Of Y-wings and their speed, or lack of

[Kuja]

When was it decided that Y-wings were slow bombers? In ANH, they seem to be just as fast as the X-wings, and appear to act as space superiority fighters, rather than fighter-bombers.

[Stormbringer]

When was it decided that Y-wings were slow bombers? In ANH, they seem to be just as fast as the X-wings, and appear to act as space superiority fighters, rather than fighter-bombers.

It seems to have been decided in the EU but that doesn't necessarily make it wrong.

That has to do to the jamming. It cut the speed of the fighters until they both went the same speed. The spacial distortions of the jamming limited the speed of both. And keep in mind we don't see the Y-Wings acting as heavy fighters at Endor.

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

The novelization of ROTJ IIRC said all the Y-Wings at Endor were slaughtered.

[Mr Bean]

Because one does not go Top speed when attacking a Ground Target, thats just silly

(Seriously we had fighters pretending they where Gunships in ANH, they don't go .1C right next to friggen moon when trying to hit targets smaller than 10 meters)

[Currald]

If you look at one of the ILM relative speed charts (the ones measured in MGLT units) you'll see that the Y-Wing and the X-Wing go the same speed. The A-Wing is faster, the B-Wing slower.

[Vympel]

Yeah, noticed that on Saxton's topic

I thought MGLT was a rating combining acceleration/maneuverability however ... considering that there's no top speed in space.

[Jim Raynor]

If you look at one of the ILM relative speed charts (the ones measured in MGLT units) you'll see that the Y-Wing and the X-Wing go the same speed. The A-Wing is faster, the B-Wing slower.

Do ideas for the movie count for anything if they don't make it into the movies, or any EU material?

[Vympel]

Do ideas for the movie count for anything if they don't make it into the movies, or any EU material?

They were adopted IIRC ...

[Boba Fett]

According to the chart -on the Behind the Magic CD made by Lucasarts and ILM- the Y-wing's top speed is 90 MGLT while the X-wing is 100 MGLT.

A-wing 120 MGLT

B-wing 90 MGLT

Of course if the shield and laser chargers are on normal level on both craft.

[Evil Sadistic Bastard]

Order of speed, IIRC:

A-Wing (Interceptor, obviously freaking fast)
X-Wing (Generic fighter, pretty fast)
Y-Wing ( Older model, slightly slower though not by much and has a turreted gun (?))
B-Wing (Heavy assault fighter, has buttloads of guns and shields, slower than the others)

[Mr Bean]

I thought MGLT was a rating combining acceleration/maneuverability however ... considering that there's no top speed in space.

Acutal there is its called C for speed of light

[Currald]

I thought MGLT was a rating combining acceleration/maneuverability however ... considering that there's no top speed in space.

Well, it was just the speed they used for the special-effects, is all I meant.

[Stormbringer]

I thought MGLT was a rating combining acceleration/maneuverability however ... considering that there's no top speed in space.

Well, it was just the speed they used for the special-effects, is all I meant.

So it's just the speeds they used for relative speed in the movies?

[Ender]

I'm interested in its accleleration relative to the Delta-7. The D7 is fast, but it is fast for its era. I would expect their speeds to be comparable. No doubt the EU will goof that though.

[Currald]

I thought MGLT was a rating combining acceleration/maneuverability however ... considering that there's no top speed in space.

Well, it was just the speed they used for the special-effects, is all I meant.

So it's just the speeds they used for relative speed in the movies?

Yes.

[Stormbringer]

Well, it was just the speed they used for the special-effects, is all I meant.

So it's just the speeds they used for relative speed in the movies?

Yes.

So it might well have little in universe bearing. Since, as I said, both fighters would be slowled to the same speeds by jamming.

[Moonshadow]

The novelization of ROTJ IIRC said all the Y-Wings at Endor were slaughtered.

i thought i saw a few at the end of the battle? I also could swear some were setting off the fireworks along with the X-Wings durring the celebration at the end.

[neoolong]

The novelization of ROTJ IIRC said all the Y-Wings at Endor were slaughtered.

i thought i saw a few at the end of the battle? I also could swear some were setting off the fireworks along with the X-Wings durring the celebration at the end.

The fighters would have had to go back to their ships. The Y-Wings could have been sent out then. Somehow I doubt that fireworks is part of the standard armament for a fighter.

[Currald]

Since, as I said, both fighters would be slowled to the same speeds by jamming.

Why would jamming slow fighters down? And, assuming there's a reason not apparant to me, why would the A-Wings and B-Wings go faster and slower, respectively, than X-Wings and Y-Wings under those circumstances?

[Lord of the Farce]

Why would jamming slow fighters down? And, assuming there's a reason not apparant to me, why would the A-Wings and B-Wings go faster and slower, respectively, than X-Wings and Y-Wings under those circumstances?

Probably because where there is jamming, the pilots has to rely on more limited sensors (sometimes their eyes are the only thing they can rely on) and their own reflexes (because computer flight assistance would be scrambled), so with the lack of flight assistance combined with different amount of mass (and hence, inertia affects them to different levels) the pilots are forced to limit their relative speed to where they can react fast enough.

[Currald]

Oh, okay. That makes sense.

[Stormbringer]

Since, as I said, both fighters would be slowled to the same speeds by jamming.

Why would jamming slow fighters down? And, assuming there's a reason not apparant to me, why would the A-Wings and B-Wings go faster and slower, respectively, than X-Wings and Y-Wings under those circumstances?

Actually, it's because Imperial jammer distorts space. It's very, very powerful. Look it up if you don't believe me.

[greenmm]

Could be that the Y-Wing, while technically as fast as the X-Wing, is either a) less agile or b) slower to accelerate, making it a "slower fighter".

For b), if it takes the Y-Wing 50% longer to reach top speed than the X-Wing, then it means your Y-Wing squadrons need more time to reach their target -- not necessarily a bad thing when taking on a ship or a battle station, but really bad when taking on agile and fast enemy fighters.

For a), one of the good things about Splinter of the Mind's Eye in the EU was the idea that the Y-Wing was not a good atmospheric glider like the X-Wing. If you think about it, when was the last time you saw an atmospheric-designed fighter that had no aerodynamic lift or control surfaces, and would have to depend on pure engine power to maintain lift? I also find it interesting that they went with 4 smaller engines for the X-Wing, instead of the 2 large engine pods for the Y-Wing...

[ClaysGhost]

Actually, it's because Imperial jammer distorts space. It's very, very powerful. Look it up if you don't believe me.

Distorting space would affect acceleration, rather than top speed, wouldn't it? Also, the power requirements for preventing a 2 tonne rebel fighter from accelerating at 1000g would exceed 10^51 Watts.

I would think that the Y-wing could not be much more sluggish than an X-wing, if a combined fleet of Y-wings and X-wings is supposed to accelerate at a few thousand g for the trip around Yavin to the DS. The Y-wings were not noticeably behind.

[Warspite]

Actually, it's because Imperial jammer distorts space. It's very, very powerful. Look it up if you don't believe me.

Distorting space would affect acceleration, rather than top speed, wouldn't it? Also, the power requirements for preventing a 2 tonne rebel fighter from accelerating at 1000g would exceed 10^51 Watts.

I would think that the Y-wing could not be much more sluggish than an X-wing, if a combined fleet of Y-wings and X-wings is supposed to accelerate at a few thousand g for the trip around Yavin to the DS. The Y-wings were not noticeably behind.

How did you come to those numbers?

X- Y- Wing fleet was in FORMATION for the trip from Yavin to the DS, remember that they took off separetly, in the next scene, they are already in formation, so they must have formed up in orbit.