TIE Fighters--can pilots eject?

000 · Post by **000** » 2006-12-01 07:36pm

Well, TIE/rc, /gt, and /in are all different models (reconnaisance, bomber, and interceptor, repsectively), not mere variants of the same design.

The idea that Zsinj was cutting corners works best. Wedge is still an idiot, though. : P

I would still contend that standard Imperial TIEs of any variant had fully functional ejection systems, though.

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 2006-12-01 07:50pm

000 wrote:Well, TIE/rc, /gt, and /in are all different models (reconnaisance, bomber, and interceptor, repsectively), not mere variants of the same design.

I did mean that the basic TIE Fighter hull, in whatever role it served, had been around for some time, and even though they served different tasks they will have had some common systems. Moreso, with the years in service, they will probably have had upgrades, field upgrades and jury riggings depending on who they serve with. If you want a prime example of a vehicle that will have many common components but has been utilised far beyond it's original spec, look at the M-113 APC. It forms the basis for a shedload of vehicles, and some, like the Israelis have bolted on additional armour and weapons.

I'm sure you get the point I'm trying to make though.

The one distinct mention of a modified TIE having both shields and hyperdrive in the Rogue Squadron and Wraith Squadron books was Admiral Trigits personal fighter. I believe also that Thrawn instituted a refitting program to make them more survivable.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2006-12-01 09:18pm

It's pretty retarded false economy to ensure the deaths of your valuable pilots to save money of ejector seats. Was Zsinj in a position where this wasn't an issue?

000 · Post by **000** » 2006-12-01 10:22pm

Not really, particularly when the men serving under him were traitors and rogues rather than Academy-trained pilots. He actually hired pirates fairly often to supplement his fighter force.

Zsinj is also not he brightest fellow, however, so...

The only thing a TIE lacks survivability-wise is a combat shield system, which they sacrifice for greatly increased maneuverability, speed, and utility. TIE superiority fighters are very able little craft; the nonsense about them being flying caskets is Rebel propaganda.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2006-12-01 10:37pm

000 wrote:The only thing a TIE lacks survivability-wise is a combat shield system, which they sacrifice for greatly increased maneuverability, speed, and utility. TIE superiority fighters are very able little craft; the nonsense about them being flying caskets is Rebel propaganda.

Even shielding from the movie is overrated given we've seen at least some evidence that the Death Star assigned TIEs likely had shielding. The Falcon battle shows TIEs getting hit and not bursting into dust from a shot, it takes at least a couple.

Which is about the same we see both X and Y wings take in combat as well. So in many ways the TIE is at least on par with the Rebels craft barring a hyperdrive and torpedos.

000 · Post by **000** » 2006-12-01 10:45pm

My assumption has always been that TIEs have at least 'navigational shielding'-- they'd obviously need it to avoid grinding their viewscreens on micrometeorites anyway. It's probably not the best way to explain TIEs taking hits, but as far I can think it's the most reasonable way of reconciling the discrepancy.

That's why I specified combat-rated shields, which like you say are overrated anyway. Rebel fighters tend to take no more than a couple shots before going down-- the same holds true for much the EU as well as the movies.

nightmare · Post by **nightmare** » 2006-12-03 08:31pm

I just watched parts of TESB. The "ejected object" in question must be launched *before* the already damaged TIE fighter impacts, not as a part of the explosion. It seems highly likely that this was, in fact, an ejected pilot. The object isn't visible until the explosion lights up space - but then the object is already distant to the explosion and the asteroid, and it's simply not moving fast enough to be part of the explosion. It must have been ejected prematurely.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2006-12-04 08:22am

000 wrote:My assumption has always been that TIEs have at least 'navigational shielding'-- they'd obviously need it to avoid grinding their viewscreens on micrometeorites anyway. It's probably not the best way to explain TIEs taking hits, but as far I can think it's the most reasonable way of reconciling the discrepancy.

That's why I specified combat-rated shields, which like you say are overrated anyway. Rebel fighters tend to take no more than a couple shots before going down-- the same holds true for much the EU as well as the movies.

The "TIEs are fragile compared to X-Wing" thing was purely an invention of the EU and was never evident in the movies. Watch the Battle of Yavin in ANH. Do you see X-Wings there demonstrating their great individual superiority over TIEs, shrugging off repeated hits with no damage, etc? Nope, nothing like that at all. It's bullshit concocted for the X-Wing games and subsequently turned into dogma. While we know that certain fighters do have shields, they aren't adequate to ward off hits from enemy fighter fire with no damage, which is the way they are invariably portrayed in the X-Wing games and books. They're probably just enough to reduce a vapourizing hit to a damaging hit.