Y-wing

Y-wing
First appearance A New Hope
Affiliation Rebel Alliance
New Republic
References Starwars.com Databank[1]
General characteristics
Armaments Laser cannons
Ion cannons
Proton torpedoes
Defenses Deflector shields
Length 16 meters

Y-wings are fictional Rebel Alliance and New Republic starfighters in the Star Wars universe. They appear in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, as well as the Clone Wars TV series and the Expanded Universe's books, comics, and games.

Contents

Origin and design

Industrial Light & Magic's Colin Cantwell, who also designed the saga's TIE fighters, initially designed the Y-wing with a large bubble turret for a gunner.[2] However, the dome did not appear properly when filmed against bluescreen, and subsequent designs excised the turret.[2]

Depiction

Y-wings are described in the Expanded Universe as durable but slow tactical strike spacecraft, although notes and diagrams by the special effects crew for Return of the Jedi (shown in The Art of Return of the Jedi) show the Y-wing as possessing the same speed and maneuverability as the X-wing and standard TIE fighter. The destruction of Y-wings tasked with destroying the Death Star at the Battle of Yavin in A New Hope leads to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) firing the proton torpedoes that destroy the Empire's battle station. Only one Y-wing survives the battle.

Y-wings also participate at the Battle of Endor in Return of the Jedi. The Expanded Universe describes several Y-wing varieties, such as a one-seater version, a two-seater (one pilot, one gunner) variety, and the "Longprobe" reconnaissance ship.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ "Y-wing starfighter". Star Wars Databank. Lucasfilm. http://www.starwars.com/databank/starship/ywingstarfighter/. Retrieved 2008-06-23. 
  2. ^ a b "Y-wing starfighter (Behind the Scenes)". Star Wars Databank. Lucasfilm. http://www.starwars.com/databank/starship/ywingstarfighter/?id=bts. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
  3. ^ "Y-wing starfighter (Expanded Universe)". Star Wars Databank. Lucasfilm. http://www.starwars.com/databank/starship/ywingstarfighter/?id=eu. Retrieved 2007-08-29. 
  4. ^ Murphy, Paul; Peter Schweighofer (04 1994). Rebel Alliance Sourcebook. West End Games. ISBN 0874312094. 

External links