector seat |
General characteristics | |
Class | Interception starfighter |
Armaments |
|
Defenses |
|
Maximum speed |
|
Propulsion |
|
Power |
|
Length |
|
Width |
|
Height |
|
Population volume |
|
Kuat RZ-1 A-wing Interceptor are
A-wings first appear in
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
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
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
![Two arrowhead-shaped craft fly in space with a nebula in the background](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bf/ROTJ_-_A-wings.jpeg/220px-ROTJ_-_A-wings.jpeg)
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
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
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
Impact
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2016) |
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]
In 2018 a number of Star Wars starfighters - including the A-wing - had their aerodynamic abilities tested using the
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- Stuff.co.nz. December 16, 2015. Archivedfrom the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
- ^ "Expanded Universe - Dodonna, General Jan". Star Wars Databank. Lucasfilm. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ "A-wing Fighter". Star Wars Databank. Lucasfilm. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ a b "Rebels Recon: Inside "Wings of the Master"". StarWars.com. Lucasfilm. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ "A-wing Fighter". Archived from the original on 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ ISBN 1-933784-03-2.
- ^ Gannett Company. Image 2 of 6 in the article's picture gallery. Archivedfrom the original on May 28, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ ISBN 978-1683839361.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ ISBN 0873494156.
- ]
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Nerdist. Archived from the originalon June 2, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
- ^ Pockross, Adam. "Testing the Aerodynamics of Star Wars Ships in a Virtual Wind Tunnel". SyFy Wire. Retrieved 9 September 2020.[permanent dead link]
External links
- A-wing fighter in the StarWars.com Databank
- Phoenix Squadron in the StarWars.com Databank
- A-wing trainer (RZ-1T) in the StarWars.com Databank
- RZ-1 A-wing interceptor on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
- R-22 Spearhead on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki