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Now, according to Anakin in TPM, he's one of the few(only) human who's capable of having the reflexes to compete in a podrace. I guess this means that the aliens that do compete as podracers all have naturally enhanced vision, reflexes and critical thinking, attributes that would be useful as starfighter pilots.

In that case, why don't we see more such dedicated alien squadrons?

PainRack wrote:Now, according to Anakin in TPM, he's one of the few(only) human who's capable of having the reflexes to compete in a podrace. I guess this means that the aliens that do compete as podracers all have naturally enhanced vision, reflexes and critical thinking, attributes that would be useful as starfighter pilots.

In that case, why don't we see more such dedicated alien squadrons?

Because it was bad writing?
It could be that most humans weigh too much to fit in a standard podracer, rather than human ability to pilot one...

Isn´t most starfighter piloting handled by computors anyway? Can´t really imagine some of those tight turns inside the DS II being pulled by the pilots themselves.

Molyneux wrote:

PainRack wrote:Now, according to Anakin in TPM, he's one of the few(only) human who's capable of having the reflexes to compete in a podrace. I guess this means that the aliens that do compete as podracers all have naturally enhanced vision, reflexes and critical thinking, attributes that would be useful as starfighter pilots.

In that case, why don't we see more such dedicated alien squadrons?

Because it was bad writing?
It could be that most humans weigh too much to fit in a standard podracer, rather than human ability to pilot one...

Or that humans who could fit into one wouldn't have the ability to pilot one...

The Rebel Alliance and GE are the main combatants we see with fighters in the movies. They're both predominantly human, or humanoid it would seem. GE it makes sense. For the Rebs... the only major alien race you really see in the movies with them is the Mon Calamari. And you don't expect one of them to fly, do you?

Im the Black Fleet Crisis this is actually covered, Standard fighters limitations are dictated by the humans who designed and built them.

Fighters have inertial compensators, the g forces aren't great enough (usually) to prevent humans from flying them. Podracers are just seats with engines and afterburners. And space combat doesn't require as fast of reflexes as going 700 mph through a narrow canyon.

Trooper TK12746 wrote:Fighters have inertial compensators, the g forces aren't great enough (usually) to prevent humans from flying them. Podracers are just seats with engines and afterburners. And space combat doesn't require as fast of reflexes as going 700 mph through a narrow canyon.

Deathstar 2?

Gordonfrost wrote:

Trooper TK12746 wrote:Fighters have inertial compensators, the g forces aren't great enough (usually) to prevent humans from flying them. Podracers are just seats with engines and afterburners. And space combat doesn't require as fast of reflexes as going 700 mph through a narrow canyon.

Deathstar 2?

by no means a typical Space combat situation (normally) there would more enough room to move. you recruit and train your pilot acording to typical combat scenarios not a one of a kind special mission.

by no means a typical Space combat situation (normally) there would more enough room to move. you recruit and train your pilot acording to typical combat scenarios not a one of a kind special mission.

And yet the human pilots were able to sucessfully fly through the tiny tunnels.

Gordonfrost wrote:

by no means a typical Space combat situation (normally) there would more enough room to move. you recruit and train your pilot acording to typical combat scenarios not a one of a kind special mission.

And yet the human pilots were able to sucessfully fly through the tiny tunnels.

so? Those fighter had onboard computers (and some astromech droids as well) so that really doesn't prove anything

Gordonfrost wrote:

by no means a typical Space combat situation (normally) there would more enough room to move. you recruit and train your pilot acording to typical combat scenarios not a one of a kind special mission.

And yet the human pilots were able to sucessfully fly through the tiny tunnels.

IIRC, only Wedge and the Falcon made it through, and the MF was piloted by both Lando and Nien Nunb, which makes who handled the tight turns questionable. Thus we have at most two human pilots who could do it out of a number of elite pilots, with quite a few smashing up in the turns.

The Dark wrote:IIRC, only Wedge and the Falcon made it through, and the MF was piloted by both Lando and Nien Nunb, which makes who handled the tight turns questionable. Thus we have at most two human pilots who could do it out of a number of elite pilots, with quite a few smashing up in the turns.

There were at least two TIEs that made it to the center and started the escape out that I can remember. And IIRC they were both destroyed by the advancing fireball on the way out, not by collision.

PainRack wrote:Now, according to Anakin in TPM, he's one of the few(only) human who's capable of having the reflexes to compete in a podrace. I guess this means that the aliens that do compete as podracers all have naturally enhanced vision, reflexes and critical thinking, attributes that would be useful as starfighter pilots.

In that case, why don't we see more such dedicated alien squadrons?

The problem with not seeing Aliens pilot ships is simple. I mean in the galaxy sense the Galactic Civil War was about humans. The Empire crushed any alien species under thier boots, and the Rebels were just either former Imps themselves or some ruged types. Thats in the movies, but in the books you see aliens piloting and they are pretty hot. The Chiss Vangard squadron is one of hte best squadrons in the galaxy and the Yvetha were alright. The Vong, well the Vong were special

The comment about the size of Pod Racer pilots might have some credence. Do I recall incorrectly, or was every pod racer pilot around four feet tall or less?

Anyway, aside from astromechs and computers, starfighters also have sensors and navigational instrumentation that may have allowed them to detect the turns and kinks in the tunnel a short distance ahead of them.
This would reduce the reaction time necessary to respond to, and negotiate, the tunnel section up ahead, much in the same way a navigator in a rally car aids the driver.
Conversely, the pod racers appeared to have no sensors of any type, requiring the pilot to rely on his reflexes to adequately react to situations as they arise.


As an aside, the TIE pilots were all Jango Fett clones, so they had above-average attributes applicable to piloting.
*ducks*

Tychu wrote:Thats in the movies, but in the books you see aliens piloting and they are pretty hot. The Chiss Vangard squadron is one of hte best squadrons in the galaxy

Doesn't work. Chiss are quite obviously one of the Human sub-species that exist, and IIRC Jag Fel (a Human), is recognised as easily one of the best pilots among the Chiss.

Besides, Rogue Squadron, which is supposed to be quite literally one of the best fighter squadron in the galaxy, is AFAIK consistently filled to half (and usually more) by Human pilots.