Batplane

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The Bat-gyro. (Detective Comics No. 31)
The Bat-gyro. (Detective Comics No. 31)

The Batplane, later known as the Batwing, is the fictional aircraft for the comic book superhero Batman. The vehicle was introduced in "Batman Versus The Vampire, I", published in Detective Comics #31 in 1939, a story which saw Batman travel to continental Europe. [1] In this issue it was referred to as the Batgyro, and according to Les Daniels was "apparently inspired by Igor Silkorsky's first successful helicopter flight" of the same year. Initially based upon a either an autogyro or helicopter, with a rotor, the Batgyro featured a bat motif at the front. The writers gave the Batgyro the ability to be "parked" in the air by Batman, hovering in such a way as to maintain its position and allow Batman to return.[2]

The Batgyro was soon replaced by the Batplane, which debuted in Batman #1, and initially featured a machine gun.[3] The vehicle was now based on a fixed wing aeroplane rather than a helicopter, with a propeller at the front, although a bat motif was still attached to the nose-cone. The Batplane has undergone constant revision since its first appearance, and has even been depicted as having the capability to traverse underwater.[4] With the launch of the Tim Burton directed Batman film of 1989, the Batplane became known as the Batwing, a name which was carried over into the comics.

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[edit] Background

Batman once maintained aircraft in his original Batcave. However, launching these planes so close to Wayne Manor's neighboring estates threatened to compromise Batman's secret identity. The Caped Crusader now "borrows" specially-modified jets and helicopters from Wayne Aerospace's business and military contracts.

Batplane I[5] and the Bat-Rocket favored Batman's signature look over sleek aerodynamics.

The origin of Batplane II.
The origin of Batplane II.

Batplane II[6][7] was a retooled Wayne Aeropsace W4 Wraith fighter that married style with substance. When the Batplane is stolen and triplicated by smugglers in Batman #61, Batman and Robin upgrade the Batplane to jet propulsion, adding at least "100 miles per hour" to its maximum speed.[8][9]

[edit] Batplane III

Batplane III is a modified Wayne Aerospace SlipStream ($46 million sans "extras"). It's detailed to resemble a standard mid-size corporate jet during take-offs and landings. Some of its features and capabilities are as follows:

  • At cruising altitude (35,000-45,0000 ft.), telescoping wings retract. Exterior sections of tail and nose-cone envelop cockpit and cabin fuselage for higher altitude pressurization.
  • Gaining further altitude (45,000-55,000 ft.) delta fins in the tail and snub winglets elongate to increase efficiency and stability as speeds approach supersonic.
  • At ceiling altitudes (55,000-60,000 ft.) "smart" paint on exterior radar-shielding ceramics responds to dropping air pressure and temperature, thus camouflaging the Batplane's exterior to stealthy black.
  • Avionics include ergonomic "at-a-glance" viewing levels for all electronics and multifunction displays. The breakaway canopy allows for pilot/co-pilot emergency ejection. The reinforced acrylic glass canopy windows polarize at stealth altitude.

[edit] Specifications[10][11]

Height: 14.5 ft.
Length: 57.7 ft.
Wingspan: 47.6 ft. - The wings are protected by a bleed-air anti-icing system.
Altitude Ceiling: 60,000 ft.
Maximum Speed: 4,400 mph
Range: 2,486 n m
Take-Off Distance: 5,230 ft.
Landing Distance: 2,984 ft.
Payload: 2,670 lb.
Refueling Time: 7.8 minutes

[edit] In other media

The Danish building toy company Lego's Lego Batman line includes one set which features an incarnation of the Batplane, though it goes by the name of "The Batwing" (7782-The Batwing: The Joker's Aerial Assault). The set is featured alongside the Joker's helicopter.

In the Batman-themed motion simulator ride Batman Adventure - The Ride in Warner Bros. Movie World, riders seemingly follow the Batplane in pursuit of Mr Freeze, Joker (comics) and Catwoman

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fox, Gardner & Kane, Bob (w); Moldoff, Sheldon & Kane, Bob (a). "Batman Versus The Vampire, I", Detective Comics #31, DC Comics, September 1939.
  2. ^ Daneils, Les, Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes.Virgin Books, 1995. p78.
  3. ^ Finger, Bill (w), Kane, Bob & Robinson, Jerry (a). "The Giants of Hugo Strange", Batman #1, DC Comics, Spring 1940.
  4. ^ Daniels, Les, Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes.Virgin Books, 1995. p78.
  5. ^ BATMAN 1 ( Spr 40): This story was the first appearance of a fixed-wing Batplane, replacing the previous autogyro (and the only time in the comics the Batplane was armed with a machine gun!).
  6. ^ TEC 108 (2/46): Batman and Robin upgrade the Batplane to jet propulsion, adding at least “100 miles per hour” to its maximum speed. ?/DS
  7. ^ WF 25 (11-12/46): Batman and Robin equip the Batplane with engineer Frank Folland’s “aeraquamobile” devices, allowing the Batplane to travel on land and as a speedboat as well as an airplane. DC/WM
  8. ^ Daniels, Les, Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes.Virgin Books, 1995. p78.
  9. ^ Reed, David Vern (w); Sprang, Dick (p); Paris, Charles (i). "The Birth of Batplane II!", Batman #61, DC Comics, October-November 1950.
  10. ^ BATMAN: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE DARK KNIGHT
  11. ^ Batman: The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight: ISBN 0-7894-7865-X

[edit] External links