The ANH script on the Kessel run

[MrAnderson]

There is an easy solution.

How fast a ship is in hyperspace is not just limited to its pure speed rating but also the sophistication of its hyperdrive sensors and its hyperspace maneuverability.

A fast but unmaeuverable ship in hyperspace has to take longer straight routes from one planet to another so while its faster the longer distance it covers makes it appear slower.

By this explanation the Falcon is fast in hyperspace not so much because of its raw speed but due also to its hyperspace sensors and maneuverability which allow it to take shorter "tighter" routes from one planet to another.

So Hans explanation is simple. He is telling them that he can make the Kessel run in 12 parsecs which would them logically suggest that most ships are forced into more roundabout routes in hyperspace that take say 20 or 25 (or whatever) parsecs to make the same run.


(I have made all of this up. It is supported by nothing other than my attempt to make Han's statement honest and accurate.

[Srynerson]

@Vympel - isn't the MF type supposed to carry shit in it's 'mandibles'? Doesn't seem very effiencent, but calling the MF a 'frieghter' otherwise is weird, since it's more of a courier van.

I'm not taking a position on the nomeclature, but from the ANH screenplay:

Tarkin pushes a button and responds to the intercom buzz.

TARKIN: Yes.

VOICE: (over intercom) We've captured a freighter entering the remains of the Alderaan system. It's markings match those of a ship that blasted its way out of Mos Eisley.

[Noble Ire]

Pure Sabacc, you ARE aware that none of the special feats in the Falcon's repertoire keep it from being identified as a "clunker", right?

I suppose not.
I was just bored.

@Stark: The Essential Guide seems to indecate the thrusters are at least partially external, and not just a power feed or something.

[RedImperator]

Give me some movie evidence for exceptional FTL speed, while you're at it: ROTS shows us that ridiculous speeds are pretty standard.

You do realize that since their isn't any movie evidence that th MF isn't exceptional at supralight speeds, and all the EU agrees that it is just about the speediest thing out there, that no one has to give you jack shit?

And yet it couldn't outrun Star Destroyers. The EU is, as usual, completely full of shit.

[The Grim Squeaker]

Quadlok wrote:
Stark wrote:
Give me some movie evidence for exceptional FTL speed, while you’re at it: ROTS shows us that ridiculous speeds are pretty standard.

You do realize that since their isn’t any movie evidence that th MF isn’t exceptional at supralight speeds, and all the EU agrees that it is just about the speediest thing out there, that no one has to give you jack shit?

And yet it couldn’t outrun Star Destroyers. The EU is, as usual, completely full of shit.

The fact that the Falcon had to maneuvre around the asteroids while the executor crashed through them might have contributed to that.

Also the Falcons hyperdrive is exceptional, although it’s SL speeds are supposed to be exceptional for it’s class.

[Noble Ire]

Give me some movie evidence for exceptional FTL speed, while you're at it: ROTS shows us that ridiculous speeds are pretty standard.

You do realize that since their isn't any movie evidence that th MF isn't exceptional at supralight speeds, and all the EU agrees that it is just about the speediest thing out there, that no one has to give you jack shit?

And yet it couldn't outrun Star Destroyers. The EU is, as usual, completely full of shit.

I believe there has been somewhat of a misinterpritation on Quadlock's part. Despite the fact the Falcon is an exceptional civilian vessel, especially in FTL and to a lesser extent armament, its sublights are only marginally faster than its unmodified cousins. The speed comparison chart in the back of the New Essential Guide shows the MF as having a very marginal speed advantage overt an ISD. However, virtually every starfighter, both rebel and Imperial, and a good deal of support craft like gunships and even some corvettes, are shown as being significantly faster at sublight.

[Enola Straight]

I always thought it was a line flub on Harrison Ford's part.

12 parsecs per hour or some other standard time unit.

[Uraniun235]

And yet it couldn't outrun Star Destroyers. The EU is, as usual, completely full of shit.

It wasn't doing too bad a job of keeping pace with that one TIE they found near what was left of Alderaan. As for hyperspeed, there's Lando Calrissian's remark that the Falcon is the fastest ship around... although he may have been trying to bullshit Leia.

[Quadlok]

You do realize that since their isn't any movie evidence that th MF isn't exceptional at supralight speeds, and all the EU agrees that it is just about the speediest thing out there, that no one has to give you jack shit?

And yet it couldn't outrun Star Destroyers. The EU is, as usual, completely full of shit.

I believe there has been somewhat of a misinterpritation on Quadlock's part. Despite the fact the Falcon is an exceptional civilian vessel, especially in FTL and to a lesser extent armament, its sublights are only marginally faster than its unmodified cousins. The speed comparison chart in the back of the New Essential Guide shows the MF as having a very marginal speed advantage overt an ISD. However, virtually every starfighter, both rebel and Imperial, and a good deal of support craft like gunships and even some corvettes, are shown as being significantly faster at sublight.

I said supralight jackasses. As in greater than light speed, as in hyperdrive. I know the Falcon can't outrun a Star Destroyer in realspace, and I cannot think of a single EU incident in which it is said to be able to, barring that somewhat suspect chart in the EGtV&V. And it is fast for a freighter at sublight speeds.

[The Grim Squeaker]

EU has it that flying close to the MAW (Black hole cluster in the Kesselrun) can actually shorted the total distance.


:edit: Han solo trilogy: Rebel Dawn

[Spanky The Dolphin]

I always thought it was a line flub on Harrison Ford's part.

12 parsecs per hour or some other standard time unit.

Incorrect. It's just "twelve parsecs" in the script.

EDIT: Holy shit, I just broke 22000 posts a while ago.

[Lord of the Farce]

And yet it couldn’t outrun Star Destroyers. The EU is, as usual, completely full of shit.

The fact that the Falcon had to maneuvre around the asteroids while the executor crashed through them might have contributed to that.

Wrong movie. We actually know from ANH (escape from the Tatooine system) that ISDs can actually keep pace, and even catch up, on the Falcon in open space.

[Kon_El]

And yet it couldn't outrun Star Destroyers. The EU is, as usual, completely full of shit.

It wasn't doing too bad a job of keeping pace with that one TIE they found near what was left of Alderaan. As for hyperspeed, there's Lando Calrissian's remark that the Falcon is the fastest ship around... although he may have been trying to bullshit Leia.

Han also says its the fastest ship in the fleet when telling Lando to take it into the battle of Endor. Lando used to own the ship so I can't see why Han would be trying to impress him. FTL speed wouldn't have been of any real help at Endor. Real space speed must have been the selling point.

[Vympel]

Simple solution. The Millennium Falcon is "the fastest ship in the fleet". Which fleet? The Rebel fleet. Therefore, Imperator-class Star Destroyers (I and II) as well as Executor-class Star Dreadnoughts are faster than any ship in the Rebel fleet.

[Molyneux]

Simple solution. The Millennium Falcon is "the fastest ship in the fleet". Which fleet? The Rebel fleet. Therefore, Imperator-class Star Destroyers (I and II) as well as Executor-class Star Dreadnoughts are faster than any ship in the Rebel fleet.

Makes sense, at least to my sleep-addled brain...
There's also the distinct possibility that the MF's specs changed at least once over the course of the OT. What with the infamous breakdowns and obvious refitting/repair in the actual movies - not even counting the time in between films - the speed and power of the M. Falcon may have changed quite a bit over the course of the movies.

[El Baron]

EU has it that flying close to the MAW (Black hole cluster in the Kesselrun) can actually shorted the total distance.


:edit: Han solo trilogy: Rebel Dawn

There is another book, sorry I can't remember it offhand, might be one of th e Bounty Hunter Wars ones, which says the Kessel Run is a route which takes ships very close to Maw (same as Rebel Dawn apparently, which I've never read), and that when the MF did it, it came so close to the black holes that part of the hull was ripped off by the gravitational forces. Not a significant part, call it pencil shavings worth.

That would make two EU sources saying almost the exact same thing about what the 'parsec' comments mean.

The only difference is that Rebel Dawn seems to imply that how short a distance a ship takes is down to the hyperspace sensors, while the book I mention (sorry again for no source) implies it's more a daredevil attitude that allows it.